Around every corner is a person, doctor, or commercial asking if you work out, wanting to know how you work out, saying you need to work out, or insisting that you start working out. For many of us, working out every single day is a task that is just too big to fit into our schedules, and who wants to spend their free time at a public gym anyway?
Luckily, it is easier than ever to work out in your own home. By investing in a lap pool, you can conveniently begin your workout on your own time in the privacy of your own yard. Whether you are just starting to work out or have been swimming for your whole life, installing a lap pool can be the right choice for almost any lifestyle
Interested? Read on for more information about lap pools, what they are, and why installing one is right for you.
Swimming for exercise
Swimming is incredibly fun, and it can be both cooling and relaxing, but perhaps its best benefit is that it’s great for your body! Swimming is a great choice for anyone with issues with their joints. Rather than having to put pressure on your joints through more traditional workouts, swimming is a high intensity workout that actually relieves stress on the joints. Another benefit of swimming is that it helps to prevent the onset of diseases, such as osteoporosis, and it helps to train your body to maintain oxygen levels. Swimming burns tons of calories, leading to weight loss, and the water resistance also helps to build bone density and can be great for strength training. Swimming may be an easy way to avoid sweat while exercising, but it is still a high quality workout that will help to keep you in shape.
What is a lap pool?
A lap pool is essentially just what it sounds like: a pool designed for swimming laps. They can also be defined as the opposite to plunge pools. While traditional pools generally take on a round or square shape, lap pools are very long and narrow – the ideal shape for swimming laps back and forth in the water. This sleek shape leads the lap pool to stand out from traditional pools. While lap pools have a distinct shape, there are many ways that you can customise the pool to fit your needs, so the definition of a “lap pool” is really quite flexible.
Olympic sized lap pools are defined as 50 metres long with individual lanes that are 1.8 metres in width. While this may be the ideal shape for professional athletes, most clients do not have 50 free metres in their backyards. Don’t think that this should hold you back though! Our clients can choose their own dimensions for their pool, with standard length options starting at just eight metres and ranging all the way up 30 metres or beyond.
The one customisation that we do encourage customers to consider is width. While the Olympic pool may have 1.8-metre lanes, it is much more realistic for personal pools to be built wider. Olympic pools separate their lanes with rope, so fingers crossing the line aren’t such a such a big deal. However, unforgiving pool walls will make you wish you had more space to complete your laps. We recommend that you install your pool with a lane of at least 2.5 metres so that you can freely swim without having to worry about hitting one side or another.
Additional features for your lap pool
Apart from the shape of the pool, lap pools are very flexible, and we can add a multitude of features that will make it convenient for you to use the pool as much as you wish. No matter what your lifestyle is like, we can help you personalise your lap pool so that you can use it as much as possible, in every season. One very basic addition is the installation of a pool light. By adding a light, you are making it so that swimming at night is possible, so you can use the pool even on days when you aren’t free until the evening. Installing a light is also an important safety feature because you can see what critters may be lurking near the pool. Choosing to light your pool will also add an aesthetic value to your investment so that it can gleam as the centrepiece of your yard during any evening events you may be hosting.
Another addition that will help you get the most out of your lap pool is a heating system. By heating the waters in your lap pool, you can ensure that you can use the pool regardless of season or weather. Just this one addition can make your pool much more versatile, and it will help you to get your money’s worth, which is why so many clients choose to make this investment.
Similarly, those who choose to add a heating system often choose to pair it with a pool cover. By covering your pool, you are helping to keep elements away, so a little rain does not have to hold you back from a day in the pool. This investment will help to keep your pool clean, as well. If you do choose to pair this addition with a heating system, a pool cover will help to trap in heat so that you can save on your electricity bill. There are endless add ons for your lap pool, and we are eager to help you find the right choices to fit your lifestyle, so that you get as much use out of your pool as possible.
