Soak it All In

The plunge pool trend is making waves

Have you heard the buzz about space-saving plunge pools? Compact, eco-friendly and more budget-friendly than traditional pools, they are becoming a popular choice for homeowners looking to create a spa-like experience in their backyards year-round. Designed to keep you cool during the summer and warm in cooler months, plunge pools are popping up all over the U.S., including here in New Jersey.

At this Westfield property, the homeowners installed a 13-by-7-foot Soake plunge pool with a depth of 4 feet 6 inches. “People are finally ready for small pools,” with year-round usability being a huge plus, says Karen Larson, co-founder of Soake Pools.

One homeowner in Westfield has embraced the trend with a 13-by-7-foot pool from Soake^® Pools, a New England-based company known for small, precast pools. According to Marc Nissim, a licensed landscape architect and owner of Harmony Design Group in Westfield, which handled the installation and landscaping, the homeowners are “very happy and love that they can entertain and use the pool and space year-round.”

If you’re thinking about adding a plunge pool to your home, Nissim and Karen Larson, a co-founder of Soake Pools, share insights behind the design and installation process.

KAREN LARSON Co-Founder Soake Pools | Pembroke, NH/603-749-0665 | SoakePools.com

MARC NISSIM | Owner & Licensed Landscape Architect-Harmony Design Group | Westfield/908-264-4440 | HDGLandscape.com

DESIGN NJ: What are the key differences and benefits of Soake Pools compared to traditional pools?
KAREN LARSON: Soake Pools are different from traditional pools mainly in how they are constructed and installed. Aside from the obvious small size, the big difference is that the pool is fully made and even tiled offsite before being delivered to the homeowner! This is an advantage in both time savings and quality control.

MARC NISSIM: We’ve installed six of the brand’s plunge pools. Because they are prefabricated off-site, Soake Pools’ plunge pools are quicker to install. They come with an installation kit to make the job even easier. Plus, the brand’s plunge pools do not require as many inspections as a traditional plunge pool because the structural shell and finish work is done at their manufacturing facility. This eliminates rebar inspections, internal plumbing inspections, onsite concrete work, and finish work inside the plunge pool.

Beyond the pool area is an outdoor kitchen equipped with a smoker, gas grill, granite countertops, refrigerator, trash center and bar stool seating, says Marc Nissim, owner of Harmony Design Group.

DNJ: What materials are used in the pool’s construction?
KL: Concrete and rebar are the two structural components. Large format porcelain tile is expertly installed inside the pool in our headquarters in a controlled environment. The highly engineered structure is extremely strong and the tile is durable and easy to maintain.

DNJ: Are customization options available?
KL: Soake Pools can be customized in many ways. From the bench style and quantity to plumbing locations and tile choices, these are some of the most common customization decisions that our clients make.

Ipe hardwood decking seamlessly integrates into the pool area, complemented by cable rail fencing and planter walls made from natural Pennsylvania fieldstone.

DNJ: Are there specific site requirements or other factors for homeowners to consider?
KL: Soake Pools are small enough to fit in almost any backyard. The challenge is figuring out how they will be delivered. Our team is very good at determining the best delivery method, which can range from a boom truck delivery to a large crane that delivers the pool from the street, even up and over a house if needed.

DNJ: What factors contribute to the overall cost of installing a Soake Pool, and how does this cost compare to that of traditional pools?
KL: Soake Pools are generally a lot less expensive than traditional pools made from similar construction. The reason for this is that we are able to maximize our production all in one location in New Hampshire.

DNJ: What steps do customers typically take to find a reliable contractor for pool installation?
KL: Our consultants and support team are usually very involved in connecting contractors to homeowners. We offer in-person training to hardscape installers when possible, but also do a fair amount of training over Zoom calls. We want to ensure that there are no surprises when the pool arrives, and we want the installers to know exactly what to do and how to do it. For these reasons we invest a lot of time in educating our partners.
MN: We recommend working with a licensed landscape architect to develop a comprehensive design for both aesthetic and function.

While traditional swimming pools can take up significant backyard space, plunge pools provide a compact alternative that doesn’t compromise on functionality. The patio zone is defined by striking pieces of large bluestone.

DNJ: What local building codes and regulations should homeowners be aware of when installing a Soake Pool?
MN: The same basic pool codes as with a traditional pool. Basic pool codes vary from municipality to municipality, but most towns have setback requirements (distance in from the rear and side property lines) where the pool cannot be located and lot coverage regulations (how much of the total property area is covered with impervious surfaces). All towns require a minimum 4-foot-tall pool code fence and self-closing, self-latching gate. There are also electrical requirements such as a bonding wire around the pool and service outlet.

DNJ: What is the process for installing a pool from planning to completion?
MN: First, our in-house landscape architects work with the client to create a plan. Then we work on getting the proper permits from the municipality where the pool is to be installed and ​​finalize​​ the pool size, finish and accessories with Soake Pools to get an order placed. From there, we break ground and start getting the yard prepared for the pool. We then work with Soake Pools to coordinate the delivery. Within the same day, we can have the pool installed, and within six weeks we can have the Soake Pool up and running.

Cushioned seating and wicker chairs create a comfortable and inviting spot for relaxation.

DNJ: That sounds efficient. What are the methods for delivery?
KL: The delivery process varies, depending on where in the country we are delivering. For local deliveries, we have several delivery partners who can set our pools with large trucks that have a lifting crane built in. For deliveries outside of New England, the pools are sent on a flatbed truck along with all the equipment. Then, depending on the site, local trucks are used to set the pools, or cranes are used when the site access is limited.

DNJ: How did you manage the landscaping in tandem with the pool installation for this project?
MN: The client was interested in building a wood deck around the plunge pool, giving that underground pool effect. We were tasked with constructing the deck and cable railings around the pool as well as the adjacent stone patio in the seating area. ​​Throughout​​ the space, we integrated plantings that complimented the pool and elements surrounding it, working out the proper grading and drainage with special ​​consideration​​ to the different elevations. ​​

DNJ: What feedback have you received from clients? Have you noticed an overall increase in consumer interest, particularly in New Jersey?
KL: Customers tell us how installing a Soake Pool in their yard changed their lives in so many positive ways … they say they spend more time outside. We have seen a strong and steady increase in demand for our pools over the 10 years we have been in business. We’ve been educating the public for all those years, highlighting the benefits of small pools, and it seems that people are finally ready for small pools! The year-round use is also a huge plus and a big reason why people opt for small pools. [The New Jersey market] has grown steadily, mainly because our network of excellent installers has remained strong.