If you have an inground pool, chances are it's one of the most visually important elements of your backyard. (And since you're reading this article, we're guessing once it's caught your eye all you want to do is look away!) These pool makeover ideas cover everything from new lighting to a new liner. Check out the photos and start planning your own backyard makeover!
Water feature
Adding the soothing sound of moving water can transform your backyard oasis, and since you already have a pool you've got a built-in water source. Popular swimming pool water features include fountains, water walls, cascades, sheetfalls, waterfalls and spillways. The right water feature for your pool will depend on the design and construction of your pool, the look (and sound) you want to achieve and your budget.
Lighting
Summer's too short to spend our nights inside. Many older pools and yards lack proper lighting to set the mood and ensure safety. Add lights in the pool to enhance your swim and give your pool a gorgeous glow. Use lights around the pool to highlight architectural features as well as illuminate pathways and potential tripping hazards. If you're in the market for a new pool liner, it's a good idea to factor the colour of the liner at night into your decision.
Coping
Coping is the technical term for the protective lip or cap that covers your pool's edge. Redoing your pool's coping can give your pool a completely new and polished look. Coping can be natural stone, concreted paver, concrete or composite material. Even something as simple replacing single track coping with double-track coping can allow you to add a lock-in vinyl cover in the future, something we did as part of a pool renovation explored in another article.
Liner
Pool liners have a limited lifespan—even with the most diligent chemical balancing and care you're still looking at replacing a pool liner after about 15 years. If yours has seen better days, the good news is that a new pool liner can completely renew your pool's appearance. Colour choice is increasing, with sandstone and grey liners becoming popular ways to bring a completely different mood, such as tropical lagoon or natural pond, to a backyard.
Steps
If you want to be known for your graceful exits and entrances, stairs are a must-have on your pool makeover ideas list. Stairs increase accessibility and in-pool seating and play areas. They also create visual interest, enhancing the style of an otherwise boring older pool. Options for adding pool stairs include drop-in stairs, vinyl-over stairs and in-wall stairs. The best choice will depend on the shape of your pool, the space around the pool, the look you're trying to achieve and your budget.
Tanning ledge
A tanning ledge (also known as a tanning shelf, baja shelf and sun shelf) takes stairs to the next level. Not only do they allow easy accessibility to the pool, but they give a larger space for relaxing and playing, particularly for younger children and those who are fans of the water but not swimming. A tanning ledge gives you the feeling of being at the beach and means your pool will appeal to people of all ages and swimming skills.
Connecting spa
A connecting spa or spillover spa is another way to up your backyard water game. If you're hosting a party, suddenly your pool appeals to a wider variety of people with different activity preferences. When it's just your family at home, you can meet everyone's changing needs, all in the same yard. A hot tub that connects to your pool extends your enjoyment of your backyard into cooler months. A spillover spa also adds that all-important sound of water to your at-home escape.
Want to talk ideas? You can bounce them off us!
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Treat and Prevent Metals and Staining
How to treat and prevent metals and staining Metals can be introduced into the water through foreign object or equipment, such as copper piping and fittings, heat exchanger, using copper sulphate and other copper-based algaecides, or source water. The presence of metals in pool water may cause staining to the liner, fiberglass, or concrete as…
Should I finance my pool purchase?
In its most formal application, contrast hydrotherapy involves alternating between immersion in hot and cold water. It’s a practice with growing popularity among athletes and health enthusiasts for its many reported benefits.
