How soon after installing an in-ground pool can you build a patio around it?

You should wait at least 18-24 months after the pool installation to build a concrete patio around your swimming pool. This waiting period is necessary to allow the pool to settle, as the ground around the pool will shift and compact over time.

If you build the concrete patio too soon, it can crack and damage the pool due to the shifting ground. Additionally, any water that gets beneath the patio can cause further damage to the pool and/or patio.

This applies to concrete paving only. Wood patios or decking can generally be built much sooner, within 1-3 months of pool completion, as long as the ground around the pool is stable and compacted.