On the bench
As package pools continued to evolve, manufacturers started including other features consumers wanted such as ‘safety ledges’ and ‘cuddle coves’ within the pool’s deeper areas. These features, which have now become standard, are designed so swimmers can pull themselves out of the pool in the deep end to sit or simply hang on to while treading water. Some builders create large benches in the pool’s deep end and blend them into waterfalls, slides, and other water features around the pool. Benches provide bathers with a comfortable area to sit and listen to the sounds of cascading water from a waterfall or slide, making the experience even more peaceful and resort-like.
“We recently completed a project where the client wanted ‘stools’ in the pool where bathers could swim up, sit, and enjoy a meal or drink,” says Eric Johnson of Johnson’s Pools & Spas in Owego, N.Y. “We designed the bar area so bathers could sit outside the pool at the same eating area as those on the inside of the pool. In fact, the design included four vinyl-covered stools built into the custom-steel pool.”
The benefits of large step and bench features are often incorporated into the sales pitch to clients of new vinyl pools or renovations. Consumers are more aware and are very interested in these custom design options. And, as a result, package pool manufacturers now offer builders a choice of steel benches and cuddle coves in addition to pre-fabricated polymer seats and benches. Some of these pre-fabricated features come pre-plumbed with hydrotherapy jets. Some builders find it easy to upsell a client on an integral,
hydrotherapy-equipped bench that will provide them a place to watch the kids play in the pool at arm’s length or perhaps the perfect sport to relax and read a book.
Hit the sundeck
These areas offer a spot to read, take in the sun, and often serve as a splash area for small children. Some manufacturers have enhanced this feature by offering tables with umbrellas and stool-style seating that can be inserted into the vinyl pool’s sundeck, maximizing the homeowner’s ability to unwind in their pool. This feature is often found in resort pools where ‘swim-up’ bars and stools are placed for bathers to enjoy a drink or snack while remaining in the water.
“Consumers have definitely come to the table with more information about what they want out of their pool,” says Mike Mancini of Fox Pool & Spa Leisure Centre in Burlington, Ont. “Consumers want a pool that co-ordinates not only with their backyard landscape but also matches the look and feel of their homes. They also want features that match their lifestyle and user preferences—whether that is a slide for their kids or a sundeck that allows them to tan or read within the pool.”
