I was recently meeting with clients to discuss a rear yard landscape plan, and their 7-year-old son was sitting in. To keep him busy, they cued up Houzz on their iPad and let the boy's imagination run wild through a photo search. What was he looking at? Pool slides, of course.
The kid in me got my mind racing, too. Who doesn't love a good water slide? But while a slide is every child's fantasy, it's the adults who will be the ones with a lot to consider before incorporating a slide into their pool project.
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Here's a look at what you'll want to know before you decide to build your own pool slide.
Photo by Distinguished Pools.
Design
If all these examples show us nothing else, it's that the possibilities are limited only by our imaginations. Themed grottoes, pirate's lairs and aquatic playgrounds of all kinds are in play for your consideration.
Photo by One Specialty Landscape Design, Pools & Hardscape.
Project by Distinguished Pools. Click to enlarge
From an engineering perspective, there are three factors to consider in a pool slide. We can call them simply X, Y and Z.
X = Elevation (starting point)
Y = End Point (splashdown)
Z = Shape (where the fun is)
How do we arrive at our elevation (X) and endpoint (Y)? If you are building into a sloping hillside, it can be rather easy to determine both. In other cases, as in the photo here, the "hill" is a man-made structure, often covered in rock-like precast concrete or real stone veneer.
The shape (Z) is how X and Y are connected, and it can be a short, swift shoot or a long, looping ride. (Photo on right courtesy of Distinguished Pools.)
Surface options
The main surface options include prefabricated polyethylene or fiberglass chutes, both of which are constructed offsite. Polyethylene is considered a superior surface, but it costs more than fiberglass.
Project by JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction
. Click to enlarge.
This lovely example on the right, by JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction, shows a 1-inch by 1-inch mosaic tile surface.
Whom to hire
This is a job for an experienced professional pool contractor, often working in conjunction with the home's landscape architect, contractor and subcontractors. Hard and fast rules are difficult to come by, so you truly are in need of someone experienced, who has done it successfully many times before. There are just countless factors, including drainage, structural support, aesthetic finishes and slide operation that must be properly thought out by a professional.
Related: Find Landscaping Companies Near Me
Photo by Marquise Pools.
Cost
The range in cost is wide. A simple, prefabricated slide with ladder might be installed for $4,000, while some of the tantalizing slides shown here could easily top $100,000.
Another cost factor to consider is insurance. Similarly to how insurance companies view diving boards and trampolines, they also look at slides unfavorably. You may need to purchase a separate liability policy to properly protect yourself, which can cost as much as an additional $1,000 per year. Be sure to talk to your insurance agent to mitigate risk.
Mediterranean Pool photo courtesy of Houzz.
Adults can play too
Why should kids have all the fun? The example here is an entertaining wonderland, with a jaw-dropping fire pit that's nicely distanced from all the squeals and splashes from the slide.
