Will this design cause maintenance nightmares?

[TexasStateBobcat]

We are in the design process for our pool & cabana and we currently have a contemporary rectangle style in-ground pool. I had my designer leave a gap in the middle of the stairs off the sun shelf to allow for a wall that would allow for me to swim laps in the pool.

My designer said he has never seen anyone do anything like this and was concerned about the flow & ability to clean that area. Is the gap in the stairs going to create a cleaning nightmare that I will end up regretting? I spoke to one pool company and he pretty much said that area would never really get brushed/cleaned correctly. Suggested it would be a job for our kids to do when in the pool. What do you guys think?

 

[S S]

What if you just put the stairs on one side and remove from the other? We only have them in one corner in our current design to allow for lap swimming.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Bobcat,

I don't see the opening as any advantage at all.. Either make the pool longer or just put the stairs on one side of the pool.. I agree with your pool builder.. there are all kinds of things that in theory can be done, but from a practical point of view just do not make sense..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[TexasStateBobcat]

So in your opinion removing the stairs from one side would not be odd?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Bobcat,

It is your pool and you should do what you want...

Most pools don't have two sets of stairs.. so I would not think odd at all.. I don't think that you need to match what is on the left with what is on the right to make a good looking pool.

What is the basic idea of the long bench seats in the four corners? I have a couple of swim-out benches and they don't get used much. But, it just may be my life style.. How do you envision them working with your life style?

I have a microscopic backyard so what I have is all could fit... But, I would have loved to have room to swim real laps. I personally would give up a bench or two if it would have allowed me to have a longer swim lane..

In the end, you have to decide what will make the best pool for you.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[S S]

So in your opinion removing the stairs from one side would not be odd?

I don’t but again this is your pool so you have to do what’s right for you-

 

[S S]

Also if you just have them on one side you can do them as triangles or squares.

 

[HermanTX]

It is a nice overall design with the adjoining patio, nice sun deck and large spa. Only 1 set of steps is needed unless you have a very large pool (such at a club or public pool). Suggest put corner steps (like the triangle design shown by @S_S) on 1 side, keep the bench (by the spa) on the same side as steps, remove the bench (by the spa) on the opposite side. This will create a nice swim lane on the side opposite the steps. If you need or wish to have more bench space closer to the spa, then make the single bench (on the same side as the steps) an L shape in that corner by the spa.

 

[TexasStateBobcat]

Thank you all very much. Your feedback is really appreciated.

We envision the pool filled with kids and adults. (I have three under 9) When we spend time at friends pools the majority of the time the adults congregate around the benches allowing them to sit in the water while enjoying an adult beverage watching the kids. My goal was to allow for plenty of bench space while accommodating a swim lane.

 

[TexasRain]

I would head over to Pinterest and search for "rectangle pools" and "lap pools" and just scroll for a while! You will see some great ideas for placement of steps.

 

[bmoreswim]

I appreciate your interest in maximizing the bench space. We did too. I would just delete the one set of steps on the opposite side of the pavilion but still keep the bench along that wall.

As for the maintenance concern. You could end up with areas that dust/debris settles in any area of your pool. That would be your most likely spot but its a non-issue. A well used pool distributes the floor debris well and I usually do a quick brush of my benches and that area in my pool before I run my robot. Takes just a few minutes.

 

[CombatYoga]

Hey TexasState - I'm just down the road from you in Dripping Springs.

My comments:
- agree with commenters above about one set of stairs; wedding cake style in one corner would be optimal
- presumably the deep end of the pool is down by the spa; a bench down there is cool because the kids will jump off the spa wall into
the deep end and having a bench to climb out is helpful, and even a bit of a safety consideration
- when we were designing our pool we initially wanted our spa situated like yours so that we could see the waterfall from the house; our designer ended up with our spa very close to the rear door of the house and we are now glad we did it that way; it's nice to be able to quickly run inside from the spa when the weather is cold

 

[smracing]

Stairs in one corner only. No need for all four.

 

[bmoreswim]

Stairs in one corner only. No need for all four.

He only has stairs in two corners unless I misunderstood the drawing. Deep end corners have benches. We’ve found those deep end benches hugely beneficially in our pool’s life. But personal use does dictate the benefit received.

 

[GP2]

Agree only one set of steps needed. Our spa is in the same location as your drawing and the kids use the benches in the deep end a lot.

Not sure if you have a particular size sunshelf in mind or plan to put loungers on it like the picture, but a smaller shelf could open up some options on the swim lane depending on how important the shelf is for you. Wasn't sure of the overall size of the pool, but here's some variations that may give you some ideas . . . we initially hadn't considered curved shelves/benches in the geometric pool, but it opened up some space for us. Downside is the curved may not fit loungers as well, if you plan on having them.