Many homeowners love their streamlined, conventional, chlorinated backyard swimming pools. While it doesn’t look natural at all, it does look sleek and clean and relaxing! Those pool owners are prepared to perform – or pay for a pool service to perform – routine maintenance and purchase and stock the chemicals needed to keep it up and running. They may or may not be concerned about the negative effects of those chemicals on the environment as well as on their skin.
But maybe you’re not like those “other pool owners.” You’re looking for something different, something better. If that’s the case, then a Natural Swimming Pool or Pond might be just the right fit for a nature-loving person like you!
In Part 1, we took a peek at the basic characteristics and history behind NSPs, as well as their general benefits. In Part 2, we looked a little more closely at the benefits as well as a few potential drawbacks of this increasingly popular swimming pool type.
Added Considerations for Natural Pools
In addition to the higher cost of installation and larger amount of real estate needed for a Natural Pool, another potential issue that comes with choosing an NSP, depending on your personal preferences, is that not everyone is as enamored with the look of a natural swimming hole; depending on algae, the organic water could take on a brownish tint. While you can’t filter all the organic matter out, it won’t keep you from being able to safely swim in your NSP. But if what you really want is to see clearly through your swimming pool water to a bright blue surface, a Natural Pool might not be the best choice.
Local Considerations for Natural Pools
One more issue to consider is that since NSPs aren’t nearly as in-demand as their conventional counterparts, contractors adept and experienced at installing them will likely be in shorter supply. Before choosing a contractor, you’ll want to ensure that the company has successfully installed not only other swimming pools, but Natural Pools as well.
Ask to see photos and maybe even references of other local homeowners for whom they’ve installed these kinds of pools. Ask those homeowners not only about their experience with the contractor in question, but also about their satisfaction with their Natural Pools. Not every climate or geographic area is well-suited to this pool style, and this kind of local research can help you determine whether this pool will be a good fit for you and your little corner of the world.
One added aspect of your setting that you’ll want to think about is precisely how your yard is oriented and how that relates to the sun; since a Natural Pool won’t include a heater, how much direct sunlight it gets will be extremely significant. If you’re in the right climate, and your pool is unshaded and exposed to the sunny side of your home, it may well remain a comfortable temperature even without a heater; however, if you prefer more of a spa-like water temperature, that’s one more reason you might want to reconsider your choice of an NSP.
Even if you go with a traditional pool, you can make choices about the pool’s shape, liner, and surrounding landscaping that can give it a more natural vibe.
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