Perhaps you have always loved the aesthetic of a zero-entry pool, but you have heard it takes up too much space, so you’re also considering a tanning ledge fiberglass pool design. Choosing between a beach-entry fiberglass pool design or one with a tanning ledge for your backyard is not just about building a pool. It’s about building your home life. A place where you’ll drink your coffee in the morning, splash with your kids at noon, and watch the sunset over rippling water. The choice isn’t about which one is more luxurious—both are. Think about your lifestyle and imagine the moments you’ll create. Here’s how each option shapes up and how you can decide.

 

What’s a Beach Entry?

A beach entry is just what it sounds like—a gentle slope into the water that starts at zero depth. It’s like stepping into the ocean, except the sand doesn’t come home with you. The beach entry portion of the pool gradually slopes from 0 inches at the edge to approximately 18 inches deep, where it transitions into the main swim area. The water comes up to you around nine to twelve inches near the end of the downslope.

 

Why You’ll Love It

• Natural, Easy Access: Whether you’re five or seventy-five, descending into the water feels effortless and welcoming. It’s particularly great for families with young children or older adults.
• Built for Togetherness: The gradual slope creates a large wading area where kids can splash, friends can gather, and you can sit and relax without fully submerging yourself.
• A Resort in Your Backyard: A beach entry evokes a high-end, vacation-like vibe, perfect for turning your backyard into a private escape.

 

What’s a Tanning Ledge?

A tanning ledge is a flat, shallow platform—about 12 inches deep—designed for lounging. With no slope, the water comes up to you around six to eight inches across the whole ledge.

 

Why You’ll Love It

• Relaxation Central: The tanning ledge is a dedicated space for sunbathing or unwinding with a book and a cool drink.
• Keeps Swim Space Open: Unlike a beach entry, the tanning ledge is compact, preserving most of the pool for swimming, games, or floating.
• Versatile for Families with All-Aged Children: It’s great for sunbathing and for small children to play while you keep an eye on them. At the same time, it leaves a larger open space for the active swimmers.

 

Grace and Aspen: Modeling the Differences

The Grace and Aspen pool designs from Thursday Pools can help illustrate how these two shallow-end features work. Both are rectangular, beautifully designed fiberglass pools with identical dimensions—16 feet wide, 40 feet long, and a deep end of 5 feet, 10 inches. The key difference? The shallow end.

 

Feature	Grace (Beach Entry)	Aspen (Tanning Ledge)
Design Specs
Shallow End Design	Gradual slope from 0 inches to ~18 inches	Flat platform, ~12 inches deep
Swim Space	Reduced due to slope	Larger area for active swimming
Relaxation Zone	Large wading area	Compact, dedicated lounging space
Overall Mood	Resort-like, luxurious	Modern elegance with practicality

 

Your Pool, Your Story

How will you use your pool? A beach entry is ideal if your vision includes young kids splashing in the shallows while grandparents dip their toes. Its gradual slope creates a shared space for play and relaxation that everyone can enjoy. On the other hand, if you prefer defined spaces for different activities, like lounging on a tanning ledge while others swim freely, the tanning ledge offers more structure. It keeps the deep end wide open while providing a relaxing spot.

 

The mood you want to set can also guide your choice. A beach-entry pool creates a resort-like atmosphere that feels luxurious and relaxed. This pool type is perfect for homeowners who want their backyard to feel like a private vacation spot. Meanwhile, a pool with a tanning ledge blends sleek practicality with a stylish aesthetic. This pool design delivers a polished, contemporary look and fits beautifully into a contemporary backyard.

 

The Final Word: Build the Life You Imagine

Here’s the truth: it’s not really about the beach entry or the tanning ledge. It’s about the memories you’ll create and the life you’ll live around your pool. Either way, you’re not just choosing a pool feature. You’re choosing how you’ll spend your mornings, your weekends, and your summers for years to come. Are you ready to stop debating and start creating? Your pool is waiting for you.  Schedule a design consultation with a dealer today.

Installing a fiberglass beach-entry pool can transform your outdoor space into a favorite staycation destination. Its smooth, gradual transition into the water is reminiscent of a natural shoreline. However, before deciding on any pool design, you should know whether it will fit nicely in your yard. Evaluating your space, learning about local and HOA regulations, and understanding delivery logistics can help determine whether your yard can accommodate a fiberglass zero-entry pool.

