Swimming Pool Shapes And Designs That Work
Swimming Pool Shapes And Designs
Are you thinking about having a pool installed at your home? It’s easy to find lots and lots of swimming pool shapes and designs online in photos that can make you drool.
In this article I’m simply going to talk about basic swimming pool shapes and designs as an overview so you can start getting the creative juices flowing.
Of course, pool photos you normally see online are surrounded by the best, most appealing landscapes imaginable. But it all starts with deciding on the precise swimming pool shape and design that best suits your swimming needs and wants.
The number of pool shapes are only limited by your imagination and budget, so it would be impossible to give a representation of every pool shape within a single article, but I have drawn at least some of the most common pool shapes for you.
Pool Design
Designs for your pool are certainly not limited to the pool shape or type alone. A good pool design may include landscaping. A deck, storage shed, a changing hut, and other things like a diving board, slide or other major and minor pool accessories are all possibilities too.
I admit I was just a bit jealous when a friend of mine installed a pool side bathroom complete with a toilet and shower. It was rustic and basic, but it was clean and kept his home free of little dripping bodies needing to “go potty”.
Types Of Swimming Pools
There are basically 3 types of swimming pools;
- in ground diving
- in ground non-diving, and
- above ground pools.
An in-ground diving pool may not have a shallow end but it will always have a deep end. The actual depths at different areas of the pool can vary widely but the diving end is usually at least 8 to 8′ 6″ deep or deeper. There are very strict codes that must be followed for depth (and for safety, too). Specifications and measurements for construction of a diving pool are stringent and you’ll want a reputable contractor to help in the design phase of a diving pool.
In a non-diving pool (also known as a sports or lap pool), the depths range from about 3-1/2 feet to about 6 feet (or less) deep. Obviously, there should never be any diving into a non-diving pool!
Above ground pools are typically 4 to 4-1/2 feet deep. Some above ground pools can be built with a 6 foot deep end.
Pool Construction Materials – The Difference Between Gunite & Shotcrete.
- Gunite – Concrete that is forced through a hose in it’s dry form and mixed with water as it comes out the end of the hose.
- Shotcrete – Concrete that is premixed with water and pumped through a hose.
(In gunite and shotcrete pools, plaster and tile and other finishing materials are added after the gunite or shotcrete walls and floors are dried.)
-
Fiberglass
– Fiberglass pools are pre-manufactured and trucked to the site of installation. A hole is dug for a fiberglass pool which the pool is set into. The pipes are hooked up before dirt is filled into the surrounding gap. I’ve heard that you can’t get a warranty for cracks in a fiberglass pool, but I believe one or two manufacturers do offer a fiberglass pool warranty. I understand Viking Pools offers one.
-
Vinyl Liner
– Vinyl liner pools can be either in ground or above ground.
-
Bladder
– Bladder pools are above ground pools that have to be “blown up” to use.
Unless you are already very clear on what pool design and type you intend to have installed, there really are a lot of things to consider before delving into having a pool installed on your property. I certainly hope I’ve helped you get a few of the creative juices flowing. I spent way too much time on the “swimming pool shapes and designs” drawings, but I think they ended up being helpful too.
My pool came with the house I bought so I really didn’t have many choices to make, but I am certain of one thing; a well built properly installed and maintained pool can (and should) last more than 20 years (a well-maintained pool can actually last over 30 years with structural maintenance intervals) so extra time spent on planning out your pool shape and design is well worth whatever it takes to proceed knowing you’ll love the results.
In a future article I’ll take a look at the pros and cons of different pool types.
