Do you want to have an indoor pool built in your home? Having a pool inside your house is quite convenient. You do not have to wait for the weather to clear to be able to use your pool. It will be available to you during all four seasons. You can also forget about the leaves and other debris that can fall into your pool. No more wasting time to clean up all of that!
Of course, the luxury of having a pool indoors is also a great reason to have one built. Imagine being the only one in the neighborhood to have a swimming party even if it is snowing really hard outside? You do not have to limit yourself to the 3 months that summer can offer. You can take a swim any time of the day or year.
While building an indoor pool may seem exciting if you consider all the benefits of having one, there are a couple of considerations that you have to do. Admittedly, this can be an expensive home renovation project. Fortunately for you, it is possible to minimize the cost of building your pool. You just have to make sure you have considered a couple of things.
How much will it cost to build?
Obviously, the first concern will be the budget. An indoor pool is not that different from an outdoor pool – but the construction will be slightly different. For instance, instead of having the deck of the pool slope away from the water, it will be sloping towards it. With an outdoor pool, you want to ensure that any runoff water or debris will be kept from the water. But if you will have a pool indoors, your concern will be keeping the surroundings as dry as possible. That means the deck will be sloping towards the water.
These would mean using different materials in some areas of the pool. This will also make the costs different from what you would have spent outdoors. The engineering of the pool will also be different. You have to factor in the ventilation and heating – which will be another thing that you have to consider. Overall, you should expect to spend at least $165,000 on this project – maybe even more.
How will the air quality be different?
Since this is indoors, you automatically have to consider the ventilation. Air quality is very important especially if you plan to use the pool while the weather outside is cold. You need to seal the place to enjoy the pool water. But that means the humidity will also be a problem for heated indoor pools. You might want to consider having a dehumidification system to ensure a higher quality of air.
You should also consider regulating the air inside to prevent condensation. This will compromise the comfort level of the people swimming in the pool. Ideally, the air temperature should be 2 to 4 degrees higher than the pool water. This can really be a problem for those who want to keep their pool heated. If this is not done correctly, you might end up with indoor rain as well.
You should also have to install an automatic cover so you can keep the evaporation levels low. This will lower it by up to 50%. Apart from that, the drainage should also be looked into because any puddles inside will add to the evaporation level inside.
Apart from that, consider the fact that the chlorine will smell strong when it is indoors. This is why the ventilation system should be able to get rid of this smell.
What will the structural support need?
You cannot use the same structure as the rest of the house. You need to make sure that the walls can accommodate the vapors and moisture that the indoor pool will cause. That means there should be plastic vapor barriers behind the walls. This will keep the moisture from damaging the structural framing of the room. If you fail to prevent this, it can cause molds and other damages. Using the same water-resistant drywall, like the ones used in bathrooms can be effective. Waterproof boards can be another option.
The space for the indoor pool should also be considered. You cannot just base it on the size of the pool. You need to consider the equipment and furniture that you will place around your pool. It is also helpful to look into the future when it comes to space. When there is a need to repair or renovate the pool, there should be enough space for the machinery and equipment to move about. Having the pool accessible from a different entrance will also avoid having the service crew from entering into your home.
What will the indoor pool need in terms of design?
Having an open feel to the indoor pool is very important. This is why you may want to consider having retractable roofs, skylights, and glass windows and doors. The high windows can make you feel like you are outdoors. A sliding door will also allow you to let the air in during the summer or spring time. Just make sure that there are vents near the pane to avoid having the glass windows fog up.
The skylights and a retractable roof will allow you to let the hot air escape outside. This will keep the humidity level inside low.
Of course, the lights will also play an important role in making your indoor pool visually appealing. You want to make sure that you can let in as much natural light as you possibly can. Not only that, you want to plan how the pool will look at night. That way, you will enjoy the nice ambiance when you decide to take a swim when night time comes. Go for underwater and wall lighting. Make it subtle enough to set the right mood without making it too dark. Making it too bright might also show too much through the windows.
An indoor pool is a really great addition to a house because you get to enjoy it regardless of how the weather goes outside. While you need a professional to have this made, ensure that you still understand what will happen so you will end up with the pool that you envisioned in your mind.
