Make Swimming Your Happy Hour
Nothing beats cooling off with a swim after a long day of work in a desert country like the United Arab Emirates. Swimming is the world’s fourth most popular sport. Just two and half hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as swimming, bicycling, or running, can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Swimming is also a great way to get and stay in shape. Exercising in water is preferable to exercising on land because one can exercise for longer periods of time in water without experiencing muscle or joint discomfort.
Perhaps you are a regular swimmer who uses the swimming pool at your sports club and are considering installing your own pool at home, or perhaps you have recently purchased a home and wish to install a pool. Regardless of your motivation, if you would like to learn more about what it takes to build a pool in accordance with the “Dubai Municipality Public Safety Technical Guidelines”, Sirwiss-partnered local pool installation and maintenance experts in the UAE are happy to share their knowledge.
Important Factors to Consider
Having a swimming pool at home provides numerous advantages and serves a wide variety of functions. Pools serve a wide variety of purposes, from providing a place to unwind and have fun, to improving health (aerobics and hydrotherapy), to enhancing the aesthetic value of a property, and even as a status symbol. However, a pool also requires dedication; a good pool is a sizable financial outlay that can quickly lose its appeal, be underutilized, or even pose a safety risk if proper care and maintenance are neglected.
While the end result (pleasure) may be straightforward, the design process is complex, and careful consideration of all factors is required before moving forward.
1. Why: So… Why Do You Need a Swimming Pool?
Start by asking yourself, “Is it absolutely necessary?” A swimming pool requires considerable time and resources to construct, maintain, treat, power, water, and operate. Consider alternatives, such as joining a local club and using its pool, unless your spouse and children find it inconvenient to use a shared pool during the hot summer months and a private pool would be more practical.
2. Where: Where Would You Build Your Swimming Pool?
There are numerous factors to consider when deciding whether to install an indoor, outdoor, or hybrid pool. For instance, the function and use may impose certain requirements (such as size) on the location of the pool. The implications on adjacent structures, underground services, geotechnical characteristics, and hydrology of the site are pragmatic but crucial considerations (a swimming pool will weigh a lot!). You must also ensure that the pool is situated in the optimal location for drainage and services. Once you have an understanding of what is actually possible, you can begin to consider the design and aesthetics.
2.1 Outdoor Pools: For an outdoor pool, you should look for the most spacious area with the fewest obstacles, so you can get the most sun, and preferably away from trees (less debris falling into the pool, root protection zones, avoiding overshadowing). This will tell you how much space you have and how big your pool can be.
Pools on sloping land are beautiful, especially when they are designed as infinity pools that connect the water to great views. Climate will also affect where you choose to build one.
Due to the hot weather in the UAE and life focused on the indoors, the pool appearance and composition is of utmost importance becoming a feature of the property rather than an intensely used pool.
You will also have to think about planning rules. Most of the time, you don’t need permission to put a pool in the backyard of your home. However, you should check with the local planning authority because tree preservation orders, property listing status, conservation area restrictions, and other things might limit what you can do.
2.2 Indoor Pools: Indoor pools are preferred in colder climates because they can be used all year and maintain a consistent temperature. More consideration must be given to the layout of these pools, as the choice of finishes affects not only aesthetics but also practical considerations such as acoustics and maintenance. Above-ground pools with a great deal of sunlight and airflow necessitate a different design strategy than underground pools, where lighting and furnishings have a much bigger impact on how a person experiences the space.
2.3 Hybrid Pools: This pool is a hybrid, best from both worlds, as it combines both indoor and outdoor features. These have been successful in linking the advantages of the two approaches. An insulated boom slides up from the pool’s floor and meets a window that moves down from above, dividing the pool in two. The window and boom can be opened to make one long pool, depending on the method and arrangement used, or the window can be left open during the colder months while just the boom is lowered. The water treatment facilities for the indoors and outdoors are kept separate so that the outdoors can be kept at a temperature high enough to get through the winter while the indoors are kept at a comfortable temperature for daily use and no energy is wasted (these are additionally protected with covers to lower energy loss).
3. For Whom: Who Will Be the Users
Now that we know where the pool will go, we can start planning how it will be used and by whom. Size, depth, and other useful features will all be affected by the intended use. What kind of ladders or stairs should be used, for instance. Different people build pools with different goals in mind, and these factors should be taken into account as the pool is being designed.
4. Finishing Touches
The relationship between finishes and their respective functions is direct. Some pools will be enhanced by lighter accents, while others will benefit from a darker color scheme. Textured walls and a complex ceiling will enhance the acoustical environment.
Lighting and feature walls such as planting (to be chosen to blend with the pool environment) will bring tranquility and a sense of home to the interior design. A feature pool will emphasize quality and aesthetic appeal, while dynamic use will necessitate durability and usability of the materials, such as slip resistance and chemical resistance.
Undoubtedly, a dark pool will make a statement, but illumination is extremely important. This will also warm up more with solar gains, making it suitable for an outdoor pool in cooler climate, whereas in a hotter climate, this may not be the optimal choice. The finishes must also complement the available light; will the swimming pool be lit naturally (for instance, even in a basement with skylights) or artificially?
Finishes can range from in-situ monolithic mineral coatings to vinyl linings to conventional tiling in tiles or mosaics. In addition to glass walls, stainless steel pools appear to be gaining popularity.
