Enclosures and out buildings for swimming pools

Outdoor swimming pools can be great recreational, health and social facilities. However, how much "actual" use you get out of them will be dependent on a number of factors. The three ways to get the most out of an outdoor swimming pool are to -

• Maintain a clean pool that is free from dirt and debris
• Take measures that maximize the use that you can get from the pool
• Keep any heating costs as economic as possible – be energy efficient

And the best way to do all of these things is to have a permanent protective, heat and energy retaining structure covering the swimming pool. This can be a brick, stone or glass out building, or a pool enclosure that slides or telescopes over the pool when necessary.

Swimming pool enclosures

A swimming pool enclosure not only covers and protects a pool, but it makes the pool usable at the same time. So, unlike solar rings and pool covers you can swim whilst the enclosure is in place.

There are a number of different pool enclosure types, however the most popular is the sectional telescopic canopy where several overlapping sections of the canopy telescope out to cover the pool.

This type of enclosure offers the flexibility to leave the area uncovered during warm days and covered during cool days. Canopies of this type may be motorised or operated manually. They normally slide on runners and bearings and are constructed of safety glass or see through membranes with ventilation openings.

Pool buildings

Pool buildings, or permanent rigid enclosures, are another option and these are classified as fixed building structures. This means that planning permission will normally be required for their construction.

These enclosures are often called pool houses and they will typically include changing facilities, showers etc. They can be built of brick, stone, timber or concrete, but usually have large glass areas in the walls and roof.

The pool house is the most expensive of the swimming pool enclosure options.

Budget enclosures

The cheapest kind of swimming pool enclosure is the inflatable bubble. They are cheap and cheerful and ideal for occasional use in calm (not windy) weather. They require tying or weighted down during use.

Bubble enclosures are inflated using an air pump and they encapsulate the entire swimming zone once fully inflated. This type of pool cover does have its limitations, but it can still be highly practical when used at the right time.

These bubble covers can be folded up and stored away when not in use.

Other pool covering options

Enclosures cover a swimming pool in such a way as to make them usable whilst covered. If however you only want to cover a pool to protect it and conserve its heat energy, you can use a flat pool cover or floating solar rings. Both of these options protect the water surface and both will conserve heat.