Category: Remodels & Renovations

Even the simplest of swimming pools are an excellent addition to any backyard. They provide a place to escape from the summer heat, a safe space for your kids to hang out with their friends, and a backyard retreat where you can relax. But sometimes, you want more than just a hole in the ground that’s filled with water, right? Sometimes, you want a few upgrades to accompany your pool. Here are a few ideas you’ll definitely want to consider if you’re thinking about pool renovations in Katy, TX.

Water Features

“Water features” is a broad category that includes many different specific features. Here are just a few of the most common ones:

• Waterfalls
• Waterspouts
• Leaping spouts
• Sheer curtains
• Deck jets
• Bubblers
• Fountains

Each of these different kinds of water features adds a unique charm and style to a swimming pool. Depending on how your pool is used and what your personal desires are, you could choose any one of these features—or add several to your pool. Kids love swimming under waterfalls and playing with spouts of all kinds, both in shallow water and on the pool deck. Plus, the sound of falling and moving water can be incredibly relaxing for those days when you just want to lounge by the pool.

Recreational Features

The pool itself is a recreational feature for your home, but you can do a lot more than swim in a pool if you have the right add-ons. You can add a basketball hoop or volleyball net to play sports in the pool. Waterslides and diving boards are always a popular option if you have kids (and even if you just enjoy these things yourself). Adding these kinds of features allows you to get more use out of your pool, so they’re a great investment.

LED Pool Lighting

Pool time shouldn’t have to end at sundown. If your pool doesn’t have lights, you shouldn’t definitely have some added. And even if you do have some basic lighting in your pool, you should consider adding something with a bit more flair. How about color-changing lights that you can control with a remote? This is a great feature to have if you ever host nighttime pool parties, as those colored lights can really set the party mood.

Pool Automation Systems

Pools already automatically turn on the pumps every day, but you can upgrade your pool with additional automated systems, such as for your booster pumps and lights. You could even install an automatic pool cover or automate robotic pool cleaners to take some of the work out of pool ownership. These systems also make it easy for you to monitor your pool’s systems so that you can catch any potential issues early.

Energy-Efficient Equipment

While it may not be as fun as a waterslide or as attractive as a beautiful water feature, upgrading your pool with energy-efficient equipment can lower the cost of owning a pool. Pool equipment has come a long way in the last decade, so if you have an older system that’s taking a lot of electricity, you might want to consider getting something newer. For example, you could get a variable speed pool pump, which (as the name implies) varies its speed to consume less electricity. Solar-powered heaters and energy-efficient filters are also available.

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your pool for a while now, these five kinds of renovations are a great place to start. Or, you could consider a pool deck remodel in Katy, TX, and create a beautiful retreat around your pool instead. Whether you want to upgrade your pool or the deck, contact Suncor Outdoors.

The best time for using your swimming pool is in the heat of the summer. But when is the best time to remodel it? Should it be in the winter, when you won’t be using the pool? Or should you do those renovations in the summer, when the weather is warmer? Check out this blog to learn the best time for pool remodeling in Katy, TX, as well as other factors you should consider when deciding on the timing of your upgrade.

Pool Condition above All Else

The very first thing we want to touch on is your pool’s condition. If your pool needs to be remodeled because it’s cracked, damaged, or severely outdated, then the right time to get it renovated is right now! It would help if you didn’t let a pool with severe surface damage go unrepaired. So, even if it’s right in the middle of the peak swimming season, you should call to get it drained and renovated now rather than later. It’s better to get your pool in good shape now rather than allowing cracks and leaks to get worse over the summer.

Season of the Year

Of course, the time of year does matter a little bit. As we mentioned earlier, you want to use your swimming pool the most in the summer, so unless your pool is in deplorable condition, you should try to schedule that renovation for a different time of year. Immediately before or after the peak swimming season is typically ideal—so, the spring or fall. While winter can work for some kinds of renovations, frigid weather might impact things like pouring concrete or gunite for your pool’s framing.

Length of Time for Renovation

When you’re talking to a pool contractor, ask them about how long they expect the project to take. Depending on how extensive your renovations are, you’ll want to schedule your upgrade for a time of year where it is unlikely to push into any time that you’ll be using your swimming pool.

For example, let’s say you want an extensive renovation that will take about two months to accomplish. You should probably schedule that renovation for March, so it’s ready before Memorial Day when summer officially starts. If you can’t make that happen, push it out until September, when the kids go back to school, and the weather begins to cool down. The pool will be used a lot less at this time. A more comprehensive renovation will need to start earlier in the year if you want to do it before peak swimming season, while shorter projects can be started in April or even May.

Planning for Delays

When scheduling the start of your project, it’s a good idea to always plan for delays. Of course, we do our absolute best to stay on schedule, but some unforeseen circumstances do sometimes arise. Issues like delayed permits or previously unnoticed damage to the pool can extend the timeframe of your project. So, if you want the pool done by a specific date, get it started at least a week earlier than you think you should.

Start Working with a Contractor Now

The most important thing to know is that it’s never too early to begin working with a pool designer on your pool’s renovation. We tend to get very busy with pool projects in the lead-up to summer, so if you want to ensure that you can fit your project into our schedule, contact us right away to begin work on your pool renovations in Katy, TX!

