When it comes to having an in-ground swimming pool installed, you have one chance to get it right. At Hawaiian Pool Builders, we want to make sure that you’ve considered everything before taking the plunge. We know that when it comes to your pool, appearance matters.
We’ve covered the basics about which type of pool is the best choice for you. Today’s focus is about freeform pools and alternative finishes.
Freeform Pool:
Deciding to create a freeform pool is the perfect tie-in to your natural landscaping. They can fit into any space, and are not defined by straight lines or hard angles. You can create a lagoon style, natural pond, lake, oasis, or any other natural style.
You can incorporate such things as:
- Gentle curves; non-traditional shapes
- Natural rock, flagstone or “rolled beams” around the perimeter
- Natural rock or stone built-in at various places around the pool
- Rock or stone pavers, exposed aggregate, scrolled or stamped concrete
Use a combination of these features, and you can get the feel of a natural oasis. Combine some of these features with features of a classic / formal pool, and you can “class up” the look as much as you want.
Freeform pools provide a natural design that is perfect for recreation, home enhancement and entertaining. This swimming pool style is relaxed and allows for private, cozy corners and floating aimlessly on a raft.
Typically, they are constructed out of concrete. After the shape of the hole is excavated and the framework is in place, concrete is poured and can be fitted to create any size, shape, or configuration you’ve designed. Vinyl-lined pools can be made into a free-form design as well.
The first freeform pools were built in California. The California landscape dominated the residential pool designs of the 20th Century. One was built for Pickfair – the Los Angeles estate owned by Hollywood power couple and actors, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. Built in 1920, it was constructed above a 100-foot banana-shaped tank and featured a sandy shore along one side.
Philip Ilsley, a landscape architect, pioneered the freeform pool design. Instead of pouring concrete into a steel-mesh form, he sprayed it on, borrowing a process from the building trade. The process is known as ‘guniting’, which is where we get our Gunite pool type from. He built probably the most famous freeform pool in history on top of Hollywood Hills in the shape of a clover or hepatica leaf.
Alternative Finishes:
Not only can you create your in-ground swimming pool with a freeform design, you can add many alternative finishes to it. Various materials can be added to pool surfaces made of concrete or plaster, including tile, stone, and human-made textures.
You may like the appearance of a bright blue pool, or perhaps the mystery of a seemingly black watered pool. There are many different ways to achieve the affect you are after. The color and texture of your pool interior is key. You want it to match the style of your home, outdoor living space, and your personality.
Tile:
Tile lasts a long time. They may take a while to install, but the investment is worth it. They can handle a lot of wear and tear. There are plain tiles, classic Greek-style, diamond patterns, or even mosaics for a unique look. At Hawaiian Pool Builders we can customize your tiles to reflect your initials, your favorite sporting team, or any other idea you may have.
Glass Tile:
In addition to regular tiling, you can opt for glass tiles. The entire pool is lined with small mosaic glass tiles instead of plaster. It’s durable and resistant to corrosion, and lasts longer than any other kind of plaster alternative. You can create many different looks because of the color choices and mixes. They amplify and reflect light into the water, giving the bottom of your pool a beautiful sparkle in a range of hues.
Pebble:
Having a pebble finish is a great look for something with a more natural appeal to it. They work well in a lagoon style pool, or your freeform pool. Pebble is durable, stain and chemical resistant, and they do not require any grout.
Aggregate:
Aggregate pool finishes are becoming more popular as innovations in pool plaster come to the forefront. Today, aggregates have taken over the top spot from pool plaster as the most desirable pool finish option.
Exposed aggregate pool finishes can incorporate stones, pebbles, and/or glass beads into the pool plaster to add resilience and aesthetic qualities. Exposed aggregate pool finishes have been shown to have a lifespan of between 15 and 20 years. The aggregate finish lasts longer than typical pool plaster because of the way it reacts with pool chemicals. Aggregates do not break down nearly as fast as does the marble usually found in white pool plaster.
Many pool owners choose aggregate finishes because of its durability and aesthetic quality.
With such great options to choose from, designing your pool to fit your lifestyle is getting easier. Stop in our showroom, or call to make an appointment with one of our pool professionals to begin your unique design today.
