How to design a pool with a homeowner in about 10 minutes

Short answer. Start from the survey, set the scale from one known length, trace the house, fence and no-build zones, drag in a pool and stretch it while watching live distances, switch to 3D, then send a branded PDF. A straightforward layout is a 10 minute routine; complex yards take longer.

What do you need to start?

A phone or tablet with PoolSketch installed, and one sign-in done beforehand so it works offline.
The property survey, or a tape measure to build the lot from scratch.
Your logo and business details entered once by an owner or admin, so every PDF carries them.

What are the steps?

Import the survey. Add the survey from the camera, a photo or a PDF, or start from a blank gridded yard. Straighten a photographed survey by dragging its four corners.
Set the scale. Mark one known length on the survey and type the real distance. Mark a second known length to check it.
Trace the lot. Trace the house, fence, property line and any no-build zones such as easements, with the setbacks you entered for this job.
Place and stretch the pool. Drag a pool from the template tray or draw one freehand. Stretch it and read the live size and the distances to the house, fence and property line.
Add the surroundings. Add a deck, steps, a spa and yard pieces. Create an option B if the homeowner wants to compare.
Show it in 3D. Tap 3D and walk the homeowner from morning light to a lit pool at night. Pick the interior finish, coping and deck together.
Send the PDF. Open the Send sheet, make the branded PDF with your logo, plan and 3D picture, and share it through the phone before you leave.

What should you tell the homeowner?

Say it is a concept sketch for discussion and that you will verify measurements on site. Every customer copy of the PDF says so too. If the homeowner asks for a price, give a range and name what could change it. See our permit and setback checklist for the questions to settle before design.

How long will it really take?

Ten minutes is a target for a plain layout on a clean survey. A complicated lot, many options or a long conversation will take longer, and that is fine. The point is that the sketch exists before you leave, not that a timer is met.

Try it on your own yard, free for 14 days

Common questions

Do I need a survey to start?

No. You can start from a blank gridded yard, or import the survey from the camera, a photo or a PDF.

Does it work with no signal?

Yes. Designs, 3D and the PDF handout work offline once the app is installed and you have signed in once.

Is the sketch accurate enough to build from?

It is built to scale from your plan, so it is a fair picture of the layout. It is a concept for discussion, not a construction drawing. Verify dimensions on site.