What You Need To Know When Building A Swimming Pool or Outdoor Kitchen

A refreshing dip in your own backyard swimming pool, gliding through the water at the end of a long day, or relaxing in your luxurious spa as ripples soothe away tension is a great way to melt stress and stay in shape. Imagine a dip into the refreshing water of your own swimming pool.

A refreshing, invigorating pool or elegant spa becomes your very own island of peace and serenity.
Isn’t that what you want?

Now, for a reality check: Do not shop for a swimming pool based solely on price. The old adage “you get what you pay for” could not be more true than when attempting to find a pool builder.

YOU CANNOT AFFORD A CHEAP POOL!
By taking into consideration the fact that an experienced pool builder, who uses only quality materials, aYou will find that it will actually cost you LESS MONEY in the long run to have a beautiful, affordable, minimal maintenance pool, outdoor kitchen, or spa….if to you take the time up front to have it all done RIGHT!

It comes down to VALUE. What VALUE do you see in making a substantial investment of time, patience and money with a contractor who has invested in formal education in all aspects of designing and building pools as an artistic endeavor?

So with that in mind, here are some basic things to keep in mind when beginning your pool project:

LOCATION:
First, decide the best location on your property for a pool. Take into consideration existing landscape features which cannot be moved and may interfere with your future pool in some manner – property setback requirements, septic systems and drainfields, and sun direction.

DESIGN:
Your pool contractor should be thoroughly familiar with all aspects of pools design and one with experience can create just about any type of pool you can dream up. In advance of meeting with your pool contractor, gather images from magazines or other sources, or sketch out rough plan, to give him a clear picture of what you have in mind. Browse through Professional Pools' photo gallery to get ideas as well. The more details you can give the designer, the closer they can come to creating your ideal outdoor living space.

NOT JUST RECTANGLES ANY MORE!
Swimming pools no longer have to be boring rectangles! Use your imagination, and also consider how you will use your new pool – for recreation, as a focal feature of your property, therapeutic pools for exercise, or all of these. Professional Pools specializes in creating unique and functional rock spas, infinity pools, waterfalls, fountains, to add beauty and charm to your outdoor oasis. Combine this with professionally selected landscaping features, plants, and lighting, and you may never want to go back inside!

OUTDOOR KITCHENS AND FIREPLACES:
For outdoor kitchens, consider a place which may be protected from the wind and sun for more comfortable cooking. In the afternoon, when many outdoor gourmets are grilling, the sun can be brutal. In addition to built-in grill, sink, and other kitchen amenities, you may want Professional Poos to install an arbor to provide shade and décor to this area.

DECK SURFACE:
The type of surface you select for your outdoor living area is extremely important. Professional Pools can install an infinite variety of decking and outdoor kitchen surfaces beyond the traditional wood or cement – you can now have pavers, stone, stamped concrete, aggregate, tile, synthetic materials, and more! The surface is beautiful, easy to maintain, re-direct run-off. will help keep your pool and recreation area clean and make every inch of space more usable!

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL:
Fiber-glass? Cement? Vinyl Liner? Talk with Professional Pools to find out the best type of construction for your dream pool.

POOL CLEANLINESS:
There are many styles of pool cleaning accessories to minimize the task of keeping your pool sparkling. Professional Pool Services designs your pool to maximize efficiency, using the latest in technology, so that you spend most of your time relaxing and enjoying your pool! New technologies in pool filtration minimize the need for chemicals. Ask for recommendations from Professional Pools .

SAFETY:
Most likely, you will want the security of a fence around your pool with locking gate. Professional Pools can include this as part of the plan for your project.

MAINTENANCE:
Professional Pools is well-known for building a quality pool which requires minimal maintenance down the road. Additionally, regular service will keep filters and circulation in top condition without costing a fortune, as can happen with cheaper installers who use less expensive components and don’t account for important features such as soil type and landscape topography.

Unlike some builders, Professional Pools has has complete familiarity with hydraulic design and flow rates, proper pipe sizing, energy-efficient pump and filtration systems, steel engineering and placement, computerized control technology, electrical load requirements, and interior finishes – vital for proper construction and lowered maintenance costs.

POOL COVERS & WINTERIZATION:
Protecting and winterizing your pool....Even if you don't have us winterize your pool, PLEASE have someone do it! Failure to winterize is guaranteed to present mechanical and maintenance problems down the road... Professional Pools carries a complete line of automated and manual pool covers to keep your pool protected over the winter months. They will also winterize your pool to prevent damage from cold weather, as well as re-open the pool in the spring with preventive maintenance checks to ensure a care-free season!

REPUTATION:
You absolutely want an experienced professional creating and installing your outdoor living space - someone with a proven track record, positive customer referrals, and who keeps themselves abreast of and educated about the latest in pool technology. There are plenty of fly-by-night operators and inexperienced builders who may sell you a pool and build it, but will not be available for you later when problems crop up.

Nick will not just “sell” you a pool. He has been a successfull pool designer and builder for more than three decades because of his dedication to construction and service after sale. When you choose Professional Pools, you work directly with the contractor from concept to completion – no middleman to deal with.

Professional Pools is family-owned by Nick and Carol Sumner. Nick has nearly 35 years of experience in the swimming pool business, and stays current with technology and materials trends so that you can have the very best pool for your money! He is a licensed and insured contractor.

Nick will be happy to provide references from our many, many satisfied customers and will discuss all your concerns with you before starting out on your project. Service after completion, including regular maintenance as well as unscheduled repairs, make for happy pool owners, and Professional Pools is well known in central Virginia for their quality of service and attention to detail.

By choosing Professional Pool Services, you can be confident that the construction and other design factors will ensure not only that you have a beautiful, functional and affordable outdoor living area, but also in the ability of your pool to stay mechanically sound, safe and sanitized!

!Call (804) 932-4323 today for a consulation with Nick Sumner, professional pool builder and owner of Professional Pools, Inc., or email pools@prolpoolsinc.com