There are five basic steps to building your own swimming pool, and thousands of reasons (dollars) in why you should build your own pool. We believe that swimming pools are an investment you'll never regret, so we've put together a list of the steps you need to do to create your very own paradise.

Step One: Know what you need to do and get.

Like with any DIY home improvements, you must know what you want. From pool design to budget to maintenance time you can afford, know your limits and goals before you even start digging to ensure your pool is perfect match for your family. One of the common mistakes is to be so excited about the pool, that you forget to factor in a pool pump, or a pool cover or the cleaning requirements, which makes for a scramble to get these essential tools, after a month of enjoying your new pool.

Step Two: Measure and design your pool based on your individual space.

Be realistic about how much space you have. Most families want a bit of grass, and a BBQ and outdoor living space as well as a pool, so don't design a pool that starts three steps from your back door.

Step Three: Digging, and the two-step building process.

For building your own pool, you're going to need more then a friendly and expert blog about what to consider. But the basic steps are:

Dig four deep (depth will vary based on pool design) holes at the corners of your pool, and insert strong wooden posts. Then as you dig the wider hole for your pool, place more pools along the perimeter of the pool hole. Attached thin, strong wood to form the outside of the pool wall, and include required insulation/skimmer/return fitting. If you have a pool light, or specfic underwater jets, apply these also.
Line the walls of your pool with the special foam required for pools, placing light concrete under the foam at the bottom of the pool.
Step Four: Building the decking and the fence.

This isn't necessarily the fourth step, and if you have young children you may want to do this before you build the pool. But once the pool is built, you can construct the decking around it. Most people use concrete, although wood is also a lovely (but slightly more high maintenance) option, especially if you're going for a natural look. You must build a fence around your pool for safety reasons.

Step Five: Investing in a pool pump and cleaning schedule.

There is nothing more debilitating to you getting maximum value out of your pool then a dirty pool. Whether it's leaves, food or the inevitable battle against pool scum there are a host of options for getting a professional result without a live-in pool cleaner. By including your pool maintenance into your pool design, you not only fully understand the cost of your pool (including pool covers, pool pumps etc) but this also ensures you get the most use and the least headaches out of your pool.

Best of luck with your pool creation endeavours!