Swimming Pool Facts and Tips | Design / Features (11)

Lap Pools for Swimming at Home Deliver Benefits that Public Pools Can’t

Posted by Blue Haven Pools & Spas on Jun 13, 2016 2:56:02 PM

Enjoy functionality and style in a private pool designed for fitness

Form & Function: Unlike generic lap pools at public facilities, the design you have custom built for your backyard can have eye-catching features like this towering planter-cascade waterfall, as well as a private hydrotherapy spa.

Swimming laps is an excellent form of exercise that delivers a full-body workout. While you may currently make them part of your fitness routine at a community pool or public facility, you could be doing so more comfortably in your own residential lap pool!

Topics: Backyard Additions, Design / Features, Spas, Construction, Buyer Tips, Fitness/Exercises, Health & Safety, Health & Lifestyle

What is a Gunite Swimming Pool?

Posted by Blue Haven Pools & Spas on May 16, 2016 4:34:36 PM

How concrete (gunite/shotcrete) pools are built with style to impress and durability to last

—Updated October 16, 2024

When researching information on backyard swimming pools, you will often see the term “gunite pool.”

What is gunite anyway? Is it different from concrete?

And what’s the deal with shotcrete—is that the same as gunite or something else?

Topics: Backyard Additions, Design / Features, Gunite pool construction, Construction, custom pool design, Buyer Tips

Swimming Pool “Decks” Using Grass Lawns—in Photos

Posted by Blue Haven Pools & Spas on May 2, 2016 3:45:57 PM

Get style and functionality with natural or artificial grass vs. traditional hardscape

For a fresh take on designing your new swimming pool and patio area, consider a grass lawn for the deck instead of traditional material like stone or concrete. A swath of green extending around your pool can provide a distinct backyard setting along with practical benefits for your lifestyle.

Topics: Backyard Additions, Design / Features, Health/Lifestyle Benefits, Construction, Buyer Tips, Purification, Landscaping

Island Barbecue Grills: 5 Reasons to Install One at the SAME Time You Build a Pool

Posted by Blue Haven Pools & Spas on Apr 18, 2016 4:06:19 PM

—Updated July 17, 2020

Why waiting until after your pool is complete may be a mistake

Don’t delay that island barbecue! Once construction of a pool and deck is complete, it can be more difficult, stressful, and costly to add features like a built-in grill and achieve your ideal backyard style and function.

Topics: Backyard Additions, outdoor kitchens, Design / Features, Equipment/Technology, Construction, Buyer Tips, Financing

UV Pool Sanitizers Offer Healthy Alternative to Chlorine

Posted by Blue Haven Pools & Spas on Apr 4, 2016 3:10:00 PM

How safe, powerful germicidal ultraviolet systems ensure swim-ready water

Yes, there are effective, healthier substitutes for harsh chlorine in residential swimming pools!

One of the top options around capitalizes on safe, powerful, ultraviolet light—the same wavelength used to pasteurize food, purify drinking water, and sterilize medical equipment.

Topics: Design / Features, Health/Lifestyle Benefits, Equipment/Technology, Buyer Tips, Purification

3 Affordable Design Features for Your New Swimming Pool—in Photos: Statues, Mosaics, and Glass Tile

Posted by Blue Haven Pools & Spas on Mar 7, 2016 4:18:00 PM

Design features that bring the bling and deliver celebrity style—without a superstar budget

To make a bold statement, your new swimming pool doesn’t require over-the-top bling like a $100,000 custom granite rock waterfall, a 50-foot water-park-style lazy river wrapping around your entire pool, or a retractable dance floor that extends across the surface.

Nor does it need a massive natural grotto like the one at Playboy mansion. It doesn’t have to be shaped like a piano like Liberace’s famous 1950’s pool.

Topics: Design / Features, Buyer Tips

The sound & beauty of cascade waterfall features in your pool: UPDATE

Posted by Blue Haven Pools & Spas on Feb 8, 2016 1:30:00 PM

UPDATE

Since our original post about cascade water features, Blue Haven Pool offices across the nation have seen this pool design feature continue to grow in popularity.

There’s a good reason why: Cascade waterfalls are inherently flexible for design. They provide a contemporary aesthetic that’s attractive to those who prefer modern style with a look that also adapts to rustic, tropical, or other natural-style pool designs. They also enhance your backyard ambiance with the sound of gently moving water.

To illustrate the distinctive look and feel of cascade features as a pool accent, we’ve added some photos below. These images help show the many options available for your new or remodeled pool.