Custom Pool Archives - Page 4 of 6

19 Jul

Why Include Fire Features Around Your Swimming Pool?

Fire and water may not be two things you’d ever think of mixing. However, as an accessory to your swimming pool, decorative fire features add a touch of flair and a different type of lighting to your backyard. Fire features for your pool can serve both decorative and practical purposes.

If you’ve run out of ideas on how to further accessorize your backyard, consider adding a flame decoration near your swimming pool. The warm glow of open flames will not only present a very pleasing image, but can also be a practical addition to your backyard. Here are a few reasons why more homeowners are choosing to decorate with custom fire features.

Mix fire and water by adding decorative fire features around your swimming pool! #outdoorliving Share on X

Aesthetically Pleasing

The most obvious reason to install a fire feature is that it simply looks great. Particularly after sunset, an open flame on the edge of your pool looks magical and exotic. This feature is also slightly less common, giving your backyard the look of uniqueness you want. Whether you choose a fire pit, fire bowl, or some other design, you’re sure to find something that looks perfect in your yard.

Cook Over an Open Flame

Decorative fire also gives you the chance to cook over an open flame. For a classic treat, roast some marshmallows and enjoy a “camping” night. A few adventurous homeowners may even mount a grill over the fire and cook a steak or two. Get that smoky flavor you love so much without even leaving your backyard.

Pro Tip: If you decide to cook over a decorative fire pit, make sure to clean up well afterward.

Keep Mosquitoes Away

You’ve probably heard that smoke repels mosquitoes. While this is partially true, they’re particularly scared off by the smell of citronella, a natural bug repellant. Your new fire feature could thus become part of an anti-mosquito system in your yard. Combine the smoke of your fire with a few citronella candles or drop a few citronella leaves into the fire. While the smell may be strong at first, you’ll see far fewer mosquitoes and enjoy a quieter evening in your backyard.

Upgrading Your Backyard Decor

Fire features for your pool turn a run-of-the-mill backyard swimming space into an exotic hangout spot. Give yourself the gift of a luxury pool by adding an outdoor fire pit or fire bowl and impress your guests!

For more ideas on incorporating fire accessories into your backyard design, connect with us and browse our projects gallery.

29 May

6 Functioning Outdoor Design Ideas to Complement Your Houston Swimming Pool

For a Houston home, an outdoor swimming pool is a fantastic addition. But don’t forget to add complementing designs to the rest of your backyard! Fortunately, you have a wide variety of choices to make your backyard a custom oasis. Get ready to make the neighborhood jealous!

That new swimming pool needs some complementing decor! Check out these outdoor design ideas to help you get started. Share on X

Custom Features for Your Backyard

Depending on how often you’ll use your new Houston pool and how many people you’ll be sharing it with, you may not want to add all of these features. However, a couple of favorites from this list could give you the elegant outdoor area you’ve always wanted! How would your pool look next to one of these?

Outdoor kitchen
Fire pit
Pool house
Patio cover
Pool furniture
Backyard lights

1) Outdoor Kitchen

Do you host a lot of parties or just enjoy cooking? Either way, an outdoor kitchen could be a perfect addition to your backyard patio! Enjoy all the functionality and atmosphere of cooking under the stars. Best of all, serve your pool party guests right next to the pool in an outdoor dining area.

2) Fire Pit

Open flames may seem unnecessary in the Houston warmth, but a fire pit by your pool could increase your atmosphere. Imagine an open fire illuminating your backyard at night! Plus, an outdoor fireplace will give you and your friends a chance to roast marshmallows and reminisce around the fire.

Pro Tip: If you get a fire pit for your backyard, make sure any furniture and accessories nearby are fireproof.

3) Pool House

For a family who spends a lot of time in the pool or frequently hosts overnight guests, a pool house could be an invaluable addition to your home. You and your guests will have a convenient place to change, use the restroom, or store snacks before swimming. Take the design a step further with a bed or fold-out couch, and you have the perfect guest house overlooking your pool! The additional time spent on the pool house will be worth it.

4) Patio Cover

A patio cover can cover just your patio or your pool. For a Houston homeowner, investing in a patio cover for the pool is a great idea. Not only will the cover provide shade and keep out the heat, but it will also prevent common debris like bugs or leaves from collecting in your pool. See if a cover is the right choice for your backyard.

5) Pool Furniture

Whether for your dining area or poolside lounging, your outdoor paradise should include comfy outdoor furniture and seating areas. Just make sure it can withstand the Houston weather! Find designs and styles that appeal to your personal tastes while also being practical for their setting.

