5 Practical Considerations When Choosing A Pool Shape
What shape should your in-ground pool be? While much of your choice should lie in the aesthetics you want to achieve, pool design must also be driven by practical considerations. After all, this is a large-scale investment of time, money, and space. So, what practical factors should you weigh to find the perfect shape? Here are a few of the most important.
1. Your Budget. Different shapes and sizes have different effects on the pool construction and installation budget. The more basic shapes—rectangles and ovals, for instance—are easiest as they may come from standard forms. These will be the least expensive. The more freestyle and customized your shape, the more it will cost to design and install.
2. Safety and Ground Features. Your pool will need to meet the necessary safety requirements and codes where you live. This can impact its shape in many ways. You may not be able to use a shape that extends into parts of the yard that house underground utilities or gets too close to the perimeter of the yard. You may also be restricted as to the location in the yard, which could limit recommended shapes.
3. Square Footage Available. If your lot isn't as large as you want, it will affect which shapes of pool are advisable. Rectangular and square shapes take up the most space in the yard. Ovals and kidney shapes leave the most square footage open for decking and other use. And you might be able to build more pool in a smaller location by using less common shapes, such as the L shape that fits into corners.
4. Inclusion of a Spa. Do you want to add an attached or semi-attached spa? The spa needs additional space, which may necessitate a change in shape if your lot is limited or you have a specific location in mind. For instance, a spa might fit better in the curve of a figure-8 or kidney shape pool rather than a circle or Roman-style pool.
5. Maintenance. Be sure you can easily access all areas of the pool for regular maintenance. This could be challenging if the shape doesn't fit well into the space you want to use. Maintenance could also be an issue if the pool extends underneath messy trees or into areas of the landscape with overgrown greenery.
Clearly, the shape of a pool is impacted by many practical considerations. The best way to decide on the right shape for your backyard is to consult with an experienced pool construction contractor as early as possible.
For more information, reach out to a business that provides swimming pool construction near you.
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