Renovating your backyard usually means juggling multiple priorities: creating an entertaining space, meeting maintenance requirements, ensuring year-round usability, and gaining long-term value. While most pool types handle a few of these well, inground concrete pools can tick every box on your wish list. They’re built from scratch rather than chosen from a catalogue of shells, and make the best pool type when your property has quirks or your family has specific needs.
What makes inground concrete pools different from other pool types?
Standard pool shapes work for some blocks, but not for those that demand creative solutions. A narrow side yard might suit a lap pool perfectly, while corner blocks often benefit from curved designs that follow fence lines naturally.
If your dream pool is a 25-metre lap lane, concrete can run the full length of your property. Planning Christmas gatherings for extended family? Wide entry steps and multiple seating areas can be positioned exactly where you’ll use them most.
Getting the depth right matters just as much as the shape. Gradual slopes from 1.2 metres to 1.8 metres provide consistent swimming depth without those awkward dead zones where nobody ventures.
How do built-in features work with concrete pools?
A good pool builder knows how to position bench seats in inground concrete pools where people naturally gather, usually facing outdoor kitchens or your best views. These details are planned during the design phase, not added during construction.
Additionally, accessibility features are more easily integrated when built from scratch. An expert pool designer can make gentle ramp entries look like benches rather than clinical modifications, and use wide steps with built-in handrails as a design element.
Are concrete pools expensive to heat year-round?
Concrete holds heat like a thermal battery. Once warmed, the thick shell maintains its temperature overnight. So, strategic placement has a significant impact on how long into the colder months you’ll use your new pool. Hence, when finding the right placement, make sure you capture the winter sun on your property while avoiding prevailing winds to reduce heating costs.
How much maintenance do concrete pools require?
The shape of inground concrete pools affects the amount of cleaning time considerably. While gentle curves clean faster, sharp corners are where debris accumulates like magnets. Smooth rendered finishes speed up weekly brushing compared to heavily textured surfaces that trap dirt. So, keep that in mind when working on the design of your pool.
Do concrete pools affect property views and access?
Concrete pools can be designed to have minimal impact on sightlines from your home, featuring a lower profile coping and strategic positioning that preserves views into the surrounding garden while still meeting safety requirements. Pools flowing seamlessly from outdoor living areas feel like natural extensions. According to agents, it’s these type of inground concrete pools that enhances property value.
Choose Your Pool Builder Carefully
Most pool regrets stem from compromising on the wrong things, such as saving money on heating or accepting standard dimensions that never quite work for the extended family. Hence, start with your non-negotiables and work backwards to a design delivering them. Remember, the cheapest quote usually means that corners will be cut somewhere, and design adjustments can be expensive. A reputable builder of inground concrete pools will show you recent projects, explain their construction process in detail, and provide comprehensive warranties that cover structure and equipment.
Invest in a quality pool builder who asks about your priorities rather than pushing whatever design they built last week. Your family will thank you for decades to come.
