custom pool Archives - Creekstone Outdoors

24 Jan

5 Must-Have Pool Features for Your Houston Backyard

Designing a dream backyard has to include an inground pool. But not just any inground pool. It has to include features that will be functional and loved by your family. Make your outdoor space stand out with these must-have pool features to add to your design plan.

Don’t settle for ordinary pool design! Install the best backyard pool in #Houston with these personalized features! Click To Tweet

5 Must-Have Pool Features for Your Houston Backyard, Creekstone Outdoor Living, Spring, TX

Make Your Pool Extraordinary

Are you ready to design your pool layout? Whether you have an existing pool or are breaking new ground, don’t forget to customize your pool with add-on features. If nothing else, start with these 5 features to make your pool extraordinary!

Tanning Ledge
Jump Rocks
Swim Up Bars
Pool Heater
Seating Benches

1) Tanning Ledge

Why settle for the traditional lounge chairs and pool deck? Tan comfortably in the water with access to a tanning ledge from your pool. With customizable shapes and sizes, you can design your pool with a tanning ledge to fit in any space!

2) Jump Rocks

Make your pool kid-friendly with a jump rock any age could enjoy! Instead of a diving board, pool owners love the idea of a jump rock. Whether attached to a rock waterfall or placed along the side of the pool, the natural stone look is a great way to enhance your pool’s character.

3) Swim Up Bars

Take your entertaining to a new level without ever leaving the pool! With a swim-up bar, you can serve food and drinks at a bar built into your pool’s infrastructure. Instead of having to get out and dry off for dinner, you can keep the party going in the pool water.

Pro Tip: Use different color bulbs in your LED lights to set the mood and plan the perfect nighttime pool party for your friends and family.

4) Pool Heater

No pool is complete without a heater to maintain functionality year-round. Install a pool heater in your pool or hot tub to keep the water temperature at a comfortable level no matter what weather has been forecasted.

5) Seating Benches

Why not have seating built into your pool structure? Instead of buying outdoor furniture, install a seating bench to attach along the edge of your pool for your guests. With a wide range of options, you can artfully design the bench materials to match your pool and backyard style.

Best Pool Design in Houston

When designing an inground pool, there are a number of water features to make your pool unlike any other. Our pool builders provide exceptional knowledge and innovative ideas to help you create the best pool in Houston.

Did we forget to mention your favorite pool feature? Share with us on social media!

17 Jan

How to Plan a Backyard Upgrade

Creating an outdoor living space doesn’t happen overnight! With the right inspiration and expert installation, though, your backyard upgrade could be closer than you think. Don’t waste any more time imagining what your backyard could be. Start planning your new outdoor space!

New Year, New Backyard! Plan your dream backyard with these 5 simple steps! Click To Tweet

Upgrading Your Backyard

Are you ready to make your dream backyard a reality? Whether you’re starting with bare sod or outdated design, upgrading your backyard can be overwhelming. Follow these easy steps to transform your outdoor space for you and your family.

Have a vision
Note the space and HOA limitations
Get inspired with landscaping ideas
Consult the experts
Start constructing

1) Have a vision

Who’s going to be using your backyard? Do you plan to entertain? Will you need lawn space for children to play? The first step of planning an upgrade is to think about how you will use the backyard. Make a list of reasons you’d like to step out of the back door and spend time outside. Once you have a vision of what you want your backyard to look like, you’ll be able to better decide which features to choose.

2) Note the space and HOA limitations

Sometimes, even the greatest ideas have limitations. Depending on the current makeup of your backyard, you might have an electrical box or tree that will affect the placement of your features. That being said, there may also be upgrades your homeowner’s association may not allow. Before you install a new patio cover or customized pool, be sure to get HOA approval before you build to minimize future problems.

3) Get inspired with landscaping ideas

A blank slate can be the best and worst way to start a project. While you might have a vision in mind, it’s helpful to get outside inspiration for your backyard. Visit your local garden store or browse landscaping ideas online to narrow down your search. Once you have a selection of ideas, you can start deciding what will work best for your personal yard.

Pro Tip: Install a fire pit or outdoor fireplace to create a warm ambiance, roast marshmallows, and enjoy cool nights year-round.

4) Consult the experts

Once you have a clear idea of what you want, it’s time to schedule a consultation with the experts. An experienced contractor can help you sort through the options and decide which landscaping ideas to use. From a visit to your backyard to a detailed estimate, your design consultation will ultimately determine what kind of resources will be required. By setting realistic expectations, you’ll be better equipped to create your new outdoor living area.

