If you’re about to take the plunge into pool ownership, congratulations! There are so many factors to consider when it comes to designing the pool that best suits your unique needs. If you have children, you’ll want to make sure your new pool is as family-friendly as possible. That means thinking ahead about all of the different features you’ll want to include to make your pool safe and enjoyable for kids and parents alike.
In this series of articles, we’ll give you some helpful advice about how to make sure your backyard oasis is a fun and refreshing spot for all the members of your family.
When Deciding on Pool Size, Consider Your Activity Preferences
Different families have different visions in mind for how their pool will be used. If you have a large family or plan on doing a lot of entertaining, make sure your pool plans include enough room for a crowd. If you have just one or two children and prefer to use your pool for your private relaxation and enjoyment, you may opt for a smaller pool. Of course, from a practical standpoint, you’ll need to keep your budget and the amount of yard space you have available in mind as well.
When Deciding on Pool Depth, Consider Your Kids’ Age and Swimming Ability
If you have several younger children, an ample sized shallow end is an absolute must. Make sure that there’s enough space for your little ones and their friends to spend time together safely in the water. You want your shallow end to be no more than three feet deep. That will usually be the right size for children around six years old and above to stand up in without their heads going underwater. If you have even younger kids you want to accommodate, consider adding a baby pool to your patio design. If younger children and toddlers do join you in the pool or even if they’re in the baby pool, make sure they’re wearing coast guard-approved safety vests.
It’s important to have your shallow end marked off clearly with a pool safety rope that includes floats. These are the kind you’ll see at local city pools that mark the exact spot in the pool where the bottom begins to get deeper. Not only will the rope serve as a warning to deter non-swimmers from venturing into the deep end, but it can also serve as a life-saving device if a child should happen to get too close to the deep end and their feet should start to slip. They can grab onto the rope and either pull themselves to safety or call for help. Of course, children should always be carefully supervised by a responsible adult whenever they’re in the pool.
If your pool is primarily going to be used by children and people who don’t care about being able to dive into the pool, you may decide to go with a shallow, single-depth pool. This would be a pool that doesn’t have a deep end. These pools use less water, so they’re also an economical choice. If you plan on pool parties involving different age groups, however, you may want to include a deep end for your more advanced swimmers to enjoy.
In our next article, we’ll look at some of the other key aspects of designing the ideal backyard pool for your family.
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Lyon Financial: America’s Leading Pool Lender
Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.
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