For information on transforming your own backyard please contact us at 630.845.1145 or on the web at:
www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io
swimming
Vinyl to Fiberglass Pool: A Backyard Transformation
At least once a year, Signature Pools is approached by a homeowner asking to have their old, damaged pool replaced. In some cases our clients are simply tired of the maintenance and upkeep of a vinyl or concrete pool; other pools are completely un-useable and eyesores in their backyard. In either case, we are happy to consult with these customers, evaluate the condition of their existing swimming pool equipment, and design a plan to transform the backyard into a family oasis and gathering place.
The project below, located in Addison IL, started with an old, damaged vinyl liner swimming pool. The homeowners wished they could have a place for the entire family to enjoy, and called in Signature Pools and Spas to re-design and construct the space. Take a look at some of the before and after pictures below, or click here for a photo series of the entire transformation!
This is what the existing vinyl liner pool looked like when we showed up. You can see the wrinkles in the vinyl and how the walls are collapsing into the pool. Also notice how dirty the liner gets over time. No amount of scrubbing will bring back the original color to the surface. This pool is completely useless in its present state.
Once the old vinyl pool is removed, workers prepare the excivated site, remove any more necessary dirt, and set the sand base for the fiberglass pool. Great care is taken to make sure this base is constructed to exacting standards.
The fiberglass pool shell is carefully set into place on the sand base and immediately filled with water. Sand and stone is then backfilled around the outside of the pool. Later, concrete forms will be placed around the pool to form the pool deck and secure the pool into place.
Once concrete is poured the forms are removed from the edges. Here you can see the fresh concrete right after it is poured. Only a few more days and this project is complete.
Final touches are added to the swimming pool area. In this picture you can see the completed backyard transformation, including a water slide, textured concrete around the pool, and a large brick paver patio.
If you would like your own backyard transformation, feel free to give us a call at 630.845.1145 or visit us on the web at: www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io
A Backyard Swimming Pool Retreat
Today’s featured fiberglass swimming pool is a wonderful example of a backyard that has been transformed into a beautiful family retreat. The homeowner’s own design was incorporated into the layout and placement of each element. Every family member was considered in the design and there’s something special for everyone.
The inground swimming pool itself incorporates color changing lighting, giving the entire backyard a resort feel as the pool water changes colors. Other features include an upper patio area with built-in fire pit, (perfect for roasting marshmallows at night), a large outdoor seating room with a wrap-around couch, audio system, and flat screen TV. Adjacent to the lounge area is an outdoor bar for the adults to grab a refreshing beverage after swimming.
By working closely with the homeowners on the design of this space, Signature Pools and Spas was able to create not only a beautiful swimming pool area, but a backyard where the entire family can enjoy many different features that work together- providing the ultimate backyard retreat!
Take a look here at a previous post that shows the Before/3D Design/After pictures from this project.
If you have any questions about this project, or would like to share your own ideas about your perfect backyard swimming pool, please feel free to contact us at 630.845.1145 or on the web at: www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io
How to keep your Fiberglass Swimming Pool clean
One of the most common, and simplest questions to answer about your in-ground swimming pool is how to keep it sparkling clean. There are actually three components at play in the cleaning process:
Circulation- Make sure your pool equipment is properly circulating the water through the system. Clean the pump basket regularly and make sure the pump is not drawing any air through the skimmer or a loose fitting. Your filter pump is at the heart of the circulation process, and is what draws water out of the pool (through the skimmer and main drain), and discharges clean water back into the pool (through the return jets).
Filtration- As the pump is circulating water through the equipment, it passes through some kind if filtering system. All of our pools at Signature Pools and Spas use cartridge filters to clean the water. Making sure these cartridges are free of debris is a major component in maintaining crystal clear water. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions and clean these cartridges several times a season.
Sanitation- The third and final component in maintaining a clear swimming pool is water sanitation. Although there are many ways to kill bacteria, chlorine products are most commonly used in swimming pools to eliminate any biological organisms. Use test strips or a chemical test kit to make sure you have the right amount of chlorine in the pool water.
If you have other questions about keeping your swimming pool clean, please feel free to contact us at 630.845.1145 or visit us on the web at: www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io
Chlorine Generators, T-Cells, and Saltwater Pools: Mystery or Magic?
These three terms are all used to describe the same thing: natural chlorine generation using sodium chloride. As magical (or complicated) as this may sound this process of generating chlorine is just some basic chemistry put to work. Simply put, salt is added to swimming pool water and then broken into the two chemical compounds that make up the salt (sodium and chloride). The chloride is then released back into the water providing sanitation for the pool.
This process of breaking salt into its elements is commonly known as electrolysis. Inside the pool equipment is a ‘cell’ with several metal plates that are mildly charged with a positive and negative current. As the saltwater pass by the cell, the current causes a reaction to happen, breaking down the salt into its two chemical compounds (NaCl). The sodium is collected onto the plates, while the chloride is released back into the water.
This system of sanitation is a very popular alternative to the chlorine feeders of the past. Prior to the salt chlorination development, most people added chlorine tabs or ‘pucks’ to an in-line feeder in the pool equipment. As water flows past these pucks, they dissolve into the water providing chlorine to the pool. The disadvantage to this type of system is two fold:
- You must remember to ‘feed the pool’ chorine on a regular basis. Customers with this type of chlorine delivery system must refill the tabs ever week to maintain proper sanitation levels in the pool.
- You can taste, smell, and feel the chlorine. The reaction is exactly what you might expect- burning eyes, faded swimming suites, and the residual smell of chlorine on your skin once you get out of the water.
A chlorine generating salt systems does not have these problems. Chlorine is constantly being produced by the salt in the water and you only need to add salt once or twice a season. The only way to loose salt from the water is by adding fresh water to the pool. Salt cannot be “burnt off” by the sun like chlorine or otherwise evaporate over time. Only the addition of fresh water from rain or a garden hose will deplete the amount of salt in the pool. Secondly, because the chloride is produced in its natural state, there is no smell, taste, or feel of chlorine in the pool water. No more burning eyes or faded hair!
The only maintenance necessary on the salt cell is a cleaning every now and then. Just like the oil change reminder on many modern cars, the system tells you when it is time to clean the cell (typically once a month). Follow the simple instructions from the manufacturer for the cleaning procedure and you’re ready to get back to the pool!
If you have further questions about chlorine generators, feel free to contact Signature Pools and Spas at 630.845.1145 or visit us at: www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io