Relaxing in the comfort of a private pool is the pinnacle of California homeownership. What better way to whisk away the heat and humidity than a dip in a cool and refreshing pool? Not only does swimming offer excellent exercise without the usual wear and tear on the joints, but your home is sure to be the epicenter of family gatherings, neighborhood block parties, and holidays if you have a beautifully designed pool. Keep reading to learn about the most popular pool features in 2022.
1. Swim Up Bar:
Just when you thought your pool couldn’t get any better, you realized that a bar could be installed so that you can sip, snack, and enjoy without having to leave your relaxing water oasis. Typically found at beachside resorts, bars are now becoming more commonplace in residential pools because of their intrinsic wow factor and the convenience offered.
2. Baja Shelf Installation
Also known as a tanning ledge or sun shelf, think of this feature as having a pool within a much larger pool. Typically, a Baja shelf is only 8 to 16 inches deep and allows you to perch chairs in your pool so that you can cool down while staying reclined and enjoying a beverage from your poolside bar.
3. Waterfalls
Not only do waterfalls add creativity to your pool area, but they can also create a cascading impact into the water below while making your pool reminiscent of a serene and tropical resort.
4. Outdoor Shower
Likely the most practical item on this list, an outdoor shower is on the must-have list for many aspiring pool owners because it allows you to wash off chlorine before entering your home and enjoy a poolside shower in your own backyard.
5. Spillover Spa
A spillover spa is a hot tub or Jacuzzi built on a platform directly above and adjacent to your swimming pool and includes a cutout for excess water to flow from the spa to the pool. A spillover adds a waterfall-like sound to your pool and can be designed to your specification with a variety of tile and stone options.
6. Jump Rock
Picture an existing diving board and elevate it to a piece of art by using beautifully designed natural stones to create a jump rock with a waterfall. Once installed, this jump rock is sure to provide hours of fun for families of all ages.
When you are ready for your pool fantasy to become a reality, let the professional team at Avanti Pools, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA assist. Pools are our passion, and we’ll allow your dreams to become a reality while working within your budget to design and construct a spectacular pool in your backyard.
When we think about investing in ourselves, most people usually think of taking care of their mental and physical health, getting a new wardrobe and haircut or learning a new skill. Water features rarely make the list—but maybe they should. Water features are a unique swimming pool design idea, but it can also contribute to your peace of mind and enjoyment.
Here’s how a water feature can benefit you, straight from LA’s premier swimming pool contractors.
Benefits of a water feature
Some of the biggest benefits water features can provide include:
Meditative qualities: Listening to water is one of the most soothing sounds on earth, which is why waves, rain and other running water sounds are frequently used to inspire relaxation. When you have a water feature in your pool, you can bring that relaxation straight to your own backyard. Enjoy the soothing sounds of water—and a deeper meditative state.
Negative ions: We’re surrounded by electric devices every day, which are usually charged with positive ions. Exposure to positive ions can make you feel tired, lethargic or even exacerbate your allergies. Negative ions, on the other hand, can have positive effects on your body and mood. It’s why it’s so soothing to be on the beach or near a roaring waterfall. Water features are good sources of negative ions and may even reduce depression.
Relax the brain and inspire creativity: The sound of water is relaxing, and when you’re relaxed, your creativity can resurface. Having a water feature in your backyard will not only expose you to negative ions and relax your brain, but it might even help you solve a problem or get creative inspiration for your next big screenplay.
Enjoyment in your outdoor space: Finally, any time you improve your outdoor space, you’re investing in your own enjoyment. Whether you plan to enjoy your water feature on your own or host gatherings for others, you’re bound to love your backyard more than ever.
Unique swimming pool design ideas
Now that you know the more unusual benefits of installing a water feature, you can start deciding which one you want.
Waterfalls are by far the most popular water feature, especially since they provide running water sounds and nice aesthetic qualities. You can have your water feature built with a slide, natural or artificial rock or even a weeping wall, which extends the waterfall.
If you really want to take your pool to the next level, consider installing a waterfall and a grotto behind it. You can sit in the grotto and watch the waterfall, which is quite relaxing. Even better, your waterfall and grotto can be designed to house a hot tub. You’ll have the most popular backyard in town.
When you’re ready to design and install a water feature, don’t settle for just anyone. Call Avanti Pools, Inc. We’re LA’s premier swimming pool contractors, and we have years of experience creating backyard havens. Get in touch with us today to get started.
Aeration naturally occurs in a pool when it’s been used by swimmers, or when it rains. So, is it really necessary to use a swimming pool aerator to artificially achieve the same effect?
Here’s an overview of what you should know about pool aeration to help you determine if investing in an aerator is likely to be worthwhile to you.
The process of pool aeration
Pool aeration refers to the process of letting oxygen into the pool water. This is a beneficial process to all pools, especially if you live in a dry climate or have been experiencing particularly warm weather. During the cooler months, when you’re likely to be opening or closing the pool, you’re not as likely to require it.
Here are the primary benefits of using a swimming pool aerator:
It raises the pH: Raising the pH level of your pool is important if you need to quickly lower the pool’s alkalinity. This might be necessary if calcium scaling is occurring, for example. In such a situation, you would add muriatic acid to the pool to reduce the pH to between 7.0 and 7.2, then turn on the aerator and infuse the pool with water that has been aerated. This will result in the pH rising, ideally to between 7.2 and 7.6. You may need to repeat this process several times until you get the proper alkalinity (80 to 120 ppm).
