The Most Overlooked Step In Pool Planning (And Why It Matters Later)
When planning a fibreglass pool, most families focus on the big, exciting choices—pool shape, colour, water features, and maybe even a spa. But there’s one step that often gets brushed aside in the rush to get started: site preparation. It might not sound exciting, but how well your site is prepared before installation can have a huge impact on the long-term success, safety, and performance of your pool. Get this part wrong, and you could be looking at drainage issues, shifting, or costly repairs down the track. Here’s why site prep is more than just a checkbox—and how to make sure it’s done right
What Is Site Preparation?
Site preparation includes everything that happens on your property before the fibreglass pool shell arrives. It’s more than just “digging a hole.” It covers:
- Assessing soil conditions and stability
- Checking for groundwater or drainage risks
- Confirming setbacks and access points
- Excavating to precise specifications
- Compacting and levelling the base
- Installing appropriate drainage
- Ensuring compliance with council and engineering requirements
Each of these steps plays a critical role in making sure your pool performs as expected—today and in 10+ years.
Why It’s Often Overlooked
When people picture their dream pool, they usually focus on finishes and features. Site prep is underground, out of sight, and full of technical details. It’s easy to assume your pool builder “just handles it.”
Unfortunately, not all pool builders give site prep the attention it deserves. Some rush the process to save time or reduce costs—especially if they’re under pressure to meet tight timelines.
Others may not explain what’s involved, leaving homeowners unaware that key steps have been skipped until a problem surfaces.
What Can Go Wrong Without Proper Prep?
Fibreglass pools are strong, but they’re not immune to ground movement or water pressure. A poor foundation or improper drainage around your pool shell can lead to serious issues, including:
1. Pool shifting or popping
If your water table is high or drainage is poor, water pressure can cause the pool shell to float or shift, especially if it’s ever emptied. Proper preparation can prevent this by managing groundwater and ensuring a stable, compacted base.
2. Cracks in surrounding paving or coping
Even if the shell stays in place, ground movement caused by poor compaction can result in uneven paving, cracked tiles, or lifted coping around your pool.
3. Persistent water pooling or drainage issues
Failing to plan for stormwater, overflow, or backwash water can lead to soggy lawns, garden erosion, or water pooling near the pool area—potentially damaging landscaping or neighbouring structures.
4. Damage to nearby pipes or structures
If underground services aren’t correctly identified, or the site isn’t surveyed, excavation could put existing plumbing, gas lines, or retaining walls at risk.
Key Elements Of Good Site Prep
To avoid these problems, here’s what thorough site prep should include:
1. Soil testing
A geotechnical report or soil classification can identify whether your soil is sandy, clay-heavy, reactive, or prone to movement. This informs how deep the excavation should go and what type of base or backfill is needed.
2. Drainage planning
Managing water flow is essential. This might include installing agg drains (subsurface drainage), soak wells, or redirecting stormwater away from the pool zone.
If you’re in a high-water-table area or near the coast, special drainage and engineering may be required to prevent flotation or shell movement.
3. Access and machinery planning
Your site may need temporary fencing, tree trimming, or soil removal coordination. Tight access blocks, sloping yards, and narrow driveways all affect what equipment can be used and how the excavation is handled.
4. Accurate levels and excavation depth
Excavating the hole too shallow or too deep can affect pool stability. A proper base—usually made from crushed rock or stabilised sand—is compacted to support the pool shell evenly across its length.
5. Compliance checks
Council requirements, boundary setbacks, easements, and existing plumbing or power lines all need to be considered before digging. A licensed pool builder should handle these checks, but don’t assume they’ve been done—ask for confirmation in writing.
How This Step Pays Off Later
It’s tempting to skim over prep and “get to the fun part.” But families who take the time to understand this stage often avoid the most expensive and frustrating pool problems.
Proper site prep protects your:
- Investment – your pool shell and landscaping last longer
- Time – fewer delays, touch-ups, or fixes after installation
- Safety – correct levels and support reduce hazards or trip zones
- Aesthetics – paving, fencing and garden edges stay neat and even
Just like you wouldn’t build a house without a strong slab, you don’t want to install a pool on a poorly prepared base.
What To Ask Your Pool Builder
Not sure if your builder is taking site prep seriously? Here are a few questions worth asking:
- Have you conducted a soil test or site inspection?
- What drainage measures are being installed around the pool?
- What kind of base and backfill will be used under and around the shell?
- Will you provide a site plan or engineering diagram?
- How will you manage rain or groundwater during the build?
- Will you take any measures to create and incorporate poolside area plans within the preparation?
A quality builder won’t be rattled by these questions. In fact, they should welcome them—it shows you understand that long-term results matter.
Bonus Tip: Future-Proof While You Prep
If you’re already digging and planning your site, now’s the time to think about future add-ons too.
- Conduit for automation or lighting: Run it now, even if you’re not ready to connect.
- Extra drainage: Saves hassle if you plan to add paving or garden beds later.
- Plumbing for a future heater or spa: Easy to install early, tricky once the pool is in.
- Positioning for fences and retaining walls: Easier to plan now than rework later.
Doing it right from the beginning keeps your options open without costly re-dos. Make sure to maintain and care for your new Fibreglass Pool once installed in order to ensure a long and durable life expectancy.
The Bottom Line
Planning a pool is exciting—but the most important step might be the one you don’t see. Proper site preparation lays the groundwork for everything that follows. Skipping it or rushing through can cost you much more in repairs, delays, or ongoing issues.
So before you choose the colour of your pool shell or which sunlounger you’ll buy, take the time to understand how your site will be prepared. A well-prepped pool area won’t just look better—it will perform better, last longer, and save you stress down the track.
Plan your journey today by going to our Free Quote Page Today!