As much as a fun day out at the beach can be, it can often come with its fair share of problems and hazards that can quickly take the pleasure out of a nice family outing. However, there’s no need to fret because we’ve got the perfect solution for you. We’ve compiled a list of reasons why owning a pool is much better than going to the beach:

You never get sand in your bathing suit.

No more annoying chafing, rashes, or irritations from sand getting stuck in your wet bathing suit! Owning your pool means you can swim and lounge comfortably without any uncomfortable side effects.

You never have to drive or take a plane to get there.

Having a pool right in your backyard is such a convenient luxury. It’s the perfect spot for a fun and relaxing day in the sun! You don’t have to worry about dealing with traffic, burning gas, or getting your kids all strapped in for a lengthy car trip to the beach. A pool right in your backyard means no need to worry about traffic, gas, or getting the kids strapped in for a car trip to the beach.

You don’t get sand in your food.

Let’s face it! Cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, and SAND are not a good combination. But when you’re in the comfort of your kitchen, you can make them taste a little better. No matter how carefully you package them, the sand always seems to sneak inside. It’s frustrating, but you can enjoy food without worrying about the freshness from traveling or sand getting mixed in with it.

You can get cool faster than it takes to drive to the beach.

If you wake up to another scorching hot day, you can cool down and relax by diving straight into your pool. You’ll feel refreshed and can enjoy your day without worrying about sweating it out in a car on the way to the beach like others.

You can swim day or night.

You can avoid the potential dangers of night swimming at the beach by dipping in your pool. If you’re at home on a Friday night and in the mood for a swim, don’t worry. Just step out into your backyard, and you’re ready to go.

Sharks, stingers, or seaweed, oh my!

Owning a pool means you don’t have to worry about encountering strange sea creatures like sharks or slimy jellyfish that may sting you. The only thing to watch out for are a few stray leaves.

Easier to supervise your kids.

It is crucial to prioritize safety at all times, mainly when numerous exuberant children are playing in the waves at the beach. It can be challenging to keep track of them amid a crowd. Nevertheless, by utilizing a pool, you can relish a book while remaining vigilant and keeping a watchful eye on your children who are nearby.

Enjoy a staycation anytime!

You don’t have to go through the hassle of planning out a vacation, applying for leave, and calculating your saved hours to enjoy a swimming holiday. Instead, you can come home from work every day and jump straight into the pool to wash away your worries.

You won’t get swept out to sea.

Swimming in a pool is undeniably easier and more convenient than swimming in the ocean. With swim jet systems readily available, you can effortlessly simulate the resistance of the sea without any concerns of being swept away.

You can be in the comfort of your home and swim for miles.

Having your own pool ensures uninterrupted swimming for miles without interference from other swimmers, beachgoers, or surfers. It is the ultimate way to zone out and swim to your heart’s content!

Remember that our designers at Platinum Pools are ready to help design the perfect pool for your backyard.  Call us today at 281-870-1600 or visit our website for a free quote.

The post Pool Day or Beach Day? appeared first on Platinum Pools.

Many homeowners dream of having a swimming pool in their backyard, as it’s a great way to bring family and friends together.  Finding a reliable and experienced pool construction company is crucial if you’re looking to build a pool.  Having a general idea of what you want regarding pool shape and size is also essential.  Fortunately, a reputable pool construction company can guide you through the process.  To help you understand better how it works and make sure you know everything you need to know, we recommend answering the following questions and considering the tips from our staff:

Why do you want a swimming pool in your backyard?

Your answer will dictate your pool’s design and features.  For example, your pool will look different for a pool intended for backyard entertainment versus if you want to use it for primarily swimming laps.  Consider whether you want to enjoy the aesthetics or audible appeal of water in your backyard or need a combination pool/spa for hydrotherapy.

Apart from yourself, who else will use the pool?

Keep in mind that people of all ages enjoy a pool, so it’s essential to accommodate swimmers and allow multiple activities.  Consider adding shallow areas for toddlers, additional grab rails for older adults, tanning shelves for sunbathers, or speakers for music enthusiasts.

Is your backyard adaptable for pool construction?

Consider whether the proposed site is accessible to the heavy machinery needed to dig the hole for the pool and ensure that the path is at least 8 feet wide. If not, we may have to use specialized equipment for smaller spaces or even consider hand-digging the pool in some circumstances.

