Swimming Pool

Hot Tubs, Swimming Pool

What Are the Differences Between Pools and Hot Tubs?

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Building a pool in your backyard can be a big decision. You’ll have to weigh the size and features against your budget. However, you may also want to consider the option of building a hot tub. A spa might have a few advantages that you haven’t considered, besides the obvious.  To help you make a decision, you’ll need to know how the two stack up against each other. Below, you’ll find the differences between pools and hot tubs so you can decide which one is right for you.  Difference Between Spa and Hot Tub Before getting into the difference between pools and hot tubs, we should clear up the difference between hot tubs and spas. In essence, a hot tub is a freestanding tub of warm water. Typically, hot tubs have built-in water jets that provide a massage effect and are used in hydrotherapy. People often use the word “spa” to refer to various kinds of health and wellness establishments. However, the words hot tub and spa can be used interchangeably. A spa pool is the same thing as a hot tub.  Patio Pools Vs. Spas – Water Temperature Among the key differences between pools and hot tubs is the operating temperature. Patio pools are typically not heated, whereas most people use hot tubs and small spa pools at 100 to 104 degrees. However, that’s not a hard and fast rule. You certainly have the option to build heating into your pool, and it’s a good idea to do so if you want to use your pool year-round. But, heated pools don’t usually reach the temperatures hot tubs are capable of. Instead, heated pools are just meant to keep the water comfortable to swim in.  Water to Bather Ratio Another important difference between pool and hot tubs is how much water per person you’ll have. Hot tubs are obviously much smaller than pools. Otherwise, it would take far too much energy to keep the water heated. There are many different sizes of hot tubs, but a typical 500-gallon hot tub that can seat four people. That’s 125 gallons per person. In other words, not a whole lot. A middle-of-the-road pool has about 20,000 gallons of water. The same four bathers would each have 5,000 gallons to work with. That makes a big difference in the quality of the water. Even if people wash before entering a pool or hot tub, their sweat and skin oils will mix with the water. In practice, that means you’ll have to replace the water in the hot tube fairly often.    Swimming Pool Construction Costs  Whether you’re considering a pool or a hot tub, chances are you’re not too constrained by budget. So, you’re probably wondering which one is the better investment. In terms of initial expense, pools can easily cost much more than hot tubs. There are even vinyl hot tubs that are pretty inexpensive if you’re not too concerned about quality (but few professionals would recommend it). While a hot tub usually costs between 3,000 and 15,000 dollars, pools can easily exceed that price substantially. Ultimately, a swimming pool construction can be customized to suit your needs and budget, so if you want a giant pool in your backyard, you can have it, but it will carry a hefty price tag. But that’s not the whole story. After all, both pools and hot tubs are a value add for your property. There are a few more considerations that affect the price over the course of the pool’s or hot tub’s lifetime.  Cost of Ownership In addition to the construction costs, you’ll need to think about maintenance costs for both the pool and the hot tub. A pool needs to have a pump running regularly to keep the water filtered and prevent stagnation. Running a standard pump will cost between 40 and 100 dollars a month, depending on how often you use the pool and what part of the country you live in. Moreover, you’ll need chemicals and cleaning supplies for the pool. The cost of these supplies will vary widely, but if you add it all up, you’re easily looking at over a hundred dollars a month to maintain a pool.  A hot tub, on the other hand, will cost a fraction of that to maintain. How much you have to spend on your hot tub will be directly linked to how much you use it. Water care might run you somewhere in the 20 dollar range. Electrical costs will depend on the frequency of use, but likely won’t run higher than 50 dollars. Pools Vs. Hot Tubs – Material Options The material you use to build your pool or spa will also make an impact on the costs. Hot tubs are often wooden, and the original hot tubs were made out of wood. It’s not often used in modern spas because it’s hard to clean, but it is an option, albeit an expensive one. Plaster spas are also available, but they tend to be an addition to a pool rather than a standalone piece. Plaster spas are a fine option, but they also need to be cleaned often. Lastly, there are acrylic and other thermoplastic spas available. Plastic spas need the least amount of cleaning because they have smooth surfaces that resist algal growth. Thermoplastic spas are performed, so the installation time is minimal. You just need to pick a design, and it can be installed in as little as a few days. And, thermoplastics interact with the water minimally, so they don’t affect the mineral content, which results in less water maintenance.  Pools also come in a variety of material options. A vinyl-lined pool is probably the least expensive, but it’s also the most likely to get damaged. Concrete and fiberglass pools are much more resilient but cost a little more than vinyl. Pools can, of course, be customized to fit your property. Preformed fiberglass pools do exist, but if you want something custom-made for you, a pool will likely

