Is a Built-In Tanning Ledge in your Fiberglass Pool Right For You?

Tanning ledges are among the hottest trends in backyard inground pool designs. They’re a newer innovation that is now widely available for inground fiberglass pools. A fiberglass pool with a tanning ledge provides the feel of the sun warming your skin while the refreshing water keeping you cool. It’s truly a blissful feeling. Most fiberglass pool buyers these days opt for a tanning ledge, and there are loads of reasons to want one, but is it right for you? To ledge, or not to ledge–that is the question. Here is a little more information to help you decide:

Tanning ledges add luxury.

Tanning ledges bring a resort-like feel to your overall pool design. Looking out into your backyard and seeing gleaming white ledge loungers beckoning you from the crystal clear shallow water of your tanning ledge makes you feel like you’re staying in a luxury hotel.

Tanning ledges add personality.

Tanning ledges add impact to your backyard design and help make it unique. The wide array of fabrics and cushions available for tanning ledge loungers allows you to create a living room-like feel on your tanning ledge and coordinate it with the rest of your outdoor furnishings and decor. It becomes an extension of your living space and creates the perfect backdrop for outdoor entertaining.

Kids love tanning ledges.

Most kids love to be in the water. If your kids don’t yet know how to swim, tanning ledges offer a place where they can splash and play in a depth they’re comfortable with. A fiberglass pool with a tanning ledge allows a great transition to the shallow-end and provides a nice landing pad for swimmers and non-swimmers alike. They’re especially good for little ones who need to overcome a fear of the water.

Dogs love tanning ledges.

Furry kids also love to swim. If you plan to allow your pets to swim, a tanning ledge will be very attractive to them. Puppies and older dogs will especially appreciate a spot that gives them an easy in and out of the pool. (You might have to have a negotiation with them over the ledge loungers.)

Adults love tanning ledges.

A tanning ledge takes adulting to a whole new level, making your backyard the ultimate chillaxing spot. You’ll be able to enjoy the water and cool off without even getting your hair wet! Add a pair of ledge loungers and you have the perfect spot to reconnect with a loved one or chat with your best friend and catch up on life. You can sit, sip, soak and sun, all-in-one.

So, what’s not to love?

It’s hard to find many downsides, but one consideration when it comes to a fiberglass pool with a tanning ledge is that they might create a false sense of security when kids are in the pool. Adults need to be constantly mindful of children in the pool, even in the shallowest water. So, while you’re relaxing on your tanning ledge, keep one eye open and on the kids at all times and make sure they’re familiar with pool safety rules.

And, if you really plan to use your pool more for exercise or games, you might find that the tanning ledge takes up valuable real estate where a wide-open swim lane might be. So, if your family is very active and doesn’t spend much time lounging, or you imagine lots of swimmers in your pool at one time, you might prefer a fiberglass pool without a built-in tanning ledge.

Some designs, though, give you the best of both worlds. For example, while the Aspen design doesn’t have a dedicated swim lane, if you swim diagonally across the pool, the tanning ledge only takes away one stroke, so you can still get your laps in!

What are my options for a fiberglass pool with a tanning ledge?

There are several ways to incorporate a tanning ledge into your backyard pool design, based on your priorities and how you plan to use your pool.

• Get the maximum tanning ledge space. Many fiberglass pool designs such as the Wellspring, Aspen, Cathedral LX and Lil Bob LX make the tanning ledge part of the main pool basin. The ledge does take up the area that could otherwise be swim space, but it gives you the maximum amount of space for lounging, with ample room for swimmers to enter and exit the pool.
• Consider a wet deck or wading pool. If you choose a fiberglass pool design without a built-in tanning ledge like the Goliath or Monolith, you can add a wet deck or a wading pool to the end or side of those designs. This gives you the benefits of a fiberglass pool with a tanning ledge without losing swim space. These additions can also be raised so that they spill over into the main pool basin, creating a dramatic effect and a wonderful eye-catching water feature.

You really can’t go wrong either way.

There are so many options available in fiberglass pools today, you’re sure to find the perfect pool for you. Whether you choose a fiberglass pool with a tanning ledge or even take your luxury one step further with one of the beach entry fiberglass pools (Patent US 10,358,837 and 10,472,839), your new inground pool will bring years of fun, exercise, family time, reasons to throw a party and relaxation.

Are you ready to take the plunge with a new inground fiberglass pool? Or perhaps picturing yourself lounging on a tanning ledge right now with a cold beverage in hand, soaking up warm summer rays? If so, winter is a great time to get an estimate on a backyard swimming paradise. You’ll be in the swim by summer.