How To Design a Free-Form Swimming Pool
Choosing a design for a pool requires evaluating your needs as well as your backyard space before installation. Gone are the days when individuals simply installed a standard rectangular pool. Free-form pools have now become popular as the focal point of outdoor family gathering spaces. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Graph paper
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Property plat
- Long garden hose or rope
Instructions
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Measure the length of your house. Pools generally conform to the length of the home for aesthetic reasons so that this landscape feature doesn't overpower the home. Draw the shape of your home on your graph paper using the most accurate measurements possible from your property plat. Include any permanent features such a patios, decks and retaining walls.
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Decide the distance requirement for installation of the pool. You cannot step outside your home and right into the pool. Include some space between the home and pool as well as appropriate decking. Consider the pool area, decking and landscape as viable outdoor living areas.
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Experiment with a length of rope or garden hose with various shapes in the area where you plan to construct the pool. Place the rope or hose in a free-form shape, making adjustments by preference. Pools come in all sizes, shapes and designs with a host of added features to suit your needs.
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Consider additional features for your pool. Include an area for steps and a loveseat. Steps can create a bump out in the pool design or can be assimilated right into the free-form design. Also consider adding a spa as part of your swimming pool.
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Document any existing landscape features that you would like to retain. Walls, patios and decking can be assimilated into a free-form plan. Simply design your free-form pool around these permanent landscape features.
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Evaluate the existing slope of your backyard. If you have a sharp slope with a beautiful view of the ocean, a lake or landscape, consider adding a waterfall edge--sometimes called an infinity edge--to the pool. The special pool edge creates a drop-off effect at the water level with a collection reservoir that pumps pool water back below the line of sight.
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Work from a standard geometric shape such as a circle or rectangle if you're having trouble making a decision. Place the rope or hose on the ground and move sections of it around to gauge the effect.
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Envision the finished pool, including tile and coping (pool edging). If you'd like to enhance the visibility of a particular type of pool tile, consider adding scalloped or accent edges and corners to draw attention to the tile. Free-form pool design allows you to completely choose the shape of your pool, including the characteristics of the edges of the pool.
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Plan for depth allowances and features such as diving boards, slides, ladders and safety railings. Allow plenty of water and distance from walls if you'd like to include recreational additions. Consider that most pools require two skimmers and drains as well as an area to house pool equipment such as the pump, heater and valves.
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Transfer your free-form plan to the graph paper using general measurements. Pool companies provide designers as well as engineers to determine whether your dream free-form pool can become a reality.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit S.F. Heron