Swimming Pool

How a Swimming Pool Adds Value to Your Home

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A big part of your decision to add a swimming pool to your home is weighing the expense against its expected value. To do that, you’ll need to know how much value (if any) a pool provides for your particular home. And, you’ll need to know under what circumstances you can maximize that value.  There are many factors that influence the value that a pool adds to your home. In this article, we’ll go over some things you need to take into account when deciding on one. You’ll learn what are the variables at play and how much you should expect to spend for a pool installation. The Expenses First, let’s go over what a pool will cost you. There are the obvious upfront costs of installation, which will vary based on the size of the pool, the shape, and the materials you want to use. The average pool size is around 14 feet by 28 feet. That’s around 400 square feet and the price of a concrete pool that size is in the vicinity of 30-50 thousand dollars for an inground pool.  If you want to reduce that considerably, you could choose an above-ground pool. But those aren’t typically a permanent feature of your home and won’t really add much in terms of actual value for a buyer. A good rule of thumb is to aim to pay no more than 15-20% of the cost of your home for a pool. Additional Expenses Now, that’s a significant upfront cost, but it doesn’t end there. Once you’ve installed, equipped, and filled the pool, you’ll also have ongoing costs. The filtering pump could add as much as $100 to your utility bill, depending on your area and how much you run it. Additionally, you’ll need to pay for chemicals and treatments for the water which will set you back between $300 and $800 a year. If you’re planning on heating your pool, that will be yet another expense. Gas heating is the most affordable option in that regard. The exact cost is difficult to estimate since they’re a function of how the weather behaves in your area. Vacuuming the pool floors and cleaning the walls is also a duty. You can do it yourself, in which case, you’ll only need to invest in a simple pool vacuum kit or a robot vacuum that can run as high as $500. Or, you can choose to hire a pool maintenance service, which will be a smaller upfront cost, but accrue over time. And, last but not least, the pool may lead to increased insurance costs. You’ll need to check your insurance policy to make sure it includes swimming pool coverage. The good news is that adding extra liability insurance is usually pretty inexpensive. However, you may have to fence in your pool if children will be allowed near or in it. Depending on your property’s jurisdiction, a pool could even increase your property taxes.  The Rewards So that’s what a pool costs. Now, it’s time to see exactly what you’ll be getting for that money.  First of all, you’ll get the enjoyment of having a pool in your backyard. For many people, that’s reason enough to make the investment, full stop. The intangible benefit of having year-round access to a pool is certainly on the list, but it won’t be the same for everyone. But, you’re probably reading this to find out if there’s a more tangible benefit to be gained from a swimming pool installation.  Generally speaking, buyers consider a swimming pool a value add when buying a home. But, that’s not true for all buyers. According to the experts, a swimming pool can increase the value of your home by about 7%. For a $220,000 home, that works out to around $15,000. So, you probably won’t recoup the entire price of installing the pool, but you can make back a significant portion. If a buyer is keen on owning a home with a pool, it will also make your home easier to sell. However, some buyers see pools as a liability. Do Swimming Pools Add Value to Your Home? So, is it worth it to install a pool or not? The answer is: it depends. Under some circumstances, not having a pool could considerably impact your property value. For instance, if you’re in a neighborhood where most of the houses have pools, not having one makes your property less valuable in comparison. You’ll also have an easier time enticing buyers with a pool in certain areas of the country. In places such as Florida, where you can enjoy the pool all year, it’s a major bonus for homebuyers. If you end up deciding to install a pool, it’s a good idea to ask the pool installation company for advice. A pool that fits in well with your property and the surrounding area adds far more value than one that clashes with the landscape. There are also some things that could seriously hurt the value that a pool adds to your property. If the pool takes up your entire yard, it’s hardly attractive. Even people who love pools usually don’t want them to occupy every inch of the yard. Also, you should make every effort to keep your pool well maintained and clean. Cracking along the walls, algal growth, and general dilapidation massively impacts the value of your pool. In fact, it could end up making the pool an eyesore rather than a luxury.  In Summation Before you jump on Google and start typing “pool companies near me,” it’s worth going over all the information above.  Do swimming pools add value to your home? Yes, they do, under the right circumstances. The basic checklist for whether or not a pool is worth the cost starts with your location. If you’re in a state like Florida or Hawaii, a pool is definitely worth the investment. You can enjoy it year-round and it’s attractive to most buyers. If most of the homes in

