Very few things stay the same in life. Maybe the shape of mountains, but eventually this also changes. In our lifespan the designs of cars, clothes and houses have also changed. These inevitable changes take place due to all sorts of influences, especially peer pressure via the media.

Let’s compare the pools of yesteryear with modern ones.

The older pools were BIG and DEEP. It was the norm for a pool to be 2.2 m deep. The new trend is a shallower pool. These days most residential pools in Namibia are between 1.35 m and 1.8 m deep. Water is expensive and thus you need to curb evaporation. The older pools had all sorts of curves. Beautiful to look at, but difficult to cover. Modern-day pools need to be protected by a pool cover for child-safety and water-saving reasons. Covering a custom-shaped pool is difficult and installing a track system with a roller mechanism is just not possible. Beware of pool shapes that are too complex.

Modern pools are designed in such a way that they integrate with the house: as close as possible and part of the house. If there is a lovely view to exploit, the installation of a rim flow pool is a MUST have. Here also, it becomes more complex – not a permanent rim flow like 40 years ago. Water flowing over the rim flow wall of a modern pool can be controlled.

In the 70’ and 80’s many a swimming pool had big lights, akin to old VW Beetle lights, placed somewhere in the pool. This evolved into more modern LED pool lights available from most retailers in Windhoek. Pool lights keep on evolving and new high definition lights are now available on the market. Not only do they last longer but the type of white light they provide can be chosen. In fact, nowadays there are shops making a living by selling specialized swimming pool lights only.

There is also a vast array of interior finishes available. Tiling the whole pool inside is becoming more and more popular in Namibia. Tiling a pool is not the same as tiling a bathroom. The chemicals in the water will quickly exploit a poorly tiled pool with tiles fading and starting to lift up.

The newer trend is having a blue pool without having to remember to add chlorine and other chemicals. The focus is therefore on moving to automatic dosing systems and wifi-integrated swimming pool modules. This technology controls from setting the temperature of the pool to when which light must be switched on and what the desired effect can be.

My suggestion is, as always, hop in to see us at LicPools and let’s discuss your designer pool. We love doing this.

When designing a swimming pool, it is always good practice to think how the pool you install will impact the resale value of your property.

Until next time.

Burgert Terblanche

Tel: 061-232839, Fax: 061-238602
Email: info@licpool.com