Dive into your new swimming pool
It's a great moment to install a new pool in your home. A pool can be a fun and playful addition to your home, but careful planning must be accomplished to achieve a successful project.
There are many types of pools, in a variety of materials and finishes, for every type of taste and budget. While some may consider a pool a luxury, the value it brings to a home puts it in the smart investment category.
Are you ready to dive in?
Pools today are not just for the athletic swimming of laps. Most pools are used by family members of all ages for swimming, relaxation and horseplay - and even as a visual feature of the home. A pool is best designed for the multiplicity of function it will serve.
The placement of your pool in relation to your home and yard is of utmost importance. You must take into account where the best sunlight and shade are. In addition, make sure not to place your pool near trees that have invasive root structures or undergo extreme shedding of leaves in order to avoid expensive repairs and maintenance in the future. The best location is the one where the pool will be on its own, away from trees and foliage.
A study of the grounds around your future pool area must also be done to make sure the ground is firm and free of any sink holes or electrical or gas lines. Depending on the condition of your property, the report will help you decide what type of pool is best for you: simple prefab fiberglass, a poured-in-place pool, an aboveground type or an in-ground pool.
The next important element of the pool design is the shape. Do you prefer a classic rectangular pool, or do you prefer a free-form or another geometric shape? The architecture and the existing landscape of your home might give clues as to what fits best. For example, a traditional home and a rectangular pool might work well together, while a midcentury ranch and a free-form kidney pool may seem like the perfect marriage. And what would be better than a contemporary house with an infinity-edge pool?
While most swimmers would say a larger pool is best, there are many issues to consider when sizing a pool. Almost any size pool can be built. Things to consider in the sizing of the pool are the size of the lot, the size of the home and also your financial budget to maintain the pool. The larger a pool the larger the bills for electricity to run pumps and products to help maintain the water.
A great number of finishes exist for pools, from custom tiles to stone and sandlike finishes that can transform your ordinary "cement pond" into a tropical oasis with beach-like entrances and lush water features. Today's pools are built with amenities such as built-in spas, waterfalls and lazy rivers, as well as myriad water sprays and fountains.
• Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida.
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