Swimming Pool, Swimming Pool Types

Swimming Pool Decking: Everything You Need to Know

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If you’re thinking about installing or remodeling a pool, you should think about pool decking as much as you think about the shape and size. The way your pool looks and the entire atmosphere around it mostly depends on your choice of the pool deck. You’d be surprised just how big of a difference one choice of deck can make over another.  Moreover, if you select the wrong deck for your yard, you’ll have to deal with pool repairs much more often than you otherwise would. So, it’s a good idea to learn about pool decks and get some pool deck ideas before you get started on your journey.  This article will be your complete guide to pool decks, and you’ll find everything you need to know to pick the perfect one for your yard.  Pool Deck Basics – Decking vs. Coping Pool decking is often confused with pool coping. While related, these two terms shouldn’t be mixed up because it can lead to misunderstanding between you and your pool contractor. In the context of pools, coping is the material used to cap the edge of the pool. That is to say, the top of the pool wall. The point of the coping is to separate your pool from the surrounding area.  Decking, on the other hand, is the immediate area around the pool. That’s where you’d put your pool chairs, parasols, and other furniture.  Both coping and decking have a huge impact on your pool’s appearance, but each affects it in a slightly different way. Coping usually encompasses no more than 12 inches around the pool, and it’s typically made of stone or concrete. Decking gives you a lot more freedom, and you can really add character to your entire yard with the right decking.  Decking Materials The most important consideration when it comes to pool decking is the material that you’ll use. Some materials give a more modern and contemporary look, such as concrete, whereas others will make your pool look more traditional, such as stone or wood.  Concrete Decking Concrete is the most basic option for a pool deck. But, it’s also supremely versatile and durable. The main reason concrete makes a good decking material is its affordability. It’s one of the most inexpensive options for a pool deck, with broom-finished concrete being the most inexpensive by far. Another important benefit of concrete is that it gives you a lot of flexibility in terms of style options.  Pool decks made of concrete aren’t necessarily plain and simple. You’ll have a choice between several finishing techniques, such as stamped concrete and textured concrete.  Stamped concrete is particularly versatile because it combines the affordability of concrete while offering the elegance of stone pavers or any other appearance. In that way, concrete can imitate a lot of other materials, even wood, to some extent. Natural stones are an excellent and beautiful choice for decking, but their price is often a limiting factor.  The one big drawback of a concrete deck is that cracks will eventually form. There’s not much you can do about this, but there are some methods to control it. A Florida pool and spa that’s exposed to sunlight year-round is especially susceptible to cracking. Another minor inconvenience comes from stamped concrete. Stamped concrete tends to be slick and smooth and can become slippery when wet. Since it’s going to be wet a lot of the time, that’s a hazard you might want to consider if you expect small children to use the pool.  Wood Decking In design circles, there’s an axiom that says wood goes with everything. And, to some extent, that’s true. Wood is a timeless classic in any setting, and it’s a fantastic choice for a pool deck for a lot of reasons.  First and foremost, wood gives your pool a pleasing appearance overall. Most people enjoy the look of wood, and it’s probably the best choice for above ground pool deck ideas. Wood is also very comfortable to walk on. Some research even shows that just making contact with wooden surfaces can relax people. Furthermore, wood comes in a lot of different styles, grains, colors, and patterns.  However, everything comes at a price, and the price of a wood deck is pretty steep. It’s among the more expensive options in terms of dollars per square foot. Wood is also among the most difficult surfaces to maintain in the long term. You’ll need to do an awful lot of preventive and proactive maintenance. It will need to be stained and sealed regularly, and that’s a big job if you have a large deck. And, like stamped concrete, wood can get quite slippery. You can seal it with fine aggregate to prevent this from happening, but that’s yet another added cost.  But, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a middle ground. Composite wood gives the appearance of wood and most of the benefits while still being easy and simple to maintain. Composite wood is made of synthetic materials, which makes it extremely durable and resilient. It also comes in a wide variety of simulated wood types and grains. Be aware, though, that composite wood is quite expensive. It’s even more expensive than traditional wood, so you get a premium surface, but you also pay a premium price.  Stone Decking The first building material used by man is still used today and no wonder. Stone is as durable as it is attractive, and it’s available everywhere. The main advantage of stone is how good it looks. It’s one of the most widely used materials in pool decking because it makes a powerful statement. It also lasts forever. The stones that end up on your pool deck might have already been around for millions of years, so there’s no reason not to expect them to last for your pool’s entire lifetime. Moreover, the shape and size of stones can be customized to create intricate patterns in your deck surface. And, stones provide a naturally textured surface,

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