How do I determine a budget for a pool and backyard landscaping?
A-4: Budgeting for a pool environment is somewhat like shopping for a car. There are different model categories at significantly different price points. The price varies by the quality category as well as the features and options built in. Similarly custom pools are endless in possibilities, both from visual as well as performance and maintenance features that can be built in. So first of all you need to determine what budget category is appropriate for you financially and for the residence from an investment point of view. Then develop a wish list for the pool, the patio setting, and property landscaping. There will be some landscaping challenges to be met as foundation work in some cases will impact the budget. The budget will evolve from the various project components, and obviously the wish list has to be in relation to the determined budget category. So in summary, the budget is arrived at by a combination of “top down” (ie: budget category level) and “bottom up” (cost of each wis
