A swimming pool is one of the best ways to take advantage of the space in your backyard, especially during the summertime, when soaring temperatures make the water particularly enticing. Building a custom pool only maximizes the fun, allowing you to design exactly the backyard that works for you.
But what does custom pool actually mean? And what elements of your pool are actually customizable? The short answer is, basically everything. With a custom, concrete pool, the world is your oyster. With the help of a strong pool building partner like Spartan, you can create the best pool on the block (or the whole neighborhood if you want). Here are just a few specific ways you can customize your dream pool.
The first thing to know, which we’ve discussed not only on our blog before but also on our website in general, is that with concrete, your pool can basically have any shape you want it to. Seriously, you could draw a shape and most of the time, your pool can be designed and built to match.
This is particularly helpful if you have a smaller backyard or you already have other things in your yard, such as a porch, patio, or cooking area. With a custom-shaped pool, it can fit exactly how you need it to.
Next is the plaster color and tile. Everyone knows the traditional white color of a pool, but nowadays, you can also darken the color or even add various aggregates like quartz, pebbles, and glass beads. This can help if your pool is in a colder climate, or if you have a lot of shade in your backyard. Adding aggregate to the plaster will also increase the life of the plaster surface.
One of the reasons white has been the most common color of swimming pool is that as the season gets late, the water can really heat up. A darker shade attracts more sunlight, and therefore more heat. Most of the time, you don’t want that, but again, a custom pool is for you. If your backyard is covered by a ton of shade, it might work.
One of the greatest innovations of modern pool design is the variety in seating that you can build directly into the pool. This includes things like stools that sit next to the edge for you to lounge deep in the water, as well as recliners at the shallow end made out of concrete.
Seating built into the pool not only helps you save money on alternate seating outside the pool, it also helps your pool remain versatile throughout the years, as the kids grow up and stop doing as much playing. If you don’t have kids, built-in seating is a great way to make your pool functional for anyone.
Like custom seating, custom entry is a way to create versatility, most often in the form of gradual slopes which mimic the slow incline of a beach. This is excellent for adults who want to lay out in the sun with just a bit of water involved to stay cool, as well as for anyone with small children who can’t yet swim.
They’re also very easy to build with concrete, so if you’re interested in gradual slopes, make sure to discuss it with your pool building partner. Another reason you might want one is that they just plain look nice.
We’re aware that all of these are “features” but for this one what we specifically mean is the wide range of features that exist both in and around the pool. For example, you can add waterfalls at the edges, or fountains that shoot into the water (which are a lot of fun for the kids).
You can also add slides to the edges, diving boards, deep ends, and more. There are not quite unlimited options, but it’s pretty close. Ask your pool builder for help if you’ve got a crazy idea!
For adults and children alike, a bar in the pool can add a lot of fun. You can even build the bar so that those on the dry side are eye level with people in the water. This means people in the pool can enjoy food or beverages while hanging out with everyone else, or even watching a sporting event or movie from the comfort of the pool!
There’s no right or wrong way to utilize your new custom pool or patio! The truth is, its best use is as a fully customized space to enjoy with your friends and family. Before you get started designing your pool, you can download our free guide. If you’re ready to talk about a custom pool for your backyard, give us a call! We’d love to discuss how we can help make your dream backyard a reality.