One of the latest and greatest trends is decorating your backyard with a swimming pool. Back in the day, it was a really expensive thing to own and maintain and it was reserved for mostly rich and famous. However, nowadays, the prices have dropped, there are more options than ever and people are starting to notice and take advantage of it. Having a swimming pool isn’t just a luxury anymore. It’s an affordable addition to your property and investment. Having it can increase your property’s value if you ever decide to sell.
However, having a yard big enough for a pool isn’t always the case. You can decorate your small yard beautifully, you can have a loft conversion if you lack space in your house, but you can’t really expand your yard. That is, unless you want to buy a neighbour’s yard. Since that is not a viable option, or at least not a very likely one, how to fit a swimming pool into a compact yard? Do you just go out and buy a jacuzzi? Well, you could, but there is a better option – a plunge pool. What is a plunge pool and what do you need to know about it beforehand is what we’re going to be talking about today. Without further ado, let’s start.
1. What’s the difference between a plunge pool and the rest of them?
First of all, we need to understand with a plunge pool is if we’re going to talk about its benefits and what it brings to the table. A plunge fibreglass pool is essentially a smaller version of a regular fibreglass one which makes it ideal for compact spaces.
Plunge pools offer everything that you might expect from regular-sized fibreglass pool, the only difference lies in size. Most plunge pools are somewhere between 2 to 7 meters in length and 2 to 4 in width. So, nothing too big, you probably won’t swim laps around. As far as depth goes, there no limits essentially – anything within reason is possible.
The one characteristic of the plunge pool, other than its size, that separates it from the rest of the bunch is that it usually has a large, encompassing seating area. Like we’ve said, it’s not a very large, so relaxing is something you’ll do more than swimming. It’ll be a good place for a cool down after a long, hard day. Just kick back, relax and enjoy the beautiful day.
2. Can you actually swim in it?
This is a very often question that is being asked when it comes to plunge pools. Because, when you think about it, something 7 meters long and 4 meters wide should be enough for a couple of strokes. However, the fact is, they are made for relaxing, not swimming around. That being said, companies like littlepools.com.au can hook you up with something called swim jets, so if you really want to swim, you can.
What swim jets do, is create an artificial current, which will allow you to swim in the pool. Something like a treadmill, but instead of jogging or running, you’re swimming. However, swim jets are not standard equipment, so, if that’s something you’re interested in, you’ll have to ask for it.
3. They are good for exercise
If you get a plunge pool with a swim jet, you can get some serious workouts out of it. The jets can provide a lot of resistance, making it suitable even for professional swimmers, not just workout enthusiasts. Also, even if you get it without the pumps, you can do stuff like water-obics.
4. What are they made of?
Unlike traditional concrete pools that take months to build and leave you backyard looking like a WW2 movie set, fibreglass plunge pools are really quick and simple to install. Fibreglass plunge pools, like their big brothers, are pre-made. Concrete plunge pools are an option, however, the price for more customization is a long construction process and a pretty much destroyed backyard.
On the other hand, shapes, colours and sizes of a fibreglass plunge pool are numerous. Even though they are pre-made, there are a lot of options, so you’re not stuck with a regular rectangle shape. They are made of several layers of durable materials, mostly fibreglass, hence the name.
5. How much of maintenance does it require?
To put it simply, not a lot of effort or money goes into maintaining these pools. Given the fact that they are small, they require less water which means – fewer chemicals. Additionally, fibreglass is known to be far more durable than the concrete, because it cannot crack, the colour doesn’t fade as easily and it’s non-porous surface does not allow for algae and other things to latch on to the walls. So the cleaning process is really easy. Once again, since they are so small, they are far more efficient when it comes to heating up and filtration, the trick once again being in the amount of water. Overall, it’s really easy and inexpensive to take proper care of these pools.
6. How are they installed?
The answer to this question varies on the type you opt-out for. You can either go for an in-ground, partially in-ground or an above-ground option. The in-ground is by far the most popular one because it just looks cleaner. If you pair it up with proper landscaping you can have yourself a little oasis in your backyard. For both in and partially in-ground type, the excavation is needed, whereas above ground pool only requires a bit of support from the outside.
7. How much do they cost?
The average cost of a fibreglass plunge pool is about $20,000. However, the price will vary based on a lot of factors. The size, the brand, build quality, additional features (like swim jets), installation process and so on. The smaller, basic model would probably be around $15,000, while the larger, more ‘equipped’ model could go as high as $50,000.
So, if you have a small backyard or you just want a small pond where you can sit back and relax, then this is the move for you. Hopefully, this article has provided you with some of the essential information about the plunge pools.