Lap pool depth requirements
As we mentioned previously, the size and shape of your lap pool can be manipulated to fit your needs and wishes, and this is true of the depth, also. However, we do have recommendations that will help to keep you safe while making sure that you can perform a multitude of activities in your pool. The standard depth of a lap pool is just one and a half metres. By sticking with this measurement, you can ensure that you will be able to safely jump into the pool with care, but that you can also still stand in the water. Remember that such pools are not suitable for any kind of diving.
By keeping the depth low, you can ensure that your pool is suitable for other activities, such as water aerobics, so that you get the very best out of your pool. For those with children, this depth is also a good way to make sure that they can safely participate in the pool time fun. Of course, those who wish for a deeper pool can build one to this specification.
Lap pool prices
Lap pools can very easily be tailored to each client’s lifestyle, so every pool is unique. Because of this, we are unable to put an exact price tag on your pool. However, you can expect that your costs will run anywhere from $40,000 to $65,000 on average. If you decide to go with an infinity pool, you need to add around $35,000 extra to cover the complicated building process which includes a second tank to capture and recycle the water falling over the negative edge. We also recommend considering some of the smart pool features such as the self-cleaning system.
For those who do not have budget limitations, there are endless additional features to add on to your pool, and these features will cause the price to rise. However, lap pools can still be cost effective for buyers whose budgets are not so flexible. By eliminating special features, you can still have access to a quality lap pool in your own backyard.
However, we feel that choosing to add features on to your pool will help you to be able to use it more often. So while add on features may cost more initially, they do help increase the value you experience from the pool by extending the amount of time you can spend in the water. If you’re trying to decide between purchasing lap pool or a full-sized pool, it’s worth noting that the costs are similar. Your decision should be based not exclusively on cost but rather on what type of pool best fits your needs and your space.
Are lap pools more popular than full-size pools?
When comparing lap pools and traditional pools, we have found that traditional pools are more commonly installed, presumably for their versatility. However, just because traditional pools are installed more often does not mean that lap pools are not desired just as much.
In fact, lap pools are commonly searched for, and this reflects the idea that while lap pools are heavily desired, many people believe that they are more expensive or less versatile than traditional pools.
Both assumptions are false. Lap pools represent an investment in yourself, and this is what pushes them ahead of more traditional style pools. While traditional pool installations are still more popular, we have seen a strong demand for lap pools, and selecting the up and coming lap pool can actually make your yard look actively unique and desirable.
Getting into a lap pool
While traditional pools typically have steps near the shallow end, lap pools are different. Building steps would prevent you from performing laps in the pool, thus defeating the purpose of getting one. They may also cause you to stress about whether you’re about to hit the edge of the steps or not.
Because the lap pool should be a place to escape from the stress, we recommend installing steps that are built into the side of the pool, so that no room is taken up in your already narrow space. If actual steps are desired by the client, we can also build offset steps that take up less room than traditional steps. Both of these options are accompanied by a stainless steel rail for safety and convenience purposes.
Lap pools for every lifestyle
Our belief is that, if you are considering building a lap pool, we probably have one that will fit your lifestyle. Having a lap pool in your yard is incredibly convenient, so those with a fast paced lifestyle are more likely to find this so much more convenient than driving to the local gym.
Building a lap pool is a symbol of your investment in your own health, and that is one thing that is always worth the effort. Lap pools are also great additions to your home should you ever come to sell it. By installing a lap pool, you are making your home stand out far above the rest, and this can lead to an increase in property value.
Having a lap pool readily accessible will help you to cool down on hot days and give you an easy place to hang out with family and friends, so perhaps the best advantage to building one is simply the joy that having one will bring to your life. By building a fibreglass lap pool, you’re making a move for your health, for your future, and for your family, all while having fun under the sun.
If you’re considering purchasing a lap pool, get in touch with us today. At Compass Pools Sydney, we’re proud to offer a wide variety of fibreglass lap pools for sale. We’d love to work with you!