It only takes seconds for tragedy to strike when children and swimming pools are involved. That’s why everyone is encouraged to focus on child safety elements when designing an in-ground swimming pool. Make sure your pool fence at least four feet high and has a self-closing, self-latching gate. You must also remove obstacles from along the fence line that children can use to climb over, such as patio chairs, tables, gazebos, outdoor fireplaces, and grills. Of course when children are in the pool , make sure at least one adult is responsible for watching the kids at all times.

It’s incredible important that you put child safety at the forefront of your mind when designing a swimming pool. Even if you don’t have children of your own, kids can easily wander onto your property and fall into your pool if proper safety measures aren’t in place. Talk to your Salt Lake City pool builder about safety features that can help keep kids safe.

One of the best ways to beat the heat in Utah during the summer is with your very own in-ground swimming pool. A new pool can also increase the value of your home, which means you can recoup most (if not all) of the cost a building a swimming pool when the time comes to sell. To make sure you end up with the best final product, here are some tips for designing a new swimming pool with your Salt Lake City pool builder .

Set a Budget For starters, sit down with your pool company and set a realistic yet flexible budget for your new swimming pool. We say flexible because the project may include additional features and elements later on that you didn’t anticipate or expect at the onset. While you’re crunching numbers, take a few minutes to set a monthly pool maintenance budget. How much you can afford to spend on maintenance and upkeep will help you select the most appropriately sized pool, since larger pools tend to require more maintenance and have higher operating costs.

Measure Your Space
Before you decide on the size and dimensions of your new swimming pool, you must first determine the size and dimensions of your backyard. It’s important that you design a pool that is appropriately sized for the space you have available. You also need to factor in space for a deck, patio, fencing, outdoor fireplace, and other desired features.

Consider the Entire Living Area
Speaking of additional features, take the opportunity to remodel your entire outdoor living space while designing your new swimming pool. Some pool companies in Salt Lake City provide additional landscape and hardscape design and installation services. Whether you want a simple outdoor fireplace or an entire outdoor kitchen, there’s no better time to design the backyard of your dreams while designing the swimming pool of your dreams.

Near Salt Lake City, many of the fiberglass pools installed with different homes are functional but look very plain. If you are considering hiring a pool contractor to do a pool or hot tub installation , consider adding a decorative or utilitarian feature to your pool.

Features like pool covers do not need to be cumbersome or unsightly; they can be hidden in the design so that they are easily retracted and extended when you need them. Even relatively small pools can incorporate water features such as fountains or waterfalls, or a pool slide for the kids. Watch this video to get a closer look at one pool design idea that incorporates a retractable cover, a water feature, and an infinity edge.

Swimming pool maintenance near Salt Lake City can be a hassle if you try to do it yourself. As a homeowner, you opt for pool installation so that you can enjoy swimming with your family and friends, not so that you can spend extra hours each week cleaning and maintaining the pool. Hiring a pool service company to keep your pool clean will remove these tedious chores from your to-do list. Swimming pool services should include:

Physical Cleaning
Debris such as leaves, twigs, and pebbles can and will get into your pool. No one wants to swim in a pool when the surface is covered with dirt and twigs, and also if too much piles up it can clog the

skimmer baskets and filter, possibly damaging the pump. A swimming pool contractor will skim the surface of the water, vacuum the bottom of the pool, clean out the skimmer baskets, and check the filter to remove all debris and make sure that your pool is clean.

Chemical Balancing
A balanced pool needs to be within a certain range of pH level, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness. If the water is too acidic, it will be corrosive, and if it is too alkaline, it will be scaling. Depending on usage, rainfall, and many other factors, your pool can easily fall out of chemical balance. A pool contractor will test your water as part of routine swimming pool maintenance during each visit, and add chemicals and treatments as necessary to ensure that the water is balanced and safe.

Equipment Inspection
A pool is much more than simply a hole in your yard filled with water. Standing water would quickly become a stagnant breeding ground for algae, bacteria, insects, and other tiny organisms. The chemical treatments in your pool help avoid this, but there is also a pump that circulates the water to help keep it clean. During routine maintenance, a professional like Deep Blue Pools and Spa will do the swimming pool inspection and inspect the pumps to make sure that everything is functioning correctly.

Many homes feature in ground pools near Salt Lake City , and many homeowners decide to install them because summers in Utah offer perfect weather to enjoy a pool. When you meet with your pool contractor, you should be aware of the special design features you can incorporate to make your pool much more attractive than a simple rectangle in the ground.

A simple, elegant water feature such as a tiny waterfall at one edge will add visual interest to your pool and won’t require any extra swimming pool maintenance. Other features such as laminar jets are flashier and more eye-catching, and they add a lot of excitement to the design. Make sure you talk to your contractor about adding these before swimming pool installation begins. Many homeowners install colored lights in the pools, which turn them into sources of soft illumination at night and also increase safety. If you have kids, active features such as pool slides can add a lot of fun to your summer afternoons.

