Imagine having a beautiful pool just in front of your home. A place where your kids can play, swim and splash water!
Now, let’s get back to reality! You have a small yard. You need to think about pool alternatives for small yards to fulfill that wish of yours.
So, what could be those alternatives?
Let’s dive into knowing these.
Swimming Pool Alternatives
Here is a list of close substitutes:
- Hot tub.
- Swim Spa
- Inflatable pools
- Shipping Container Pool
- And many more!
Things To Consider While Choosing Alternatives For Pools
There are some crucial aspects you should consider while selecting a suitable alternative.
- Easy Installation
- The water doesn’t break the bank
- The overall cost
- Versatility
- Longevity
- Suitability for family use
- Size of the alternative
- Reduced energy costs
Pool Alternatives For Adults And Kids
Even if you have a bigger yard in front of your home. You will not be able to afford a swimming pool without spending a fortune.
Swimming pools are really expensive. Whether it is a front yard or backyard of your home, it needs to be within budget.
At the same time, you need to make sure the water doesn’t break out of it. So, another criterion is to find out swimming pool alternatives that won’t break the bank.
Here is a list of pool alternatives for the backyard and front yard both:
Hot tub
A hot tub in your front yard or backyard can be an exciting addition to your home, taking the family fun to a whole new level.
It could be a considerable alternative to a swimming pool to the small space you have. You can utilize it totally during an in-house party.
Furthermore, you can get several health benefits from it as well. A relaxing bath in it can relieve you from the pain of arthritis, stress, sore muscles.
It would also help you to increase blood circulation.
Now, the question is will it be a good alternative to a swimming pool for a small yard?
- Installation cost:
It would vary according to your requirement. But it would be around $730 to $7000. But the average cost would be $3000 – $4000 with a decent model of a hot tub.
There is a significant cost difference based on the types of it. And those are a soft-sided option, a freestanding and a built-in-one. You should consider these before choosing the final one.
- Size
A hot tub will gently fit your small yard. But for the record, the average size of a hot tub is between 7 feet square and 8 feet square.
- Water not breaking the bank:
Well, if you are an adult and in a relaxing state, the water may not break the bank. But for the kids, it could be crucial.
- Life expectancy
You can think that the hot tub would stay intact for five to twenty years when you are using it with care.
- Energy consumption
Because of the heater, a hot tub would consume 3,000 watts to 7,500 watts of energy. So, it needs a significant amount of energy as it runs on an electrical supply.
Swim Spa
There are so many similarities between a swim spa and a hot tub. Some people even consider it as another kind of hot tub.
Just like the hot tub, it too comes with several health benefits. It would perfectly fit your small yard, but the occupancy number of people at the same time may be a bit low.
You would undoubtedly get the vibe of a swimming pool without spending tons of money on it. There will be a lesser installation cost as well.
You can get both hot and cold water here. So, you get to enjoy it during summer as well.
So, is it a perfect alternative to a swimming pool in your small yard?
- Installation cost
A swim spa is an all-season solution for our home. So, the installation would be a bit higher compared to the hot tub.
However, the average installation cost of a swim spa is around $14,000 to $17000. But, you can make this amount a bit lesser by bringing some customization.
- Size
You can get a swim spa according to the size of your yard. An average swim spa is around 3.5m – 6m long and over 2m wide.
- Water not breaking the bank
The water does not break the bank usually. But it would depend on the users. The kids may like to splash the water.
- Life expectancy
If you invest in a good quality swim spa then it would last up to 20 years or even more.
- Energy consumption
Swim spas are indeed very energy efficient, unlike hot tubs. Just to give some idea, the average monthly cost would be around $50 to $75.
So, it is not expensive at all to maintain.
Inflatable pools
Inflatable pools are mostly for the kids and their enjoyment. Kids love it the most and enjoy spending time in it.
But before you decide on picking one for your little one, there is something that you must consider. It is about the element the pool is being made with utmost priority.
Most inflatable pools are made of plastic and your kid may have an allergy to the ingredient used while making it.
You may have to be extra careful while cleaning the pool and getting rid of the toxins in it.
You can not put your kid’s life in danger, can you?
But if you have picked the right pool for your kids and maintain it with the utmost care, then it is a good alternative to having a pool in a small yard of your home.
- Installation cost
There is very little or no installation cost for inflatable pools.
- Size
Since it is for the kids, the size of it would perfectly fit your small yard.
- Water not breaking the bank
There will always be the possibility of a leak of water because of the material, and it might break the bank of the pool as well.
- Life expectancy
It remains usable comparatively for a shorter amount of time.
- Energy consumption
It doesn’t require any energy at all.
Shipping Container Pool
You should watch this video to learn about this amazing swimming pool alternative that won’t break the bank.
Pool Alternatives For Backyard And Front Yard: Our Recommendation
Now, it’s time for the final verdict.
We would highly recommend going for the swim spa if you are looking for front yard or small backyard pool ideas on a budget. It can easily serve you as a substitute for a pool.
Though it may cost you a bit more than the hot tub during installation, during the maintenance it would save you money for a long time.
Especially when it consumes a significantly lesser amount of energy.
Still, you can consider your judgment while picking pool alternatives for small yards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can go for a small in-ground pool or an above-ground pool in a small yard. It would be suitable for you if you are determined to go for pools only for your yard.
You can. You can make walls or walls in the pool. This way you can make a pool smaller for your small-sized yard. The procedure of doing it may depend on the layout.
Final Words
While selecting pool alternatives for small yards of your home, you know what the main things to consider are.
I highly recommend a swim spa for you. But, ultimately, you know about your circumstances and needs.
Pick the one that suits you the most, hopefully, it would serve your purpose well according to your expectation.
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