There are a lot of things that will influence the design of your new fiberglass pool starting with your budget and moving onto more aesthetic considerations like the design of your house, the size of your property and who will be using it most of the time (a pool intended for kids should have a more fun profile than one intended for an adult wanting to get in some laps every evening). Another factor that will influence the design of your pool – and one that doesn’t get a lot of press – is the weather. In this post we’ll look at a few ways the local environment can influence the design of your pool.
The Effect of the Weather on Inground Pool Design
The effect of the weather on your inground pool design may be more substantial than you realize. Any outdoor structure must take the vagaries of the local environment fully into account or run the risk of being overwhelmed by them. Here are several ways the weather may impact your inground pool design.
- Cold weather may call for a heating system – In a climate with a short summer season like Toronto you may want to invest in a pool heating system to increase the number of days you can use the pool during the year. Some types of heaters include heat pumps, solar heaters, solar blankets and the traditional natural gas or propane pool heater system. This wouldn’t be an issue in a place like Florida but in the GTA it’s definitely something you’ll want to consider.
- Open spaces can have you seeking natural windbreaks – There’s no doubt that strong winds can put a damper on pool enjoyment. If your backyard is a bit on the exposed side and you regularly experience winds whipping across your property you may want to consider cozying your pool up to the house to take advantage of the natural windbreak it presents. This will be especially effective if wind blows in from the front toward the back of your property.
- Regular rainfall may call for an effective cover – One of the wonderful things about fiberglass pools is that they require far fewer chemicals than a concrete or gunite pool. If you leave your pool open to the elements however you’ll notice that rainfall changes the pH levels of your pool requiring you to compensate with more chlorine. You may want a pool shape that lends itself to being covered easily and a cover that sends runoff away from the pool.
- The environment will influence the colour of your water – There are a number of physical factors that influence the colour of your pool’s water including pool depth, the amount of moving water from waterfalls and pool chemistry. Environmental factors also play a large part including the amount of cloud cover, colours in the surrounding environment and the orientation of your pool to the sun. If you believe your pool may wind up looking a bit colourless make sure you order one that’s the right shade of blue to match your tastes.
You’re going to invest a lot of time, energy and money in your new swimming pool, make sure you take everything into consideration before deciding on a design; that includes environmental factors. Before you make any decisions regarding your inground pool design that may be difficult to undo later on talk to the fiberglass pool professionals at M.E. Contracting. We’ll help you determine the right inground pool design for your Toronto home so that you can proceed with the installation confident that the final product will meet or exceed your expectations.