My BIL's pool has a much larger shallow area but still has a deep end. According to my daughter, who swims there frequently, a little less than 1/2 the pool is one level shallow (probably 3'4" - 3'6") and then it slopes more steeply to the deep end where they have a diving board. His pool is about 40 ft, I think. To me, the 4 1/2 foot flat depth seems like a waste. I'm only 5'3" so 4'6" would be up to my neck. That doesn't seem like a comfortable depth to play in.

I would try to do only 2' of returns on the deep end if possible. That way, someone doing a cannonball near the edge of the pool wouldn't have to worry so much about bumping their bottom on the return.

I'm only 5'2" but I was trying to provide shallow for shorter and taller folks...could do the 2nd shallow at 4' ? people who are 6'2" hate 3.5' shallow lol.

or go with the first one which gradually goes to 4.5"... ?

they are saying they won't have changes until next week..i mean how hard is it to change a couple numbers...so frustrated with contractors.

My MIL is building a pool and her pool liner is backordered. Apparently, pool installs have skyrocketed this summer because of COVID and her installer is having a hard time getting the liners he needs (or so he says.....). Her pool probably won't be done until later August. She's SOOO frustrated!

Oh, about the depth. I think 4' is a good depth for play for taller people but for littles, 4' is over their head for a long time :/ So, think about future grandkids, etc., too, in that decision making. I probably wouldn't start the slope to the deep end until at least halfway and if you can reduce the end return from 3' to 2' that'll help your slope not be quite as steep. Will you have any side ledges? BIL has a hot tub at the halfway mark and has a ledge in the pool where the waterfall comes in. It's pretty nice to sit there.

You want a sports pool. A poster here is putting one in her build - I'll ask her for spec's.

@DLM2000-GW we've ruled out a sports pool I think. But send me specs. Thanks.

they revised with my 2nd one showing 2 separate shallow depths...

I think our pool is about 36 or 40 ft long. It's an L-shape. One short side of the L is shallow (single depth). The long end slopes down to about 7 or 8 feet. I think you're going to be very unhappy with those two slopes. No one really hangs out on the slope so essentially you're creating one shallow area that is only 6 feet wide and another that is 9 feet wide. 6 feet is pretty narrow and 9 feet isn't much better. The 3 ft in between won't be used and is wasted. Just create a single shallow with a single slope. You'll be much happier.

the problem is that I'm required to have 9 feet at 3'4" for stairs which would be fine if it was water depth but it's not so it's like only 3' deep...that is too shallow for most I would think.

I cannot do an L as we have to do auto cover as we won't have fence.

so frustrating but for the $$ I want to get it right. I am surprised pool company is not more helpful but I guess they don't want to be blamed if I hate it? but I have zero idea what I'm doing. ha.

Thanks.

Why are you required to have 3’4” for the steps?

Can you put your steps on the side instead of the end? My friend’s MIL has an auto cover and hers are on the side, I believe. I can double check about that, though, but that’s what I remember from swimming there last year.

steps are in the corner. some code requirement. OK So I'm leaning towards 3.5 1st 9 then gradual to 4.5 second 9 [so not 4.5 until 18 feet] water depth. then going to 7 feet deep end. Of course they're closed until Monday. Sigh....story of how everything has gone with this build. lol. thanks for help.

How tall are your people? Would 4.5' be too high on most to comfortably "play"? It doesn't sound like a lot but that's 54" which would come to my chin (and yours too 😉). I wouldn't be hanging out in that area but if you have people over 6 ft tall, they might :)

@shead I hear ya.

That's why I nixed the 2 shallow end idea and thought maybe a gradual would work? My fear is if I do 3.5 for 18 feet and then the slope to deep end a) the slope will have to be steeper and b) it will be too shallow ...

It would be 3.5 for 9 feet then it takes another 9 feet to get to 4.5. It hits 4 feet at 13.5 then doesn't hit 4.5 until 18. I was thinking that way if you had taller folks that wanted to stand or play bball or something they could stand toward that part and shorter folks on the other part... I've read a lot of people think 3.5 is too shallow but It's hard to determine if that's water depth or pool depth [there's 4-6" of waterline and some use 3.5 to say both ways so it's confusing lol]..

I don't have her specs, but sounds like it won't work for you - basically about 2/3 of the pool @3.5' and the rest @ 8 or 10' (I can't remember).

I like your last sketch because I think by doing a gradual slope, it will "feel" flat to most and give you the mid-level height you need.

I'm leaning towards the last sketch too for same reasons. I did finally find out the shallow end has to be 3'4" because that's the size walls they have [they finally told me that ...i asked at least a dozen times via email I don't know if she didn't understand the question or what..] So shallow is 3 feet of water which makes me want to start the slope sooner. I'm 5'2" and that is shallow even for me. LOL.

so frustrating...they could have told me this weeks ago. Sigh. But at least we are now speaking the same language.

Thanks for help.

Kids are little for a short period of time ... I worry about preteens/teens, specially boys, using a pool that is too shallow.

So shallow is 3 feet of water which makes me want to start the slope sooner.

Is there a code for how many feet of shallow you are required to have? I'd definitely want to start the slope sooner, too! I'll be a BIL's pool later today and see for sure what there's is. There are 10 kiddos in the family from ages 7-18 and there pool seems to fit everyone's needs (and did even a couple of years ago when they were aged 5-16). There's plenty of space for games.

Do you know what brand of pool kit they are using?

@trishwalter how did it come out? Do you have seams across your sun deck? How do they look?

I don't have a sun deck. Never planned on that.

The slope starts sooner than I expected but the pool has been a hit. We enjoyed a few months before we had to close in October. Thanks.