Plan Your Dream Rooftop Swimming Pool the Right Way

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Rooftop swimming pools are pools constructed over roof slabs either due to space constraints on the ground floor or to enhance the aesthetics of the roof. Rooftop pools are somewhat different than inground pools in terms of installation and structural requirements. Additional care must be taken while designing a rooftop pool to prevent leakage and associated problems with the roof structure.

This article explains some of the important factors to be considered for designing a rooftop swimming pool.

Planning for Rooftop Swimming Pools

Before deciding to construct a rooftop swimming pool, some of the important points to be considered are:

1. The ability of the building to support the swimming pool
2. The protection of building against leaks
3. Permission and permits to construct a swimming pool
4. Need for additional reinforcement for building structure to support the pool

After deciding to have a rooftop pool, it is important to choose the right contractor with relevant expertise to construct it. Experienced contractors or engineers ensure that the building's conditions are sound and favorable for the construction of a pool.

Consideration for Rooftop Pool Construction

Some of the important points to be considered while constructing a rooftop pool are:

1. Location of Rooftop Pool

Before deciding on the location of the rooftop pool, it is necessary to consider the hydraulic operations associated with it. It must be situated in a place that is easily accessible so that maintenance works can be performed easily. In most cases, swimming pools are constructed within an enclosed area.

2. Reliable Structural Support

The rooftop swimming pool is a solid structure that handles a large amount of water within it. The size and shape of the pool must be compatible with the size and stability of the building. This decision is performed better by a professional contractor or an engineer so that the rooftop remains solid and safe to use.

For example, a standard pool of dimension 24’ x 12’ x 4’ deep pool weighs over 70,000 pounds. Hence, a rooftop swimming pool demands a robust structural system to support it.

The swimming pools in most high-rise buildings are constructed at the same time as the rest of the structure. Most high-rise buildings are made of concrete, and hence the swimming pool constructed is a concrete shell made of slabs and walls. The completed concrete shell is prefabricated with liner, tile, or other watertight options.

Additional structural design is required if the building is present in seismic zones with pools located on higher levels.

3. Selection of Material

The major concern with swimming pool construction is water leakage. The most popular material used to prevent leakage in pools is enhanced reinforced concrete mixture.

Constructing a concrete rooftop swimming pool exerts a large load on the existing structure. A building with a weak foundation may collapse if not designed to withstand such loads. So, nowadays, stainless steel is used for the construction of both, inground and rooftop swimming pools. Stainless steel swimming pools are light in weight and stay strong for a longer time period. The stainless-steel rooftop pools are contained inside a reinforced structure with a solid steel frame.

4. Shape of the Pool

The shape of the pool must be properly planned to ensure that it can safely transfer the weight of the pool and the water to the below structure elements. The columns, slabs, and the wall underneath the pool structure must safely transfer the loads to the below elements.

5. Risk Factors

The pumping of water through the pipes into the pool can cause vibrations, which can cause disturbance to the building occupants at nights. The use of a silent pump can be adopted to tackle this situation.

Another risk related to the rooftop pool is water leakage. It is recommended to construct a second waterproof concrete slab for concrete pools or any advanced waterproofing for other pool types to contain leaks.

Structures at different temperatures expand or contract differently. So, a pool structure must be isolated from the surrounding structure using construction joints to minimize cracking due to differential movements.

Rooftop pools are not a choice for every building, it is costly and involves risks when compared to inground pools. But this can be remedied by constructing a structurally sound building to support the pool.

FAQs

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