What Size Pool Do I Need

How Much Space Do I Have What’s My Budget

If your backyard is small, then a smaller pool with a compact shape may be the best choice. You will also need to figure out how much you’re willing to spend. This will determine the size and materials.

You’ll also want to think about how big of a patio or deck you’ll want. Most people end up spending more time sitting around the pool than swimming in it, so this is an important thing to factor in.

Size Really Does Matter

Contrary to what women say, size really does matter at least, as far as swimming pool heaters go.

Correct pool heater sizing can be slightly tricky, but it mainly comes down to this: large heaters will heat quickly, whereas smaller heaters take more time to distribute heat throughout the pool. The choice is yours.

How Do You Plan To Use Your Backyard Pool

Will you use the pool to swim, or is it mostly going to be a place to dunk in your feet and splash water around with loved ones? Do you plan to swim laps, or lie in a floating pool chair and occasionally jump in and cool off in the water? Are you going to throw frequent pool parties? The answers to these questions will help guide you to the right size.

While you want to control costs and not build a huge pool unless you will use it, a big pool could be a good fit. If you have three or more people in your family, making it larger will allow you to use it in various ways and have plenty of room to do so.

If you want to use the pool to swim as exercise, you will want it to be sufficiently deep that you never scrape your hands on the bottom . Beyond that, your options are diverse in length and width:

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What Is A Standard Size Pool

For rectangular and similarly shaped pools , the typical length-to-width ratio is 2-to-1. Given the size of a typical backyard, that translates to sizes like:

• 16′ x 32′
• 15′ x 36′
• 20′ x 40′

Square, round, and other compact shapes tend to be smaller, with wall lengths typically equal to the widths above.

Did You Know?

A 16-by-32-foot pool with an average depth of 5 feet will hold about 19,200 gallons.

Above Ground Pool Ladder Price

The final component common to an above ground pool kit is the ladder or entry system. You will find an A-frame ladder will be the go to choice for most retailers. These are very cost effective and work great on above ground pools. If you would like something a bit more substantial, you can generally upgrade to an entry system, which will include steps that go down on the inside of the pool and additionally handrails to assist with entry and exit from the pool. If you plan to install a wood deck around your pool, there are also deck mount options for the ladders that allow for a seamless transition from the deckto the ladder or entry system.

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Who Is A Play Pool Right For

A play pool is a good fit for those seeking the ability to both play & relax while having a more conservative budget to spend on a pool. Watersports like pool volleyball, basketball or swimming are all possible in a play pool. One would also need a backyard space to accommodate at least a 12.5ft x 25ft pool size while still meeting city pool building requirements for setbacks.

Sizes Of Residential Pool Filters

Filters are commonly sized by the square footage of surface area. It makes sense: The more square feet of filter media you have, the better the filter performance will be. But it gets tricky when you try to compare the three different types of pool filters to each other.

Thats because they all trap dirt and debris in different ways theyre like apples and oranges!

Dont let this confuse you, though. Within each filter type, there are typically four or five sizes.

Of these sizes, the smallest are suitable for aboveground pools, the mid-range ones can be used for small pools around 15,000 gallons, and the big filters work best for pools above 25,000 gallons.

To add to the confusion are the manufacturers listed turnover rates for their pool filters. These are usually listed on product information pages, and they show the maximum flow rates for the filters.

This snippet below, from our Hayward Star-Clear filter page, seems to suggest that a 25-square-foot filter can take care of a 12,000-gallon pool, and I can tell you that is not the case. Not even close.

Sand Filters

For sand filters on in-ground pools, I like to use a 30-inch tank diameter, which has a 4.9 sq. ft. filter surface area and holds 600 pounds of sand. For small pools , I might advise the next size down if the budget is tight. But never go smaller than this for an in-ground pool.

Cartridge Filters

DE Filters

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What Size Of Pool Heater Do You Need

Pool heaters allow you to open your pool earlier in the spring, and extend the swimming season well into the fall, but they are a large investment, so before running out to buy a pool heater you should spend a little bit of time doing research.

If you dont choose the size of your pool heater careful you could end up spending a lot of time and money down the line.

What you need to consider

Before buying a pool heater there are five basic things that you need to determine:

• The size of your pool
• Your heating needs and preferences
• BTU requirements
• Whether or not you use a solar cover
• Environmental considerations.

