We’ve all seen them in magazines. The beautiful negative edge swimming pool perched on a hillside with the backdrop of the ocean or other body of water. They are in fact, breathtaking when done right. For those of you that don’t know, a negative edge swimming pool ( a.k.a. infinity edge, vanishing edge) is a pool in which the rim is missing on one of the edges of the swimming pool and the water flows over the edge, creating a visual effect of water extending over the horizon. On the opposite side of the pool, just below the rim, there is a catch basin that catches the water and filters it; sending it back into the main swimming pool.

When considering a negative edge swimming pool, you need to take these items into account:

Backdrop: Do I have a a backdrop beyond the surface of the pool to create a visually appealing effect? The geography of the land needs to be taken into account. A flat yard would not be a good place for a negative edge swimming pool. Because of their unique design, they are hydraulically and structurally complex; making them more expesnive than your typical swimming pool. If the sight does not have a good backdrop, it may be a waste of money to have a negative edge swimming pool built.

Safety: Because there is a catch basin below the rimless edge of the swimming pool, you need to take into account the safety of children and pets. If you have young children, they could potentially drown in the catch basin. You need to take the proper safety measure to ensure the safety of your child and neighboring children, as well as pets.

Experience of the Builder: Due to the complexities of building a proper vanishing edge swimming pool, you really need to do your homework on your builder. Not all builders are experienced in constructing vanishing edge swimming pools. As with any project, ask for references and actually go visit the swimming pools. Any reputable builder should have no problem providing you with a list of references.

Although we would all love to have the breathtaking beauty of a negative edge swimming pool, it is not always the best choice for everyone. You must take various factors into consideration. Other pool designs can be equally as breathtaking. Talk with your designer and explore the options. A reputable pool designer or builder will be honest with you and try to steer you away from a negative edge swimming pool if they don’t think it’s right for you.

As always, Watercolors Custom Pools would love to hear your feedback. Tell us about your experience with negative edge swimming pools.