You Can Have Early Morning Laps, Private Swim Lessons, and Relaxing Evenings Poolside 365 Day a Year.
The last resort you vacationed most likely had an indoor pool. So does the high-end gym or health spa in your town. Your kids’ school probably has one. And many homes throughout the United States have one. What are we talking about?
Indoor pools.
So why can’t you have one? Or can you?
The mere idea of it feels dreamy. You can easily envision yourself doing laps early in the morning before the rest of the family has woken. Or late in the evening after a long, stressful day of work. So relaxing. The kids could have private swim lessons right at home. And can you imagine a better birthday party venue for your little ones?
It turns out that if you want an indoor pool, you can have one. It isn’t the easiest, nor is it inexpensive to add a private indoor pool to your custom home plans or existing home. But it can be done, and there are plenty of reasons why you might want to. There’s also a lot to consider and really think about before pulling the trigger.
If you are seriously considering adding an indoor pool, the first thing to do is discuss this option with us. With our experience we can share in greater detail the process, the pitfalls, and so much more that you’d likely never think to ask on your own. Our team have years of experience building, renovating, and remodeling homes—many with pools—throughout the our region.
What to Consider
The ability to control every aspect of the pool’s environment is one of the biggest draws of the indoor pool. You can swim 365 days a year without having to clean up leaves or other outdoor debris. You can swim when it’s dark outside, and you can even include skylights, lots of sliding glass doors and panels, or even a retractable roof if you want to. Perhaps you want your indoor pool area to have amenities such as changing rooms, exercise facilities, a sauna or steam room, showers, or a wet bar. Your imagination and your budget are the only limits.
But it’s also many of these same features that add cost and potential maintenance issues later on. First and foremost, you cannot have an indoor pool without its own HVAC system. Consistent humidity and temperature levels are critical to comfort, air quality, and maintenance and upkeep costs. These systems are so crucial that, in many cases, they are the most expensive aspects of the entire pool-building process. An appropriate HVAC set-up also helps control evaporation.
Indoor pool owners should also invest in the best quality automatic pool cover they can afford, as this is the most effective means of reducing monthly energy costs.
Deck drainage is another consideration not to be overlooked, since puddling and wet decking can cause evaporation and increase humidity. Radiant flooring is also recommended as another way to address standing water and increase comfort.
And don’t forget about a pool heater and lighting.
Indoor pools also have the potential to cause mold growth and freeze/thaw damage behind walls if structural framing isn’t adequately addressed.
And then there is the matter of space? Do you have enough? For the pool, decking, and amenities you choose, and an equipment room? The most common sizes for indoor pools are 8’ x 15’, 12’ by 24’, and 30’ by 50’. Additional space for decking, amenities, and equipment and mechanicals needs to be added to those size estimates.
It should also be noted that while an outdoor in-ground pool can be built and then enclosed and/or attached to a home at a future point, this is not recommended. For the cost, it would be better to start all over with new, indoor pool construction. Doing it right the first time and ensuring your plan includes all you want it to is more efficient and less costly in the long run.
Once you’ve considered the above factors and their costs, it’s time to begin thinking about the kind of pool you want.
Types of Indoor Pools
Like outdoor pools, indoor pools are made of three types of materials: fiberglass, concrete or gunite, or vinyl liner.
Fiberglass: Fiberglass pools are a popular option. They are low maintenance and easy to clean, and manufacturers estimate owners spend as much as 75% less time and money maintaining fiberglass pools than other pool types. Since they are manufactured shells, they are easy to install, and installation can be completed in a matter of a few days. They are also durable and attractive.
They do cost more, however, than vinyl liner pools, and they are not customizable in size or shape.
Concrete/Gunite: On the other hand, concrete pools are entirely customizable, which is their most significant advantage. They are also durable, and many consider them to be the most attractive option. But they require more hands-on maintenance; algae and mold growth can be a terrible problem because of the porous nature of concrete. Because of this concern, more chemicals are necessary to maintain concrete, which adds to both short- and long-term costs. Concrete pools also have longer-term maintenance requirements, including periodic acid washing and replastering. Due to the custom nature of every concrete pool, installation can take quite a bit of time. Also, a concrete pool’s surface is abrasive and can be uncomfortable underfoot.
Vinyl Liner: This is the most affordable pool option, which makes it quite popular. Shapes and sizes can be customized (although customization adds to the cost). The biggest drawback to a vinyl liner pool is the frequency with which the liner needs to be replaced—once every 5 to 9 years. Over a lifetime, liner replacement costs can mean owners pay more than they would have if they had gone with a different option. While easy to clean and more comfortable underfoot than a concrete pool, this pool type does require more cleaning and maintenance than a fiberglass pool.
That’s your basic indoor pool primer in a nutshell. If you imagine an indoor pool as a part of your lifestyle and you have the budget for it but want to talk it over a little more or have questions, remember: Our team have years of experience working on projects like this. We would love the opportunity to share their knowledge with you and ensure the pool choices you make are the very best ones for you and your family.
For more information, call us or click here to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation consultation.
