Spools and Courtyard Pools for Small New Orleans Lots

Written by Big Easy Pool Designs

Small Lot, Real Pool

Quick Answer: Plenty of New Orleans properties have a back yard that looks too small for a pool, and often they are not. A spool, sometimes called a plunge pool or cocktail pool, is a compact vessel that gives you water to get into on a hot day without needing the footprint of a lap pool. Combined with the local courtyard tradition, it is frequently the right answer on a narrow lot in the city rather than a compromise.

Our spool page covers the form, and the wider range of options is on the pool types page.

Why Small Works So Well Here

Three reasons specific to this region.

Our season is long. A pool here is usable a large part of the year. That changes the value calculation, because a small pool used constantly beats a big pool used occasionally.

Cooling off is the main use case. On a humid August evening, most people want to be in water, not swimming laps. A compact pool does that job completely.

Courtyards are the local pattern. Enclosed outdoor rooms with high walls and greenery are how this city has always used small outdoor space. A compact pool sits naturally in that arrangement, giving privacy and shade that a big open yard does not.

The Access Problem

This deserves its own section because it decides more projects than budget does. On a narrow lot with a side yard barely wide enough to walk, getting excavation equipment to the back is a genuine question.

Practical consequences:

• Smaller machines mean slower work and higher labor cost.
• Fencing may need removing and rebuilding.
• Excavated soil has to be carried out, since there is nowhere to put it on a small lot.
• A one-piece fiberglass shell may simply be undeliverable, because it needs a truck route and room to crane it in.

That last point often decides construction type. A gunite shell is built in place, so it can go where a manufactured shell physically cannot. The comparison is in gunite, fiberglass or vinyl liner.

What You Gain by Going Smaller

• Lower construction cost, since excavation, shell, and finish all scale with size.
• Cheaper and faster heating. Less volume means a heater brings it up quickly, which genuinely extends the season into cooler months.
• Lower chemical and water costs.
• Room left over for seating, planting, and a deck that is pleasant to be on.

That last one matters. A pool that consumes the entire yard leaves nowhere to sit, and the space becomes less usable overall.

Designing a Courtyard Pool

A few things that make small pools work:

Built-in seating. Benches and ledges inside the pool give you somewhere to sit in the water, which is most of the point.

Consistent depth. A compact pool generally does not need a deep end. A uniform depth is more usable and cheaper to excavate, which matters more here where deeper digging meets groundwater sooner. See building on a high water table.

Water features and lighting. In a small enclosed space these carry more visual weight than they would in a large yard, so a modest spend goes further.

Vertical greenery. Walls and climbing planting give privacy and shade without taking floor space.

Light deck colors. In an enclosed courtyard heat builds, so surface temperature matters. See pool decking materials.

Our post on pool design ideas for small yards has more on layout, and designing a pool for entertaining covers how the space gets used.

Rules Still Apply

Small does not mean exempt. Setbacks from property lines and structures, easements, permitting, and barrier requirements all apply to a compact pool exactly as they do to a large one. On a tight lot, setbacks are often what determines the maximum size, which is why the permitting conversation belongs at the start. See pool permits and barrier rules.

On a small enclosed lot, also think about where equipment goes and how much noise it makes, since a pump close to a neighbor’s window in a tight courtyard is worth planning around.

Frequently Asked Questions

How small can a pool be?

Smaller than most people expect. What sets the limit is usually setbacks and access rather than the water itself.

Can I swim in a spool?

Not laps in the usual sense. Some owners add a swim jet to get resistance swimming in a compact vessel. For actual lap swimming, see our lap pool page.

Is a spool the same as a hot tub?

No. A spool is a small pool, and many are built with heating so they work year round, blurring the line. It is larger than a spa and used differently.

Does a small pool cost proportionally less?

Less in total, though not linearly. Fixed costs like mobilization, permitting, plumbing, and equipment do not shrink with the water. See what an inground pool costs.

Will it fit through my side yard?

That is the site visit question. Bring us out and we will tell you honestly what can be built and how.

Find Out What Your Lot Can Take

We will measure the space, check access, and design something that fits the property rather than telling you the yard is too small.

Big Easy Pool Designs serves Gretna, Metairie, and the wider metro. See custom pool design or call (504) 688-4066.