Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Mon, Jul 12, 2010 @ 09:54 AM
Although there are certainly many ways to dress up an inground swimming pool, I wanted to write a brief list showing 11 things (just about all of which are shown in the video) you may consider to dress up the overall appearance of your backyard ‘poolscape’. Keep in mind that as you read the following ideas they are just that-- ideas, and by no means a requisite to having a beautiful pool in your backyard. As I always say, it’s better to have a pool in your backyard without all the options you wanted, than it is to have a beautiful pool with every option you ever dreamed of......in your head……and not in your backyard.
But without further ado, here goes:
1. Colored Pool Finish: White pools, especially if you’re considering fiberglass or concrete, have gone the way of the dinosaur. And to this I say good riddance. Colors make swimming pools look more natural, inviting, and often times create that ‘Carribean’ feel so many are looking for.
2. Separate Coping Color: As shown in the attached video, installing a separate border around an inground pool not only delineates the pool, but it adds a ‘pop’ to the shape itself. Borders can be done in a variety of ways, with an 18” stamped concrete border w/extra cuts the most common method on a fiberglass swimming pool.
3. Decorative Patio: Stamped Concrete and Pavers are two of the most common ways homeowners dress up their pool patio, but there are also many more, like bluestone, CoolDeck/Spray Deck, etc.
4. Gravel Between Pool and Fence: You'll notice on the video that the homeowner layed a white gravel beteen the fence and the pool. This makes for a perfect transition and is also rather low maintenance in terms of yardwork.
5. Dress Up the Fence: As shown in the video, black aluminum combined with brick pillars is very, very pretty. It’s also very expensive, but if you have the additional funds, the elegant feel it brings to the backyard is significant.
6. Arched Gate: This one goes hand-in-hand with brick pillars, but an arched gate has an impressive feel adds a nice flare to the fence itself.
7. Flowers/Greenery/Shrubs/Etc: The homeowner in the video did an excellent job with his plantings around the pool area, especially in the pathways that lead to the pool. When done the right way and with the right selection, plantings can completely change the look and feel of a backyard.
8. Water Features: This is one of the few elements not shown in the video, but water features have a powerful effect on the backyard/swimming pool experience. Even simple waterfalls are popular these days because of their relaxing and tranquil impact on the pool area.
9. Multiple Seating Elevations: In the attached video, the homeowner achieved this with a nicely designed composite deck that had multiple levels, overlooking the pool. This can also be achieved by using landscape blocks to create steps, benches, etc.
10. Contour Your Patio: The homeowners did an excellent job of this in the video, as they put an arch in the concrete on the opposite side of the arch in the Moroccan (fiberglass pool by Leisure), thus accentuating the shape of the pool and adding further to the 'classy' feel of the backyard.
11. Landscape Lighting: It's a shame we couldn't do a night-time video of this pool as well, because all of the landscape lighting has an awesome effect on the overall ambiance of the backyard at night time.
Well I hope this little list and video helps you with further ideas to enhance the look of your backyard swimming pool experience. If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to leave them below.
Posted by Jason Hughes on Fri, May 28, 2010 @ 09:27 AM
If you want a crash course on the finer details of a fiberglass pool installation then you've come to the right place. Contained in this article are points of a fiberglass pool project that are NOT frequently covered on the internet, or possibly even in your backyard with your contractor, but are absolutely essential to a successful installation. These are the things you absolutely should know before the first piece of equipment shows up.
These points are in random order. Get ready for a Fiberglass Pool Feeding Frenzy!
1. If electrical hook-up is not included in the contractor's standard package keep this in mind:
The further your filter system is from the house (or an existing sub-panel) the more the initial electrical hook-up cost will be. In our area, placing the filter system in the yard as opposed to being adjacent to the house will increase the price $500-$1000.
2. The filter system does not need to be enclosed to protect it from the weather. It's made to be outside already!
3. The filter system does not need to be located directly beside the pool. On most occasions as long as it is within 50'-60' of the pool its fine....and it can be much, much further away if needed. Read more about filter system location here.
4. Most contractors do not pour a concrete pad for the pump and filter system to sit on. They usually bring out one of those plastic deals like the ones used for your house hvac units.
5. You need to become familiar with the term bonding because many regions have not adopted the latest bonding requirements for fiberglass pools (which are necessary) and therefore some local contractors may not be bonding their pools properly.
6. Bonding is essentially a means of making all components around the pool that bathers come in contact with the same voltage potential. In non-pool guy terms, it's a way to insure swimmers do not get shocked by the stuff around the pool. This is accomplished by connecting these components together with a bare copper wire. The things that need to be bonded around the pool include but are not limited to handrails, ladders, slides, metal pool lights, the pool deck, and the water in the pool. I can't emphasize the importance of proper bonding enough....please research it and ask your pool guy how he bonds his pools. Getting zapped by a handrail can be a traumatizing experience.
7. 
