Adding a custom swimming pool to your home is one of the most exciting decisions you can make as a homeowner. While other improvements can add value and beauty to your house, a swimming pool is something you and your family can enjoy all summer. However, inground pools are also permanent additions, so you'll want to consider your design choices as carefully as possible.
Although there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all pool, certain basic design considerations apply to nearly any home. If you're working with a contractor to build a custom pool for your house, these are three of the most critical mistakes you'll want to avoid during the design process.
1. Ignoring the Environment
Most swimming pools are fully outdoor features, meaning you and your guests will face constant exposure to the elements. As a result, it's crucial to consider the location and environment of your pool. Placing your pool in the center of your backyard might seem attractive, but this area will likely offer little shade and may also reduce the amount of privacy available.
When choosing where to locate your pool, always consider the environment around it. For example, placing your pool closer to your home may allow the house to provide shade at certain times of the day. On the other hand, trees or plants too close to the pool can lead to future maintenance issues and even potential damage. Always discuss these environmental considerations with your designer first.
2. Forgetting Social Spaces
Some people may install pools solely for exercise, but many use them as spaces for entertaining and socializing. Even if you only plan to use the pool with your family, you'll likely want some room to lounge around and spend quality time together. A typical square pool with a standard stair-step entry offers surprisingly little support for these more leisurely activities.
Fortunately, there are numerous options to improve the social utility of your pool, many of which involve modifying the entry steps. You can extend these steps at varying levels, adding space for lounging or as a tanning ledge. These modifications provide space to sit around and relax in the pool while leaving plenty of room to swim and enjoy the water.
3. Winging It
Arguably the worst mistake is thinking that swimming pool design is easy or that you can pick up enough information from browsing a few websites. In reality, swimming pool design is a complex combination of engineering and art. Attempting to design your whole pool on your own can lead to mistakes you'll likely regret many years into the future.
While hiring a professional designer can add a little more cost upfront, it can help you sidestep common pitfalls while ensuring you get the swimming pool of your dreams. For more information on swimming pool designs, contact a company near you.
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