Indoor or outdoor pool? What’s right for you?
One of the first decisions you’ll have to make when deciding to have a swimming pool fitted at your property is whether you want an indoor or outdoor pool. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages which we’ll go into in this article, allowing you to make your own mind up on what type of pool is right for you.
Indoor pools
Indoor pools can be used all-year round, regardless of the weather. Even if it is cold and windy outside, you will still be able to swim to your heart’s content inside your home. Both the water and the room will be be warm, allowing you to swim and relax, no matter what the time of year is. Combine this with the growth in people pursuing healthier lifestyles and you will find that an indoor pool is much more likely to be used.
Because the pool is sheltered, you do not have to undertake the ‘winterisation’ process that the owner of an outdoor pool has to do every year when autumn comes around. An indoor pool is also easier to heat than an outside pool.
However, on the down side, an indoor pool will cost much more to build than an outdoor one. It may cost up to three times more, particularly when you consider that you may have to build an extension to your house or an outbuilding to house the pool itself.
Outdoor pools
Outdoor pools are a great asset to your garden and are ideal for exercising, entertaining guests or simply having fun with your family. If situated in a private, sheltered spot in your garden with a patio, furniture and a BBQ, you will be able to make it a real centre of fun and entertainment.
However during autumn and winter, the weather conditions mean that you are highly unlikely to use it at all. You will have to ‘winterise’ your pool to keep it in good condition while it is unused during the winter months. When spring and summer comes around again, you’ll have to ‘re-commission’ the pool to make it ready to be used.
Pool maintenance
Both types of pool will have to be maintained, however an outdoor pool will need more due to outside factors, such as trees, leaves, algae and the like. Both indoor and outdoor pools need to be cleaned regularly and the quality of water must also be monitored.
However an outdoor pool will need further regular cleaning as leaves and other outside contaminants will dirty the water. You will need to skim the surface of the water for leaves and empty out the filter on a regular basis to keep the pool clean.
Finally, both indoor and outdoor pools need to be ‘shocked’ often by doubling or trebling the chlorine level to oxidise any grease or unfiltered waste. An indoor pool will need to do this more often as it will not have the oxidising benefits of direct sunlight.
Indoor pools
Indoor pools can be used all-year round, regardless of the weather. Even if it is cold and windy outside, you will still be able to swim to your heart’s content inside your home. Both the water and the room will be be warm, allowing you to swim and relax, no matter what the time of year is. Combine this with the growth in people pursuing healthier lifestyles and you will find that an indoor pool is much more likely to be used.
Because the pool is sheltered, you do not have to undertake the ‘winterisation’ process that the owner of an outdoor pool has to do every year when autumn comes around. An indoor pool is also easier to heat than an outside pool.
However, on the down side, an indoor pool will cost much more to build than an outdoor one. It may cost up to three times more, particularly when you consider that you may have to build an extension to your house or an outbuilding to house the pool itself.
Outdoor pools
Outdoor pools are a great asset to your garden and are ideal for exercising, entertaining guests or simply having fun with your family. If situated in a private, sheltered spot in your garden with a patio, furniture and a BBQ, you will be able to make it a real centre of fun and entertainment.
However during autumn and winter, the weather conditions mean that you are highly unlikely to use it at all. You will have to ‘winterise’ your pool to keep it in good condition while it is unused during the winter months. When spring and summer comes around again, you’ll have to ‘re-commission’ the pool to make it ready to be used.
Pool maintenance
Both types of pool will have to be maintained, however an outdoor pool will need more due to outside factors, such as trees, leaves, algae and the like. Both indoor and outdoor pools need to be cleaned regularly and the quality of water must also be monitored.
However an outdoor pool will need further regular cleaning as leaves and other outside contaminants will dirty the water. You will need to skim the surface of the water for leaves and empty out the filter on a regular basis to keep the pool clean.
Finally, both indoor and outdoor pools need to be ‘shocked’ often by doubling or trebling the chlorine level to oxidise any grease or unfiltered waste. An indoor pool will need to do this more often as it will not have the oxidising benefits of direct sunlight.
