A Guide for Optimal Pool Placement & Orientation
When you are planning to build a swimming pool in your yard, one of your first design choices will involve the pool’s placement. Your swimming pool will become a focal point of outdoor entertaining and recreation. That gives this decision extra weight and relevance. Choosing the perfect placement will affect your ability to enjoy your swimming experience.
For some homeowners, the lot size of their properties might limit their ability to pick an ideal location. However, there’s a much broader range of choices when the property has a larger lot size. In these cases, picking the right position for an inground swimming pool might depend on the following factors.
Think About How Sunlight Exposure Affects the Perfect Pool Placement
You’ll want to avoid having shadows cast over your swimming pool whenever possible. Aside from maximizing your swimming enjoyment, plenty of sunlight exposure can improve your pool’s efficiency. Since the sun will keep the water warmer through natural means, your pool’s heating system will run fewer cycles. This reduces energy costs and saves on the heater’s wear and tear.
It might seem like a simple matter to keep your pool exposed to the sun, but anything can cast a chilly shadow. A neighbor’s home, a thriving tree, or a storage shed on your property can cast shadows over the water. These features can block enough of the sun’s rays to cool the water.
Before designing your pool, spend a few days monitoring your yard. Check it at various times throughout the day to see how the sun’s rays hit your property. If you have enough space in your yard, look for a location that receives the most sunlight. This might involve positioning your pool in the center of your yard where there are fewer obstacles.
Plan for Convenient Pool Access
As you choose a location for your swimming pool, think about the level of access you want to allow. If your family consists of more adults or includes older children, you might want to create easier access. In that case, positioning the swimming pool or pool/spa combo closer to your house would create the ideal situation.
If you have smaller children or outdoor pets, making the pool a little more difficult to access might seem like a better option. In that case, moving the pool’s location farther away from the back of the house gives you extra time to stop unwanted pool access.
You should also consider the frequent traffic between your pool and your home. Unless you focus on pool designs that include outdoor restrooms, changing rooms, and an outdoor kitchen, expect swimmers to frequently travel back and forth. A location that’s closer to the house might meet this need more readily.
Consider the Ideal Size and Sounds
If you have a larger family or expect to entertain guests on a regular basis, looking at larger pool designs will help you accommodate groups. Your pool parties will offer more enjoyment when there’s enough space for multiple swimmers. You can create an entire outdoor entertaining area that will accommodate diverse social events.
In addition to spaciousness, think about the sounds that more people will create. If you work from home or engage in complex hobbies, there might be times when you’ll feel distracted by the sounds of outdoor recreation. Placing the pool too close to your house can amplify those noises and lead to a loss of productivity.
Try moving the pool’s position a little farther away from the back of your house. Since a safety fence is a requirement for all swimming pools, your design can include a tall privacy fence that helps block sound waves from reaching your house. An experienced pool builder can offer more design suggestions that address this issue.
Predict Your Future Pool Cleaning Challenges
Even the best pool designs won’t eliminate the need for regular maintenance. In addition to keeping up with the chemical makeup of the water, pool maintenance includes keeping the water clean. While the pool will have a filtration system, you’ll still have to remove debris from the water on a daily basis.
There are some things you can do to reduce your pool cleaning burden. Think about the location of trees on or near your property. In addition to casting a shadow over the water, a nearby tree can lead to branches, leaves, and pest droppings landing in the pool.
Consider your pool landscaping ideas as well. Placing flowers and shrubbery too close to the pool can lead to water contamination. It might also result in more pests gathering around your pool. Use your deck as a barrier to keep your lawn and foliage farther away from the pool water. This will help you create a beautiful space while lightening your maintenance tasks.
Leave Room for Your Safety Fence When Making Pool Designs
Whether you’re building a residential or commercial swimming pool, Florida building codes require fences around every pool and spa. Additionally, each pool fence must have a self-closing and self-locking gate. You might also decide to include an automatic pool cover or a solar pool cover.
These regulations ensure that unattended children won’t access the pool and be harmed. This type of pool protection also keeps pets, stray animals, and other unwanted visitors from accessing the pool without your knowledge. In this way, installing a fence provides both safety and security for your outdoor entertaining area.
Incorporate your safety fence into your pool’s design to make sure your yard can accommodate all of the required pool features. Starting with a full design will also make it easier to position your swimming pool in your yard. You’ll have accurate measurements to use in selecting the perfect place for your swimming pool.
Get Pool Design Help From the Pros
Tampa Bay Pools is the proven leader in the swimming pool and spa industry. We can help you customize a swimming pool that addresses your property’s unique characteristics, your community building codes, and your personal design preferences. To get started with the design and construction of your custom pool, contact us to schedule a consultation.