It cools down the water: When oxygen enters the pool water, it also helps to lower the temperature. If the weather is particularly hot, this can be beneficial, especially if you prefer a cooler pool. In addition, keeping the water on the cooler side will help you extend the life of the chlorine you put in the pool, allowing you to use less chlorine over the pool’s lifetime. This can save you a significant amount of money in the long run.
It helps circulation: Aerators shoot streams of water and oxygen into the pool, which helps to freshen the water. If the pool water stays stagnant for a long period of time without influxes of oxygen, you’re more likely to experience problems like algae, which will require you to take more drastic pool cleaning steps.
There are a few ways you can aerate your pool. One is to simply install a dedicated aerator. Usually, this feature will be built into the pool’s deck or coping and be attached to the pump. It will have its own valve, allowing you to adjust the flow coming from the aerator.
If you have a pool water feature, you can also use that as your aerator. Most water features will essentially aerate the pool water.
Deck jets are almost identical to pool aerators, and shoot arches of water into the pool. Misters also work as aerators and can be installed at the water line.
For more information about swimming pool aerators and whether you need to install one for your pool, contact the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. with your questions.
Diving boards remain a popular accessory for pool owners. They are fun, they can give you what you need to practice diving and they make your pool that much closer to feeling like a public or higher-end pool.
However, as any pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA can tell you, there are also plenty of drawbacks associated with diving boards. If you’re considering adding one to your pool, it’s important that you take all of those drawbacks into consideration to determine if the positives of having one outweigh the negatives.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the reasons why pool owners might be hesitant to add a diving board:
Safety: The most common concern pool owners have about diving boards is whether or not they’re actually safe for use. Think about it—the people using it are barefoot, bouncing up and down on a wet plank and jumping (often headfirst) into a pool surrounded by concrete. You must consider carefully if the people who are most likely to be using the pool are capable of using the diving board safely. If you have very young children, for example, you’re probably not going to want to install a diving board.
Increased insurance premiums: When you consider the fact that diving boards come with some significant safety concerns, it should come as no surprise that adding one to your pool could result in your homeowners insurance premiums seeing a significant increase. Adding a pool will already increase your premiums because of the potential added dangers, but adding a diving board will result in an even greater increase, as insurers must weigh the risks of your addition.
Space requirements: Diving boards require a surprising amount of space. Safety standards indicate there should be at least 38 feet of pool length if you are to have a safe diving zone. This is because diving boards require some significant depth, and you’ll need a certain amount space over which to create that drop-off. The size and depth of a pool with a diving board takes up a lot more real estate, and can also result in significantly increased installation costs.
Reduced pool space: While a diving board requires more real estate for your pool, it also reduces the amount of usable pool space you’ll have, because any swimmers in the pool will need to keep a certain distance away from the diving board. It also means there will be a smaller area in which swimmers will be able to touch the bottom of the pool with their feet.
Quality: There are some concerns about the quality of modern diving boards. They don’t have quite the spring of some of the diving boards of years past, which can make them not quite as much fun to use. You’ll need to do some thorough research to find a board that is both safe and enjoyable to use.
If you’re looking for more information about the pros and cons of getting a diving board for your pool, it makes sense to reach out to a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA with your questions. Contact Avanti Pools, Inc. today to learn more about diving boards and other pool accessories.
If you are preparing to install a new pool and have children in your family, it’s important to remember that the pool isn’t just for you—in fact, the pool will give your kids countless hours of fun and laughter out in the sun. Therefore, it only makes sense to install some kid-friendly swimming pool features in Los Angeles, CA, in addition to adding on all the features and design elements you’re looking for in a pool.
Here are a few examples of some features that kids love in swimming pools:
Waterslides: This might be the most universal kid-approved swimming pool feature you’ll find. What kid doesn’t get a kick out of sliding down into a pool? Add this feature into the deep end of your pool and you’ll quickly find that your kids cannot get enough of it. These slides come in a wide variety of shapes, from straight to spiral and more. Just make sure it meets all appropriate safety standards before you install it in your pool!
Waterfalls: Waterfalls add a natural, aesthetically pleasing touch to your pool, as well as a bit of “wow” factor. It will also be a part of your pool that your kids really love. Young children especially love to watch falling water, and if you can add in a cave, your kids will be able to use it as a special clubhouse.
Jet streams: All pools have some jet features beneath the surface as part of their basic mechanical design, but you can also add jet streams of water that shoot into your pool from a nearby wall, or that shoot up in to the air in an arc from the corner. Depending on the design you go with, you might even add some fiber optic lights to make these jet streams even more fun at nighttime. Kids love watching and playing with these jet streams.
Diving board: If your pool is deep enough, and if you’re comfortable with your kids diving into your pool, you can add on a classic diving board. The diving board is always a hit at pool parties, and it also gives kids an opportunity to learn some simple dives, jumps and flips, ramping up the fun and excitement associated with private swimming pools.
Raised walls: Raised walls might not exactly be the same thing as diving boards, but they do give kids a great place to jump into the pool and execute a great cannonball. These walls can also add a little privacy and can be an aesthetically pleasing add-on feature to your swimming pool.
Basketball hoop: There are plenty of basketball hoops you can find on the market that are designed specifically for swimming pools, and you can bet that kids and grown adults alike will love playing with it.
Volleyball net: The same thing goes for volleyball nets as basketball hoops. Get a swimming pool-specific volleyball net that stretches across the pool and enjoy some aquatic volleyball with your friends and family. The kids will love it!
For more tips about swimming pool features in Los Angeles, CA that are great for kids, contact the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. today!
