Once you’ve considered the possibilities unique to an indoor swimming pool and realize what a great addition it can be to your home (see Part 1), it’s time to start the planning process. While there are many benefits unique to indoor pools, there are also some challenges; but as long as you know what to avoid, you can eliminate problems down the road.
Don’t Skimp on These
Since your new indoor pool will be part of your home, you want to ensure that it won’t negatively affect other aspects of your home; this means using the highest quality materials possible, when it comes to the foundation as well as ventilation and dehumidification systems. If you aren’t careful about ventilation, condensation can harm interior finishes. You’ll want to research the prices associated with these truly must-have additions before you solidify plans for extras that may be nice to have. That swim-up bar really isn’t nearly as important as making sure your pool is well supported and that the air quality throughout your home does not suffer. If you’re going to skimp, you can easily do so by compromising on the high-end tile you’d like to have surrounding your spa, but don’t do it on the infrastructure.
Know Indoor-Specific Issues
In addition to proper ventilation and dehumidification, indoor pools will require a different installation consideration than outdoor pools in one specific respect. While construction will mostly be the same as for outdoor pools, indoor pools will require a deck that slopes toward the pool, rather than away from it. Outdoors, the reason you want the deck to slope away from the pool is simple: to keep debris and runoff from contaminating it. However, this is not an issue with indoor pools. Instead, you want the deck to slope toward the pool so that any water will run back toward the pool rather than toward the walls of your home. A huge part of the equation, when it comes to planning your indoor pool, is to work with an architect as well as licensed and insured contractors familiar with indoor pools.
Realize What You’re Creating
When you choose an indoor swimming pool, you’re not just adding a pool to your home; you’re actually adding an entire ecosystem. Once you have the right infrastructure in the plans, it’s time to consider ambiance. You can make the indoors look and feel like the outdoors by including plenty of natural light, via skylights, floor-to-ceiling windows, or both. You can also add LED lighting and a sound system with remote-control capabilities to allow you to set and change the look and feel of the room at the push of a button. Add-on amenities such as waterfalls, fountains, plants, and entertainment extras can make this space truly feel like a resort — and all within the walls of your home, accessible all year round. If you need some design inspiration, check out these amazing indoor pool rooms at House Beautiful!
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