Create the Best Outdoor Pool

 

There are many aspects of a house that make it a home, from the bedrooms to a comfortable living room to outdoor matters such as location and landscaping. Landscaping can involve working with nature, such as planting attractive trees and shrubs, having an outdoor garden or rock walls, garden paths, or one of the most popular attractions: an outdoor pool. Properties that do not have a pool can install one with the right contractor and budget, and a pool can instantly make a property much more desirable. Custom pool designs allow a property to really take off.

Popularity of Pools

Swimming is a well liked pastime and sport alike in the United States. In fact, for American kids and teens aged 7 to 17, it is the most popular pastime, and across all demographics, swimming is the 4th most popular sport or pastime. An average person will visit pools six times per year, and all this swimming is great cardiovascular activity, since it requires the body to move against the resistance of water, which is ten times that of air. What is more, a survey by Houzz Spring Landscaping Trends Study showed that in 2014, 83% of respondents said that their backyard is an ideal space for entertainment, and that is right where a pool can go. For private or commercial pools, pool renovations and upgrades can be a great investment to keep this amenity safe and attractive.

Build or Maintain a Pool

These attractions will take work to construct and maintain, but if done right, it can be a very good investment. An existing pool will need work; the plaster will, over time, degrade, and etching and staining are common problems and will compromise the quality. And after 10 to 15 years of this, the surface will become rough and unattractive, so a new layer of plaster should be applied, or ideally, well before then. Also, for inground pool liner, a lifespan of 5-12 years should be expected, and above ground pool liners should last from 6-10 years.

Custom pool designs are easy to implement when a new pool is being installed. According to Popular Mechanics, there are six general steps to take when trying out custom pool designs. First, choosing the pool’s material, such as vinyl, steel or aluminum, or concrete should be chosen, and one should note that vinyl can be punctured with sharp objects or a pet dog’s claws. In the case of concrete, a huge variety of shapes are possible, and once it cures, concrete is very strong and lasts a long time.

The homeowner should also make estimates for prices, from the labor costs of digging the pool’s space to putting in the walls to setting up water filtration and the initial water fill-up, not to mention the costs of fences and walls around the pool. Zoning laws should also be studied and followed before and during installation, and often, it is required to have a four foot tall fence around the pool, not to mention latching gates. The location of the pool should also be considered; custom pool designs work well in the open sun and away from trees so fewer leaves fall in and the sun warms the water, and the pool should be within visual range of the house. Sewer lines, electrical systems, and septic systems should be at least a minimum distance from the pool for safety and sanitation considerations.

Next, water filtration and sanitation systems should be installed, with sand, cartridge, and diatomaceous earth types being available. This keeps the water clean and looking good. To keep the water’s alkaline and chemical levels safe, an owner should use water samples to work with and find the right concentrations and amounts of different chemicals to add. During hot summer months, frequent tests of the water’s quality are encouraged. And finally, the buyer should keep track of peripheral expenses, from walls and fences, to lighting, pathways, a diving board, maintenance, and patio furniture, among other things. These expenses should not catch a buyer off guard, or there may be difficulty in completing the pool project as a whole.