ABOVE
A weeping wall across the back of this pool creates privacy by utilizing tropical plants, while the raised deck at one end showers water with a circular rain sheer. The getaway atmosphere is enhanced with a raised spa, shown in the foreground.
Photo courtesy Backyard Oasis Inc.

TOP OF PAGE
Take an evening dip in a freeform pool built by Backyard Oasis Inc. using stacked chiseled flagstone rising above the pool to showcase fountains and landscaped planters. Underwater lighting adds to the intimate mood.

POOL FASHIONS
Popular styles and shapes include:

• Exercise pools
Long and thin, these pools are usually about 12 feet wide and can run up to 40 feet long.

• Sports pools
Sports pools are deep in the middle, which makes them perfect for water volleyball or basketball.

• Regular pools
This long-popular pool goes from shallow to deep; a common depth variation is from 3 to 7 feet.

• Classic Roman
This style has a straight length with rounded ends.

• Lagoon pools
Lagoon-style pools have lots of curves and loops with different depths creating different play areas.

MATERIAL OPTIONS
As for materials, David Brumit, owner of Monument Pools, praises quartz aggregate, which is fast replacing the old standby, white plaster. “Most manufacturers offer a 10-year warranty on quartz aggregate, so it can still look fantastic after 15 or 20 years,” he says.

With decking, he likes an acrylic coating over concrete instead of the formerly popular pea gravel decking. “Homeowners can change colors and patterns almost as easily as changing nail polish,” he says. “Or, if you prefer, it can last for years with proper care.”

Sepulveda says most homeowners are getting away from diving boards. “Insurance companies frown on them because of the liability,” he says. In their place, he suggests a jump rock, which provides the added benefit of visual interest.

Even the fashion of water has changed. According to Brumit, saltwater is the way to go. “Every pool we build now is a saltwater pool,” he says.

He points out that this water, which is really a saline solution, is not only a more environmentally friendly substance (it doesn’t dry out skin and hair like chlorine), but also is cheaper to maintain in the long run. The initial outlay adds about $1,000-$1,200 to the cost of a regular-sized pool, but that expense is recovered by the second year. Converting an existing pool to saltwater is relatively easy, a task that requires some plumbing and electrical re-working.

One thing that will never go out of style, though, is the fun you can have in a swimming pool. So, jump on in. The water’s fine.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
Water features are immensely popular now. “We’ve seen an explosion in them over the past five to 10 years,” says Rudy Sepulveda of Diamond Pools. These options include:

CAVES
These additions serve a dual purpose: They provide a deeply shaded area when you want a break from the sun, but also serve as a tanning area on the top.

A RAIN CURTAIN
A rain curtain is a plane of water dropping from 3 to 8 feet. “Rain curtains are especially pretty over the entrance to a cave,” says Sepulveda. “And the sound is nice, too.”

WEEPING WALLS
This effect is naturalistic with rocks and boulders and dripping water. “It looks like Hawaii,” says Sepulveda.

PENCIL FOUNTAINS
Pencil fountains are arcs of water that shoot from the decking (or anywhere outside the pool) into the swimming pool. When paired with a long, narrow pool, pencil fountains create visual interest.

SHEER DESCENDS
With sheer descends, water falls out of a wall into the pool — a treat for eyes and ears.

WATERWORKS
Before you begin work on your pool, take time to
research and answer these questions:

WHAT IS THE TRUE COST?
According to Blake Harrott at The Pool Man, the price tag for a pool depends on its perimeter. Other variables include the choice of materials, decking, landscaping and water features.

WHAT ARE THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS?
Harrott highly recommends a new pop-up cleaning system, the PCC 2000 by Paramount that comes with a 99 percent cleaning guarantee and a lifetime warranty on the heads within the pool. “I’ve used it for about eight years now and I can recommend it from personal experience,” he says. The cost depends on features and diameter of your pool, but starts at about $3,000.

WHAT SPECIAL SERVICES WILL BE REQUIRED?
Check out warranties, annual service contracts and once-a-year maintenance requirements.
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RESOURCES

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