Above Ground Pool Closing Instructions
How to close your above ground pool Pool Closing Steps One week prior to closing, bring a pool water sample to the store so your pool can be properly balanced. It is natural for sitting water to become acidic on its own so balancing the water is very important prior to closing your pool One…
The Benefits of Borate to Treat Your Pool
Why Your Should Use Borate In Your Pool What is Borate? Borate prevents pH drifting, which results in calcium scaling, metal stains, cloudy water, algae, and hard pool water. When you use borate, the water will remain clear for a long period since chloramine (or combined chlorine) does not form quickly as compared to a…
How to Reduce Phosphates in Your Pool
How to Reduce Pool Phosphates What are phosphates? Phosphates are food for algae. Although they are present in all water, once they reach a certain level they can cause issues in your pool. Phosphates can consume chlorine causing a consistently low level in your pool. When you have an extremely low chlorine reading, your pool…
Spring Set-up for Pool UV Systems
How To Open Your Pool’s UV System SET-UP INSTRUCTIONS When spring arrives, it’s time to pull out your UV system and get it ready for the summer pool season. Below is a checklist that will help in getting the most out of your system. If your UV system is still installed on your pool equipment,…
How to Treat Pool Algae
How to Treat and Prevent Algae How to Treat and Prevent Algae – Spring Opening Green pools are often caused by algae growth in the water. This could take on the form of patches of green, yellow or black substances that fluffs into the water when touched or stirred. The water may have discoloration, usually…
How to Change & Clean the Filter Media
How to Clean & Change a sand filter How to Clean a Sand Filter Sand filters should be cleaned at least once per season, preferably in the fall before closing. You must clean your sand filter after encountering bouts of algae. Backwash the filter for 3-5 minutes to ensure large organic debris is out of…
How to Clean a Pool Salt Cell
How to Clean a Salt Cell Why Clean My Salt Cell? It is important to maintain a clean salt cell so chlorine can be continuously produced. Salt cells that have a lot of scale or calcium build up can not effectively produce sanitizer and often create flow issues within the pool system. You should check…
How to Treat and Prevent Cloudy or Foggy Pool Water
How to Treat and Prevent Cloudy or Foggy Water What Causes Cloudy Water? Foggy/Cloudy pools may occur due to a number of reasons. Cloudy water largely occurs because of poor water balance, lack of circulation, poor filtration or the depletion of chlorine/bromine. It can also occur due to dead algae, dirty or old filter sand,…
Pool Filter Cartridge Cleaning Instructions
How To Clean A Pool Filter Cartridge When should a cartridge element be cleaned? For swimming pools, clean the cartridge when filter canister pressure reaches 10-12 PSI above the initial system or new cartridge starting pressure. Cartridges should be rinsed at least once every 2 weeks. Cartridges should be chemically cleaned in Filter Cleaner at…
Maintenance for Saltwater Pools
Saltwater pool maintenance HELPFUL TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN MAINTAINING YOUR POOL NEW POOL OR NEW LINER CUSTOMERS:PLEASE BRING IN A WATER SAMPLE (IN THE SAMPLE BOTTLE PROVIDED) TO BUDS SPAS AND POOLS BEFORE ADDING ANY CHEMICALS AND/OR BEFORE ENTERING YOUR POOL FOR THE FIRST TIME. Pool maintenance steps 1. Test kits or strips…
Maintenance for Non-Saltwater Pools
Non-saltwater pool maintenance HELPFUL TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN MAINTAINING YOUR POOL NEW POOL OR NEW LINER CUSTOMERS:PLEASE BRING IN A WATER SAMPLE (IN THE SAMPLE BOTTLE PROVIDED) TO BUDS SPAS AND POOLS BEFORE ADDING ANY CHEMICALS AND/OR BEFORE ENTERING YOUR POOL FOR THE FIRST TIME. Filtration To maintain proper filtration the pump should…
Inground Pool Closing Instructions
Pool Closing Instructions Follow these steps to properly close your pool this year One week prior to closing, bring in a pool water sample so that your pool can be properly balanced for the winter months. 24 hours prior to closing the pool, add a dose of Fix to increase the sanitizer in your pool.…
Pool Opening Instructions
Pool Opening Instructions Follow these steps to properly open your pool this year Remove any leaves or debris from the top of your winter cover (this should not go in the pool). Remove the water off of your pool cover by either using a submersible pump or siphon method. When using a submersible pump please…
Treating Phosphates in Swim Spas
In its most formal application, contrast hydrotherapy involves alternating between immersion in hot and cold water. It’s a practice with growing popularity among athletes and health enthusiasts for its many reported benefits.
Treating Foaming in a Swim Spa
In its most formal application, contrast hydrotherapy involves alternating between immersion in hot and cold water. It’s a practice with growing popularity among athletes and health enthusiasts for its many reported benefits.
Swim Spa Filter Cartridge Cleaning
In its most formal application, contrast hydrotherapy involves alternating between immersion in hot and cold water. It’s a practice with growing popularity among athletes and health enthusiasts for its many reported benefits.