Having a pool of any kind in your backyard can be fun. It’s a space for fun, relaxation, and even exercise. It’s a backyard feature that everyone from the littlest baby to senior citizens can enjoy. But what really makes a pool enjoyable and exciting are the features that you add to it. The right features can provide hours more of fun, relaxation, and exercise for everyone in your home, depending on the features you choose. Keep reading to get a few suggestions of features you can add to improve your pool, recommended by our expert swimming pool builder in Katy, TX.

Tanning Ledge

When most people are thinking about building a swimming pool, their focus is on, well, swimming in it. But as mentioned, pools are used for a lot more than just swimming. Tanning ledges are a multi-functional space that are not only great for little ones to play in but for adults to lounge and relax. Sunbathing in a tanning ledge instead of on the pool deck keeps you cooler, and a shallow play area can let non-swimmers play independently instead of needing to be held in the water. Of course, adult supervision should always be nearby.

Water Features

Water features are a popular add-on for swimming pools. They add both visual and auditory beauty to your backyard space, and there are countless styles to choose from. Natural, cascading waterfalls can tumble into your pool. Exciting water spouts can leap around the tanning ledge. Depending on what you’re hoping to achieve with your water feature, we can help you choose which type of feature is best suited to your needs.

In addition to adding the relaxing sound of running water to your space, a water feature can also provide additional play for your kids. Swimming under a waterfall or playing with water spouts can be quite exciting for kids of any age. You’ll be amazed just how much time they’ll spend around the water features.

Lighting

All pools should have some lighting to allow for safe, fun nighttime swimming. But more decorative lighting design can really help to enhance your pool. It can help your water features to glisten and shimmer in the evening. Lighting with changing colors can make a nighttime pool party feel like a dance party. And smart lighting features can allow you to control all of your lights with a remote control, your smartphone, or a preset timer. One of our talented designers can install your pool lighting in a way that is both beautiful and functional.

Pool Decking

When thinking about your pool’s design, spend some time thinking about what’s around it. After all, you’re not going to spend all of your time in the pool; you’ll also want to spend some time near your pool, whether you’re sunbathing, grilling, or just lounging and talking with friends. There are so many things you can do with your pool deck’s design. Fire pits with built-in seating, outdoor kitchens, and built-in grills all add more functionality to your decking. Pergolas and overhead shades can make the deck more comfortable. And, of course, you want the overall style of your decking to blend well with your pool’s design and the façade of your home.

So if you’re installing a new pool, consider a pool deck remodel in Katy, TX, or one of these other upgrades to really enhance your swimming pool. These features will make the pool more fun, more functional, and more unique to your home. Contact us today to begin discussing the features you would like in your new pool design.

Trends are constantly changing. There’s always something new just around the corner, from fleeting trends in fashion and hairstyles to longer-lasting trends in home design. If you’re installing a new swimming pool or if you’re considering some pool renovations in Katy, TX, it certainly doesn’t hurt to brush up on the latest trends in pool design. While the most important thing is always designing a pool that fits your needs—not the current trends—you might get some inspiration and ideas for what you want your swimming pool to look like.

Rain Descents

Waterfalls have always been a popular water feature for swimming pools. They create a beautiful visual element while adding a relaxing sound to your space. But lately, people have been giving this popular pool feature an upgrade by opting for rain descents instead. What is a rain descent, you ask?

These water features are similar to a waterfall, but rather than having a constant stream or sheet of water, rain descends out for a trickle instead. Creating gaps in how the waterfalls change both the sound and the visual aesthetic of the water feature. They’re becoming a popular, modern upgrade for many swimming pools.

LED Lighting

Of course, lights are essential for any nighttime swimming that you plan to do. But when it comes to upgrading your swimming pool, many pool owners are giving the lights an upgrade too. LED lights can be used to provide safe swimming at night and create a relaxing ambiance for your evening gatherings.

Modern lighting in pools is also a lot more energy efficient than older lights and can be upgraded for more convenient operation with a remote or even your smartphone. You can program your lights to glow in different colors, attach them to a timer, and other smart upgrades.

Tile Inlay

If you’re looking for a style upgrade that brings your pool into the modern era, then tile inlays are the way to go. Pool tiles can come in countless colors, so they’re a great way to add a personal touch to your pool design. You can choose tiles in a single color to create a uniform look, design a mosaic masterpiece, or create bursts of color in various areas around your pool. The choice is up to you!

Lazy Rivers

If you’re looking for a luxury design for your pool and you have the space for it, a lazy river is sure to be a feature you’ll love. This popular pool feature typically seen at public pools and resorts has been making its way into backyards recently, and homeowners love it. Lazy rivers are a fun feature for the kids and a great place for adults to relax on a raft or float. Pool contractors can often work in much smaller spaces than you might imagine to give you your very own backyard lazy river.

Whether you’re installing a new pool or upgrading an existing one, these four design trends can provide you with great inspiration for your pool design. If you’re ready to start working on your pool design or pool remodeling in Katy, TX, contact Suncor Outdoors today. Our expert designers and installers will work with you to create a pool that perfectly suits your needs, whether these new trends are a part of it or not. Give us a call to schedule your first appointment with a professional swimming pool designer!