Inside, Outside, or Poolside? Pool Houses, Cabanas, and …

Inside, Outside, or Poolside? By Rachel Harper

When you own a pool, it becomes the central part of your backyard, and the entire area around it becomes extended living space that can be used throughout the season. To get the most out of your pool and newfound living space, you can extend the season or even allow for year-round swimming by adding a pool enclosure. If youd rather have a separate structure where you can store everything you need, relax in the shade, and enjoy the conveniences of your main house (without having to run back and forth to it), you may opt for a pool house. Both structures allow you to spend more time by the pool and enjoy the beauty of your outdoor oasis.

Photo courtesy of Concord Pools

Pool Enclosures

A pool enclosure is a great way to achieve the benefits of an indoor pool without feeling like youre stuck inside. Complete with sliding glass doors and retractable polycarbonate or glass-paneled roofs, permanent enclosures function like a sunroom for your pool. They provide UV protection while allowing the warmth and light of the sun to shine through and heat up the pool water. On hot summer days, you can open up the doors and roof to welcome comfortable breezes. When the forecast calls for rain, no need to stay inside the house; having a fully enclosed pool means you can swim rain or shine! Youll also have protection from pesky insects, and you wont have to worry about your picnicware getting blown away while youre dining poolside.

Permanent pool enclosures offer a great deal of versatility. They can be freestanding or attached to your home, and either prefabricated or custom-built, allowing for a wide variety of design options. Most are built from tempered aluminum frameworks with stainless steel fastening hardware, but they can also be constructed from brick, stone, or other materials. Custom structures allow you to choose a color and design that best complements your homes architecture. No matter what style you choose, investing in a pool enclosure means youll have an indoor-outdoor room that you can use as often as you wish.

Photo courtesy of Garden Prairie Pool & Spa Enclosures, manufactured by CCSI International, Inc.

If you live in a mild climate and want to extend the use of your poolside living space, you may prefer a pool house or cabana instead of an enclosure. Large or small, pool houses can provide useful storage space and living areas, as well as an attractive addition to your backyard. Since pool houses can go from basic storage units to grand multi-room guest houses, youll need to decide what kind of structure you want and what will fit into your budget.

Compact cabanas provide a place to store all of your pool floats, toys, maintenance equipment, sunscreen, towels, and other poolside needs. If your space and budget allow, you can opt for a larger structure that includes a bathroom, shower, and changing room. While all these features add convenience to the use of your pool, you may seek refuge from the sun and want a room where you can relax while enjoying the view of the pool. A one-room pool house can function just like a sunroom, complete with a cozy living room set and any decorative accents you wish. If you plan to spend a great deal of time in the pool house, you may want to install heating and air conditioning so it can be used just like any other room in the house.

If you are able to splurge on a luxury pool house, your structure can include all the fundamentals of your home and be used as a guest house, as well as for poolside entertaining. Adding a kitchen, dining table and chairs, bar, large-screen TV, and bedroom opens up your pool house to infinite possibilities.

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Inside, Outside, or Poolside? Pool Houses, Cabanas, and ...