Should Your Tampa Bay Pool Include a Deep End? The Pros and Cons

You have many decisions to make when designing a new swimming pool in Tampa and the surrounding area. With all of the features, finishes, accessories and technology available today, it helps to have an experienced professional in your corner. At Tampa Bay Pools, our expert design team has made a name for itself navigating customers just like you through the ins and outs of the pool design process to the backyard destination of their dreams.

One of the issues clients frequently have questions about is whether or not to include a deep end in their pool design. Though offering several distinct advantages, there are both pros and cons to building a deep end that should be carefully weighed before your pool is designed. Let’s examine some of the most important.

Pros

Typically five feet or more, deep areas are usually found at an end of the pool and are desired by customers for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, a family wishes to incorporate a diving board or other structure such as a jumping rock or wall or a water slide for recreation, and understands the importance of water deep enough to allow for safe usage.

Often, deep areas are requested by customers with taller family members. Adult men and those of above average height often find it difficult to enjoy themselves in water that only reaches their chest or stomach. Many are more comfortable in water deep enough to submerge most of their bodies, and fun activities such as water polo for example, require deeper water to enjoy.

Another advantage, though one less often thought of by most homeowners, is the tendency of deeper water to stay cooler throughout the Tampa Bay area’s long, hot season. Who doesn’t love a cool, refreshing dip on a hot summer day?!

Cons

With the pros in mind, let’s take a look at a few cons. First, and most notable is the amount of pool real estate that a deep end consumes. Remember that a pool’s floor doesn’t suddenly drop to deep end depths, but gradually slopes. This prevents the unsafe condition of a harsh underwater corner that swimmers risk falling off of or swimming into, but the transition also eats up a lot of valuable space- area that may not be quite deep enough to accommodate diving, but is too deep for children or even shorter adults to stand in, and is therefore not very conducive to play.

The space hogging nature of a deep end also means that less area is available for typical play purposes. Most customers are limited in the size of pool they can build not only by the size of a conventional backyard but also by the fact that in pools, as in most construction, size is in direct proportion to expense. In other words, a bigger pool usually costs more money. The size of an average pool, if it has a deep end, will not also have enough space with shallow to moderate depths suitable for, say, a game of water volleyball!

Finally, the deeper a pool, the more it costs to build. Pools with a deep end require more excavation, and deeper depths mean more surface area which requires more materials such as steel, gunite and plaster to cover. This also equates to more water required to fill a deep pool, which then requires higher horsepower pumps and/or demands longer pump run-time to ensure proper water circulation and filtration. Not to mention that more water means more chemicals needed to maintain proper ph levels! All of these “mores” cost more money to build and maintain.

Whether you know exactly what you want in your backyard retreat, or are just getting started collecting ideas, you have come to the right place. Browse through our galleries of award-winning pools, spas, and outdoor living areas. Then, for further advice on all of your pool design considerations, call the experts at Tampa Bay Pools and schedule your free design consultation today!

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