There’s no question this summer looks different than any summer in recent memory. Due to an increase in the amount of time spent at home, the concept of the “staycation” is more popular than ever before. For most people, the idea of a “staycation” centers around an in-ground swimming pool. Once the pool is in place, homeowners can design their dream outdoor living space with a patio, outdoor kitchen, shade structure, fire feature and much more.

When thinking about installing a new swimming pool, who should homeowners contact with their first phone call? Many people think a pool company should be their first phone call, but Rich Cording Sr., founder and owner of CLC Landscape Design in Ringwood, N.J., suggests they reconsider. 

“I always tell people their first phone call should be to a licensed landscape architect,” he says. When asked why by potential clients, Cording explains to them that “a licensed landscape architect will start with a landscape master plan that integrates the swimming pool with the many other aspects of the landscape, such as patios, shade structures, walks, steps, walls, plantings, lighting and more. Just as you would hire an architect to design an addition to your home, it is important to hire a landscape architect to design your swimming pool and backyard landscape.” 

Instead of choosing a pool location based on ease of installation, a landscape architect will determine the optimal location for your new swimming pool based on a couple of factors. “First, we will interview the homeowner,” Cording says. “We want to learn about their lifestyle and what they want to accomplish with the entire backyard. We will then study site conditions, such as grades, sun angles and off-site views. Lastly, we research zoning guidelines, such as setbacks and impervious coverage allotments. We then take all of that into consideration in preparing the landscape master plan which will place the pool in the most ideal location.”

Because all sites are different and present their own challenges, a landscape architect’s training and background make them ideally suited for designing a pool and surrounding landscape. This training includes dealing with a host of issues, including steep slopes, retaining walls, designing outdoor structures, solving elevation problems and more. Relying on the expertise of a landscape architect before installing a new swimming pool often prevents headaches for homeowners down the road. “Runoff issues, among a host of other issues, can be a major problem,” says Cording, “if proper planning is not taken.”

The CLC Family
Eric Cording, Landscape Designer; Richard Cording Sr., Licensed Landscape Architect; Richard Cording Jr., Master of Landscape Design, Columbia University

CLC Landscape Design
Ringwood, N.J. | (973) 839-6026
CLCDesign.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 20, Issue 12 (July/August 2020). 
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