StoneMakers Blog

Creating A Backyard Oasis: Swimming Pool Waterfalls

Swimming pool waterfalls will add an affect of drama to an otherwise mundane inground swimming pool. In addition to the form and style of a typical pool itself, the location of your pool and the surrounding landscape can play a factor in deciding which type of waterfall best matches the swimming pool. Waterfalls can connect two separate pools, add a touch of nature while masking something very unnatural or make the horizon indistinguishable from the pool itself.

 swimming pool waterfalls

Swimming pool waterfalls certainly are a way for you to add style and design to a pool, adding a focal point in addition to a functional part into your pool. The flow of water can act as a pool pump, keeping water clean and flowing, and can also offer swimmers a place to interact physically together with the fall of water. Pool waterfalls are available many different shapes, sizes and designs, and may be custom-made depending on pool owner's specifications.


Swimming pool waterfalls can work as a lot more than just a water feature for swimming pools with curved edges. A large, rocky outcropping built surrounding a curved fringe of the swimming pool creates a natural-looking waterfall. Waterfalls built more than 3 feet tall make ideal camouflage for pool slides. The steps start at one end of the rock wall with the slide curving around and into the swimming pool from roughly the midpoint.


The amount of space available in the back yard or patio area decides the size of the waterfall as well as the slide. When designing this kind of a waterfall installation, the first selection would be the water slide. The contour of the slide acts as a skeleton for the rock formation. The open space below the slide is an ideal place to hide the waterfall's pumping equipment.


A few of the features of swimming pool waterfalls would be the color variations in the rock structure. Shades of gray, white, blue, black or natural stone are popular in many different custom built designs. Tiered rock formations teamed up with pump speed create many different flow of water amongst the falls, with everything from a powerful, steady flow to a minimal, tranquil trickle effect.


Lighting can also appear in different locations behind or nearby the falls so the pool along with the waterfall can very well be enjoyed at nighttime. Some waterfalls have small nooks for plants in order to create a tropical atmosphere.


Swimming pool waterfalls can vary in size from 3 feet across all the way to 24 or more feet. The height is typically1 to 3 feet. Some pool waterfalls are tiered on different-sized platforms that gradually decrease in size as they get taller. Pool waterfalls generally pump around 200 to 250 gallons per hour and also have adjustable settings to increase or decrease the flow of water, making them very energy efficient.


Think about the type of pool that you have prior to deciding to purchase or build a swimming pool waterfall. Above-ground pools as well as some smaller fiberglass pools are not well suited for waterfalls because of their size and shape. In-ground gunite or concrete pools are the perfect foundation for waterfalls, because the waterfalls can be strategically placed to mesh into the sides of the pool to have a more conforming and natural look.

Topics: swimming pool waterfalls, outdoor living area