Beaches in Malta can get a tad too crowded during the summer season and public swimming pool subscriptions may be pricey year after year. So why not invest in a swimming pool and add some well-deserved luxury into your home? In our Mediterranean climate, it is surely an investment worth every penny and on a severely boiling day, it will be your lifesaver.

Nowadays there is a diversity of styles to choose from ranging from an infinity pool to a small splash pool so finding or customising one which fits your budget and your space, small as it may be, is more feasible than ever. Seeing that it is such a big investment, you must take into consideration all the options before deciding whether to install a swimming pool and which one to install.

What does it take to have a swimming pool?

What does constructing a swimming pool entails? First, you need to apply for a MEPA permit which could take a few weeks to be processed. Once the permit is in hand, you need to start planning in conjunction with your contractor, who will, in turn, come up with a quote and proposal. Once this is accepted from your end, construction may begin and within a few weeks or months, you will be enjoying your newly installed pool.

Swimming pools come in various shapes, ranging from rectangular, geometric to circular and freeform, while they can have various depths. You can settle for a shallow splash pool, a diving pool or a pool which slopes down from ground level. Some extra features you can include are hydromassage points, heating and currents.

So what do you take in consideration when choosing the right pool for your backyard? Initially, you need to calculate all the required costs. Apart from the initial installation cost, there are recurrent maintenance costs which cannot be sidelined. There's the material, size, shape and depth of the pool you have to decide on. The terrain where the pool is going to be installed also affects your choice, as a sloping surface would accommodate better an elevated pool. Moreover, what's the pool's purpose? If it's solely for recreational purposes, then a shallow one will suffice, but if it's for training purposes, a narrow one with parallel sides is what you should be looking for. An L shaped pool is the best option if you want it for multiple purposes.

Although pools vary significantly, they all use a combination of filtration and chemical products to clean the large volume of water. Water is pumped from the pool, passes through the filtering and chemical treatment systems and back to the pool to remove any dirt and bacteria from lurking in the pool. For various supplies and chemicals needed to maintain a swimming pool, check out the various outlets on Yellow.

What are the different type of pools available?

Short on pool ideas and design? Below you may find a list of the most common pool types you might want to consider. 

Infinity pool: this is the pool which truly shouts luxury and in fact, it is more expensive than traditional pools. Also called negative edge pool or zero edge pool, this pool emanates the sense that it has no boundaries and it blends into the horizon. This visual effect is specially designed to highlight a view and this is why it is particularly effective in rooftop swimming pools. Note that infinity pools differ from overflow pools, whereby water spills over all sides of the pool.

Indoor pool: this facilitates the possibility of all year round swimming and is more efficient because it heats up more quickly than outdoor varieties. Indoor pools can be installed into an already existing building or they can be added as an extension to the house.

Outdoor pool: this pool is viable, especially in our Mediterranean climate, because it can be used throughout most months. If need be, you can always heat up an outdoor pool in the winter months and still continue using it.

Above ground pool: also called elevated pool, this is selected by many because it is the cheapest type, seeing that it is the easiest to construct. It is considered a temporary structure because it can be easily assembled and dismantled by an amateur. However, some people still prefer employing a contractor to make sure that it is properly installed and to avoid any mishaps. Although this type carries a lot of advantages, its nature makes it less durable than inground pools and they are less aesthetically pleasing, especially the soft-sided ones which are made up of rubber or latex.

Inground pool: also known as an excavated pool, it can be constructed in various materials with the most common ones being gunite, concrete, vinyl and fibreglass. An inground pool, in comparison to above ground pools, increases the price of your property and thus, is more of a long term investment.

Plunge pool: this is a small kind of pool but tends to be deep, convenient for a refreshing dip in the summer months.

Lap pool: also called an exercise pool, this type tends to be narrow but quite long and it is mainly used for training.

Recreational pool: it's shallow at one end and deep at the other to allow diving. In addition, it is rectangular most of the time, but it can come in various shapes.

Commercial pool: most swimming pool contractors cater for commercial pools, the most popular ones being those for hotels, as well as leisure and sports facilities. Most hotels opt for extra features, such as hot tubs and jacuzzis, which are connected to the pool and embellish pools with waterfalls, fountains and island bars.

Fiberglass pool: this pool is quite easy to install because once the hole is dug, the ready-made pool structure is lowered into the hole. It is usually designed for terraces and rooftops.

Gunite pool: if durability and long guarantee is your primary concern, then this is the pool for you. It consists of steel rods implanted at the bottom of the structure, which in turn are sprayed by gunite (a mixture of cement and sand).

Vinyl pool: structurally, this is built like above ground pools as it is prefabricated, but it looks like traditional in-ground pools. This type has gained popularity because it's less expensive and provides better insulation.

Do you already have a swimming pool but it needs repairing and servicing? Get in touch with these suppliers. On the other hand, these stores can offer a number of equipment and supplies.