1) Size of your pool

The larger your pool, the more powerful your heater will need to be, so that means you need to calculate the volume of your pool. To do this, youll have to first find the surface area and then multiply that by the average depth.

To find the surface area:

• Square and rectangular pools: simple multiply length by width
• L-shaped pools: break the pool into two rectangles and multiply length and width of each and add the two answers together
• Round pools multiply the diameter by the diameter and then multiply the answer by pi
• Oval pools multiply the longest diameter by the shortest diameter for surface area
• Kidney shaped pools add the longest width and shortest width, and multiply that by the length

For all shapes of pool:

2) Your needs and preferences

3) Know your BTUs

Pool heaters measure their power in BTU .

BTU Needed to raise temperature

Orders

The Most Common Regret About Pool Size

Pool designers say the biggest regret homeowners have about their inground pools is they wish they had a bigger shallow end.

Think about it. Most pool fun happens in the shallow end. Its where you hang out, where small kids are most comfortable, where you goof around with friends and family.

The shallow end is a pools most valuable real estate.

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What Is A Good Size Swimming Pool

There are serious considerations that go into having a pool in your home. It is not all about having the money you will also have to consider things like shape, the space in your backyard, and other design factors. Another good question you should ask is: what is a good size swimming pool?

What Is Your Purpose For A Pool

Seems like an easy enough question, but when you delve deeper you may decide that you need a swimming pool in your backyard for many reasons. Constructing a swimming pool doesnt just happen because you want one. In most cases you have an initial reason why you are having a swimming pool installed. So, its important to review all the options a swimming pool can offer you and your family and then from there determine the right size pool for your yard. Here are some ideas to consider:

A. For recreational purposes, pools must have a shallow and, in some cases, a deep end. The shallow end is safe for children while the deep end can be used by older or more experienced swimmers. This is important as you could expect that a person of any age could be utilizing the pool. Its recommended having a depth fewer than six feet to meet most pool needs.

B. Swimming laps for regular exercise, this type of pool size should be a rectangular shaped pool. We recommend a minimum of 30 feet in length to provide enough space for lap swimming and exercise. The swim lane is important, but so is the depth and other features. The Coral Sea and Whitsunday offer wide swim lanes for swimming laps.

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What Pool Cue Length Size For A Child

If you know a junior or child that loves to shoot pool or would love a new pool stick, you need to know what pool cue length to get them.

The most common pool cue length for juniors is a 52-inch pool cue. There are other sizes you can get, but most kids or shorter folks between 35 to 54 can use this pool cue length.

For a more in-depth review, check out my post here that includes its own pool cue size length chart specifically for children and juniors.

How To Pick The Perfect Pool Size For Your Family

As you suffer through another scorching summer, do you dream about your kids laughing and splashing in a backyard pool? Most likely, you decide the time is right to invest in a pool. After all, nothing is as refreshing for you and your family as a sparkling pool on a sweltering day. But, before the backhoe arrives in your yard, theres a lot to know about which pool size is the perfect fit for your outdoor space. Also, a new pool is a big investment, so you want to consider which swim pool size fits your budget.

Are you thinking about an entertaining area beside the pool? This is something that would affect the space allotted to your pool.

This guide on how to pick the right pool size can help you turn your backyard into a cooling oasis.

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What Else Do You Want

Think about other possible components of your backyard that will take up space. Will you want a play area for the kids, a deck, a patio, a fire pit, or an outdoor kitchen? What about a spa? How much room do you need for each element, and will you want some open yard? Determining other components will mean reducing the size of the pool.

It is also necessary to think about extras when it comes to the pool itself. Will you want a slide and/or a diving board? Be aware that a diving board translates to significant pool length.

What Are Your Maintenance Plans

While you know that a larger pool will cost more upfront, your key ongoing issue is maintenance. In many cases, maintenance translates to time. Many people find regular pool cleaning calming and enjoy the additional exercise. Others do not like it and hire a service to clean and balance the chemicals . Anyone who plans to clean themselves should be aware of how maintenance relates to backyard pool sizes.

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Customize Your Swimming Pool

Once you know the size of the pool you want, you can make it completely customized. Your pool can take literally any shape. When designing a pool, you can mold it to fit your backyard perfectly.