Before you schedule your first meeting with your pool contractor in Salt Lake City to discuss your hot tub or pool installation, you should have a design idea in mind. Then, when you actually sit down to discuss it, the contractor will have an idea of what you want and can give you a more accurate time and cost estimate. There are three basic elements to keep in mind when designing a pool:

Shape and Size

Do you want your pool to be a perfect rectangle, or some other shape? Large enough for laps or small enough to fit on a tiny patio? Many rectangular pools are in fact L-shaped, with a set of steps and a handrail at one end that makes it easier for older and younger swimmers alike to get in and out. For a more organic look, you can choose a kidney shape or even a custom shape designed to mimic a natural lagoon or pond. The shape is the most permanent element of the design, especially when you install a fiberglass pool.

Pump and Filter

To keep the water in your pool from becoming a stagnant breeding ground for mosquitos and algae, you need some type of water treatment system. All pools feature a pump to keep water circulating and fresh. Some use salt treatments to prevent algae and fungus growth, while other use more traditional pool chemicals. You will need to schedule regular swimming pool maintenance to balance the chemicals in your pool unless you pay extra for a fully automated treatment system that continuously monitors the water chemistry.

Deck and Features

What material do you want surrounding the pool? Will you opt for classic pool tile, or do you want something more modern like poured concrete or stone? This is both a safety issue and an aesthetic issue—the surface needs to have enough traction to prevent you and your guests from slipping when it’s wet. Also, you should decide whether you to install colored pool lights, a mini-waterfall, laminar jets, an attached hot tub, or any other decorative features.

If you take a look at homes in the area, you will see that many of the modern fiberglass swimming pools in Salt Lake City are actually quite small. Older homes may still have traditional rectangular lap pools, but modern swimming pool installations are often designed to mimic the shape of natural ponds or lagoons.

Whether you are having a salt water pool or a hot tub installed, consider the size of your lot and the space around the pool. You will need to leave enough room around the edge for lounge chairs, barbecues, fire pits, and any other features you want in your outdoor space. Watch this video for swimming pool design tips that you can discuss with your pool builders.

At Deep Blue Pools and Spas, we have earned numerous awards and accolades for our outstanding service. We are committed to your overall satisfaction. Please take a moment to read our latest reviews on Google+ . If you have had a great experience with us, we would love to hear from you. Please leave a review of your own.

“I feel very confident in Deep blue pool and Spas to recommend them to anyone.” – Mark S.

Regular pool cleanings are an important part of any home maintenance routine. Though there are plenty of businesses that offer a complete suite of swimming pool services in Salt Lake City , many homeowners still attempt to perform this chore themselves. But although the tasks may seem simple, you should leave your swimming pool maintenance to a qualified pool contractor. Here are a few reasons why:

To Avoid Chemical Imbalances
Even the smallest lap pools need to be chemically treated. A pool that does not have the proper balance of additives is a breeding ground for algae, fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms. The correct concentration of chemicals required to keep your pool safe and pleasant to swim in depends on the volume of water it contains. Pool maintenance professionals have the proper equipment to

test your pool and the experience to know when to add water or chemicals.

To Ensure All Equipment Is Working Properly
A swimming pool is much more than a simple reservoir in the ground surrounded by a mosaic of pretty pool tiles. There are many hidden mechanical parts to your pool that help keep it fresh and clean, such as the pump and the filter. You may also have a heater that allows you to enjoy your pool well into the fall and open it early in the spring. During weekly visits, a professional knows how to check and maintain these components. Regular maintenance of all mechanical pool equipment can help you avoid sudden failures and expensive emergency repairs during the summer.

To Keep the Pool Consistently Clean
Like many non-essential home chores, pool maintenance falls to the bottom of the list when you get busy. You may find yourself neglecting your pool week to week, and then when you want to have friends and family over to use it, you might find the skimmers clogged with dead leaves or see clumps of floating algae. Schedule weekly professional pool cleanings and you can always enjoy a quick dip in your pool at a moment’s notice.

There’s nothing quite like having your very own swimming pool at your home. A swimming pool is a great place to get some quick exercise, play with your family, or hang out with your friends. If you have been considering adding a pool to your backyard, you have many different options to choose from. Your pool contractor in Salt Lake City will take you through the steps of designing your pool so that you get exactly what you want. The shape of your pool can be round, rectangular, or a custom shape that works with the flow of your property. Features such as automation and energy-efficient equipment make pool ownership pleasant, rather than a hassle. Take a look at this infographic to learn more about the steps involved in designing your perfect pool. Please share with your friends and neighbors!