7 Tips for Choosing the Right Inground Pool for Your Family
Choosing an inground pool gets a lot easier once you stop asking, “Which pool is best?” and start asking, “Which pool is best for us?”
Every family uses their backyard differently. Some want a pool where kids can play for hours. Others want room for swimming and exercise. Some want an epic space with a diving board or pool slide. And some are looking forward to weekend pool party get-togethers, quiet evenings outside, or a little mix of everything.
Your yard matters, too. Available space, pool size, depth, features, maintenance preferences, and budget can all point you toward a different choice.
Before settling on a design, consider these seven questions to help narrow down the inground pool that fits your family and your backyard.
1. How Will Your Family Actually Use the Pool?
Start with the fun part. What do you want to do once the pool is finished?
Families with children may want plenty of open water for games and active play. Frequent hosts may prioritize seating, a larger patio area, or features that make the pool a natural gathering place. If swimming is part of your fitness routine, a longer rectangular design or a pool with a swim lane may make more sense.
Your answer can influence everything from size and shape to depth and accessories. Instead of choosing a pool based primarily on appearance, think about an ordinary summer Saturday at home. The right pool should work well for the activities your family will enjoy most.
2. How Much of Your Backyard Should the Pool Use?
A bigger pool is not automatically a better pool. Pool builder Snyder Pools offers options ranging from compact plunge and Soake® pools to larger traditional swimming pools. Our planning guide categorizes our small pools from approximately 8' x 12' through 15' x 30', medium pools from 16' x 32' through 18' x 34', and large pools as 18' x 36' or larger.
Think about the entire backyard rather than the pool footprint alone. Do you want space left for dining, lounge furniture, landscaping, or other outdoor activities? A thoughtfully sized pool can leave room for all the other things you love about being outside.
3. Which Type of Inground Pool Fits Your Priorities?
Snyder Pools offers both fiberglass pools and vinyl liner pools, giving families two very different directions to consider.
Fiberglass pools arrive as manufactured shells and offer a smooth surface, relatively quick installation, and easy maintenance. Snyder Pools offers Latham fiberglass models in a variety of designs to perfectly meet your needs.
Vinyl liner pools offer considerable flexibility in shapes, sizes, liner patterns, and additional features. Snyder Pools installs Latham vinyl-lined inground pools, with numerous designs available for homeowners who want more freedom when planning the look and layout of their pool.
The beautiful thing is that each owner gets to choose what’s right for them. Compare the design possibilities, maintenance, installation process, and long-term ownership experience before deciding.
4. What Pool Depth Makes Sense for Your Family?
Depth changes how people use a pool. So what do you think is best for you? Snyder Pools offers flat-bottom pools and plunge pools for consistent footing throughout the swimming area. Pools can also be designed with a shallow end leading to a 5-, 6-, or 8-foot deep end.
Think about the ages of the people who will use the pool and the activities you want it to accommodate. Wading areas, lounging ledges, casual games, swimming, and certain pool accessories can each call for different depth considerations. This is one decision worth discussing carefully with your pool builder before finalizing the design.
5. Which Pool Features Will You Really Use?
Pool features are where your family's personality can start showing up in the design. We offer options that include tanning and sun ledges, benches, spill-over spas, splash pads, water features, automatic covers, heaters, pool automation, salt water generators, diving boards, pool slides, and more.
Rather than adding features simply because they're available, think about which ones will change how your family uses the pool. A sun ledge may become someone's favorite reading spot. A heater can affect how you extend the swim season to use your pool during cooler weather. Automation can simplify routine operation. Spend your feature budget on the additions you'll appreciate again and again.
6. How Much Pool Maintenance Do You Want?
The pool itself is only one part of the decision. You will also own the pool equipment and care for the water after construction is complete. Ask about filtration, pool pumps, heating, cleaning, automation, pool covers, and water sanitation while you're still planning the project.
Snyder Pools offers options such as energy-efficient pumps, pool filters, automatic pool vacuum cleaners, full automation, saltwater pool generators, heaters, and automatic safety covers. Understanding these choices before installation can help you build a pool around the ownership experience you want instead of thinking about maintenance after the fact.
7. Have You Seen Your Options in Person?
Online research is a great place to begin, but a pool is a major addition to your home. There is value in seeing products and features up close before making final decisions. Come into the Snyder Pools showroom and retail store in Westminster, Massachusetts, where you can explore pool products, accessories, and design possibilities with our amazing team.
Bring your questions. Talk about your yard. Explain who will use the pool and what you want your summers to look like. Your knowledgeable pool buildercan help you sort through the possibilities and narrow them down to the
Find an Inground Pool Your Family Will Love Coming Home To
There isn't one perfect inground pool for every backyard. There is a pool that fits your space, your family, and the way you want to spend time together.
Snyder Pools has been helping homeowners plan swimming pools since 1978. From fiberglass and vinyl liner pools to compact plunge pools and other backyard options, our team can help you compare sizes, designs, depths, and features before you make your choice.
Ready to start planning? Contact Snyder Pools to schedule a free consultation and find the pool that feels right for your family.