Confirm with the manufacturer that the proposed use of all materials, especially natural ones like stone, is compatible with the selected finish. The pool environment should be resistant to all finishes and materials. Even those containing a negligible amount of chlorine are corrosive if the wrong materials are chosen.
5. Practicality
It’s important to keep a number of factors in mind when designing a swimming pool. Safety, accessibility, fire escape, pool covers, pool depth, energy efficiency, heating, and chlorine levels are just some of the many factors to consider.
Consider who will have access and how they will gain entry in terms of security. The risk of drowning in a swimming pool is real. Fences are required to protect swimmers and bystanders. These can be built in if necessary; for outdoor pools, this could mean installing landscaped blocking with a locked gate, and for indoor pools, this could mean installing coded doors. In addition, sensors can be set up to sound an alarm.
People have strong aversions to swimming in public pools due to the presence of chlorine, both in terms of its pungent odor and its harsh texture. Low-chlorine, ultraviolet (UV) light, salt, and so on are just some of the alternatives. There are benefits and drawbacks to every option; some thrive outside where the sun speeds up the chemical reactions, while others are perfectly fine inside. It’s also important to create a barrier between the pool and the house to prevent unpleasant odors from the pool from spreading throughout the home.
It is important that swimming pools are designed to consume as little energy as possible. When the pool is not in use, a cover can prevent the water from losing heat. You should also put in place light fixtures that have an appropriate IP rating and are both energy efficient and environmentally friendly. However, energy efficiency isn’t a natural fit for every design. The local climate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) suggests that a swimming pool with a cooling facility (and an enhanced filtering system due to the sand storms) would be ideal.
6. Being Extraordinary
Impression management is a game of fine tuning your pool design. Possible accessories include speakers and there are even models that can be used underwater. Depending on the swimmer’s age or fitness level, the pool’s depth can be adjusted by shifting the pool’s flooring. In most cases, a pool is part of a larger package. Swimming pools are a common amenity in health and fitness centers, along with other amenities like gyms, saunas, and steam rooms. A home spa completes with a pool can also feature a sauna, steam room, ice shower, and plunge pool. An in-ground pool with a sunken bar for easy access and proper serving height. This can be kept entirely distinct, or it can be “joined” with a body of shallow water that creates the illusion of one continuous space.
Variety of Swimming Pools Styles and Designs
There are a variety of swimming pools, some of which are only for fun and games, while others are used for serious sports training or hydrotherapy. Therefore, the function serves as the driving force behind the selection of pool type, design, and aesthetic.
1. Above-Ground Pool
Above-ground pools are inexpensive and easy to maintain. This is the best option for a low-budget family water zone.
2. Recreational (Family) Pool
A recreational swimming pool is ideal for creating a family water activity zone. To make things more relaxing and fun, add some exciting features.
3. Architectural Pool
An architectural pool, as the name would imply, would have to be well-ordered and symmetrical. It’s all about clean lines and a well-planned layout, which should, ideally, follow the contours of the home. Furthermore, it is constructed from the same materials as the house, creating a unified and refined appearance.
4. Infinity Pool
It’s not uncommon to hear infinity pools referred to by other names, such as vanishing edge pools, zero edges, negative edges, or infinity edges. These structures are one-of-a-kind creations that were built with one thing in mind: to show off the breathtaking panorama outside. When constructed properly, these pools give the appearance of having a waterfall off to one side. Falling water is only noticeable for the visual effect it has because you cannot hear it. They are typically considerably more costly than comparable residential alternatives.
5. Lap Pool
In most cases, the primary motivation for building a lap pool is health and fitness. They are typically long (more than 50 feet) and narrow, giving swimmers plenty of room to work on their stroke technique and form. They come in a rectangular form and may be equipped with tools that improve the user’s speed and coordination.
6. Olympic-Size Pool
Pool competitions are a significant component of the Olympics, and as such, they are held in a mega water arena. Despite this, an Olympic-sized pool is not a feasible residential option due to its large footprint, high operational costs, and extensive maintenance requirements. Typically, such pools can be found in swimming clubs, Olympic training centers, and other specialized facilities.
7. Natural Pool
A natural pool can be symmetrically laid out, feature boulders and waterfalls, or have a modern and minimalist design. There is a designated “regeneration” area in the pool where the aquatic landscaping doubles as a filtration system. The water in a natural pool is pristine from top to bottom. The cost of these pools is substantially greater than that of a regular pool.
8. Saltwater Pool
Many people who suffer from joint pain and swelling turn to saltwater baths for relief because of the well-documented therapeutic effects of this method. As a result, the goal is more therapeutic than leisurely. The use of a chlorinator isn’t restricted to in-ground pools; it can be installed in an above-ground pool as well.
9. Plunge Pool
Completely submerging yourself in one of these pools is a great way to unwind after a strenuous workout. In terms of therapeutic value, they are well-known for their ability to relax tense muscles and alleviate overall body stiffness. Furthermore, the pool can be constructed independently or as a part of a larger in-ground pool, making these structures extremely versatile. While from the outside they could be mistaken for a spa, once you climb in, you’ll quickly realize that they’re not.
10. Spool
A spool combines the concepts of a spa and a pool. Costs associated with building a standard-sized pool have led some homeowners to opt instead for smaller, in-ground pools. Additionally, this layout requires less effort in the long run to keep running and maintain.