I’m in the Midwest, so our swimming season is mainly Memorial Day through a few weeks after Labor Day. We live on some acreage and are thinking of building a pool. Originally, we planned to put it right behind the house on the patio, but I’m having second thoughts. I don’t really want to look at a covered pool for eight months of the year.
Now, I’m considering placing it by the barn near the driveway. This spot has advantages like nearby bathrooms, a patio, and easy access for guests. Plus, it could be more secure for our toddler, as it would be further from the house and fenced in.
One downside is it would be out of sight from inside the house, though both spots get plenty of sunlight. I’ve never owned a pool, so I’d love to hear from others with experience. What are the pros and cons?
A cabana or other outbuilding is used to keep the pool “out there” at some of the “away” pools I’ve worked with. Perhaps a shade structure over a “away” patio with a barbecue…
@Umbrielle That’s what I like about incorporating the barn into this plan. While I’ll primarily use it to park equipment, I also want to turn it into a party barn with a kitchen and bathrooms. Having the barn right next to the pool makes it easy to blend both functions. We’d have utilities available, and we could add a second door to access the kitchen and bathroom from either the inside or outside, plus have space for pool storage.
During our summer vacation, I visited a winery in Spain that had a pool in an interior courtyard, and I loved the setup. We didn’t swim, but we sat by the pool, enjoying paella and wine, and the whole layout really stuck with me.
@Umbrielle Regards. What do you think about the safety discussion? The thought of the pool being completely hidden from view from the house worries my wife. However, I believe that if we place it next to the barn, we can erect a wrought iron fence around it with a sturdy gate to keep little children out. Off the rear porch of the house, anything like this would be absurd.
@DiveDeepDreamer The idea of a wrought iron fence is effective (I believe the pool barrier rule prohibits “gaps” larger than 3-1/2" through the fence).
Of course, safety is a problem. Consider hiring a lifeguard and nanny-in-one au pair!
@Umbrielle I’ll go into more detail. I had a cousin who drowned in our family’s pool when he was just a couple of years old. His dad was supposed to be watching him but wasn’t paying close enough attention. He wandered into the backyard, opened the gate, and fell in. They believe he was trying to reach for a pool toy that was in the water.
I know you can put a fence around the pool, but the kind of fencing I’ve seen in backyards often makes pools seem more temporary and accessible from the house. If the pool is further away from the house, it’s much less likely a toddler would wander that far, and it’s easier to install a more secure gate, maybe even with an alarm system.
I guess this is also a parenting conversation, but it’s still a valid concern.
@DiveDeepDreamer Although pool owners are undoubtedly concerned about drowning, the majority of their worries are allayed by good fencing and monitoring (baby fences for pools work really well). Wild animals getting into the pool is the main drowning hazard I can think of in your case.
@Umbrielle You make a valid point, but the danger is essentially the same in any case. Keeping the animals away from the home is something our dogs are quite good at.
Yes, we did. We have a lovely patio made of pavers, but there isn’t enough space for a pool. Instead, we installed a stone stepper walk from the patio to the pool deck and completed the project off the rear corner of our house. I adore it!