6) Backyard Lights

Do your pool parties regularly last past sundown? Why not add some outdoor lights to keep the party going after dark? String lighting on a patio cover or wound around a pillar can create a festive atmosphere. Meanwhile, LED lights inside your swimming pool can make the water look magical and appealing. What atmosphere will you create with your lights?

Designing the Perfect Backyard

Whatever you choose, your backyard design should reflect your personality and give you and your loved ones a great place to spend time together. Your outdoor space will be part of your house for a long time and provide plenty of entertainment. Make sure you design the right one for you.

Looking for more pool design inspiration and ideas? Join the conversation to see what other people chose!

17 May

New Pool Construction: What to Ask Your Houston Pool Builder

Once you have an idea of what kind of pool you want, it’s time to look for a pool building company to make your dream a reality. But don’t just hire the first company that shows up on Google. As the future owner of a swimming pool, you owe it to yourself to know exactly what you’re getting into.

Make an informed decision about your swimming pool construction project. Here’s a few good questions to ask your pool builder before work starts. Share on X

Swimming Pool Questions and Answers

Remember that the pool builder is working for you, and the final swimming pool will be a part of your home for the foreseeable future. Don’t be afraid to ask questions until you’re fully satisfied. Here are a few important questions to start with:

Can they accommodate all your requests?
Do they have a good reputation and good reviews?
What plumbing, electrical, etc. needs will the finished pool have?
What will the complete project cost?
What warranties or insurance are available?
What building materials will be used?
What maintenance will the completed pool require?

1) Can They Accommodate All Your Requests?

You probably have an idea of the shape, size, custom features, etc. you want for your swimming pool. See how much your pool builder can create for you. Be prepared for the unexpected when it comes to new pool construction. You may have to scale your project down slightly if your original ideas are too expensive or complex, but don’t give up on your dream pool. Keep looking until you find a pool builder that can make your dream come true.

2) Do They Have a Good Reputation and Good Reviews?

Customer testimonials, while not necessarily a dealbreaker, can give you an idea of a pool builder’s community standing. Do they do quality work and offer good customer service? How often do their pools need repairs done? Ask around and look online to see what kind of company you’re hiring.

3) What Plumbing, Electrical, Etc. Needs Will the Finished Pool Have?

This partially depends on how many custom features you want to be included in or near your swimming pool. Make sure you know what kind of mechanics will be in the finished product. This will give you an idea of how frequently maintenance will be required and how much repairs can potentially cost you.

4) What Will the Complete Project Cost?

Don’t let yourself be surprised by the price. Before you sign the contract, make sure you know down to the penny how much your swimming pool project will cost. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how often people rush into a project without considering the total cost. Make sure you know how much you’ll be spending.

Pro Tip: Don’t default to the pool builder with the lowest price. You may be getting a good deal on paper, but the lower cost may indicate the builder will cut corners elsewhere and leave you with a defective pool.

5) What Warranties or Insurance Are Available?

Whether due to damage or wear and tear from age, your swimming pool will need repairs from time to time. A reputable pool builder will offer insurance and limited repairs for your pool, though exact services will vary. Ask about future repairs and how much you can expect to pay for them.

6) What Building Materials Will Be Used?

The more durable the building materials in your pool, the fewer repairs it will need and the longer it will last. Ask for details on construction materials and additional costs for upgrading to more durable ones if necessary.

7) What Maintenance Will the Completed Pool Require?

Finally, make sure you know how to care for your pool when it’s finished. Will you have to regularly call in professional help for maintenance, or will the biggest chore be pulling bugs and loose leaves out of the water with a net? See how much time and money will go into keeping the pool functioning.

Creating Your Dream Pool for Houston Summers

Your swimming pool will add value to your home and provide hours of entertainment for years to come. You deserve the best. Before any construction begins, make sure to get swimming pool questions and answers from your pool builder.

Want to learn more about designing your dream pool? Join the conversation to speak with our professional pool designers!

10 May

New Pool Construction: How Long Will It Take to Install Your Inground Pool?

You probably don’t want to wait too long to use your brand new pool. Rest assured that your construction team also wants to finish the job quickly to move on to other work! Exact times can vary greatly, but your pool should be completed reasonably fast.

