Anyone regret building a shallow pool?

[Warren Dale]

When we planned our backyard pool last year we decided to keep it pretty shallow across most of it (around 4, 4.5 ft) since the kids mainly just splash around and we don’t dive. At the time it seemed like the right call.
Now that we’ve had it for a full season, I’m starting to wonder if we should’ve added a deeper end just for variety. Adults kind of just stand around in it.
Anyone here build a mostly shallow pool and end up wishing they went deeper?

 

[Danny Meerman]

When we planned our backyard pool last year we decided to keep it pretty shallow across most of it (around 4, 4.5 ft) since the kids mainly just splash around and we don’t dive. At the time it seemed like the right call.
Now that we’ve had it for a full season, I’m starting to wonder if we should’ve added a deeper end just for variety. Adults kind of just stand around in it.
Anyone here build a mostly shallow pool and end up wishing they went deeper?

Honestly we did the same thing and I don’t regret it. A deeper end sounds nice in theory but most of the time people just hang out and talk anyway. Plus heating and maintenance are easier with less volume.

 

[Joe Smith]

When we planned our backyard pool last year we decided to keep it pretty shallow across most of it (around 4, 4.5 ft) since the kids mainly just splash around and we don’t dive. At the time it seemed like the right call.
Now that we’ve had it for a full season, I’m starting to wonder if we should’ve added a deeper end just for variety. Adults kind of just stand around in it.
Anyone here build a mostly shallow pool and end up wishing they went deeper?

Our first pool was shallow like that and it was great for games. Volleyball, basketball, floating around. The deeper end in our current pool actually gets used less than I expected.

 

[John Knight]

When we planned our backyard pool last year we decided to keep it pretty shallow across most of it (around 4, 4.5 ft) since the kids mainly just splash around and we don’t dive. At the time it seemed like the right call.
Now that we’ve had it for a full season, I’m starting to wonder if we should’ve added a deeper end just for variety. Adults kind of just stand around in it.
Anyone here build a mostly shallow pool and end up wishing they went deeper?

If it makes you feel any better, a lot of new builds are trending that way. People are moving away from big deep ends unless they’re diving. More usable space overall.

 

[Warren Dale]

That actually makes me feel better. The kids love it and we do play a lot of games in there, so maybe I’m just overthinking it.

 

[Amber Chase]

We built ours almost the same way, around that 4 to 4.5 ft range, and after a couple seasons I actually think it was the right choice.

At first I had the same thought you’re having now. When adults are in the pool it can feel like everyone’s just standing around talking. But once we paid attention to how the pool actually gets used, the shallow depth made a lot of sense. Games, floating, kids jumping in, people leaning on the edge, all of that works better when most people can touch the bottom.

Another thing I noticed is that shallower water tends to stay warmer and is a bit easier to circulate. After busy weekends with higher bather load, debris and sunscreen film clear out faster because the water column isn’t as deep. My filter pressure usually only climbs a couple psi and settles back down once everything circulates through.

A friend of mine has a deeper hopper section and it looks nice, but that area mostly becomes a swim-through zone rather than a hangout spot. Unless someone is actually diving or doing laps, people naturally migrate back to the area where they can stand.

So you might not be missing as much as it feels like. If the kids love it and people are playing games, that’s usually a sign the depth is doing exactly what it’s supposed to.