Lap Pools: Swim Laps in Your Backyard All Day Long

In recent years, the lap pool has enjoyed a popularity spike with homeowners all over Australia. For people in Queensland who want the luxury of swimming laps in the comfort of their backyard without having a full-sized pool, lap pools are an excellent alternative. We’ll outline everything you need to know about lap pools, informing you as you decide whether or not this is a good choice for your needs.

Defining a Lap Pool

A lap pool is a narrow swimming pool designed primarily to help you improve your overall health and fitness level. The primary purpose of this pool is to help you swim laps without taking up too much space in your yard.

Houses that have long or narrow yards may not have space for a full-sized pool, but a lap pool can usually fit with space to share. You’re able to quickly and easily swim back and forth as much as you want.

Lap Pool History

Both above ground and inground lap pools work to solve space problems. The ancient Greeks and Romans installed longer and narrower pools in their gymnasiums for athletic training, military exercises and water games.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that these lap pools began to make their debut in the modern era. People realised that these pools were ideal for pool owners who wanted the luxury of a pool but didn’t have space for a traditional one.

Lap pools slowly made their way to Australia, and have gone through a number of popularity surges over the past few years. They’re increasingly popular because they boost home value, and people with narrow yards realise they can have a pool. Additionally, lap pools create a welcome alternative for people who don’t want to deal with cleaning and maintaining a full-sized pool.

Deciding if a Lap Pool is a Good Choice

If you want to add a pool to your home, a lap pool can be an excellent choice over a traditional pool. If you’re an avid swimmer, a lap pool gives you a place to swim and exercise right in your backyard. Or, you can use your lap pool for low-impact exercises, water aerobics or water-based physical therapy.

They’re good alternatives for any families who want a pool but don’t have the space for a traditional wider option due to a narrow yard. If you any of the above resonated with you, take a look at lap pools.

Lap Pool Sizes

Depending on your manufacturer, you’ll be able to choose from a number of different lap pool size variations. For example, we have a Fastlane Lap Pool design that comes in 10.3 and 12.3-metre sizes. You can add external steps, or choose a custom length up to 30 metres long. For the width, it is 2.78-metres across, and this is roughly the size of a swimming lane in a traditional pool.

No matter what your final measurements are, lap pools are longer and narrower than traditional swimming pools. They have deep sides, a rectangular shape, and depths that support athletic swimming sessions.

Lap Pool Customisation Options

You can customise your lap pool’s length and style. For example, our X-Trainer Pools feature a rectangular design, but they’re slightly wider at 2.7 to 4.2 metres. They also have shallow to deep floor design that can make it challenging to do athletic swimming sessions. However, you can install swim jets and swim in place in an X-Trainer pool.

Another option is to choose different pool colours for your lap pools. Bi-Luminate 3D Colours are bright and vivid, and they create a stunning 3D look when the sunlight hits the water in the pool. The Vivid colour range is slightly more cost-effective, but these colours use larger paint chips to create a stunning and eye-catching look.

If you don’t want to deal with the cleaning portion of having lap pools, there are in-floor cleaning systems that make fantastic alternatives. This system circulates your pool from bottom to top, and it keeps your pool’s water in constant motion. This motion prevents dead spots, and dead spots are where the bacteria and algae form. Self-cleaning systems can cut down on pool chemical use as well.

Lap Pool Materials

Lap pool owners in Queensland can choose between fibreglass or concrete for their pool’s construction material. Concrete pools offer more design flexibility, and they are a strong and reliable material that can last for years. Your manufacturer will make your concrete pool on-site, and this lets you follow the design process from start to finish.

Fibreglass is the second lap pool material, and you have less design flexibility. However, fibreglass pools are immensely popular due to their durability and relatively fast build process. These pools come with a premade shell. The manufacturer will excavate space for the pool, deliver the shell and slide it into place in your yard.

Designing Your Lap Pool

Before you start designing your new lap pool in Queensland, there are several points you want to consider. One of the first things to figure out is how you want to enter and exit your pool. Are there specific areas that make more convenient exit points? If you don’t want stairs inside your pool, will you have a ladder? If so, where will it go?

Next, decide whether you want an in-ground lap pool or an above-ground lap pool. In-ground lap pools look timeless and chic, but you’ll pay more for them. You have to figure in the excavation and labour costs because this is a more labour-intensive option.

Above-ground lap pools require a deck structure around the pool. This structure is critical because it will help to support your lap pool’s weight. You can choose from a broad range of deck materials like concrete, wood or tile. The staff at Composite Pool Solutions can answer your questions and help you pick out the best design for your area and needs.

Finally, do you want to have a lap pool spa? Adding a small spa space to or near your lap pool is popular with pool owners across Central and North QLD because they can slip in and allow the warm water and jets to soothe their tired muscles after a swim workout. This spa area gives you family a space to unwind and relax after a long day as well.

Installing Your Lap Pool

Whether you choose an in-ground or above-ground lap pool, there will be an installation process that is very similar to installing a normal pool. The process will vary depending on your pool material and the final location, and the manufacturer will walk you through the process.

Fibreglass pools were originally all in-ground, but new technology and material advancement like the MaxiRib technology lets companies install fibreglass pools above ground. You may see these fibreglass pools on hillsides or rooftops, or on uneven terrain.

An in-ground lap pool requires a slightly more intensive installation process. First, the company has to excavate a portion of your yard where the pool will go. They will install the pool into the freshly excavated site before backfilling in the area around the lap pool for support. Fibreglass lap pool installation is relatively quick, especially compared to concrete.

If you choose a concrete lap pool, the company will have to come in and excavate the site. But, they’ll spend the next few weeks pouring concrete to your specifications. The manufacturer will build the concrete pool right on your property, and there is no room for error. So, the process takes longer.

However, you should leave your lap pool installation process up to experienced and certified professional pool installers. Composite Pool Solutions have years of experience installing fibreglass pools in Bundaberg, Cairn, Yeppoon and dozens of other locations around North and Central QLD.

We have the most durable pool materials that last for years, or even decades, with proper care. Since more self-builds involve vinyl siding, it can quickly cost you thousands of dollars to install your lap pool spa by yourself. Additionally, you’ll have to make constant and expensive repairs. These reasons are why it’s best to consult professional help.

Alternatives to Lap Pools

If you’re not sure a lap pool is the best choice for your needs or wants, you have options. Plunge and Courtyard pools are excellent for small yards. They give you the depth of a traditional pool, and you can install swim jets to get a workout. The Vogue Series is another smaller pool that features a gently sloped floor to make entering and exiting your pool quick and easy.

Contact Composite Pool Solutions for Lap Pool Questions Today!

If you’d like to know about lap pool prices, the installation process or if you have questions, fill out our inquiry form or call us on 1300 309 691.