What You Need to Know About Baja Shelves in Pools

A swimming pool isn’t always just a swimming pool—slides, jets, fountains and other add-ons make each pool unique. One of the more popular add-ons these days is Baja shelves. A Baja shelf in Los Angeles, CA is basically a long and wide step that leads into your pool, and it’s typically submerged between eight to 16 inches. Baja shelves originated in huge resort pools, but have become increasingly popular in residential pools over the past few decades—continue reading to find out why!

What are the benefits of a Baja shelf?

People across the country wouldn’t install Baja shelves if they didn’t have their advantages. Here are a couple of reasons why our customers consistently opt to put a Baja shelf in their pool:

  • Good for the family: Chances are, your pool isn’t only used by the able-bodied adults in your family. Young children and elderly grandparents also want to enjoy the refreshing water on a hot day. That can be difficult in a standard pool, though, since ladders can be tricky to navigate up and down. That’s where a Baja shelf comes into play. The young and old alike can cool off without worrying about getting in and out of the water via a ladder.
  • Catch a tan and stay cool: Baja shelves are also sometimes called “sun shelves,” and for good reason—a Baja shelf makes it easy to lay partially submerged in the water and catch a tan without feeling the intense heat of the sun. Just remember to wear sunscreen while you’re soaking up the rays!
  • Create a hangout spot: Your pool deck is a focal point for entertainment, but where is everyone supposed to hang out once they get in the water? A Baja shelf makes it easy for everyone to gather around, share some laughs and sip on some margaritas. Just remember to make your Baja shelf big enough to accommodate your crowd!

Things to consider

There are some things you need to think about before you go ahead and add a Baja shelf to your pool. These are a few things you must consider prior to installation:

  • Budget: Installing a pool isn’t cheap, and adding a Baja shelf just makes your installation cost about $2,500 more expensive. If you don’t have that money in your pool budget now, that’s okay! Our professionals can install a Baja shelf down the road once you’ve saved up for one.
  • Width: How wide is your Baja shelf going to be? The wider it is, the more people can hang out on it. However, that also means less room for you to swim around in your pool. Consider how many people you think will be on your Baja shelf at once before you install it.
  • Depth: As mentioned above, Baja shelves are usually eight to 16 inches below the water. The depth you choose basically depends on how you plan on using it. If you think you’re just going to sit in a lounge chair and catch a tan, a shallow shelf is probably right for you.

Don’t call just anyone to install your Baja shelf in Los Angeles, CA—hire the pros from Avanti Pools, Inc. You can trust that your Baja shelf will be installed in a timely manner, and more importantly, installed correctly. Give us a call today to get an estimate, or to learn more about all of our pool services.

Five Benefits of LED Pool Lighting in Los Angeles, CA

Do you like going for a swim in your pool after the sun sets? If you do, you’re well aware that your pool needs proper lighting. A well-lit pool ensures that you can see everything in the water while enjoying pool games well into the night. But what kind of lights should you choose? Should you install standard lighting that’s been around for ages, or should pick LED pool lighting in Los Angeles, CA? We think the answer is simple: go with LEDs. Continue reading to learn about some of the main advantages of LED lights:

Be sure to call Avanti Pools, Inc. if you’re ready to install LED pool lighting in Los Angeles, CA. We’ll install your new lighting quickly and easily, so you can dive in and start enjoying your new lighting during a late-night swim.

Why You Should Consider a Solar Heated Pool

A heated pool is a wonderful luxury to have. You can enjoy a swim at night or in the cooler months without getting too cold. However, when it comes to actually heating your pool, there are a number of options you will have to choose from. Installing a heater for an existing pool or adding one to your planned pool can be expensive, and you want to make sure that your money is well spent. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to consider whether a solar pool heater is the right choice for you. Here are some considerations your pool designer in Los Angeles, CA recommends you take into account:

No matter which special features or designs you have in mind for your pool, Avanti Pools, Inc. is here to help make your vision a reality. We are experienced in working with our clients to build pools that work for their space, needs, family size and budget. Regardless of whether you want a small hot tub or a large swimming pool with one-of-a-kind design features, we are confident that we can deliver exactly what you’re looking for. We’ve been in business since 1999 and continue to be committed to the quality of our work. Give us a call to get started with a consultation.

