Looking to elevate your garden with a pool that blends comfort, elegance, and seamless access?
A beach entry pool – also known as a zero-entry – is more than just a trend. It creates a smooth, natural transition between the deck and the water, offering a true sense of serenity and sophistication.
A beach entry pool : a modern alternativ to pool ladders
A few decades ago, accessing a pool meant stepping down a cold, vertical ladder. Today, that experience has been transformed. The beach entry offers a wide, gently sloping surface that mimics the natural shoreline of a lake or the sea – a soft invitation into the water that redefines comfort. This approach is perfectly suited to both overflow pools and skimmer pools, making it a flexible design option for many types of projects.
What Makes a Beach Entry Pool So Unique?
Rather than steps or abrupt changes in depth, a beach entry pool creates a fluid continuity between the terrace and the water. The gradual slope becomes both a visual and physical extension of your outdoor space. It’s a concept that evokes the beauty of a Polynesian lagoon in a free-form pool, but can just as elegantly complement a geometric, contemporary design.
The shallow submerged area at the start of the slope serves multiple purposes. It creates an inviting space to lounge, dip your toes, or enjoy a sun-soaked nap close to the water’s edge. For young children, it offers a playful, gently supervised area to splash and explore — always under adult supervision, of course.
The advantages of the zero-entry pool
An overview of the various advantages of a walk-in pool will give you a clearer picture of this very aesthetic option. Find out why you should build a beach entry pool.
Shallow and safe
Very popular with parents of young children, this area with a small volume of water allows the youngest to gain confidence in the water environment without risk. They will be able to swim in this small pool. In addition, the water temperature is much more pleasant.
Note: We remind you that children should continuously be under the watchful eye of an adult.
The beauty and conviviality of a zero-entry pool
Integrating an in-water deck into a semi-in-ground or in-ground pool project brings a plus; it is visually stunning. Your pool is not only a place to swim, but also a place to relax in the sun and warm water. You will be able to see the different colors of the water, just like at the seaside, if you have a beach entry.
In an infinity pool, the beach entry creates a seamless transition between the pool and the deck
Accessibility for people with reduced mobility
Access to the water is made more accessible to the disabled with a gently sloping path. According to the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, slopes must be a 1:7 ratio; the pool can have no more than one foot in depth for every seven feet. Stainless-steel handrails make access to these semi-in-ground or in-ground pools even safer.
However, it is essential to think carefully about this area’s hydraulic circuit and filtration system to avoid the proliferation of bacteria and algae. Indeed, the latter makes the pool deck slippery.
Morana's advice 👇
Design your pool with an in-water deck
Generally, the submerged pool deck is designed at the time of the design of the pool. On the plan submitted for administrative approval, its surface area must be included within that of the pool.
Material quality should be considered
To avoid the risk of slipping, it is essential to choose non-slip coverings. It is inappropriate to use a swimming pool liner because the shallow depth of the water makes it impossible to grip the ground firmly.
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A discrete housing for a pool automatic cover
The pool automatic cover has become one of the most common safety equipment installed on overflow pools or skimmers. Therefore, a pool builder proposes integrating the automatic cover under the pool entry. It offers the advantage of housing the axis, and the motor without building a masonry box.
The Different Types Of Zero Entry Pools
We usually think of a gentle slope when talking about a beach entry. Still, several versions of this option are available. Another version, often called tanning ledge or Californian deck, consists of a 6 feet (1.83 m) wide horizontal platform followed by steps to access the swimming area. It is very common to use the platform to install sun loungers.
Some pool builders call an extra-wide step a beach entry. A sectional drawing of the pool helps clarify this point.
The deck’s aesthetics will resemble the seaside, with a free-form infinity pool.
Our Advice For Building A Beach Entry Pool
It is common to use the same material as the one used in the main pool; another option is to use the same stone as the terrace. Moreover, consider the materials around the pool.
When renovating a pool, adding the sloped entry is possible. It will often lead to a modification or even an adjustment of the concrete structure. It will also take up a lot of additional space in the garden.
Once limited to pools with a reinforced concrete structure, shell and kit pools have beach entries too. When it comes to shell pools, you must ensure that the surface of the deck has been treated to prevent slipping.
The slope should be calculated carefully: too steep a slope can be dangerous, and too shallow a slope will require many steps to reach the pool. It is beneficial to seek professional advice.
Conclusion
For all the reasons listed above, adding a beach entry or tanning ledge to your pool is a good idea. Nevertheless, it is important to design the project correctly, both in terms of size and slope, for example. Selecting the right coating will ensure that it blends perfectly with the pool.
Professionals can help you make the good choice. Find out more about us.