5) Start constructing

It’s time to make your design plan come to life! Whether you need to hire a crew to build your new pool or to install your new outdoor kitchen, the final step is to set aside time for construction. With the right tools and trained personnel, you could be days away from being able to enjoy your new backyard!

Ready, Set, Upgrade!

Once you have an idea of your dream backyard, the only thing left to do is to make it a reality. Whether you’re doing your own DIY projects or hiring a professional designer, the best part of a backyard upgrade is the finished product. The final transformation of your backyard will make all of your dreaming and planning worth it!

Are you ready to upgrade your backyard? Schedule a design consultation with us today!

25 Oct

5 Ideas for the Ultimate Kid-Friendly Backyard

As Houston experiences gorgeous fall weather, it’s a good time for kids to enjoy outside. Kids of all ages love to spend time in the backyard! But is your yard up to the task? Have you created a paradise for little ones to enjoy?

Turn your backyard into the perfect kid-friendly play space with these 5 design ideas! Click To Tweet

Kid-Friendly Backyard Design

Even if your backyard isn’t designed specifically for children, you can still choose features that kids of all ages are sure to love. Whether you add new structures to your backyard or just revise what’s already there, tailor the experience to what your children will enjoy. Get started with these ideas:

Outdoor Kitchen
Custom Pool
Playhouse
Garden
Patio Cover

1) Outdoor Kitchen

With cooler weather on its way and holidays around the corner, bring the party outside by installing an outdoor kitchen. This backyard idea is great for the whole family, especially parents who might want to spend time with their kids outside. From grilling dinner on a weekend to making hot cocoa on a cool fall night, an outdoor kitchen provides families of all ages a great space to enjoy.

2) Custom Pool

You might love going to the neighborhood pool. However, it’s a whole other level of fun for your kid to have a swimming pool in their own backyard. From water slides to rock waterfalls, your new pool can be customized for your family and friends to cool off from the hot southern sun. This is a huge advantage, especially in Houston where the summer weather has a habit of lingering through the fall months.

3) Playhouse/Treehouse

Even if it’s just a swing set, children can spend hours in the backyard with toys! Playhouses or play equipment are great for sparking kids’ imagination and creating spaces where they can enjoy playing outside. From climbing walls to sand pits, the number of options available to upgrade your playhouse is endless.

And don’t forget about treehouses! Depending on the size of your backyard and availability of trees, a treehouse can create a great imaginative space for your kids. With treehouse plans ranging in size and material, your backyard will become the prime hangout spot.

4) Garden

Create a space that is kid-friendly by adding features that make your backyard inviting and fun to enjoy. That being said, think about adding flowers or an herb garden to enhance your backyard. Your kids might even want to help keep the plants alive by helping water them throughout the year, which is a help to both parents and boredom!

5) Patio Cover

If your backyard doesn’t have any trees for shade, add a patio cover or pergola to your space. This is an important feature to have, especially for families with younger children who might need a way to take a break from the heat of the sun.

Pro Tip: Is your backyard shaded? With a wide arrange of design options, a patio cover could be customized to match the style of your home or backyard space.

Give Your Kids Their Dream Space

Let your kids have fun and get some fresh air without leaving your backyard! With a few new features or a revision of what you already have, you could give your kids the perfect play area in your own space.

Connect with us to learn more about building a kid-friendly backyard with custom features.

11 Oct

Saltwater vs. Freshwater Pools: Comparison & Contrast

Freshwater chlorine pools have been the gold standard of swimming pools for multiple decades. However, the trend of saltwater pools is beginning to challenge the notion that chlorine is automatically the superior choice. Is a saltwater swimming pool ever equal to or even better than a traditional chlorine pool?

In the debate of saltwater vs. freshwater pools, neither option is strictly “better” than the other. The answer depends on the price you’re willing to pay, your commitment to ongoing maintenance, and the effect both pools will have on you when you go swimming. Before you make your choice, educate yourself on both types of pools and their pros and cons.

Have you ever considered a saltwater swimming pool? Compare it against a standard chlorine pool for a more detailed picture. #outdoorliving Click To Tweet

Saltwater vs. Freshwater Pools, Creekstone Outdoor Living, Spring, TX

Chlorine Content

Contrary to popular belief, saltwater pools are not chlorine-free. Instead, the drastically lower levels of chlorine are produced through electrolysis, where the water passes through mild electrical currents to produce just enough chlorine to disinfect the pool. This is in contrast to a typical pool where the chlorine must be manually added and maintained at a higher level. For the most part, the level of chlorine in a saltwater pool is low enough that swimmers won’t notice any dry skin or bleaching on their clothes.