Where to locate the swimming pool?

Knowing the development plans and building codes for your property is crucial, as it can affect the location of the pool.  Consider how people will enter and exit the pool, where they will stay, and how to maximize sun exposure and minimize wind exposure.

What special features do you want in your pool?

Consider adding water features and lighting to make your pool more enjoyable even when not swimming.  Think underwater benches, beach-like entries, a swim-up bar, and areas to play water volleyball or basketball.  Also, consider installing handrails, a swim jet system that allows you to swim in place, and an automatic pool cover for convenient protection.

What other backyard amenities do you want?

List everything you’d like to include in your ideal backyard oasis, even if your budget doesn’t permit building them now.  Consider a pool house, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, outdoor shower, swim-up bar, gazebo, and even children’s play equipment.

What materials do you want to use?

Consider the surrounding architecture and landscape to determine which materials to use.  Decking and tile have become the standard, while natural stone pavers and rock waterfalls can help a pool blend into a natural landscape.  Glass tiles and arching water jets, on the other hand, look beautiful in a modern, urban setting.

How can you ensure that your pool will be easy to maintain?

Proper planning can significantly reduce maintenance.  Ensure your pool is energy efficient and has solid hydraulics and powerful filtration, such as variable-speed pumps, larger pipes, good skimmers, and an above-average circulation rate.  In-floor pool cleaning systems also help minimize the amount of weekly maintenance needed in your pool.

Who will build the swimming pool?

To find reliable and skilled pool builders who can deliver quality construction and impressive designs, ask for referrals from friends, colleagues, building inspectors, and landscape architects.  Seek recommendations from those who own pools that match your preferences.

Always ask an expert designer to guide you step-by-step in designing the pool of your dreams. Create a budget and a list of amenities you want for your pool.

Tiles are an integral part of swimming pools. If you use them as a decorative border or to enhance a design, they are undoubtedly one of the materials that will last. However, it’s not so much the item that matters but the material that can have an impact.

Tile Material

Glass tiles are impervious to water and stains. They are suitable for outdoor areas where temperatures can reach 122°F during the day and where rapid cooling can occur at night. In addition, glass tiles are great for hot pools, where they retain ceramic tiles’ strength and durability and the glass’s delicate clarity.

In swimming pools, glass tiles also have the added benefit of being resistant to chemical attacks.

Ceramic tiles are also suitable for swimming pools unless the glaze is acid sensitive. They are resistant to frost and fading and, when properly installed and maintained, will last a long time.

What is the Best Color of Tiles for Swimming Pools?

The reality is that water is transparent, but due to its waves, it absorbs the red palate of the light spectrum, leaving the impression of blue. Blue is often the preferred color for two reasons:

• Blue is a color associated with bodies of water. 
• Impurities turn the water into a sepia tone, and cool blue tiles balance out the warm-toned water and make it appear clearer.

The color choice for the waterline or pool deck ultimately depends on your creativity. Regardless, a pool is always the center of attention.

Blue pool tiles are an obvious choice, but other colors are also used depending on the look you are going for. Black-lined pools absorb heat from the sun, naturally warming the water 5-10 degrees more than light-colored pools. This passive heating makes for a more comfortable swimming experience and helps reduce energy consumption if you prefer a warmer pool. Black pool tiles, for example, not only add dramatic esthetic value to a pool.

Mosaic Tiles

Pools are one of the best applications for mosaic tiles. The advantages of mosaics, whether mixed or solid colors are:

• Small Size – use mosaic tiles to create the most intricate color mixes. Even a single color creates an attractive, uniform grid. It can be an abstract blend of blues or greens that mimics the various hues of the ocean or a realistic graphic scene.
• Added Grip – mosaic tiles offer more grip underfoot, especially on stairs, spa ledges, or pool deck edges, thanks to the higher percentage of grout lines per square foot compared to a larger tile.
• Material – mosaic tiles are available in both glass and ceramic.

Best Uses for Pool Tiles

Waterline Detail – every pool surface is deserving of fine design, but where it probably matters most is the waterline. It is the most visible area as it doesn’t hide from the water and is at eye level when you are in the pool. You can keep a color motif with the interior or deck of the pool but create an eye-catching feature.

Raised Water Features – like a waterline, a raised water feature is a great place to add detail to your pool design. For example, a retaining wall with water features is a great area to cover with tiles.

