Safety By Design: Pool Precautions

It's all fun and games until someone meets an accident in your swimming pool, so it's better to incorporate safety into your pool design. All it takes is a little foresight, expert advice, and a few smart tweaks and you're on the way to summer fun.

Slip-proofing

You're only one slippery tile away from banging your head onto the pavement, so consider using more slip-proof materials to minimize slip and fall injuries. The best part is that you don't have to sacrifice anything in the aesthetic department. Slip-proof tiles look just as good, if not better, as glossy tiles.

Rail Grip

Another way to avoid poolside accidents is to add rail grips and footholds on the sides of the pool. This is important for the deep ends for obvious reasons.

Depth Markers

Speaking of deep, it's hard to try gauge the depth of a swimming pool because of a phenomenon called refraction. This is why adding depth markers is a big boon, especially to little children or inexperienced swimmers. If you know where the deep areas are, then you can stay away from them more easily.

A safe pool is a great pool; you can have all the fun you want without having to worry about any unfortunate accidents. After all, you owe it to your guests to see to your own and their safety. Doing just that has never been simpler. 

Picking Your Pool Coping

One of the striking elements of any swimming pool is the coping, the lining that delineates the edge of the pool where swimmers often jump into the water. It also brings out the accents of the pool area depending on the flooring materials of the patio. When designing your pool, it's wise to consider your pick of coping.

There are usually four main types of coping designs. The rolled-edge coping has a flat surface and a turned-up end, which allows for easy clambering in the pool. Bull nose coping, the most common, is like rolled-edge coping but has round edges; this enables quick climbing out of the pool. Cantilevered coping is also flat but has a 90-degree abrupt edge. This is decorative but can cause injuries in certain cases. Rough-cut coping leaves you with options to extend it over the water or help the pool gain a natural rock-hewn appearance.

The materials for coping are a mixed bag, but the final pick depends on your use for the pool. Concrete can be pre-cast in one of the four styles. Tile stone, pavers, and wood are also viable choices. However, you'll have to ask your contractor which styles are available for each material.

Pools are a suitable investment. However, even small things such as the coping can make or break it.