The pool builder you choose can modify the pool shape whether you want a curvy, kidney, geometric, or Grecian pool. When choosing your design, think about how it fits with your home and yard. Also, the shape should align with your patio and outdoor landscaping plans.

You can also choose from a variety of add-ons for your pool. These include diving boards, tanning ledges, and attached spas. With the right accessories, you can make your pool one of a kind.

Buying Process & Reputable Retailers

Once youve made the decision to purchase an above ground pool, the process becomes fairly easy even something that can be accomplished without ever visiting the store if you prefer.

Your sales associate, whether in person, via email, or via phone, will walk through any last questions you may have and then will simply get the information from you regarding the pool model and size you would like and any accessories or upgrades you would like to add on with the initial purchase.

They will get information from you concerning your location and site for installation so they can add in installation costs and estimated excavation costs , assuming you choose to have the pool installed by one of their installation crews.

From this point, the next person you will most likely hear from is the individual responsible for scheduling the pool installation they will either be calling to set up an installation date/time or to confirm the installation time if one was set at the time of your pool purchase.

Now you are in the hands of the installation crew. While that crew is on site doing the installation, they will walk through the pool and the steps you need to complete once the pool is full, and you can ask any questions that you may have.

Watch the video below to learn about our free consult and a bit about our showroom:

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Testing Your Sand Bottom

The weight of the water in the pool will help to compact the sand bottom underneath the liner. Generally it takes 5-10 days for the sand to be fully compacted and become hardened.

The first time you get in the pool to swim, gently feel the bottom of the pool to ensure the sand is sufficiently compacted. If the bottom is still soft, give it a few more days before walking around on the bottom.

***Country Leisure Pro Tip: Leaving footprints in the bottom of the pool will make it extremely difficult to vacuum your pool dont rush this step!

What Will You Use Your Pool For

When deciding which pool size youd like to go with, youll want to consider what youre using the pool for. Maybe youll be using the pool for lap swimming, or you have a family of little ones who will be cannonballing in and out of it all summer.

The purpose of your pool will help you determine what size pool is best for you. You should also consider the climate where you live and how much youll use the pool. If you live in a warmer climate like Arizona for example, you could utilize the pool all year round. If you live in the Midwest, you may only be able to use the pool three months out of the year.

Keep in mind that if you have a larger family or intend to use the pool for exercise, youre likely going to want to go bigger. If you only plan to use the pool to cool off while sunning solo, you can save some yard space and maintenance and stick with a smaller sized pool.

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Above Ground Pool Installation Steps

• Excavation and leveling

• Preparing the bottom of the pool with sand or a hard bottom

• Laying out the bottom track of the pool

• Setting the wall of the pool

• Installing the liner and securing to the wall with the top track

• Attaching the pool posts to secure the wall and liner

• Attaching the top caps to cover the connection points of the liner, top track, wall and posts

• Using a vacuum to remove any air between the wall and liner

• Begin filling the pool

• Cutting out the skimmer and installing the skimmer plate

• Install and connect the pump/filter system

• Final steps to be completed by homeowner once pool is full, discussed below

What Are The Limitations

Theres the pool of your dreams, and then theres the pool of your reality. While you might like to put an Olympic sized pool in your backyard, thats not realistic for most people. Here are some of the major limitations that might hold you back:

Cost. Size is one of the biggest factors in inground pool cost if not the biggest. Your budget may limit how large your pool can be, or force you to make a tradeoff between the size and the quality of the materials you use.

Space. Your pool has to fit in your backyard, preferably with enough room left over for other activities you and your family enjoy. Remember, too, that youll need extra space around the pool for a deck. Thats especially true if you envision yourself spending more time relaxing and entertaining by the pool, rather than swimming in it.

Time. Larger pools require more time to maintain. If youre planning to hire a pool service either way, this may not mean a whole lot. However, if youre committed to doing things like cleaning and chemical balancing yourself, the size of the pool could be a big deal.

Prefab Limitations. If youre using a pool kit or installing a fiberglass pool, you will be limited to the sizes and shapes offered by manufacturers. In addition, theres a maximum size for fiberglass pool shells because they have to be shipped intact over public highways.

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