May 25 2007
As Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season, many homeowners will be spending time outdoors, and may be planning for a new pool and concrete deck to stay cool. When the time comes to install that new pool, careful thought should be taken on how the location of the pool and deck will affect the overall aesthetics of the pool's design.
The Concrete Network, the largest and most comprehensive resource online for concrete information, offers tips for choosing the ideal pool location.
"Think of the entire pool area as a total swimming environment, with the pool as the focal point," says Jim Peterson, president of The Concrete Network. "Also, the pool deck complements the pool itself and considerations should be given to its size and shape."
While it may seem most "natural" to have a deck layout in which people have the house at their backs, this is not always desirable. A home with a well-landscaped rear facade may well have that as its most aesthetic view, as opposed to a backyard fence and view of a neighbor's home. A pool close to the house is convenient and easy to watch over, but it may be very noisy for occupants of the house when there is a group of children playing and splashing in it.
There are several different options, features and limitations to consider when working with large or small properties. For more detailed information on accommodating different property types, The Concrete Network offers more tips on pool deck orientation, layout, coping, materials. There is also a complete pool deck photo gallery exhibiting today's most popular decorative concrete applications.
Established in 1999, The Concrete Network's purpose is to educate consumers, builders, and contractors on popular decorative techniques and applications. These include stamped concrete, stained concrete floors, concrete countertops, polished concrete, and much more. In April 2007 The Concrete Network Web site had over one million visitors researching decorative concrete.
The site excels at connecting buyers with local contractors in their area through its Find-A-Contractor service. The service provides visitors with a list of decorative concrete contractors throughout the U.S. and Canada, and is fully searchable by 23 types of decorative concrete work and 200 regional areas throughout North America.