Create a Contrast – now in style is contrast. By mixing the refraction of light in water, any pattern makes a pool more intriguing. Incorporating several colors in an irregular pattern can add eye candy to your oasis.

Enhance Tanning Shelves – tanning shelves are the latest additions to the list of procuring the perfect tile design for a pool. Since it is a shallow area, it gives a new way to enjoy the oasis and a new site to place tiles.

Remember that our designers at Platinum Pools are ready to help design the perfect pool for your backyard.  Call us today at 281-870-1600 or visit our website for a free quote.

The post Pool Tile Ideas appeared first on Platinum Pools.

Rectangular pools are making a big comeback right now. The design is hard to beat for practicality, aesthetics, and space to enjoy the water. Here are some factors that make rectangular pools so popular.

1. They are effortless to swim in

It may seem obvious, but a rectangular pool offers the perfect shape for swimming. It offers a long, unobstructed expanse of water that is ideal for lap swimming. It’s no coincidence that Olympic pools are always rectangular.

One of the benefits of a pool is that it provides a private place to improve your health and fitness. Swimming laps is the ideal way to achieve this, as swimming is one of the best forms of exercise that tones almost all muscles and improves cardiovascular health. To benefit from this exercise, you need a water surface that allows you to swim laps. There is no pool shape more suitable for this than the rectangle.

2. They are also ideal for relaxing

Another advantage of your swimming pool is that it provides you with a secluded place where you can relax comfortably on your property. Nothing is more relaxing than taking a dip in the pool at the end of a busy day. Spending time in the water helps relieve stress and anxiety, easing your daily routine and enhancing your overall well-being.

Although this can be done in pools of all shapes and sizes, rectangular pools are especially good for relaxing, as it is extremely easy to create large, comfortable seating areas around them. A perfect place to enjoy the water when you do not feel like swimming.

3. They are a practical choice for families

Choosing a family pool can be particularly difficult, as you have a variety of different needs to consider. It would be helpful if you had a pool that has enough space for the whole family to swim and play in the water together. A rectangular pool is perfect for sports like water volleyball that the whole family can enjoy. This strengthens cohesion and gives you the ideal opportunity to spend quality time together.

However, when looking for a pool for the whole family, safety must come first. Here again, rectangular pools perform extremely well. Since they have an open shape, with no shady corners or hidden areas, it’s much easier to supervise the kids and make sure they can enjoy the water safely.

4. They fit well with most properties

Your backyard pool needs to match the style of your home. When it matches well, you can create a unified design for your property that looks much more stylish and gives potential buyers the impression of a well-maintained property. This can increase the value of your home and boost sales if you ever decide to move.

Some homeowners have very specific ideas about the shape of their pool and want something other than a traditional pool. That’s perfectly fine because your pool should reflect your tastes and preferences as much as the rest of your property. However, if you are looking for a pool shape that can be combined with a wide variety of architectural styles, the rectangular pool is the obvious choice. It has clean lines and streamlined shapes that suit modern homes but is still classic enough to blend well with more traditional homes. You can hardly go wrong with a rectangular pool.

5.  They are easy to landscape around

Landscaping is an important consideration when you decide to install a pool in your backyard. After all, this will significantly affect the quality of your pool and determine the functionality of your garden.

The first thing you need to do is determine the right location for your pool. It must look good from all angles, both from the outside and the inside. You will be looking at your pool for many years, so it needs to be a stunning sight that will encourage you to get outside and enjoy it to the fullest.
A rectangular pool is the most accessible type of pool to put up. Most homes follow a straight line in their construction, so a rectangular pool will automatically look good whether it is close to the house or further away parallel to it. Plus, a rectangle is a standard shape that makes it easier to look attractive from any angle.

Your landscaping should also make the most of the remaining space in your yard, as you’ll need to consider other elements of outdoor living. With a rectangular pool, this is easier to accomplish. The regular shape makes it easier to plan the rest of your garden design. This allows you to create space for socializing and relaxing by the pool while making the most of the other areas of your garden.
Attractive and highly functional landscaping is essential to increasing the value of your home. With a rectangular pool, you can create a connected flow that looks stunning while providing all the practical features you need for an active and fulfilling outdoor life.

