Introducing DIY pool slides! Make your pool time even more fun.
When it comes to classic summer water fun, it’s got to be the pool!
It’s not just about swimming—floating super balls and playing with water guns are a blast, too.
And speaking of things at the pool that kids love, slides are a must!
In this article, we introduce DIY ideas for slides you can use at the pool.
From slides for home pools to fully DIY water slides you can build yourself, we’ve gathered a variety of ideas.
If you want to enjoy your pool even more, be sure to check it out for inspiration!
Introducing DIY pool slides! Enjoy your pool even more (1–10)
A slide with water flowing down it
A water slide is made slippery by running water from above, right? This one has a mechanism where water constantly flows from a pipe-like fixture attached at the top of the slide.
I don’t know exactly how it works, but if it recirculates the pool water, that would be efficient and not wasteful.
The slide’s frame appears to be made of single steel pipes, and the sliding surface looks like wood—maybe plywood.
There’s also a handrail, so with this design it seems you could play safely even with a fairly steep incline.
Nylon fabric slide
This is a slide made from a nylon fabric called ripstop.
It’s said to be sturdy enough that even adults can jump onto it and slide without any problem.
The fabric is 10 meters long, but since it’s not used from end to end, the actual slide length is probably a bit shorter.
It looks like it would be fun if you tie it to a high place and set up a pool at the bottom.
However, since sliding in the wrong spot could cause you to fall off to either side, please make sure to take thorough safety precautions when using it.
A water slide made with a blue tarp and detergent
With a blue tarp, dish soap, and a pool, you can easily make a slide.
It’s nice that even a small pool will do.
First, spread out the blue tarp and weigh down the edges.
Set up the pool at the end where you’ll slide as the goal.
Then wet the tarp with a hose and drizzle dish soap evenly over it.
And there you have it—an instant water slide.
If you take a running start and slide, it’s fun and fast even without much slope.
Tubular water slide
How about trying to build a tube-style water slide like the ones at large pool facilities? The thrilling sensation of sliding through a tunnel could be addictive, right? In the video, they use massive pipes, but if you’re making it yourself, you could likely substitute them by covering a simple frame with plastic sheeting.
Using greenhouse frames from gardening would make the structure easy to assemble.
You could build a water slide from scratch, of course, but it also seems possible to add just this tube section onto an existing slide!
Cardboard water slide
How about making a water slide out of laminated reinforced cardboard? Since it’s cardboard, it’s easy to assemble, and you can easily build sturdy, reliable stairs.
It looks impactful and is a lot of fun.
Using water-resistant cardboard, try making not only a water slide but also a pool.
It’s great that it’s built and sized to feel safe even for adults to slide on.
Enjoy it together with your kids!
Big water slide
Here’s an idea for a larger waterslide that kids can ride together.
It says you can make it with materials you have at home, but since it’s built with steel pipe scaffolding and wood, most households probably don’t have those on hand.
That said, both the pipes and the lumber are sold at home improvement stores and are easy to get.
Build the frame with the pipes, fix wooden boards where you’ll slide, then attach plywood covered with a vinyl sheet on top, and you’re done.
Run water from the top and enjoy a full-fledged waterslide at home.
Water slide to be mounted on a pillar
This is a waterslide that uses existing pillars.
If you try to build one where there’s nothing, you first have to put up support posts, but using pillars that are already there will save you some effort.
After building the frame of the slide with lumber and plywood, lay a blue tarp over the plywood.
To prevent falling off the sides, place pieces of lumber along the left and right edges, then cover them with a second blue tarp and use clamps to secure the lumber to the slide.
Run water over it with a hose, and your waterslide is complete!
Long water slide
Long water slides are really appealing, aren’t they? Add some incline and you’ll pick up speed—it’s super thrilling! It’s not suitable for small children, but if you can secure a wide space and want a water slide that even adults can enjoy, why not try making one? Build a frame with steel pipes and fix a wooden slide on top.
Lay a blue tarp on the slide, run water over it, and slide down.
You can go pretty fast, so it seems best to prepare a fairly large pool at the bottom.
A slide that uses beer cases to create a slope
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cul4v-bp0Ea/This is a slide made by stacking beer cases like stairs and placing a board on top.
It’s nice that the board fits snugly into the gaps between the cases.
Another key point is that you can adjust the angle of the staircase of cases according to the child’s age.
Make sure an adult firmly supports the stacked cases so they don’t tip over.
Cover the board with a vinyl sheet or similar material and wet it with water to make it more slippery.
You can place a pool at the bottom, or, as in this video, a muddy pond can be fun too!
A slide that can be installed on a wooden deck
Here’s a great idea for those who have a wooden deck in their yard! This is a slide that can be installed by leaning it against the deck, so if you place a pool at the bottom, kids can use it for water play too.
The handrails are made from 1×6 lumber, and the sliding surface uses painted plywood.
You can buy both at a home improvement store.
Basically, you shape the 1×6s and the painted plywood into a slide, fix them together, and just cut the parts that will adhere to the ground and the deck.
If you’re concerned about wood damage, applying a water-repellent finish might be a good idea.