Swimming Pool Trends and Materials

Interior Tiling Materials and Other Pool Trends

In Australia, our warm (sometimes stinking hot!) climate has always ensured that the swimming pool is the focus of our lifestyles at home. More recently, the trend of the swimming pool incorporating alfresco areas, outdoor rooms and external kitchens has reinforced this Australian icon as the center for all our relaxation, leisure and entertaining activities. According to statistics published by www.poolexpress.com.au in April 2010, one in four Australian homes had a swimming pool. The Swimming Pool & Spa Alliance of Australia (SPASA) confirms that we have the largest per capita rate of pool ownership in the world!

Pool Interior Finishes

Homeowners have a choice when it comes to covering the interior of their pool, popular finishes include:

Fully tiled (usually in a mosaic)
Render
Spray on texture coating
Glass crystals

Pool interiors at the upper end of the spectrum are often tiled with glass or ceramic mosaics, as fully tiled glass mosaic pools are regarded as the most luxurious finish. These pools are considered by architects as a water feature and are seen to add value to the property, as well as provide the owner with a low maintenance feature.

But it’s not just the interior of the pool that requires tiling; many pool perimeters and surrounds also feature substantial volumes of ceramic tile, usually porcelain, or natural stone such as bluestone, granite, marble or travertine.

For this you will need to lay with appropriate thin-set tile adhesives and suitable waterproof or water resistant grouts.

Come and see us at any of our outlets for some great input on your new pool! Find your nearest Tile Wizards store here.

Other Swimming Pool Trends

Natural colours

Light pool interior colours in natural tones are very popular. When combined with natural paving materials like stone or deck a stunning result can be achieved. These colours tend to be both calming and enticing.

Home integration

No longer is the pool placed in the dead corner of the backyard. The pool now tends to be the feature often combined with an outdoor room enabling the pool to be used all year; when not swimming as a water feature and place to relax.

Low maintenance

Infloor cleaning systems are becoming the norm, not a luxury. When combined with automatic fillers and automatic chemical systems with salt chlorination the amount of time you need to spend on the pool is almost non-existent.