Hold a tape measure up to your side and unles your 4ft tall 3ft is WAY to shallow. I agree with Suz people either like sports or a diving area, either way 4ft is a great starting point. We just finished and started with 4 and I wouldn't change it. Also take into consideration that you will probably have benches in the shallow so even a shorter person will be fine.
Planning a new pool and backyard build, Phoenix, AZ
- Thread starter daefash
- Start date
You cannot do a good crawl stroke in 3'. Another thing to really look into and ask about is the depth of the WATER. Some people measure from floor to coping for the depth. The water depth will be from floor to the middle of the skimmer face plate!
Kim
Kim
So my initial plan was 3' entry, 5' middle and 4,5' end
I am 5'10" and my wife 5'4"
Are you guy saying i need to change to something like 4-5-4.5'?
I am 5'10" and my wife 5'4"
Are you guy saying i need to change to something like 4-5-4.5'?
Yep! Or a small area can be 3.5, like mine. Probably comes out about 3' & tapers to 4' then 4.5' for the middle - because I'm only 5'4".
I have an 8 month old granddaughter, & the Baja is wonderful for her. My dogs love the Baja too, but my Baja is near the 3.5 area.
I think that would work out better in the long run.
Kim
What would work in the long run Kim?
I think that would work out better in the long run.
Kim
There now they are by each other. AZ and I must have been typing at the same time LOL
Kim
More questions... What does your wife think about the 4-5-6? Think about the pools ya'll have been in. What depths or part of those pools did you enjoy the most? What consideration made you both think 6' might be better? (hoping to rule out 'because Suz was pushing a deep end, and she seemed nice enough'....)
Much of my input was before I knew the heights of you and your wife. I usually stay out of this discussion when someone is shorter than me. I would never want to encourage a family to build a pool deeper than they would be comfortable in. I should have waited til I knew your heights.
Hopefully, someone closer to your wife's height will chime in with their perspective of changing to a 6' depth.
More questions... What does your wife think about the 4-5-6? Think about the pools ya'll have been in. What depths or part of those pools did you enjoy the most? What consideration made you both think 6' might be better? (hoping to rule out 'because Suz was pushing a deep end, and she seemed nice enough'....)
Much of my input was before I knew the heights of you and your wife. I usually stay out of this discussion when someone is shorter than me. I would never want to encourage a family to build a pool deeper than they would be comfortable in. I should have waited til I knew your heights.
Hopefully, someone closer to your wife's height will chime in with their perspective!
I'm 5'4", but I already gave my opinion [emoji39]I agree about thinking about other pools you have been in & liked. I used my parent's pool to come up with my favorite depths.
Sorry, I need to correct my last statement to a perspective of his new proposed depth of 6'.
^^^ That
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In 5' i was the happiest, cause i can swim and stand and still covered in water to the shoulders. My wife don't care as long as she can do her laps, i will be doing more standing
Omg! I wish my sons listened to me so completely!
I think you've got your answer - and from your own thinking! Ditch the 6' and go 5'.
Kim!! Lock him in on 5' for the deep section.
A person can't jump into a five foot pool. I love having a six foot area and I believe it helps keep the water cooler throughout the summer heat.
We are now in the CAD drawing stage, i should have something in the next few days to share. What are your thoughts of a seating shelf? is there a recommended size for the Baja step?
My Baja is 11' x 9.5" @ 11-11 1/2" water depth. I wanted 12", but got a little less.
I love the size of mine, & I don't think for my purposes, I would go much smaller. I can fit chairs & lounges on mine, & there is plenty of room for my granddaughter or my pups to play.
At 11" deep, sitting in a plastic adirondack chair, you will just barely get your bottom wet. So, go deeper are more shallow, according to that. I also wanted it a bit deeper to keep stuff from possibly growing in very shallow water. I have a step into the Baja that's sits at about 6" under water.
I have 3 benches in my pool, as well as, strategic umbrella sleeves. I can go in the pool at anytime throughout the day and hang out in a bit of shade if I want it. I love the benches & 1 step out in the far end.
I love the size of mine, & I don't think for my purposes, I would go much smaller. I can fit chairs & lounges on mine, & there is plenty of room for my granddaughter or my pups to play.
At 11" deep, sitting in a plastic adirondack chair, you will just barely get your bottom wet. So, go deeper are more shallow, according to that. I also wanted it a bit deeper to keep stuff from possibly growing in very shallow water. I have a step into the Baja that's sits at about 6" under water.
I have 3 benches in my pool, as well as, strategic umbrella sleeves. I can go in the pool at anytime throughout the day and hang out in a bit of shade if I want it. I love the benches & 1 step out in the far end.
Does the pool have a drain to the sewer? or is it a closed loop? I am looking to build an outside kitchen also, does adding a sink add significant amount to cost in plumbing?
Generally, the risers (height) of pool steps are 10-12". For me, that's too big of a step - going up or down. So my steps are all 6" except for stepping onto my sun shelf. Since the water is 6", it's a 9-10" step due to the 3-4" you have to add for the coping and space between coping and waterline. I need something to grab to get up and out.
You can have your steps built anyway you want. But you have to consider space issues. My 6" steps = more steps which = more space needed. That's why my steps bump out behind the coping. Otherwise, the steps would have ended half way across my pool - not cool! So space and design can definitely influence the number of steps.
Now, I've been in pools where the top couple of steps were less steep, and as they went down deeper into the water, they became a little steeper. That makes sense because of deeper water giving you more buoyancy. But... different heights of steps is usually considered less safe - our legs quickly get used to a step height and assume the pattern continues. (That's when Suz trips! Lol!)
I'll put out a call on your drain and sink questions. Sorry I can't help you there.