By: Karen Bell, Creative Director at David Salisbury,
With foreign holidays proving more difficult, thanks to isolation requirements, travel ban traffic light systems, and soaring flight costs, installing a pool could be a welcome addition for many UK homeowners. Add to that, the fact that we typically spend more time at home than we used to, post-pandemic, and it’s an investment that makes a lot of sense.
Whilst pool ownership is obviously still a luxury, it’s not quite as out of reach as it used to be, for example a smaller pool with a counter-current unit can mean that it is not as expensive to build initially, uses less garden space and the maintenance costs are also reduced.
As the British weather does not always play ball, a pool house or pool enclosure can be a good option for summer but also means you can use your pool all year round.
Why do I need a pool enclosure?
An outdoor pool is fine for warmer climes, but in the UK, realistically, you’re cutting off a large portion of the year without one. A pool enclosure can help to provide cool sanctuary in the summer and a warm retreat in the winter, whilst extending your swimming season.
Aside from enjoying your pool all year round, a pool enclosure can actually be more cost-effective too, keeping the heat in, and reducing the amount of water evaporation. It’s also useful for preventing debris, like leaves and branches, from entering the pool, as well as protecting pumps and filters, therefore ensuring upkeep costs remain as low as possible.
From a safety perspective too, it’s also essential for those with young children and pets, for maintaining a secure environment.
What do I need to bear in mind for my pool house?
While it makes sense to protect your pool from the elements, you don’t want to sacrifice on natural light. A high glazing content allows plenty of light in, while also allowing you to take advantage of the views of your garden. Thankfully, due to modern glazing technologies and joinery techniques, it’s also possible to create an enclosure with a high portion of glass, without the kind of climate control issues you might have expected twenty years ago.
You’ll also need to consider the frame of your structure. Naturally, a swimming pool enclosure demands a lot of the material used, thanks to the high humidity levels, but at the same time, many still prefer a timber framed structure because of their appearance. This is especially true of older properties, where the rustic charm of timber blends in more seamlessly than PVC.
Oak is a good choice for a pool house, because it gives you the character and beauty of real wood, but it’s stronger and more durable, as well as being a sustainable choice.
However, a pool house can be a more technically demanding build than a conservatory or orangery for example, as it has to take into account additional factors such as temperature, circulation, humidity and ventilation; these should all be important considerations when planning your pool.
Sufficient air distribution is essential for the removal of toxic chloramines that you don’t want your family breathing in, but also to protect the structure of your pool house from harmful condensation and corrosion.
The specific requirements you need will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your pool, the materials used, and how frequently it is used, but your manufacturer should be able to design an enclosure that meets your own technical and aesthetic needs.
Getting the right balance between insulation and ventilation, whilst also considering structural integrity, appearance, and environmental control, is the first step towards creating a pool that works for your home and lifestyle.
Author Bio:
Karen Bell is Sales Director at David Salisbury, a company manufacturing and installing top of the range hardwood conservatories, garden rooms and orangeries for over 30 years
