Swim Seasons that Last

Photo courtesy of CCSI International, Inc., manufacturer of Garden Prairie Pool & Spa Enclosures

Your pool is an attractive and welcoming element of your backyard that provides months of swimming fun. Enclosed swimming pools maintain their visual appeal, while also complementing your home and adding months to that precious swim time. But before you invest, you may seek the answers to a couple of key questions.

How will it enhance the use of my pool?

An extended or year-round swim season is arguably the best thing about enclosing your pool. In regions with a typical May through August swim season, you can extend your enjoyment by several months on either end, assuming you go with thicker polycarbonate roof panels for added insulation. Though enclosures are great insulators and function as passive solar collectors, cooler regions will require a heating system for the enclosure if you plan to swim in the winter or during chilly evenings.

Enclosures also reduce pool maintenance time. Current pool owners already know that jumping right into the water is easier said than done. Usually, you need to skim the surface to remove bugs, leaves, pollen, etc., and check the bottom to see if it needs vacuuming. Because an enclosure prevents dirt and debris from blowing into the pool, you won’t have to clean it nearly as often. Like pool covers, enclosures prevent chemical loss and evaporation while maintaining a relatively steady water temperature.

What if I don’t want to swim indoors all the time?

No problem—enclosures offer the versatility to provide an outdoor swimming experience as well. Both manual and automatic systems allow the roof panels of permanent enclosures to be opened individually or retracted from the center. The roof panels are made of polycarbonate, which can be clear or tinted for privacy, and the walls are typically a row of sliding glass doors, often with screens. These give you easy access in and out of the enclosure, while you swim or simply lounge in a comfortable environment. In non-permanent, telescopic enclosures, the roof and walls open fully by sliding along a track, revealing an open-air pool whenever the homeowner prefers.

How do I choose the design and location?

Homes with a small yard and an unobstructed exterior wall may wish to install a lean-to enclosure in which a wall of the house functions as the fourth wall of the enclosure. Stepping right from the home to the pool can be a nice convenience, but its easy access may be a safety concern if you have small children. A freestanding structure often allows for a more customized design and can have sliding doors or glass windows on all sides; this gives you a picturesque view of the yard or landscape while you swim or entertain poolside. Permanent enclosures can be colored to match the style of your home and designed in a myriad of shapes, including octagon, rounded-end, and peaked at the center. Telescopic enclosures are generally limited to a few standard shapes because each part must slide into the other.

While a pre-existing pool will determine the location, you’ll still need to decide on the dimensions of the structure and its placement. Positioning the enclosure so that the pool is at one end creates extra space near the entrance, where kids and guests tend to hang out. You may also add a table and chairs for pest-free poolside dining, and storage units for maximum use of the structure.