Bert wanted to swim all year round, whenever the mood struck. That's why he installed his Endless Pool® in his previously unfinished basement.
The convenience, privacy, and 24/7 access suit him just fine: something of a Renaissance man, he's active in sports and the arts … and he finds that his Original Endless Pool helps him with both!
Why Not Outdoors?
With a warm climate like South Carolina's, why not install an outdoor pool? "Then I have to worry about debris falling in the pool," notes Bert. "I live in the woods.
"And I can swim 365 indoors," he adds. "It rarely gets cold, but it did snow this winter, and I went swimming!"
Summers aren't always ideal either: "It gets unbearably hot outside" where the mercury can hit 100° F or higher.
This unfinished basement would soon have tile, rubberized flooring, a moisture-resistant ceiling, and an Endless Pools swimming machine (see below). All components of the modular Endless Pool fit easily through standard doorways and down stairs.
Why the Basement?
Like many unfinished basements, Bert's had "a slab already laid down." That's a smart cost-saving measure; as with garage pools, using a pre-existing concrete floor saves money on site preparation. "It made sense," he says plainly.
He used an approximately 16' x 20' space for his standard model, which has only a 9' x 15' footprint. With the Endless Pool, you only need to access one side of the cabinet, so Bert could save space with a corner installation. He had no need to access the backside.
Plus, "it seemed to make the most sense so there's less siding." Purchasing and installing skirting on just two of the four sides is another smart cost-saving measure!
Bert's walkout basement provided the ideal site to swim for health, fun, recovery from baseball pitching, and as a meditative break when composing music. His Endless Pool retreat is always comfortable and accessible, through South Carolina's heat waves to its rare snowfalls.
Finishing the Unfinished Basement
Starting with exposed studs and cement walls, Bert chose tile in clean, neutral tones and "rubber flooring like you find at a gym."
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