The following is a guest post by Laura McHolm, director of organizational life and co-founder of NorthStar Moving Company
Designing a backyard swimming pool is a daunting project. Of course, safety comes first. However, we all long for a peaceful and beautiful pool oasis. It may seem impossible to create a safe and beautiful home swimming pool, but in fact it is very possible with the right guidance.
Designing a family swimming pool has very different considerations than designing a swimming pool with a visual display for adults to use occasionally. When building a swimming pool for the entire family, be sure to pay attention to both safety and functionality during the design process. The good news is that you can create an amazing swimming pool, a glowing waterfall, and a quiet spa, all of which have strict security measures.
In order to understand how, I and our Luxury partner LC swimming pool design + consulting Founder Lisa Cook’s design suggestions on how to create the family pool of your dreams. “From the most durable and non-slip materials, to safety fences and step arrangements, they can still be gorgeous,” Lisa said. “It’s important to get into the details throughout the process. If one aspect is overlooked, there may be a difference between the pool you like and the pool that makes you frustrated.
The following are Lisa’s primary considerations when designing a complex and safe swimming pool environment:
- Suitable pool deck: Be careful when choosing materials around the pool. Certain types of stone, concrete, marble, and ceramic tiles can absorb heat, so that the feet of children and pets may be burned. Tiles can also be very smooth when wet. Test the material and ask questions about its slip resistance and heat absorption.
- Gates and fences: When constructing a family swimming pool, it is absolutely crucial to select and inspect safety gates, fences and pool covers. They provide an important protective layer to prevent small feet from entering the pool area without monitoring. Three types are checked in the early design stage: telescopic covers, mesh fences and glass doors. No matter which security gate and fence you choose, you will need at least one, and it is best to pair it with the pool cover.
- Pool placement: Ideally, there should be a certain distance between the back door of the home and the swimming pool to install safety measures. For example, a popular layout is to open the indoor living room door directly to the outdoor living room space, and then the swimming pool is next to the outdoor seating. For family swimming pools, this privacy layout is not ideal because it is more difficult to install mesh fences or other security doors around the pool.
- Pool shape: If the enclosure space is limited, the best pool shape is a rectangular pool because it can be covered with an automatic cover. The rectangular pool is attractive, easy to install in the allowed space, and easy to cover. Kidneys, lagoons, or other unusually shaped pools usually require mesh or glass fences. The automatic cover is only available for standard rectangles.
- depth: If you plan to study in depth, please make sure it is appropriate in depth. The legal diving depth must be 6 feet, especially when children over 8 years old, jumping is safer. As long as 1/3 of the pool length is deep, this is sufficient. Also, don’t put your deep end in the middle. Some pool contractors suggest this is a way to get more shallow water space, but it is a risk of drowning! This is too messy and dangerous for children.
- trend: Don’t succumb to trends. For example, a Baja step or shelf, a ledge that can be built along the inside of a swimming pool, is fashionable. Unfortunately, they have never really been fully utilized as you might think, and they take up quite a bit of pool space. Unless your pool is large, don’t give up too much space in order to take a big step. You’d better have a bench that extends along one side of the length, at least half of it. Rather than pursuing fashion, it is better to ask yourself whether it is practical and is it suitable for our design?
- Jacuzzi location: This can be a tricky question. For family swimming pools, I recommend placing a jacuzzi at the shallow end of the pool instead of the deep end. Once children are old enough to start using the deep part, they will be attracted to it like bees to honey. There will be endless jumping and diving, and playing on the big raft in the depths. In these activities, you don’t want to have sharp corners from the jacuzzi anywhere near the children. If possible, it is best to put the jacuzzi completely aside or at least at the shallow end.
- Chemical considerations: No matter what type of chemical concentration you choose, you still need chlorine. Even salt water pools need chlorine. do not be afraid. It is the most stable and reliable pool cleaning solution. Chlorine is the only substance that can effectively kill algae and bacteria, and when maintained at an appropriate level, it can kill COVID-19. It is also the easiest to maintain, most cost-effective, and has the highest success rate of chemical stability. In addition, it will not discolor the surface of your pool like salt water, nor will it corrode your pipes. If you have a concrete pool surface, think twice before using salt water. Salt pools are not very stable and algae accumulation is common, which means you still need to “shake” the pool with a combination of acid and chlorine from time to time.
Whether you are building a new pool or renovating an existing pool, please take the time to plan a pool that is suitable for you and your family to grow up. Define your wish list, budget, schedule, and consider the needs of children of different ages. Be sure to ask yourself: How long do you plan to stay in this home? When children are water-safe teenagers, is the swimming pool still the perfect design?Then with Experts Outline the ideal family swimming pool, it is safe and stylish, and will grow with your family. Soon you will enjoy Marco Polo’s game, enjoy the surrounding scenery, and know that this is a safe environment for your whole family, so you can rest easy!
Laura McHolm is an organization, moving and warehousing expert and the co-founder of NorthStar Moving Company. NorthStar Moving Company is an award-winning “A+” company that specializes in ecological luxury moving and warehousing services. www.northstarmoving.com
