I am strongly considering including a lap pool in the plans for my soon to be retirement home. To me a lap pool is a swimming pool that is long and relatively narrow. The size is actually the reason for this iinquiry. I am thinking in terms of an olympic short course, which to me means 25 meters/metres in length, and approximately ten (10) feet wide, and five (5) feet deep. The depth would be uniform throughout the entire pool to my way of thinking. Or should I do a 25 yard length?
Any advice/counsel regarding the length/width/depth dimensions? Also, if I tack on a hot tub/jacuzzi, should it be integral with or totally separate from the lap pool? Any other advice?
I am also thinking of making the lap pool (not the hot tub/jacuzzi) available to the local school athletic department for students to train. There is no pool in the general area where my land is located. Other than insurance issues, would this be a mistake?
Any advice/counsel regarding the length/width/depth dimensions?
I'd go metric. Ten feet (~3m) sounds too wide for one lane, and not enough for two. You want from 6'-7" (2m) to 9'-0" (2.74m) per lane.
You can't win under twenty feet wide. The narrower it is, the less likely someone will try to dive in transversely and whack their noggin, but the more likely they'll try to jump over it and break their shins.
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Also, if I tack on a hot tub/jacuzzi, should it be integral with or totally separate from the lap pool? Any other advice?
Separate. You want a cool pool and a hot tub. Also, you'll take forever to heat the whole bloody pool to hot tub temperature.
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I am also thinking of making the lap pool (not the hot tub/jacuzzi) available to the local school athletic department for students to train.
Is the school willing to transport and supervise them?
Donal Fagan AIA Donal@DonalO'Fagan.com (Anglicise the name to reply by e-mail)
I had a pool built in South Florida that was 20 yds long and in the shape of the letter P. It was 10 feet wide in the shallow end (3 1/2 ft deep and tapered to the deep end at 7 ft) with the steps extending outside of the 10 ft width. The pool was 20 ft wide at the widest. I had the two lights offset from the center and a tile lane marker running down the middle. It was a good fit for the lot and operation wasn't too costly. I think it was 25,000 gallons. A pool cover to retain heat in the winter was all that was needed to swim 51 weeks per year. It was a little rough with the wave action but worked out great.
Some things to consider: If you have to sell, a big pool is bad. Another thing is it should fit and look like it belongs in the landscape. (i finally sold the house but it took 6 months)
If I could do it again: I'd think about 25 yds but would go 20 if I had to. Consider lane ropes since you most likely get competion gutters (although that is could be considered too) Put a swim out in the deep end so there is no need for ladders. Consider an automatic cover. I don't think they are good insulators but secure the pool. Think about a jacuzzi that flows into the pool like a waterfall when not in use.
Hope this helps.
By the way, I know a John Smith that used to coach at Vanderbilt University. Any relation?
I am thinking in terms of an olympic short course, which to me means 25 meters/metres in length, and approximately ten (10) feet wide, and five (5) feet deep.
FINA gives official dimensions for Olympic pools: Pool length (Olympic): 50 m Pool length (World championship): 25 m Pool width: 25 m Min depth: 2 m Lane width: 2.5 m Distance from edge to first/last lane: 2.5 m www.fina.org/facilityrules_3.html
FINA rules include less demanding tolerances for other pools: Pool length: 25 m Pool width: (not found - may be undefined, presumably at least 5.4 m) Min depth from lane end to 1 m out: 1 m Min depth from 1 m out to 6 m out: 1.35 m (depth allows for racing dive starts) Lane width: 2.5 m Distance from edge to first/last lane: 0.2 m www.fina.org/facilityrules_2.html
I am also thinking of making the lap pool (not the hot tub/jacuzzi) available to the local school athletic department for students to train. There is no pool in the general area where my land is located. Other than insurance issues, would this be a mistake?
It's a very generous offer. Nice of you.
Others have answered the size questions. The hot tub must be separate, since it will be above 90F while the pool should be about 80F. For the team, you should have life guard chairs, starting blocks (portable is ok), at least 4 lanes (20 swimmers in only 2 lanes wouldn't be pretty), enough deck space for 2 teams, and male/female locker rooms/showers. A diving well is also a plus. The team's coach should have all the references you need.
For insurance, make sure you have in writing that all activities are school-sponsored, and that all insurance is the responsibility of the school. (And then vote for any school funds, so they can pay the insurance.)
"Ghost Rider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I had a pool built in South Florida that was 20 yds long and in the shape
of
Quoted message said:
the letter P. It was 10 feet wide in the shallow end (3 1/2 ft deep and tapered to the deep end at 7 ft) with the steps extending outside of the
10
Quoted message said:
ft width. The pool was 20 ft wide at the widest. I had the two lights
offset
Quoted message said:
from the center and a tile lane marker running down the middle. It was a good fit for the lot and operation wasn't too costly. I think it was
25,000
Quoted message said:
gallons. A pool cover to retain heat in the winter was all that was needed to swim 51 weeks per year. It was a little rough with the wave action but worked out great.
Some things to consider: If you have to sell, a big pool is bad. Another thing is it should fit
and
Quoted message said:
look like it belongs in the landscape. (i finally sold the house but it took 6 months)
If I could do it again: I'd think about 25 yds but would go 20 if I had to. Consider lane ropes since you most likely get competion gutters (although that is could be considered too) Put a swim out in the deep end so there is no need for ladders. Consider an automatic cover. I don't think they are good insulators but secure the pool. Think about a jacuzzi that flows into the pool like a waterfall when not
in
Quoted message said:
use.
Hope this helps.
By the way, I know a John Smith that used to coach at Vanderbilt
I agree with Ghost Rider's post on the need for gutters in a lap pool. Since most lap pools are usually narrow (1 or 2 lanes), they are likely subject to more turbulence and wave rebound than are conventional pools. Gutters are a must for minimizing wave rebound and affording a better training environment for lap swimming.
