A spool pool, also known as a swim spa, plunge pool, or cocktail pool. Everyone wants a home with a swimming pool. It’s one of the most commonly coveted features of prospective homebuyers entering the market. But even in a city with the unparalleled urban sprawl of Los Angeles, yard space can be a hot commodity. If you can fit a swimming pool in your backyard, you might not have any yard left. But a new trend is giving new life to the backyard pool fantasy. They’re high-quality, low-cost mini pools, commonly referred to as spool pools.
Plunge Pools vs Spool Pools vs Cocktail Pools
Experts tend to add a further layer of distinction to the term “plunge pool.” The term shares a meaning with the depression formed by the constant water erosion at the base of a waterfall. The constant deluge of a waterfall creates a pocket of considerable depth; one into which you could reasonably dive. In observing this natural parallel, swimming pool purists believe that a plunge pool must be of a depth allowing for complete submergence.
Then, there are “cocktail pools”; shallower models designed with pure leisure in mind. Cocktail pools conjure exotic daydreams of friends seated upon submerged ledges, leisurely sipping tiki drinks in the summer sunshine. And we can’t forget “spool pools”; miniature pools that adopt many of the features commonly attributed to heated spas. While some people adhere to these minor distinctions, many others consider these terms interchangeable. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll be considering spool pools and cocktail pools as both under the banner of the plunge pool term.
The basic design of spool pools incorporates a small step for easing into the water. Due to the relatively shallow depth and the seating ledge that often runs around the interior, these tiny pools rarely incorporate ladders. Professionals can add spool pool features like heating and bubbling spa jets. You can also opt to install more powerful jets to create a current to swim against since laps are out of the question. If you want to add a touch of the exotic to a spool pool, you can do so simply by outfitting the pool with colored lights. You could even elevate the mood of relaxation by adding a waterfall or rainwall.
A spool pool isn’t for everyone. Some may use it on the occasional triple-digit day or as a hot tub in the cooler months, but leave it sitting untouched for the rest of the year. And even though it’s more affordable than a traditional pool, it’s a pricey conversation piece. There’s a reason why everyone wants a home with a swimming pool, but not everyone has a home with a swimming pool. But if the only thing holding you back from a soothing soak is yard space, a spool pool could be just what you need. Considering buying a home without a pool for price point reasons? please reach out and perhaps we can add the cost of a spool into your financing.
photos by Soake Pools