Most areas require a plug-in service receptacle between 10' and 20' of the water's edge of the pool so plan accordingly. Everyone asks the same question..."why?" Best I can figure is because at 10' a standard cord on an appliance will not reach pool-side, and at 20' folks will break out the extension cord in order to reach the pool area.....in which case it may get a little too close to the pool, Ouch!
8. Regarding pool decks: if you are considering concrete as your material of choice, you need to understand that IT CRACKS! It is a guarantee that concrete will crack every 12'-15' throughout a pool deck. Contractors understand this and install control joints (cut, groves, or pieces of material) in the concrete to attempt to force the crack to occur within the pretty straight line of their joint. The problem is that sometimes concrete decides to crack where it wants despite the intentions of the contractor. These "shrinkage cracks" are not structural in nature and are not indicative of unsuitable concrete, an unstable base, or poor workmanship. There is no guarantee that you will get a shrinkage crack on your patio, but if the chance of it occurring makes you shudder, you might want to consider another option....like pavers or natural stone.
9. Pool coping is the material that borders the inside of the pool and provides the transition between the pool and the patio. 90% of all fiberglass pools installed in the United States have what's known as
cantilevered concrete coping. This is a poured-in-place concrete coping that's affordable, looks great, and lasts a long, long time. However, most fiberglass pool installers will tell you that it is also the most difficult portion of the project. Make sure your concrete finisher is a well seasoned cantilevered concrete installing machine!....otherwise it may not be pretty. To see how this product is installed check out our cantilevered concrete video.
10. If you're considering pavers for your fiberglass pool patio, a popular way to do this is to pour a concrete border around the pool (we like 18") then butt the pavers to this concrete coping. This method is budget friendly because paver coping can get pricey, it is structurally sound because the concrete supports the pool, plus it looks awesome!
11. If you're considering stamped concrete around your fiberglass pool you need to be aware that if your patio is large enough to require multiple truckloads of concrete, the color between the different trucks may not match. These differences in color, if they even occur, are usually very mild, but keep in mind that the darker the concrete color the higher the probability of this occurring.
12. 
Stamped concrete can be very slippery around a pool unless a skid-resistant additive is incorporated into the sealer as it is applied. This will make the surface safe and you should not have any concerns about ‘slippery-ness' if this product is used correctly. But if not, get ready for a backyard version of Disney's swimmers on ice.
13. Keep in mind that the lighter the color of the patio the cooler it stays on your feet. Gotta keep your feet happy!
14. Let's talk about your site: First, access lane....How's the builder getting in and out? Chances are that they do not take down or re-install fences or other barriers. Check with them up front.....no surprises!
15. 
Warning, disturbing comment to follow: Your yard will get destroyed! Sorry, but you're going to find out sooner or later, so I might as well tell you right now. The great thing is that when God created grass, he made it so it grows back.....cool huh?
16. What are you going to do with the dirt? If you have a flat yard with a few ‘low areas', you may be able to use about 1% of the dirt filling them in....so plan on your pool guy getting the stuff out of there so you're not stuck with it. To give you an idea of how much dirt we're talking about, look at the shed out in your back yard.....where talking about a pile of dirt about the size of 5 of those. Yep, it's a lot! Be sure to discuss hauling and dump fees before the project begins.
17. Don't assume your yard is level. In fact, make dang sure someone shoots some elevations in your yard before the project begins. Pool guys are famous for installing a pool then saying, "Ooops, I had no idea your yard had a 3' slope.....I guess you'll need a $5k retaining wall."
18. Don't allow a pool guy to install flexible PVC around your pool...it's a no-no in our book (along with dozens of folks who've contacted us with flex pipe problems since we began writing about this). Heat bending rigid PVC is the only way to fly. Check out our video to see the heat bending process in action and read about it in our article Rigid vs. Flex pvc pipe: Which is Better?.
19. Let's talk fence, but first a disclaimer. River Pools and Spas does not claim to know any barrier requirements (fence code) for any specific areas and the following are only suggestions. So anyway, there are several fence facts that may apply in your area that you need to check on. First, gates normally have to swing out away from the pool, have to self-close, and self-latch. There are also restrictions on the following specifications of a pool fence such as: distance from bottom of fence to the ground, spacing between pickets, type of gate latches, etc. Also, many areas require door alarms on any doors from the house if they open directly into the pool area.
20. Remember bonding? It applies to metal fence as well. If any metal fence, including aluminum, is within 5' of the water's edge of the pool it will need to be bonded....which is a major pain in the butt. So to avoid the hassle make sure your fence is at least 5' away from the pool.
21. Make sure you're pool contractor pressure tests his plumbing. Leaks are bad....avoidable leaks are worse.
22. You must have a dewatering system installed on your fiberglass pool! This is simply a way to access and drain the ground water around the pool if needed. The objective of this system is not to constantly remove the ground water around the pool; it will be fine so long as it remains full of water. However, when your pool needs to be drained (even if it is 50 yrs from now) the ground water around the pool must be removed or less-than-fun things tend to happen. We simply install an 8" pvc pipe off the deep end of the pool and place a skimmer lid on top and leave it. It costs $50....make sure your contractor installs one for Pete's sake! Here's a detailed article on how it's done.
