November 2011
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Changing Your Hot Tub Water in 4 Simple Steps
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How to Choose the Right In-ground Pool for You
in Maintenance
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After summer’s splashing and sunning abates, fall — or winter in the warmest climates — is a great time to tackle major pool improvements. Some of today’s most popular renovations are perfect projects for cooler days.
“If you’re able to do the work in the off-season, when you’re finished with the pool, that’s ideal,” says Dan Lenz, service manager at All Seasons Pools and Spas Inc., a retailer and pool builder/renovator in Orland Park, Ill.
Here are some upgrades worth considering as you look forward to next year’s pool season:
Rock Slide or Diving Board
Popular for the way they blend in with landscaping, prefabricated slides and diving boards can be sold already encased in weather-resistant resin rock formations. Formations can be custom-built to feature waterfalls or create small lagoons.
Best For: Pool owners who want to make their pool more kid- or grandkid-friendly
Project Timeframe: A prefabricated product, if in stock at a local retailer, will take one day or less to install. Plan a few months in advance for a custom project, which will involve design, ordering and installation time.
Laminar Flow Fountains
Go beyond traditional waterfalls and fountains and consider laminar flow fountains, which form a continual arc of water akin to a curved glass rod, or deck jets that create intermittent, spurting water arches. “It’s something everyone should add to a pool because they’re relatively inexpensive and add a whole new dynamic to the backyard. The whole pool becomes a fountain,” Lenz says.
Best For: In-ground pool owners
Project Timeframe: Anywhere from one half-day to one month based on how elaborate the project is.
Redesigned Surface
Options range from sandblasting and resurfacing to adding colored plaster or pebbles and quartz aggregated into cement for sparkling color below your waterline. Kent Westfall, president and owner of Kent Westfall Plaster Services in Palm Desert, Calif., recommends aggregates for their beauty and durability. Tile, at the waterline or in a mosaic pattern, offers a superior look as well, but be careful, as costs for tile rise quickly.
Best For: Owners of older in-ground pools
Project Timeframe: Sandblasting and repainting or plastering could take a few days to a week. For aggregated surfaces, expect a week to 10 days and one or two days for tile installation around a pool edge.
System Upgrades
“Although these aren’t renovations you can see, they do change everything,” Lenz says. Consider replacing a 15- to 20-year-old heating system, adding remotes for your controls, installing lighting, or wiring your pool deck for future high-tech upgrades if you are planning deck maintenance. While you have professionals already on-site, ask for energy efficiency upgrades with new filters and variable speed pumps, which can be up to 10 percent more efficient. Implemented at the same time, these smaller upgrades can add up to a big overall impact, Lenz says.
Best For: Owners of older pools
Project Timeframe: One day (light installation, pump upgrades) to a few days (new heating system, underground wiring).
Infinity edges, baja steps (long, low steps) and beach entries are also popular upgrades, but are generally higher-cost options for a limited group. Homeowners whose lawns or pool areas already feature some land gradation can more easily install an infinity edge. Due to the length of these gently graded features, baja steps and beach entries should only be added by pool owners with extensive backyard space.
There are many upgrade options to consider, but don’t feel the need to go it alone. Whether you’re considering a few simple improvements or a complete overhaul, your pool dealer may be qualified to lend assistance.
Regardless of which upgrade you choose, our experts agree planning your project is key. “Be patient, do your homework and don’t throw money at a project without being sure of what you’re getting,” Westfall says. “Use a licensed contractor. Make sure your contractor has the proper insurance, and check references.” You’ll be glad you did when next year’s sunny summer weather brings you poolside once again.