6.  They make the best infinity pools

The infinity pool is a major trend and is considered the ultimate luxury. These beautiful pools have a “disappearing edge”, so it looks like the water is falling away. An infinity pool can offer a breathtaking view of the surrounding area, whether it’s a rural landscape or a bustling city. It’s also an incredibly peaceful way to enjoy the water, as you feel like you are directly part of your surroundings without being hindered by barriers.

Rectangular pools are by far the best choice for an infinity pool. The long, straight design is ideal for creating a disappearing edge. This way, you’ll feel like you are a part of nature while swimming, and you’ll be the envy of your friends for having the most luxurious pool in the neighborhood!

Don’t forget that our designers at Platinum Pools are ready to design the pool of your dreams.  Call us today or visit our website for a free quote.

The post Back to Basics – The Rectangular Pool appeared first on Platinum Pools.

For over 20 years, Platinum Pools has been building new and renovating residential pools.  The foundation of building a vast outdoor space integrates the following: 

• Consultation with clients, house builders, landscapers, and designers
• Thinking of efficient use of the space
• Consistency of design
• Complimentary use of material selections
• Balance of hard and soft surfaces

Maximize the Space

Larger houses are now often on smaller lots, and their market value constantly increases. 

Hence, much of our initial design advice centers on placing the pool and the pool fence for best use in the available area, such as:

• Build the pool in an area that will only section off a small area of your backyard.
• Reduce the area inside the pool fence as it is not usable outside the summer.  Regardless of having children inside the pool fence, always have adult supervision.
• You do not need unrestricted access to the pool.  One-sided or two-sided access to the pool is all that is required.  It also applies to the pool fence with paving stones.
• Build the pool where it’s most visible from the home’s living areas.  It gives an advantage in watching the kids or as a showpiece.

Guidelines in Pool Design

As for the pool design, we try to give the following advice to customers (based on our experience):

• Think about the kids when planning a pool.  They are the ones who will use it the most.  Make sure the design includes a safety fence.
• The most used areas of the pool are shallow areas like a beach entry, tanning ledge, pool benches, or lounge areas in the pool.
• Build areas like spas and stairs so that they are either built within the overall shape of the pool or half inside/half outside. 
• There should be a logical transition so you can get from the house to the pool.  It would help if you sequenced the exit from the house, the gate at the pool fence, and the steps to the pool for seamless use.
• Water temperature is the first factor determining how often you use the pool.  The larger your pool, the more expensive and difficult it will be to heat it, regardless of which pool heating method.  Remember, consider the size of the pool carefully.
• Design the pool to be an extension of your home’s architecture.  If your home is modern and rectilinear, build your pool similarly, with right-angled corners and straight lines.  The same goes for historic homes – use curved radii and pool shapes with Roman ends for a classic look.
• Incorporate the pool into the backyard.  If your property has a slope, build the pool to take advantage of that slope.  Similarly, build an infinity edge if your property slopes from front to back. 
• Incorporate a retaining wall along a property line into the pool’s design by building raised planters along the pool’s edge. 
• Acrylic walls are another way to bring the best out of your swimming pool and a great backyard view. 

Selecting Material and the Pool Aesthetics

Pool design involves materials for coping, waterline tile, raised walls, surface finishes, and more.  Consider the following:

• Try to strike a balance between hard and soft surfaces.  For example, if you have a large, 2-story plastered home, use potted plants, planters, and strip beds to break up the paving.  Wooden sticks and decking boards also help soften the intricate masonry.  Rough wall coverings can help add texture to otherwise smooth, rendered, and paved surfaces.  You do not want your yard to look like a stone grave – so consider this aspect of your decision thoroughly.
• Current design trends lean toward large-scale products with an overall minimalist feel regarding the number of available products.
• Darker surfaces tolerate stains better.  If you must use a light-colored product, choose one with color patterns or a variegated appearance, as it is less likely to stain than a uniformly light-colored product.  Please think carefully before using light-colored paving products outdoors, as they can stain and discolor easily.
• A good color combination is a light pool interior and darker decking, especially if you have little natural light over the pool.  If you have a lot of natural light over the pool, you can get away with a darker interior.

Remember that our designers at Platinum Pools are ready to help design the perfect pool for your backyard.  Call us today at 281-870-1600 or visit our website for a free quote.

The post Swimming Pool Design Tips appeared first on Platinum Pools.