How to Choose the Best Pool Spa Combo Design for Your Space and Budget

Why just install a swimming pool when you can create amazing pool spa combo designs? While this type of project takes a little more planning, the result will be an outdoor entertaining area your whole family will enjoy. You can benefit from having a soothing water massage in your spa or going for a swim to get some exercise. The following design points will help you create a combo that will fit perfectly into your yard.
Find the Best Location on Your Property
Before you start looking at pool design trends, try to envision the space you want to develop. Keep in mind that combining a spa with your pool means you’ll want to keep the two structures close to one another. Choose a location in your yard where you can build an immersive entertaining area.
Think about creating a seamless design that can serve as the centerpiece for your outdoor gathering spot. You might want to surround the area with benches, flowerbeds, or statues. If you consider these features ahead of time, you can come up with a design for your spa and pool combo that will align with your intentions.
Choose the Right Design for Your Yard Size
Before you draft a pool spa combo inground design with your pool builder, take some measurements of your property. Verify that the dimensions of your property’s layout are correct before you begin designing the project. This will help you ensure your design will fit into your yard.
While the size of your yard will play a role in designing a pool/spa combo, having a small yard won’t keep you from installing this type of structure. You might have to limit the size of your spa or design a longer and narrower swimming pool. Your builder can design an attractive and enjoyable layout that comfortably fits into your yard’s boundaries.
Pick a Pool Spa Combination Design
When it comes to designing a pool/spa combo, there are countless options to consider. Your builder can advise you on the best materials to use for the construction to get a longer lifetime or a more attractive design. Work closely with your pool contractor to plan a layout that appeals to you.
If you’re not sure how to style your pool/spa combo, consider some popular favorites. Form a natural look with a stone finish. You can make the area seem like a true oasis. Alternatively, glass panels provide a transparent swimming experience that enhances the sparkle of the pool’s water. Use tiles to add a splash of color to your project.
Set a Project Budget Before You Get Started
As with any construction project, it’s important to start with a spending budget to prevent massive overspending. Generally, construction contractors recommend adding a 15 to 20% budget buffer to cover unavoidable overages. Extra costs can result from supply chain issues, material substitutions, and other roadblocks that arise during the construction phase.
Although you need a budget, don’t worry that this will negatively impact the scope of your project. An experienced pool builder can help you find deals on materials and equipment. They might also suggest design alternatives that will align more closely with your plan. Even when you’re following a strict budget, you can build a beautiful pool/spa combo for your yard.
Inground Pool Combination Safety Considerations
Fortunately, you don’t have to be an expert in building code regulations to design your pool. Your builder will design a pool/spa combo that complies with the necessary building codes. This will probably involve designing a layout that’s confined by a fence with a locking gate. You can also choose between manual or automated pool and spa covers.
In addition, think about preventing slips and falls. Ensure that the area surrounding the pool and spa is firm and solid. Avoid using decking materials that become slick when wet. Ask your pool builder about installing handrails and other types of supports to help keep swimmers safe as they enter or exit the water.
Conserve Water With a Shared System
Water conservation is a significant concern when it comes to installing and using a swimming pool. That concern increases once you add a spa to the design. Keeping both structures filled with water can carry significant costs and potentially lead to massive water waste.
You can save money and waste less water with your pool spa combo inground design by creating a shared system. In this arrangement, the pool and spa will share one filtration and circulation system. In addition to conserving water, a shared system makes water care and equipment maintenance less complex.
Choose Between Integrated or Spillover Designs
The appearance of your pool/spa combo can involve a couple of different design styles. In an integrated layout, the spa gets built into the pool’s design. This results in a seamless layout that keeps both structures together. If you have a specific shape and size in mind for your swimming pool, an integrated design will include your spa within those dimensions.
A spillover design keeps the spa separate from the pool, but both structures will sit closely together. The structures can still share water from the same circulation and filtration systems, but you’ll have two separate structures. A separate spa provides a more private experience.
Boost Energy Efficiency With a Pool/Spa Combo
You can save energy with this type of layout by creating more shared systems. For example, a shared heating system maintains a consistent water temperature in both structures. A variable-speed water pump will boost efficiency by giving you the option to pump water to the spa and pool combination at a slower rate. Your pool builder can recommend more energy-efficient features for your design.
Turn to the Experts for Custom Design Help
Tampa Bay Pools is the leading pool builder throughout the Tampa region. We can design pools and spas that your family will enjoy for years to come. We’ll help you choose amenities and features that will enhance your swimming experience. Contact us to get started today!