The three most common pool plaster colors are gray, tan, and white. Gray produces a dark blue water color in sunlight, sandy or tan makes for a mild green color, and white produces clear light blues.

Now, one other thing to consider is how the bottom of a pool shows dirt. Just like a white car, a light bottom pool will show every little bit of dirt, while a dark bottom pool will conceal it.

You can also plan the color of your pool bottom based on other factors such as surrounding landscaping, tile selection, house color and time of use. Do you plan to use the pool during the day or night? Some people might not be comfortable getting into a dark pool after dark, while others might enjoy the same experience. And of course a dark bottom pool can be well lit just like a light bottom pool.

What it really comes down to when deciding on a dark or light bottom pool is personal preference. What is your aesthetic predilection? Dark bottom pools are reminiscent of a secluded lagoon, while bright or white bottom pools are much more like a tropical beach.

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Space for the Pool

Do you have room for a big pool, or just enough space for a spa? Most of us don’t have a couple of acres to play with, so careful consideration of the land area available will help you determine what’s really possible. You should consider space requirements for other backyard elements like a patio and landscaping as well. It’s easy to customize the shape of an in-ground pool, so determine you space first and then fit the pool accordingly.

Who’s Swimming

Is the pool for kids or are you interested in swimming laps? Do you want a diving board, a slide, a volleyball net, or a swim up bar? There are loads of options available, so eliminating those you don’t want will help figure out which you do. Landscaping comes into play here as well.

The Budget

Pools have a wide range of price points. You can be extravagant or conservative, creative or traditional. There is a huge range of styles and designs, so find something that both works and fits into your budget. Another option is to finance the purchase of a pool which will allow you to pay it off over time.

Taking time to plan and design the perfect pool will make all the effort worth it. Ask the right questions and weigh your options, and you’ll surely end up with the pool you’ve always wanted.

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Trust and Communication With Your Contractor

Your pool won’t be built overnight, so you want to be sure that whoever you may choose is someone you like and foresee getting along with over the few months it takes to complete the project. Proper communication is generally the most important factor initially because it’s the gateway to trust, cooperation, and conflict resolution, should any arise. Punctuality is also a big one. If the builder isn’t on time to your initial meeting, imagine what you can expect for the extent of your contract.

Shoddy workmanship can lead to astronomical costs down the line, so make sure the builder you select has good references and has been in business for a while. A pool builder should be glad to provide you with references to past clients. If you sense hesitation on the builder’s part, that could be a red flag, and you should look to other options.

Get References

The reference list should include other customers, both recent and past, preferably with pool builds similar to yours. When you make your inquiries, be sure to ask about workmanship, materials, and their general impression and satisfaction with the service. These question will get you started:

• Was the quoted budget and time accurate and reasonable?
• Did the builder finish the pool according to the original design or were there changes or shortcuts?
• Did the builder pay close attention to details?
• Is everything aligned well and aesthetically pleasing?
• Did the builder clean up at the end of the day and after completion of the project, or were materials and other junk left strewn about?

After you answer these questions, it’s a good idea to also do a quick check with the Better Business Bureau, and you can look at the National Spa & Pool Institute to see if the builder has been trained and certified. Though listing in either of these locations is not mandatory, it’s speaks well of a builder to be listed and on good terms.

The process of building a pool doesn’t have to be stressful. By taking a bit of time to interview and research, you’ll have a beautiful backyard paradise built by a competent and reliable builder.

The post How to Choose the Perfect Pool Builder appeared first on Austin Pool Builders.