 

Estimating Your Available Space: Imagine How You’ll Use It

Fiberglass pools are pre-manufactured and come in fixed sizes and shapes. Beach entry pools are no exception. One of your first steps in determining fit is calculating how much usable space you have in your yard. Consider the following:

 

Pool Dimensions: Measure the available area in your yard to see if it can accommodate the size of the pool itself. For instance, Thursday Pools’ fiberglass beach entry models, Grace and Sandal, are designed with fixed widths and lengths. Grace comes in 14’x36’, 16’x36’, and 16’x40’. Sandal comes in 16’x34.5’ and 16’x39’.

 

Decking: With the pool accounted for, add in the space you’ll need for your pool deck. You should count on at least three feet around your pool’s perimeter for safe walking areas, but you may want a more substantial deck to accommodate other outdoor features. 

 

Landscaping: Incorporate pool landscaping into your calculations. Landscaping around your pool creates a cohesive and inviting space. Tropical plants, natural stones, or small water features can enhance the beach entry’s aesthetic and seamlessly integrate the pool into your yard.

 

Outdoor Amenities: If you’d like features like an outdoor kitchen, dining area, pergola, or fire pit, confirm you’ll have enough space for these elements. Even if you don’t install them right away, you’ll want to make sure you plan for them to avoid extra expense and hassle in the future.

 

Pro Tip: Using stakes and string to outline the pool’s footprint in your yard will give you a better sense of how much space the pool will require and how much you’ll have left for landscaping and outdoor living areas.

 

Homeowners Associations (HOAs): What to Check

If your home is part of an HOA community, you’ll need to comply with their rules in addition to local zoning and building codes. HOAs enforce Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) that may have specific pool requirements, including:

 

Pool Placement and Visibility: HOAs may restrict where you locate your pool on your property, prohibiting them in front yards or areas visible from the street. They may also require landscaping or fencing to screen the pool from neighbors, cutting into your available pool yardage.

 

Fencing and Barriers: Beyond the safety fencing required by building codes, HOAs often have aesthetic requirements for fences, such as specific materials or measurements that may have space considerations.

 

Approval Process: Many HOAs require you to submit detailed plans for review and approval, including proposed:

• Pool dimensions and placement.
• Materials and colors for the pool and decking.
• Landscaping plans to integrate the pool into your yard.

 

Navigating Local Regulations: What You Need to Know

Zoning and building codes help ensure safe and appropriately placed installation on residential properties. These codes can affect whether your fiberglass beach entry pool will fit in your yard.

 

Setback Requirements: Zoning codes specify how far the pool must be from property lines, houses, and other structures. For example, a setback requirement might state that a pool must be at least 10 feet from the property line and 5 feet from your home.

 

Utility Line Restrictions: Contact a utility marking service before excavation to identify any underground lines, such as gas or water. Pools cannot be installed directly over or too close to these lines, and their location can affect your available yard space.

 

Delivery and Installation Logistics: Make Way for Your Pool

Fiberglass pools arrive at your home in a single piece, so logistics factor in determining whether the pool will fit. Some items to think about include:

 

Access Routes: A clear path from the delivery truck to your yard is essential. Narrow driveways, low-hanging power lines, or tight corners can make delivery challenging or impossible.

 

Clearance Requirements & Excavation Space: Consider any obstacles or neighboring structures that might limit access. Not only do you need room for the pool, but you also need room for the excavation equipment to dig the pool’s footprint and maneuver during installation.

 

Yard Adjustments: If you don’t have room, make some. You may be able to temporarily remove fencing, trim trees, or relocate landscaping to facilitate delivery and installation. Once the pool is in place, you can restore these features to their original locations or redesign them to complement your new backyard setup.

 

Get Advice From a Pool Professional

Fiberglass beach entry pools offer a unique blend of functionality and aesthetics, turning your backyard into a luxurious retreat. Determining whether one will fit in your yard requires careful consideration of your outdoor space, local regulations, and delivery logistics. By measuring your yard, understanding the pool’s dimensions, and accounting for clearances needed, you’ll have a better idea of the possibilities. If you’d like professional guidance and assurance that your chosen pool design is a perfect fit, contact us to schedule a design consultation with an independent dealer today.