Pro Tip: Are you considering a saltwater pool to get around a chlorine allergy? Saltwater pools still contain some chlorine! Make sure the levels are safe for yourself and your family.

Costs

It’s difficult to estimate the exact costs of both kinds of pool and contrast the two. However, there’s no question that a saltwater pool is a more expensive investment initially. The chlorine generator and its power usage can also add up quickly. Additionally, any custom features or pool additions will need to be salt-proofed in order to be used without damage. Because of the complex system, any repairs or extensive maintenance will need to be performed by an expert rather than the homeowner.

Maintenance & Damages

Speaking of maintenance, saltwater pools require slightly less ongoing work than conventional chlorine pools. Because of the electrolysis process, a saltwater pool does a pretty good job balancing its own pH and chemicals without intervention. Chlorine pools require periodic chemical checks and rebalancing.

However, if something in your pool breaks or needs extensive work, the job is far more straightforward and affordable in a chlorine pool. Saltwater pools’ specialized fixtures cost far more than their conventional counterparts and should only be handled by experts. A leaky pool or broken pipe will cost far less time and money for the owner of a chlorine pool.

A Different Swimming Experience

It’s impossible to say that a chlorine pool is better than a saltwater pool, and vice versa. However, different homeowners may have different preferences or requirements that make one the clearly superior choice. Don’t make this decision lightly. Consider the initial and ongoing commitments both types of pools will require before you decide.

Connect with us to learn more about the debate of saltwater vs. freshwater pools.

26 Jul

3 Common Pool Design Mistakes to Avoid

Adding a swimming pool to your backyard represents a massive investment of both money and time. Consequently, you’ll want your pool to be as perfect as possible. When drawing up your ideas and consulting a professional pool builder, make sure to avoid these common pool design mistakes that can just cost you more money and make the whole project more difficult later on.

Don’t fall for these common mistakes that people make when designing a swimming pool! Here’s what to avoid. Click To Tweet

Don’t Make These Mistakes

Designing a swimming pool requires a significant amount of long-term planning. Future repairs or alterations to your backyard could mean even more costly and invasive work right after your main project is done. By avoiding these mistakes, you can keep your swimming pool project simple and streamlined:

Ignoring entertaining space
Not making a long-term plan
Hiring a too specialized company

1) Ignoring Entertaining Space

Too many homeowners forget to think about their long-term plans for entertaining guests in the backyard. A swimming pool may be a fantastic addition to your home, but without planning your entertaining space around it, you’ll end up with an awkward backyard arrangement or simply not enough room for everything you want to do. Talk to your pool contractors about how often you host parties and how many people usually come, then plan your entire backyard arrangement around that information.

Pro Tip: Even if you don’t usually entertain guests, what about your family? Consider how often your family will use a pool or backyard space on a regular basis.

2) Not Making a Long-Term Plan

In the same vein, make sure you know reasonably well what you’re planning to do in your backyard long-term. Avoiding a long-term plan could end up making things more inconvenient and expensive for you in the long run. For instance, if you know you eventually want to install an outdoor kitchen, the pool construction crew will make sure to leave room to put in the appropriate fixtures, pipes, and other necessary components of a kitchen. On the other hand, if you decide you want an outdoor kitchen six months after your pool is finished, you may find yourself waiting that much longer while your pool is renovated to accommodate the addition. Save yourself the trouble and draw up a detailed plan with the pool company ahead of time.

3) Hiring a Too Specialized Company

When building a swimming pool, you should always look for the most reputable builder you can find. However, steer clear of companies that only work on pools. Even though they can build you an excellent swimming pool, their specialized focus means they’re less likely to take the rest of your backyard into account. The completed pool might bump up against features you’ve already installed or simply get in the way of additional accessories. Find a reputable builder that specializes in general backyard and landscaping design, not just pool construction.

Keeping Your Pool Project Manageable

The sooner your swimming pool and upgraded backyard are complete, the sooner you can start hosting parties and enjoying summer nights in the pool. As you customize the backyard to your tastes, don’t forget to look to the future and make sure you know exactly what you want and when you want it. The more pool design mistakes you can prevent, the better.

Connect with us to start planning your new backyard and swimming pool!

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