23. We are huge proponents of using gravel to backfill around fiberglass pools as opposed to sand which is the industry standard. There are many reasons for this which you can read about here.
24. If concrete or asphalt driveways will be used for access, be aware that they may incur damage. Use an alternative access lane if available. Grass is cheaper to replace than concrete.
25. Any reputable pool contractor will secure a building permit with local authorities as well as call in to have the utilities in your yard located.
26. The average fiberglass pool holds 10,000 gallons of water. There is a lesson for you contained in each and every gallon: have fun!
Thanks for being here,
Jason Hughes
Comments and questions welcome and appreciated.
Posted by Jason Hughes on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 @ 06:04 PM
Pool fences have evolved over the years in many ways. In the past 10-15 years emphasis has been placed on regulating and enforcing fence requirements across the country. This has been a great thing, and has saved many lives, but it has also limited the fence options available to the consumer. There are currently three prominent types of fence used around pools today. This article will give a brief introduction to each of these three styles as well as discuss their inherent advantages and disadvantages.
Ornamental Aluminum
Ornamental aluminum has become the most popular type of pool fence in America due to its durability and elegant appearance. The aluminum is coated with a type of dry powder which is applied as a free flowing agent. This process is called powder coating and differs from conventional liquid paint because it does not require the use of a solvent to keep the product in suspension form. The coating is applied electrostatically and then cured under heat to allow it to form the skin that coats the aluminum. Powder coated aluminum fence is sometimes confused with wrought iron fence which is extremely heavy and has a painted surface. Iron fence is not frequently used around pools because it is much more expensive and time consuming to maintain. The panels for residential aluminum fence come in six foot sections and are composed of individual top and bottom rails and pickets that are fastened together with rivets or screws.
Standard 54" aluminum pool fence.
Advantages:
- Extremely durable
- Low maintenance
- Relatively inconspicuous (especially darker colors)
Disadvantages:
Applications
Ornamental aluminum fence is perfect for any setting where low maintenance is important and a privacy fence is not required. Aluminum fence is also great for waterfront properties or any other setting where you want to limit the obstruction of a wonderful view as much as possible. This is primarily because of the narrow rails and pickets used to construct the fence. This is the only type of fence that requires absolutely no maintenance, and that's a huge plus for most people. Aluminum fence is also available in a variety of colors. The most popular color is black, but many manufacturers also offer white, bronze, or green.
PVC
PVC fence is also frequently used around pools. There are two primary styles: standard fence, which is 48"-54" tall with either solid slats or spaced pickets; and privacy fence, which is 6'-7' tall with the slats butted together to make a solid panel. Many privacy fences have lattice or spindles for the top foot of the fence to add ornament to the design. Let's take a look:
Lattice top PVC privacy fence.
Advantages
- Great privacy fence
- Low maintenance
- Many solid and picketed styles available
- Many manufacturers can adapt their styles to custom heights for little or no additional charge.
Disadvantages
- Gates tend to sag over time
- Pickets and rails are much thicker and considered bulky by some consumers
- White color tends to be very conspicuous
- Mildew can form on fence in wet shady areas
Applications
PVC is the undisputed champion of privacy fences. It's durable, low maintenance, and provides great privacy. What else could you ask for? It's frankly not my favorite choice for a standard pool fence because the bulkiness of the thick pickets and rails. However, we've used PVC in many settings, often when tying in with an existing PVC fence, and the projects have all turned out wonderful. Almost all PVC fences are white, but many manufactures also offer tan as another option.
Wood
Wood is a tried and true building material and continues to be a popular fence material used around pools. Over the past decade it has been overshadowed by PVC and aluminum because of their low maintenance benefits, but thousands of wood fences are still installed around pools every year.
A standard concave wood fence.
Advantages:
- Size and style are totally customizable
- Less expensive than PVC or aluminum
- Can paint or stain a wide variety of colors
Disadvantages:
- Requires more maintenance
- Can warp and twist over time
Applications
Wood has some very strong qualities to take advantage of, if you're willing to do your part on the maintenance end. It is a natural material, and there's power in incorporating various natural elements into a design. In some settings a man-made barrier constructed of plastic or aluminum may not work as well as wood. Notwithstanding the maintenance aspect, there's no disputing the fact that it looks great in any setting and also makes a wonderful privacy fence.
Which type of pool fence is for you? My experience has been that about 90% of inground pool clients go with the 54" black ornamental aluminum fence because of its sleek look and low maintenance unless they are in need of a privacy fence. In which case most go with the pvc. Hopefully this article has been a helpful resource in your quest for the perfect pool fence. More articles on pool fence as well as other aspects of pool and patio design are available at http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/. You can also visit http://www.poolschool.us/ for more information.