Newsflash: it’s friggin hot outside right now. Not only is it hot, in our part of the world it is also humid. What’s worse, stepping outside in the winter into what is basically a dry freezer with wind cutting through your layers, or stepping into what equates as an outdoor sauna? Personally, I’ll take the heat because it doesn’t come with snow to shovel or drive through.
And this isn’t me complaining by the way. I never complain about the heat because all winter long, as we wait for the slush to melt and the sun to return, I consistently think “remember this when you’re sweating in July”. There is a difference between complaining about something and acknowledging it, something I try to point out to my wife (who often times just doesn’t want to hear it) even though it might sound like complaining. Big difference.
How do you beat the heat? Sprinklers have apparently fallen out of fashion and there has got to be something more elegant than hosing myself down in the middle of the lawn. Oh ya! Pools! Thank goodness for pools, man. Ever since the summer of 2020, pools have been gaining steam and are much more desirable than they used to be, to most buyers. And there are a few good reasons for that.
#1-pools are smaller these days. I grew up swimming in a few large concrete pools of the 20’x40’ variety, and I loved them. Diving boards, waterslides, games of Marco Polo etc. Great memories. But those are big and require a lot of space. Now, you can put a pool in almost any backyard owing to the smaller and shallower designs that are available. You get a pool! You get a pool! That’s me as Oprah.
#2-better construction. Concrete pools leaked, needed liners replaced, are hard to build and were impossible to make changes to. Obviously, they are made of concrete. Now, we have a few different types of pools that are easier to install and require less maintenance/are easier to maintain. Steel wall construction and fibreglass pools are all the rage. Still expensive though.
#3-less maintenance. As mentioned, these new types of pools are designed to cause less headaches and require fewer fixes. Now, I suppose they are still relatively new to the marketplace, so I could be eating my words in 10 years as all of these steel pools begin to fall apart.
But seemingly, every homeowner wants to install a pool at their current home or move to a house that already has a pool built. They are desirable now and are seen as less of a chore than they used to be, at least in my experience and in conversations with clients.
What makes a good vs a bad pool? I’m glad you asked, here’s my opinion with some photos
to help me explain!
Best- In ground pools. Hard stop.
Worst-Above ground pools. I’m not a fan of an above ground pool, never really have been. Often times they are eye sores that take up a lot more space than an in ground pool and they are all one depth. No deep or shallow end, that’s no fun. I have never sold or shown a house where the buyer said “yes I will keep that above ground pool and swim in it” but rather said “the seller better get rid of that thing before closing”.
Best-concrete pool decks. These will be the longest lasting, least required maintenance, pick your colour and finish, there are a lot of positives. Personally, I like a smooth concrete finish for aesthetic reasons but they can also get slippery when wet.
I also like that this pool has a stone coping to add a bit of contrast as well as the concrete benches, planters and privacy fence. Really sharp.
Worst-pavers and wood decking. These are the two types of decking that are almost guaranteed not to last in our part of the world. You are just asking for weeds, rot, sinking and just a ton of ongoing maintenance. Do yourself a favour and go with concrete that is permanent and long lasting.
Best-seating areas. As an adult, the best part of a pool is the initial entry into the pool. So in order to capitalize on that, it is best to rotate between in and out of the pool. How are you going to do that if you don’t have anywhere to sit and relax on dry land? That might be a weird rationale for saying that your pool should also have seating areas but I firmly believe that to be true. Make sure you have plenty of chairs of all shapes and sizes for you and your guests to dry off on.
Worst-weird shapes. Why are some pools shaped like coffins? Who thought that was a good idea? Let me swim in a watery grave, cool. Also, kidney shaped pools? Not interested. I am a fan of right angles when it comes to pools and designing outdoor spaces. Also a lot harder to figure out where the shallow end begins if you’re going for a huge dive/sick cannonball.
Other things that I like/dislike when it comes to pools:
Cabanas add another element to your pool experience and are 100% worthwhile. They are also useful year round as a covered seating area for your outdoor living.
Washrooms are a big thing to consider as well. Now I’m not saying that you have to have an outdoor washroom for your pool, but the proximity to the nearest indoor washroom is a big consideration.
Water/fire features are cool, but are often tacky and expensive. Skip it and just build a fire pit somewhere nearby.
A pool shed to put your pool equipment and floaties in is a good idea.
Saltwater over chlorine all day.
And pay attention to the stairs and ladders that allow you to get in and out of the pool. I prefer built in steps in the shallow end and less metal ladders around the outside of the pool.
Diving boards will always be cool and fun but slides are definitely a no go these days.
Please share your thoughts and let me know what you think I got wrong! Happy swimming!
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