Most people dream of having a home with their very own swimming pool. Imagine getting out of bed in the morning, putting on your bathing suit, stepping outside and letting the cool blue water wake you up and energize you for the day. You could have pool parties in the summer, and spend lazy Sundays relaxing by the water’s edge. Sounds like a dream doesn’t it?
As you can imagine, building a swimming pool in your backyard is not an easy job. There are so many stages involved in the process, from obtaining the necessary permits to construction to ongoing maintenance and pool cleaning. The process can take several weeks to complete, and will be incredibly disruptive to your life as you deal with builders and contractors the whole time. But the biggest obstacle to building your own pool is the cost. The cost of a home swimming pool in the United States can be anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000 or more. Even if you have the money, it is a huge expense that you will need to justify.
Are the benefits of a home swimming pool worth the expense and disruption of installation? The following blog article takes a deep dive (no pun intended) into the many advantages of having your pool in the backyard, from physical and mental wellbeing to increasing the value of your property. Hopefully it will help you make up your mind and decide whether or not a swimming pool is right for you. Read on to learn more.
Boost your physical health
Swimming is one of the best ways to boost your strength, fitness, and cardiovascular health. When you have a pool right outside your back door, you are going to use it all the time, building good habits and enjoying the regular exercise. Over time, you are going to feel the positive effects on your body. You’ll be stronger, fitter, and more flexible in your daily life. Start by doing a few laps of the pool each day and gradually build up to more advanced workouts. With your own pool, there’s no need to spend money on expensive gym memberships or workout classes. You have everything you need in your own back garden.
Reduce stress levels
There are few activities more relaxing than swimming. Just plunging into the cool, blue pool, washing away the stress of the day and feeling yourself glide seamlessly through the water. It is a great method for calming the body and the mind, allowing you to wind down at the end of a long and stressful day. Whether you want to smash out your frustrations with a tough workout, or just spend some time relaxing or meditating in the pool, there are few better options when it comes to self-care and promoting mental wellbeing. And the best part is, you will have the pool to yourself.
Have fun all year round
When you use a public swimming pool, you are restricted by the opening times. You may only be able to use it at certain times of day or seasons in the year. With your own backyard pool, however, you can have fun all year round. If you feel the urge to go swimming in the middle of winter, no one is going to stop you. And if you opt for a heated pool, you won’t even feel the cold! You can plan your swims around your busy schedule, whether you prefer to have a splash early in the morning or when you get home from work. You can even take a dip in the middle of the night if you really want!
Save time and effort
Going to the gym or a public swimming pool requires planning. You have to fit it in around your busy schedule, and make sure you conform to the opening times. You also want to try, if possible, to avoid the busiest times in the gym – usually right before and after work. But by installing your own swimming pool, you can avoid all this effort. You can swim whenever you like, avoiding any planning and scheduling. And you save a great deal of time that would otherwise be spent travelling to and from your usual workout spot. All you need to do is step out of your back door and you are at the pool. It’s the most convenient way to enjoy regular exercise and relaxation.
Create a social hub
A swimming pool is a great place to hang out, and when you install one in your backyard, everyone will want to come and use it. It provides the perfect social hub for catching up with friends and family. Throughout the warmer months of the year, your swimming pool will be the most popular hangout space in your neighborhood for barbecues, pool parties, and any other social occasion you can think of. It will help you to strengthen and maintain your social relationships, and provides a great excuse for distant family members to come and visit for the weekend. Your kids can have birthday parties and invite new friends to go for a swim, and the adults can have poolside cocktails in the evening. The social opportunities are endless.
Teach your kids to swim
More than half of Americans either cannot swim or lack basic swimming skills. Knowing this practical skill is incredibly useful and can be life-saving. You don’t want your children to go through life not knowing how to swim or having an aversion to open water, so teaching them is essential. And with your very own swimming pool, this could not be easier.
Take your young children out in the pool a few days a week for a swim coaching session. Start by giving them armbands and getting them practice treading water and staying upright. When they have mastered this skill, they can move on to swimming laps. Eventually, they’ll be able to take off the armbands in the shallow end and try to swim on their own, moving on to different strokes and techniques. This will save a great deal of money on swimming lessons and pool memberships, and it will provide great memories for you and your kids.
Enjoy family time
Spending time with your loved ones is one of the most important parts of a happy life, and a pool provides a great way for the whole family to have fun together. Swimming is enjoyable for everyone, from the youngest child to the most elderly grandparent. Your whole family will love your pool, splashing each other, trying out their best cannonball, or just sitting in a sun lounger with a book and a drink in hand. The pool will become the heart and soul of your home, allowing you to bond with your family, strengthen relationships, and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Increase property value
If you ever decide to sell your home in the future, a swimming pool will increase the value astronomically. And you’ll most likely make back the money you spent on the construction project. A home with a pool is hugely desirable, especially for families with children, and you’ll find it a lot easier to sell your home for a higher asking price. Getting a pool now is a great investment for the future.
Impress your neighbours
When your new pool is complete, you will be the talk of the town. All of your neighbours will be aware of the new development, and it’ll be a great conversation starter when you’re at the shop or walking your dog down the street. It’s a brilliant way of making new friends and getting to know people in your neighborhood. It’s a perfect option if you’ve just moved into a new neighborhood or you are struggling to make an impression in your street. Just make sure you talk to your neighbours before starting the project as a courtesy. The noise and activity around the building site may disturb them at times, so this can help to maintain good relationships.
Choose from a range of options
There is no one single way to build a swimming pool. There are so many different options to choose from and make it your own. You don’t have to go for a simple rectangle pool – if you prefer something more unique you could go for a circle, heart, fish, or a custom-shape of your choice. Decide whether or not you want your pool to be heated and if so, will it be solar heating, gas or heat pumps? If you prefer an indoor pool to an outdoor one, you could construct an outhouse or shelter in which to house it, and you can even add slides, diving boards and jacuzzi pools. The opportunities are endless and the decision is yours.
Conclusion
In summary, there are so many great reasons to build a swimming pool in your backyard from improved neighbour relations to enhanced physical and mental health. You just need to make sure you can afford the project and that it will be worth the expense.