Wondering why your pool construction is taking so long? Here’s what you need to know about inground pool design and installation. Share on X

For a no-complications pool building project, you can expect to wait about 6-8 weeks. Of course, delays will happen. Multiple problems can add days or weeks to your waiting time. Here’s everything you need to consider when it comes to installing an inground pool.

Custom Features

That waterfall will look amazing when it’s completed, but it will probably add an extra few days to your pool installation. The more custom features you want, the longer construction will take. As you customize your pool to your heart’s content, prepare yourself to wait a little longer.

Pro Tip: Don’t make changes to your pool design once construction starts. The builders may have to undo some progress to add in your new ideas, consuming yet more time.

Inclement Weather

Unpredictable Houston weather could cost your pool builders valuable construction time if constant rain or overwhelming heat makes it impossible to work. There isn’t really a good way to solve this problem. Your best bet is just to wait for the weather to improve so work can resume.

Building Material Delays

Finally, sometimes a material supplier won’t ship the necessary tiles, concrete, or other necessities in time, leading to a delay on your pool project. Your pool builders might be able to speed up the delivery if this happens, but chances are, you’ll just have to wait a little longer. You may be tempted to go to the hardware store and try to continue the work yourself, but don’t do that! When the materials arrive, having a weak spot in your new pool will just lead to disaster later.

Anticipating Your New Inground Pool

Delays can be frustrating, especially when they’re out of your control. Just remember that you can reduce some of the most common delays by choosing easily shipped building materials and a good time of year for the construction. While unexpected problems might still occur, at the very least you can reduce them.

Excited for your new pool? Connect with us and see what the finished product will look like!

03 May

New Pool Construction: Dig Day Expectations

You finally put down the money on that new pool you’ve been dreaming of! Once you’ve finished designing it and adding all the design features you’ve always wanted, it’s time to start construction. Day one of your pool construction project will consist entirely of excavating your new pool’s construction site.

Excavation seems simple enough, but there’s plenty of factors to consider as the day nears. Make sure your backyard is prepared for the pool building traffic and potential problems that may arise during the project.

Get ready to build your custom designed swimming pool! Here’s what to expect during excavation. Share on X

Identify Potential Hazards in Your Backyard

Make sure your pool builders locate and clearly mark anything that you know will get in the way of digging, such as water pipes or buried electrical cables. A reputable pool designer will understand the importance of this. However, be prepared to address other problems that aren’t so easily identified at first. For example, if the construction crew hits bedrock, a large boulder, or a shallow water table, construction may be slowed as the problem is dealt with or your pool’s location changes. You may have to accommodate delays or additional expenses resulting from inevitable problems like these.

Protect Your Backyard

A major construction project like a pool means a lot of people and machines will be in and out of your yard all day. To prevent damage to your backyard, make sure to move small decorations like bird baths to a safe location like your garage. Ask if you should remove part of your fence so construction vehicles can get in easily. Most importantly, consider how to protect unmovable features like an outdoor kitchen. Trustworthy pool contractors should already have a plan to protect your kitchen, but never forget to ask if there’s anything you can do as well. You don’t want to ruin one backyard landmark for the sake of a new one.

Pro Tip: Your grass will inevitably get trampled during a pool construction project. Make sure to buy some new sod when the work is done.

Decide What to Do with the Dirt

Regardless of how big your pool is, you’ll end up with a lot of excavated soil. Most swimming pool builders will let you choose to either pay a little extra to have the dirt hauled away or keep it for yourself at no extra charge. Keeping the dirt allows you to add a hill in your backyard and provide an elevated space for a cool feature like a firepit to overlook your new pool. On the other hand, paying a little more to get rid of the dirt forever cleans up your backyard that much faster. Whatever you ultimately decide, make sure your pool contractor can accommodate you.

Get Ready for the Next Step!

A typical pool excavation normally takes a full day and may expand to two or three with work complications. Once the digging is finished, it’s time to start on reinforcement and plumbing! The best way to prepare for this is to keep the new gaping hole in your backyard clean and easily accessible. Don’t rebuild your fence or install anything else until the construction is fully finished. Most importantly, don’t go into the hole yourself–without the structural reinforcement from further construction, the dirt could still collapse.

Preparing for Dig Day

You’re most likely excited about your new custom pool and increased outdoor time! Although the design and construction phase will not be as fun, your new pool will be worth it. The best way you can help is to make the contractor’s job as easy as possible. The faster they can work, the faster you get your new pool!

Interested in reading more about the pool construction process? Connect with us and see how to get started.

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Category Archives: Custom Pool