A pool for the whole family: how to design it right

What size a family needs

A family pool is not designed for laps but for lots of people in the water together: children playing, parents sitting on the steps, friends coming over at the weekend. It needs open water to move around in and a shallow zone to sit in.

All three have a water surface under 50 m², the limit for the small-scale works approval, provided the other conditions are also met. The engineer confirms exactly how the surface of your pool is measured. The most common family size is covered in detail in the 4×8 m pool.

A 1.10 m depth: why it is preferred

The height of the panels, 1.10 m or 1.50 m, sets the depth. At 1.10 m, adults and older children can stand throughout the pool, which makes play more carefree and supervision easier. The pool also holds less water, so it warms up faster and needs fewer chemicals.

1.50 m suits families with teenagers or adults who want to swim without touching the bottom. The comparison is in the article on pool depth. Either way, the pool is not for head-first dives.

Steps, bench and entry

In a family pool, built-in steps are not just a way in. They are where young children sit with the water up to their waist, where grandparents take a rest and where everyone gathers. A bench along one side adds another shallow zone.

• Put the steps on the side you can see from the house or from the shade.
• Choose an anti-slip surface for the steps and bench. SOPREMAPOOL membranes have class C slip resistance; see anti-slip pool surfaces.
• Leave the middle of the pool clear for play.
• If older people live in the house, a grab rail beside the steps makes getting in and out easier.

The options for ladders, grab rails and the position of the entry are covered in pool steps and ladders.

Safety and the cover

No structure replaces an adult's supervision. It can help, though, especially when nobody is at the pool:

1. A safety cover, closed when the pool is not in use.
2. Fencing with a self-closing gate, if there are young children.
3. Firm rules: no running, no diving, nobody alone in the water.
4. Swimming lessons for the children as early as possible.

More in pool safety for children. The cover has a second benefit too: it keeps in the heat and keeps the water clean.

Shade and space around the pool

A family spends hours beside the pool, not just in it. Plan shade for the adult who is supervising, and space for towels, inflatables and toys so they do not end up in the water. It is best if the shade does not cover the whole pool, because the sun warms the water. You will find ideas in pool shading.

Young children get cold faster than adults, so water temperature matters more in a family pool. Sun for much of the day, a cover at night and, if you want a longer season, a heating system keep the water child-friendly from early summer to late autumn.

Questions

See also