Recreational swimming pool users, particularly children, don’t require great depth and it is adequate to provide a sloped floor which goes from a minimum depth of 36 inches to a maximum of 4 or 5 feet. A purely recreational pool also does not need to be any particular shape, so if you have a larger pool and small children a great idea is to shallow up your existing pool. This will also save on maintenance costs since your pool will have a smaller body of water.

On the other hand, athletic lap swimmers need a long and narrow space with at least 4-5 feet depth throughout, to avoid touching the bottom while swimming, and to ensure that turns at the pool’s ends can be executed safely. For competitive swimmers in training, providing a length of 25 yards or 25 meters will enable them to develop a swimming style usable in competition. If your existing pool is a free form pool and too shallow you can always consider changing the shape to more of a rectangle and adding depth.

Further options to consider are adding a sun ledge for smaller children to wade in and adults to enjoy for just dipping their feet in. Or a beach front entry pool which is also great for the family pet.

While diving boards and water slides are popular there is considerable debate regarding the required depth and diving well size for optimal safety. Consider the depth factor carefully when you speak with Prins Pools. You may choose to forgo the idea altogether to avoid tempting untrained people, particularly children, from participating in these inherently risky activities.

Choosing the Best Swimming Pool Shape for Your Back Yard

Simple geometric shapes (squares, rectangles, circles, and ovals) are the best for complementing a landscaped setting and enhancing the appearance of your property. These are the types of pools generally found in suburban neighborhoods. But more recently consumers are opting for free form shaped pools and choosing custom designs when changing the shape of their current swimming pool. Consumers are also wanting to take their older larger pools and make them smaller to cut maintenance costs and give them more landscape room in their backyard for gazebos, fire pits and more.

It is difficult to incorporate unusual pool shapes, particularly on residential lots, as they tend to compete with and overwhelm the rest of the landscape. However, odd shapes, like a bend in one side of a pool, may also be used to integrate natural features of your property, like special trees or boulders.