How to Choose the Right Swimming Pool Size for Your Family and Your Home

How to Choose the Right Swimming Pool Size for Your Family and Your Home

A swimming pool installation project requires many considerations. These considerations, among many others, include size, shape, and the materials necessary to build your outdoor living project. These are important when outlining the components of your pool. There are many sizes of pools and with certain types of pool construction methods you really have no limitations to what kind of sizes your pool could be. The most important considerations are the cost, who will build your project, the design and the location of where your pool will be placed in the ground. In this blog post, we will evaluate what size of pool to choose when building your backyard oasis. We will also provide you with a few smart tips to consider when looking at a swimming pool size for your backyard.
a tape measure up close
the best pool size for your yard
a woman in a red bikini sunbathing in her pool on a raft

What is your purpose for a pool?

Seems like an easy enough question, but when you delve deeper you may decide that you need a swimming pool in your backyard for many reasons. Constructing a swimming pool doesn’t just happen because you want one. In most cases you have an initial reason why you are having a swimming pool installed. So, it’s important to review all the options a swimming pool can offer you and your family and then from there determine the right size pool for your yard. Here are some ideas to consider: A. For recreational purposes, pools must have a shallow and, in some cases, a deep end. The shallow end is safe for children while the deep end can be used by older or more experienced swimmers. This is important as you could expect that a person of any age could be utilizing the pool. It’s recommended having a depth fewer than six feet to meet most pool needs.
  • For a family of six to eight people, an 18 foot by 36-foot pool is recommended. This should be sufficient to avoid crowding and allow for the playing of games. Rectangle shaped pools look best for this size. Want to see a great model in this size range? See the Grande.
  • For a family of less than six, a 16 foot by 32 foot would be a little more compatible. This size would allow for swimming and casual relaxation while staying cool in the pool. Kidney, free form, or bean-shaped pools work best for this pool size. The Coral Sea and Oyster are good options for this size range.
  • For smaller backyard foot prints, you will be looking for a pool that offers the ability to just chill and relax. For that kind of pool, you will be looking for a size that’s under the 14-foot by 25-foot size range. You can get a lot of versatility from smaller pools and they take up a much smaller space, which is perfect if you have a smaller backyard to work with. The Outback EscapeMilano and Pixie are good fiberglass pool models in this size range.
B. Swimming laps for regular exercise, this type of pool size should be a rectangular shaped pool. We recommend a minimum of 30 feet in length to provide enough space for lap swimming and exercise. The swim lane is important, but so is the depth and other features. The Coral Sea and Whitsunday offer wide swim lanes for swimming laps. C. For competitive and athletic swimmers, pool depths should be more than your height and you should have a pool that allows you to practice complete strokes so that you can maximize your efforts. We have two pool models that are 40-foot in length and these pools are also great for entertaining. See all of our pool models here.

How Big is your Living Space?

Not all pool needs are the same and not all backyards are of a standard size. So, the space you must work with in your backyard will dictate the pool size you can install and any other design features you will want to integrate. Nonetheless, not all houses have large outdoor spaces to accommodate wide-ranging pool sizes. Thus, it’s important to maximize the use of your living space when designing your swimming pool project. Because we offer a wide range of pool sizes you will be able to optimize your project accordingly.

How often you will use your fiberglass pool?

Another factor to consider is the frequency of usage. This will have an impact on the amount of pool maintenance your pool will need. Humans, pets, insects and other debris can make your pool unusable, so it’s important to consider maintenance when determining the right pool size for your needs. An in-ground fiberglass swimming pool will provide you with longevity and stability. Using strong and secure materials such as fiberglass rather than concrete will help insure you get the most from your pool while minimizing your pool maintenance efforts.

What kind of budget do you have to work with? Do you need financing?

Long-term financial planning is often an important part when considering the size of your pool project. Pools cost money to install, operate and maintain, so there is no magic number when determining how to plan for maintaining you pool long term. It’s best to gauge your expenses on your usage, location and a maintenance schedule determined with your builder. Other payments to consider include; general pool maintenance, covers, fencing, chemicals, cleaning and more. Your pool size will impact every aspect of the mentioned pool requirements. That is why you should understand what pool size or design will be most convenient for your budget. To help minimize your upfront expenses from your pool project, there are many finance companies that provide financing specifically for outdoor living and fiberglass installation projects. This type of financing can provide you with the pool you desire while freeing up money for maintenance and other related pool upkeep needs over the long term.

To wrap things up on the right swimming pool size for you

Choosing the perfect swimming pool size and shape for your family may not be as easy as you once thought. You will have to consider many things and it might seem overwhelming at first. This is where a good swimming pool installer can help you out. They can help you explore your swimming pool model options, based on your needs and help you decide the best pool size to meet all the considerations we discussed in this blog post. However, if you’re still uncertain on who to contact, we work with many great dealers across the USA and we can recommend a dealer to you. Contact us today and we can put you in touch with a Barrier Reef Fiberglass Pool dealer and you could be swimming in the perfect size pool to meet your needs this summer.

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