Having a hot tub with a vanishing infinity edge removes visual barriers to offer you an unobstructed view when you sit in your tub. If your property faces the ocean, the mountains, or other gorgeous views you want to enjoy, having an infinity edge allows you to maximize the view and get the ultimate benefit from your spa as you watch the water, which seemingly does not end where the shell of your tub does. The Benefits of an Infinity Edge Spa The features of a vanishing infinity edge spa offers makes it practical as well as luxurious: No water waste. While you might fear that the infinity edge design might waste water that falls over the side, the water is captured and reused. As a result, you not only use water wisely but also use fewer chemicals and waste less heat. The water level stays the same, even if you have a maximum number of occupants in the tub, and if one or all of the guests leave, the water level goes back to optimum level. No Filter Grate While many hot tubs suck water into the filtration system with loud, bulky skimmers that take up the area of one or more seats, infinity edge spas from Coast skim the water through its vanishing design and by using a pressurized commercial-grade Hydro Cyclonic Filtration System® designed to skim quickly and efficiently. The filtration occurs when the water appears to fall over the infinity edge for a result that is nonintrusive. The filter canister that collects debris is positioned out of the way of bathers and is designed to prevent debris caught in the filter from falling back into the water to be contaminated. Waterfall Feature To make your spa more enjoyable, the spa offers a waterfall that creates a soothing sound,  Read More

Installing an in-ground pool on your property is a costly investment, so it’s important to carefully assess your motives for buying a pool, planning its use, and considering maintenance. Planning ahead and knowing what you can handle – both financially and time-wise – you can make a pool purchasing decision you will be happy with. Why Do You Want an In-Ground Pool? Some prospective in-ground pool owners think of the fun and convenience of having a pool in their yard without carefully considering how they will use it. While some families want one for recreation for their kids and their guests, others foresee using the pool as the site of adult entertainment. Others want one for physical therapy or for personal exercise. Any pool can serve multiple functions, but the design of the pool and the features you add to it are tied to its purpose. For example, if you want it to be an oasis for your friends, you might want a spa or built-in hot tub at one end, mood lighting, landscaping features, such as a waterfall, and a spacious deck with plenty of room for chairs. For a family pool, you would want to stress extra safety features that allow you to control access and prevent accidents. If your goal was exercise or therapy, you might want an elongated design that facilitates doing laps. What Features Do You Need? When you spend some time in a pool showroom, you may walk away convinced you need a huge pool with deep end, a diving board, and other appealing features. However, it’s important to think carefully about what features will actually be used. For example, statistics show that both adults and children spend the majority of time in the shallow end of the pool, especially when they are playing games. While  Read More

Gunite pools have been the first choice of homeowners for decades. But is the added cost of an in-ground pool really worth it? It’s hard to get to the bottom of this discussion because, in part, we’re flooded with advertisements that offer both in-ground pools and above-ground at rock-bottom prices, but they fail to mention some significant costs associated with each type. Here are some facts to help you sort out the hype and make the right decision for your home: Initial Cost and Cost of Ownership: We’re not going to mince words, here. Gunite pools cost a great deal more to install than above-ground pools. It’s important to consider all of the costs, though, before making a decision. In-ground pools are insulated by the ground, so they maintain more constant water temperature. If you’re heating your pool to extend your swimming season, an in-ground pool is much more efficient, because it retains the heat you add longer. Because above-ground pools’ temperatures vary more with the outdoor temperature, it’s harder to maintain water quality and chemical balance. You’ll spend more in chemicals and cleaning. Above-ground pools are more vulnerable to damage. Whether it’s from your golden retriever, your children and friends playing, or the neighbor’s tree dropping a branch onto your pool, you’re going to have more damage to repair on an above-ground pool than you would on an in-ground pool. Gunite pools need to be re-surfaced and re-tiled every 10-20 years, depending on use, maintenance, and environment. That’s a significant cost. Above-ground pools, though, will need a new liner every five to seven years, and the structure that holds the liner will last up to 15 years, so you’ll be replacing the entire pool at the time a gunite pool would need resurfacing. Above-ground pools are harder to clean than in-ground  Read More

Swimming pools add significantly to your family’s enjoyment of your home. Whether you’ve decided to install a new pool or it’s time to re-work an existing one, it’s hard to know what pool material will be the best choice for your specific location and use. There are 3 materials most commonly used for in-ground pools: fiberglass, vinyl-lined steel, and concrete. Here are some important factors to know about each material before you make a decision: Fiberglass When you order a fiberglass pool, you’re getting a solid piece, which is pre-formed at a factory. The hole for the pool is excavated to approximately the right dimensions, then the shell is set in place, and the hole is filled to match the shell’s shape and to give it proper support. Advantages: Fiberglass pool shells are gel-coated for protection and UV-resistance. This coating also prevents algae from growing in your pool, and reduces the number of times you’ll need to have the pool shock-treated with harsh chemicals, and it means less elbow grease to keep the sides looking great. Fiberglass shells are smooth to the touch, so you and your family will never have roughed-up feet after a hard day’s play, and no scraped elbows from that game of Marco Polo that got out of hand. Compared to other materials, fiberglass pools are relatively low maintenance. Fiberglass pool shells are installed much more quickly than concrete or vinyl. Disadvantages: Because the shell will be transported on a truck, fiberglass pools shells are limited to a width of 16 feet, to comply with road shipping restrictions. Fiberglass pools shells are built using molds, so your choices of shape and size are limited to what the manufacturers are offering. No custom shapes and sizes. The color in a fiberglass pool shell is integral, so if your  Read More

Planning your new pool is the next step after deciding you want to make this addition to your yard. A pool, after all, is a permanent feature that will enhance a home’s appearance, as well as provide recreation for your family and friends. The best pools are integrated into other landscaping and hardscaping features of your property. Therefore, for best results, you should work with a reputable pool design company who can help you visualize how the pool will look in your yard, often with the use of 3-D software. What to Consider Before Planning Your New Pool Before becoming too enmeshed in the specific details of the pool, you should consider a few obvious questions: How much pool can you afford? In-ground pool prices start at over $25,000 with every square additional foot costing $50 or more. The shape of the pool, the depth, the materials you use, and the extras you add on can increase the cost. If you want to add a patio, pool deck, or other complementary features, the price tag will expand accordingly. Installing the pool is just the beginning of your costs, as you will have annual cost for insurance, pool chemicals, and pool maintenance and repair. Will a pool work on your property? A full-size pool is 16 X 32 feet, although you can order any size you want. If your yard is too small, too broken up with trees or other features, or too sloped, adding a pool of the size you want may be difficult or impossible. What are the zoning restrictions? Most localities have zoning requirements for pools, hot tubs, and spas. Local ordinances often require fences or other barriers around the pools for safety, so your design plans and your budget should include the proper fencing. Zoning often limits where you can install  Read More