What Is an Infinity Pool, and Can It Work on a Covington Lot?

Written by Big Easy Pool Designs

What Is an Infinity Pool, and Can It Work on a Covington Lot?

Quick Answer: An infinity pool is a pool with one edge built slightly lower than the water line, so water sheets over it into a hidden basin and the surface appears to merge with whatever lies beyond. It can work on a Covington lot when the yard has a view worth framing and enough grade, or a raised design, to give that edge a drop.

We get this question a lot from Northshore homeowners with wooded lots, ponds or long backyard sight lines. The honest answer is that some Covington yards are made for a vanishing edge and some aren’t, and the design phase is where we find out which kind you have.

How Does an Infinity Pool Work?

The effect looks effortless, but it’s engineering. An infinity pool has a few working parts that a standard pool doesn’t:

• The weir edge. One wall is set a little below the water line and finished level along its full length, so water flows over it in an even sheet.
• The catch basin. A trough or small basin below the edge collects the water that spills over.
• The return system. A pump pulls water from the basin, sends it through filtration and returns it to the main pool.
• Water balance. The basin has to hold enough water for the edge to keep running when the pump starts and stops, with an automatic way to top up what’s lost.

The weir is where precision matters most. If the edge isn’t level, water bunches up in one spot and leaves a dry section somewhere else. That’s why the tolerances on a vanishing edge are tighter than on any other pool type we build.

Is It the Same as a Negative-Edge Pool?

Yes. Infinity, vanishing-edge and negative-edge are names for the same basic idea. A pool where water spills over every side is a related but different build, and it’s a much bigger hydraulic job.

Can an Infinity Pool Work on a Covington Lot?

Two things decide it: the view and the grade.

The view. A vanishing edge needs something beyond it. In Covington that might be a stand of pines, a pond, a creek bank or open sky over a back field. If the edge faces a fence or the neighbor’s garage, the effect falls flat.

The grade. The edge needs somewhere to vanish to. A yard that slopes away from the house gives the catch basin a natural spot below the pool. On a flatter lot, the pool can be raised so the edge sits above the yard, but that adds structure, and the raised wall becomes a design feature in its own right.

When we visit a Covington property, we stand where you’ll actually see the pool from, usually the back porch or the kitchen, and check the sight line. Then we look at where the ground falls and where water drains after a heavy rain. If the site doesn’t suit a vanishing edge, an architectural pool often gets the same wow with different tools, and we’ll tell you that up front.

What Do St. Tammany Weather and Soil Mean for the Design?

The Northshore shares the region’s heavy rain, hurricane season and soft ground. Those matter more for an infinity pool than for a simple rectangle, because the edge has to stay level for years.

• Structure under the edge. The vanishing wall and basin carry real weight. They’re engineered around the soil and the water table so the edge doesn’t settle out of level. Our post on building on a high water table explains why groundwater shapes the shell.
• Rain and runoff. A big storm adds water fast. The basin and overflow need a planned route for that extra water so it doesn’t flood the equipment or the yard.
• Storm prep. Before tropical weather, the basin, pump and loose items need attention. Our hurricane season pool prep guide walks through the steps.

Permits are part of the plan too. St. Tammany Parish’s residential pool packet says pools are inspected for compliance with the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and plan review asks for a property survey that indicates the flood zone. That packet covers unincorporated parts of the parish. Inside Covington city limits, the city’s own permit office is the place to confirm what it needs. We handle the permitting either way.

How Much Does an Infinity Pool Cost?

An infinity pool costs more than a standard pool of the same size, because it’s two water features in one. We don’t publish a flat number. The main drivers are:

• Length of the vanishing edge. A longer weir means more precision work and a bigger basin.
• Structure. A raised edge or a steep drop needs more wall and foundation work.
• Hydraulics. The extra pump, plumbing and auto-fill for the basin add equipment.
• Finishes and site work. Tile on the weir wall, decking, access for equipment and drainage all count.

Every infinity pool we build starts with a custom pool design, and the written estimate comes after a free on-site consultation, before any work starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an infinity pool use more water?

The basin and moving water add to what you’ll top up over a season, especially in hot, windy weather. An automatic fill on the basin handles routine makeup water.

Is an infinity pool loud?

The sound of water over the edge is part of the appeal. The drop height and basin design change how much you hear, so we set it with you during design.

Can I add a vanishing edge to my existing pool?

Sometimes, but it’s a structural change, not a cosmetic one. We’d inspect the shell and the site before saying yes.

See What Your Covington Lot Can Do

We’ll walk the yard with you and tell you honestly whether a vanishing edge fits. If you want a narrow, exercise-first design, our lap pool guide covers that shape. For a full build, see our inground pool page for Covington.

Start with custom pool design in Covington or our Covington service area page, request your free consultation, or call (504) 688-4066.