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Building a Home Design Dilemma Pools & Spas

Florida pool design with cage: back walkway or no walkway?

8 months ago

We are building a house on a lake in southwest Florida, and we approved this pool design before we realized that there is no walkway on the back edge of the pool between the pool and the cage. My husband is concerned that it will make things like cleaning the pool, retrieving items from the pool and even getting out of the pool more complicated. We asked our builder about moving the entire pool 3 feet closer to the house, so we could have a walkway. It’s doable. But, with the change fees, re-designing, and adding a retaining wall, since the pool itself will no longer act as a retaining wall, and extra pipes, it’ll probably cost us at least an additional $9000. We could also push the cage out another 3 feet, but we would have to add pavers and make the pool cage even bigger. After hurricane Ian, the pool cage is already going to be pretty darn expensive Do you think it’s worth it? Does anyone out there have a pool that is flush against the pool cage? Is it a problem?

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Comments (7)

chispa
8 months ago
last modified: 8 months ago
I have seen them like that, specially when they make the pool an infinity edge, but I wouldn't want it for my own pool. Even with a cage I still get stuff floating in the pool, specially these gnats that come out in June/July, can get through the screen and drown themselves in the pool. I was scooping hundreds of them from the surface for a couple of weeks and I was glad to be able to walk around the whole pool. I guess you can use a longer pole, but those get heavier and harder to use as we age.

We have 10 ft behind our pool and yes, it is big. Our cage is roughly 60 ft x 40ft. Ian is fresh in our minds and now another one, but plenty of people go decades without any damage to their cages.

The base of the cage gets dirt and I wouldn't want the base of the cage and my pool edge to be one and the same.
CT Watson
Original Author
8 months ago
Good points, Chispa! Pretty sure we’re going to bite the bullet and pay the money now, rather than save the money and hate our pool the rest of our lives. I didn’t even think about the cage base dirt. Very helpful!
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PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 months ago
I would enlarge the cage and have either a walkway or a planting area. Doesnt have to be pavers etc.
CT Watson
Original Author
8 months ago
Thanks, Beverly. We would do a walkway. Our back lanai looks out at the lake. So, we would want to keep any plantings to a minimum, so not to obstruct our view. I’d also be concerned about plants at floor level inside the cage getting dirt in the pool.
palimpsest
8 months ago
last modified: 8 months ago
I would potentially like to be able to get out of the pool, and around the pool, on all sides.
Louise Smith
8 months ago
You will find that the back walkway will be useful, especially for cleaning and just aesthetics.
chispa
8 months ago
CT Watson, I agree about no planters in the cage. I have some pretty glazed pots and planted Bromelia type plants that don't drop leaves, require little water and provide some color.

I have a nice crotus, but that thing sheds like a dog and the leaves end up in the pool. It will get planted outside in the yard soon.

We do have a small area inside the lanai with artificial turf. We did that for our small older dog so we can let her out and not worry about anything getting to her outside the cage.

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