Selecting the right swimming pool or spa is a very personal choice which comes down to your individual needs and circumstances. Before you commit to a significant outlay, it’s important to look at all the options so you can be absolutely sure you’re making the right decision for you.
These days, people often find themselves weighing up the choice between a swim-spa and an in-ground swimming pool with additional spa unit. Naturally, both options have significant pros and cons.
Swim Spas
Swim Spas (or swimming spas) appeal because you can get the best of both worlds, a small swimming pool for exercise and play as well as a spa for therapy and relaxation. Swim Spa’s have grown in popularity in both Australia and New Zealand over the last decade and in part, this is because they offer a practical, and often cost-effective solution for people who have smaller sites or limited options due to site constraints.
Being plug-and-play also has benefits, most Swim Spas arrive practically ready to swim in and require minimal site preparation prior to delivery. This also makes them easier to take away with you when you sell your home in the future.
While swim-spas might be a perfect choice for some people, they can be highly impractical for others.
Here’s a few things to think about:
- Will it be the right size for you? Naturally, swim spas are quite compact and traditional pools can be made much bigger. If you picture yourself and your family using your pool for playing games (no need to go to playgrounds so much anymore) and rough-and-tumble activity you may be better off opting for a larger in ground pool if you have the room.
- What is your main objective for your pool: If the main purpose of your pool is to enjoy a quiet and relaxed soak then a swim spa could be a good option. However, family time and robust exercise is often limited by the fact that the pool component tends to be much smaller than a traditional in-ground pool. When it comes to exercise, Swim Spas are most practical for single person use.
- What will it look like? Most Swim Spas are designed as stand-alone above-ground units. How will a large rectangular box fit into the aesthetic of your back yard? It’s important to pay attention to the living space around the pool area. What will it look like from inside your home? How will the above-ground unit impact on the practicalities of the remaining outdoor area?
So what’s the alternative to a swim spa?
If the idea of having both a spa and a pool appeals to you, one option is to choose a traditional swimming pool with additional spa pool (a pool and spa combo). By opting for a traditional pool, you have more freedom to choose larger options – this often means you’re more likely to get what you truly want out of your pool.
And of course, you can still enjoy a nice hot soak in a separate spa. One key difference, however, is that you can locate your new spa wherever you want in relation to your pool rather than being locked into a fixed position. Many people even chose to have their pool and spa units at different levels to add a different dynamic to their pool area.
Whilst many swimming pool manufacturers have spa options to match their pools, you can also consider opting for a stand-alone portable spa; this is often practical if you wish to create different zones, for example, a family pool in common areas and a spa pool in a separate more private area.
The main point to take away from this article is that you have a choice and before rushing into a purchasing decision think carefully about what will work best for you. All Compass Pool dealers offer a free pool planning consultation which is designed to help you find the best solution for you – even if that option means they don’t end up selling you a Compass Pool. Click here to get in touch with your nearest Authorised Compass Pool Dealer and book your FREE consultation today.