Choosing Between Saltwater and Chlorine Pool Construction in Los Angeles, CA

Building a pool can be an incredibly beneficial thing for you and your family. Not only is a swimming pool a fantastic place for you and your family to relax, spend time together, get exercise and entertain guests, but it can also boost the value of your home significantly. One of the most exciting things about custom pool construction in Los Angeles, CA is that you can design a pool that’s perfect for your needs. Among all of the other decisions you’ll have to make about your pool’s design and construction, you have to choose whether you want a saltwater pool or a chlorine pool.

Saltwater vs. chlorine pools

The most important thing to know about saltwater pools is that they aren’t actually chlorine-free. In fact, saltwater pools are a type of chlorine pool, but they tend to have much lower levels of chlorine. That’s because saltwater pools do not have chlorine added in the form of sticks or tablets, but rather it is produced by a saltwater generator as salt is added to the pool water. Another thing that’s worth noting about saltwater pools is that they aren’t as salty as some people anticipate. Saltwater pools have about the same concentration of salt as human tears, which is about one tenth the concentration of salt in ocean water. Here are some other things to consider:

Learn more about pool construction in Los Angeles, CA

Whether you know exactly what you want for your pool or you have a lot of questions about design and function, the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. is here to help you. For nearly 20 years, we have been providing our clients with pool design and pool construction in Los Angeles, CA. We are proud to be a locally owned and operated company with a sincere commitment to the satisfaction of our customers. To learn more, give us a call today.

The Process of Working with a Pool Designer in Los Angeles, CA

Pools make a marvelous addition to any home. Not only are they fun and relaxing for the entire family, but they can also dramatically increase your home’s value and make neighbors envious of your beautiful backyard. Many homeowners toy with the idea of building a pool for their home, but they don’t always know where to start.

Understanding the pool design and construction process is important so that, when you start, you have clear expectations about how your pool will come to life. Pool construction can be time-consuming, so being on the same page as your pool designer in Los Angeles, CA is a helpful way to begin.

Here’s what you can expect when you work with a pool construction company to build your dream pool.

Step 1: Meet with the designer

To start off the process, you’ll want to hire a pool designer in Los Angeles, CA to discuss ideas for your pool that will fit within your home’s yard. Working with a custom pool designer can help you come up with creative ideas you wouldn’t find anywhere else.

Step 2: Finalize designs

After your meeting, the designer will come up with a detailed plan for your pool and show you a mock-up to approve. If you like the design and want to move ahead, the designs will be finalized and pre-construction will begin.

During this time, your pool construction company will be finalizing permits and any necessary approvals with your state and city before construction begins.

Step 3: Excavation

Once construction is ready to begin, the pool company will come to your home and create a layout on the ground for your pool. Next, excavation will begin. This involves removing all soil, plants, rocks and materials from the ground where your pool will be. It will look like a messy hole to start with, but the formation of your pool has officially begun!

Step 4: Framing

Next, the construction company will frame your pool with steel bars that cross over each other within the hole. This creates a strong foundation for your pool that will last for years to come.

Step 5: Plumbing and electrical

With the steel frame in place, your pool designers will begin placing the plumbing and electrical lines in and around the pool. This includes piping and wiring for all filtration systems, skimmers, jets and other features you selected to have in your pool.

Step 6: Gunite application and tiling

Next, your pool will really begin to take shape with the installation of gunite, a mixture of rock, sand and cement. Gunite is blasted into the frame of the pool to create a solid shell.

Tile will also be added around the pool’s perimeter at this stage, as well as coping.

Step 7: Equipment setup

With your pool beginning to look like an actual pool, the construction crew will begin to set up your pool filtration and pumping equipment, attaching it to the plumbing lines they installed earlier in the process.

Lights and other electrical features will also be set up during this stage.

Step 8: Decking and extras

If you want a deck or other decorative features like waterfalls around your pool, your pool designer will begin to construct those as they prepare to finish the pool installation.

Step 9: Interior

Once everything on the outside of your pool has been finished, the pool construction crew will install your desired choice of pool interior coatings.

Step 10: Fill

With the interior of your pool complete, it’s time to fill it! Water will be pumped into your pool, and the equipment will be double checked to get it up and running. Once the pool is filled and treated with chemicals or sanitized, it’s ready for use!

Avanti Pools, Inc. is a premier pool designer in Los Angeles, CA. We’ve been custom building pools and spas for nearly 20 years, so call us today to learn more about our services and how we can build your dream pool today!