Pool Lift Site Survey: Photos and Measurements to Send Before Ordering

Before ordering a pool lift, put the site information in one place: labeled photos, the manufacturer's completed deck profile form, and a short list of anything still unknown. A clear submission helps the seller, manufacturer, and installer discuss the same location instead of trying to identify it across separate messages.

This pool lift site survey checklist focuses on what to send and how to organize it. It is a starting packet for review, not an installation plan or confirmation that a particular lift will fit.

Still comparing lift types and the wider buying considerations? Start with our guide to swimming pool lifts. This checklist focuses on preparing the site information for review.

Start with one proposed location

Give the location a simple name, such as “main pool, near shallow-end steps.” Use that name on every photo, sketch, and form. If you are considering two locations, create a separate packet for each. Do not combine one location's measurements with another location's pictures.

Include the property name, city and state, whether it is a residential or shared-use facility, and whether the project is a new installation or a replacement. Name any lift models you are considering, but leave the choice open until the site has been reviewed.

Take photos that answer different questions

A close-up of the pool edge cannot show the surrounding deck. A wide shot usually cannot show the edge profile clearly. Collect both, keeping the proposed location recognizable throughout the set.

1. Pool overview. Show where the proposed location sits within the pool area. Mark it on a copy of the photo and keep the original.
2. Deck and approach. Show the space around the proposed location, including nearby walls, fences, steps, furniture, rails, and other obstacles. Include the route someone would use to reach it.
3. Pool-edge profile. From a safe position, show the relationship between the deck, coping, gutter if present, and waterline. If the shape is difficult to capture, flag that rather than relying on a misleading angle.
4. Detail views. Photograph projecting stone, raised edges, drainage features, or other details that are hard to see in the wider images. Label which feature each image shows.
5. Existing equipment, if applicable. Show the old lift, its readable identification label, and any visible anchor or anchor cover. Do not remove hardware to obtain a photo.

Stay in safely accessible areas. Do not enter the water, lean over the edge, or climb onto equipment to complete the packet. Ask the installer to collect anything you cannot document safely. Avoid including identifiable pool users in the photos.

Put measurements on the correct deck profile form

Ask which form is needed for the manufacturer and model under consideration. A pool lift deck profile records the shape and dimensions of the pool edge; a general description such as “standard coping” leaves too much open to interpretation.

For example, S.R.Smith's Deck Profile Sheet asks for the deck-to-water distance, coping height and width, gutter width, bullnose radius, and decorative stone setback. It also records deck material, pool level, and whether the project replaces an existing lift. The sheet provides several edge profiles and requests a separate drawing when none matches.

Use the reference letters on the requested form rather than inventing a different labeling system for your pool lift measurements. Write the units beside the values. For anything you cannot establish, write “unknown, installer to verify” instead of estimating or entering zero.

Include the measurement date and note any unusual conditions, such as a lowered water level or unfinished deck. For new construction, identify the drawing revision and clearly distinguish planned dimensions from measurements of completed work. If a photo and a form appear to disagree, explain the difference before sending them.

Separate observations from items needing verification

Your packet should make uncertainty visible. A photograph of a concrete surface does not establish the underlying construction, and an existing anchor should not be described as compatible simply because it is already there. Attach any available construction drawings, previous lift model details, or installation records, and ask the installer and manufacturer what still needs checking.

Keep a short open-items list. Useful entries might be “deck construction not documented,” “old lift serial number unreadable,” or “waterline photographed during maintenance.” This is more informative than leaving blank fields that could be mistaken for omissions.

For projects subject to accessibility requirements, ask the responsible project professional to review the proposed location and applicable rules. The U.S. Access Board's pool lift provisions address location, seat position, clear deck space, and other requirements. Photos alone do not establish compliance, and this checklist does not determine which requirements apply to a property.

Check the packet before sending

• Same location: the photo labels, form, and sketch all refer to the same proposed spot.
• Readable files: open each attachment and check that numbers and identification labels are legible.
• Clear filenames: use names such as MainPool_01_Overview.jpg and MainPool_DeckProfile_2026-10-26.pdf.
• Known and unknown: distinguish recorded measurements, planned dimensions, and items awaiting verification.
• One contact: identify who can answer site questions and whether an installer has been selected.

Copy this pool lift inquiry template

Replace the brackets and remove anything that does not apply. If the contact form does not accept attachments, use the message to ask how to share your packet.

Confirm the site before moving ahead

Keep the reviewed packet with the project records. If the proposed location, deck, or pool-edge details change, flag the change rather than relying on the earlier submission. S.R.Smith's aXs2 owner's manual specifically requires the installer to confirm the deck profile information before installation and calls for a new submission if it does not match the site.

You can browse Wheelchair Liberty's pool lift collection while gathering the packet. When you are ready to ask about your project, start through the contact page with the location summary and your open questions. The manufacturer and installer must confirm the appropriate model and installation requirements for the actual site.