Which edge system is cheapest?

Skimmer, clearly. Overflow adds a perimeter channel and balance tank; raised adds visible structure and cladding.

Is overflow water quality really better?

Yes — the entire surface is skimmed continuously, so dust and pollen never linger. That's why public pools are overflow by law in many countries.

Can a raised pool still have an infinity edge?

Yes — one raised wall can be an overflow weir toward a view. That combination is exactly how most 'infinity' pools are built.

Pool edges explained: skimmer, deck-level overflow and raised

The edge system decides how your pool looks at a glance and how its water stays clean. It's the most architectural decision in the whole build.

6 min read

Skimmer pools: the pragmatic default

In a skimmer pool the water sits about 15 cm below the deck, and wall-mounted skimmer units sip the surface into the filter. The structure is the simplest and cheapest of the three, the freeboard hides small waves, and one skimmer handles roughly 25 m² of surface.

The trade-off is the look: you see the waterline band and the pool reads as 'set into' the deck rather than flush with it.

Deck-level overflow: the water becomes the surface

In a deck-level (overflow) pool the water stands flush with the surrounding deck and spills continuously into a hidden channel — either a grated gutter or a slot. The whole surface skims itself, so the water is exceptionally clean, and visually the pool becomes a sheet of water in the terrace: the reflecting-pool look.

It costs more: the perimeter channel, a balance tank and more demanding waterproofing typically add 15–30% to the shell.

Raised pools: architecture above ground

A raised pool lifts its rim 40–60 cm above the deck, turning the edge into seating and the pool into a piece of architecture. It suits sloping sites, keeps small children out and saves excavation — at the price of a more visible structure that wants good cladding on all sides.

See all three on your own design

In the designer the edge system is one click — skimmer, overflow or raised — and the whole structure follows: water level, coping, gutter details, even where the skimmer units sit. Switch between them on your own pool and the choice usually makes itself.

Frequently asked questions

Which edge system is cheapest?: Skimmer, clearly. Overflow adds a perimeter channel and balance tank; raised adds visible structure and cladding.
Is overflow water quality really better?: Yes — the entire surface is skimmed continuously, so dust and pollen never linger. That's why public pools are overflow by law in many countries.
Can a raised pool still have an infinity edge?: Yes — one raised wall can be an overflow weir toward a view. That combination is exactly how most 'infinity' pools are built.