Phases of Swimming Pool Construction

Posted on February 10, 2012 by admin

Building a backyard swimming pool is a complex process with many stages, from the initial planning to filling up the pool with water for the first time and starting up the pump system. The mild Valley winter is great for Phoenix pool construction, and there’s still time to get a brand-new pool completed before the swimming season begins. Every installation is different, but here’s an idea of what to expect once you make the decision to invest in a swimming pool of your very own:

Planning and Design – As with any construction project, thorough planning is a crucial first step when creating a quality pool. Planning and pool design can also be one of the most enjoyable parts of the process, as you develop a vision and begin to make it a reality. You can exercise your creativity as you choose your pool’s shape and decide on the addition of extra touches such as water features, ornamental tile or maybe even a spa.

Contracting and Permitting – Be sure that you’ve chosen a reputable licensed pool builder before signing a contract. Find out which subcontractors will be employed and what materials will be used. The contractor will obtain the necessary construction permits for your city and, if applicable, get HOA approval.

Excavation – After your property has been staked out to mark the locations of the pool and pool equipment, the hole must be dug to the proper shape and depth based on your plans and designs.

Rebar Installation – A framework of steel reinforcing rods, or rebar, will be assembled on the bottom and sides of the pit that has been dug for the pool. This network of steel rods will act as the skeleton that supports and strengthens the concrete “shell” of the pool.

Rough Plumbing & Application of Concrete – Some of the plumbing for the pool’s water circulation system must be installed before the concrete is laid down. The concrete isn’t poured – something that would be difficult to do on a vertical surface like a pool wall! – but sprayed on by a skilled professional with special equipment.

Equipment Installation – The equipment for the pool’s pump and filtration system are installed, and the system’s electrical and final plumbing work are performed.

Coping, Tiling and Decking – Coping, the decorative rim that caps off the perimeter of the pool at the top edge, is installed. Coping can be concrete, tile or stone. Any decorative tile specified in the pool design is set, and the decking you chose during the planning phase to surround your pool is laid down.

Filling and Startup – Your pool is finally filled with water for the first time! A certified technician supervises the crucial startup process to make sure that your pool is properly brought into service. Your contractor’s representative should provide you with all the information and documentation you’ll need to properly maintain your pool.

SWIM TIME – Finally, you and your family get to enjoy the fun and convenience of splashing and swimming in your very own backyard pool!

With 25 years of experience in custom pool design and luxury pool construction, Hop Cassidy Pools will insure that all phases of your pool construction project will go smoothly. We’ll help you understand every step of the process and always be ready to answer your questions and concerns. We also handle pool remodeling projects! Call Hop Cassidy today at 480-905-8780 for a free initial consultation and quote.

Resurfacing Brings Drab Pools Back to Life

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

The concrete shell of a well-built backyard swimming pool can last a lifetime, but the inner surface that covers the concrete will need to be replaced every 15-20 years. Even an otherwise beautifully designed and situated luxury pool feels a little seedy once the bottom and sides begin to look ragged because of chips, cracks and discoloration.

You have several choices when it’s time for pool resurfacing. You may want to consider a radically different alternative to your current surface material if you’re planning to resurface as part of an overall pool remodeling project. You’ll want the surface to match the color, design and richness of your newly upgraded swimming pool and any new coping, decking or landscaping you choose.

The most common and least expensive swimming pool surfacing option is plaster. Plaster, also called marcite or whitecoat, has been used to surface pools for more than half a century. Although a well-applied coat of plaster can last for years, it won’t be as durable as some of the newer surfacing materials. Plaster has a nice, smooth feel when it has been properly troweled after application by skilled craftsman, but it’s considered very plain-looking by some people. Today, however, colored plaster options are available for a more customized, artistic look.

Fiberglass for pool resurfacing is a somewhat newer product on the market. Applying a layer of fiberglass yields a smooth surface like plaster, but one that should last longer and is less prone to discoloration because it’s non-porous. Brushing dirt and algae off of fiberglass takes less effort, too. Because fiberglass is flexible, it’s less likely than plaster to crack, chip or “pop” if the ground shifts or settles.

Pebble or exposed aggregate pool surfaces originated in Australia in the 1960s and have become hugely popular in the United States in the last two decades or so. These pool surfaces consist of thousands of small pebbles embedded in a cement base. Some people don’t like the roughness of pebble compared to plaster, but it does offer a very safe non-slip surface. Pebble mixtures come in a variety of colors and some have particles with light-refracting properties that add sparkle under the sun or certain artificial lighting.

Other aggregate materials such as quartz, marble or glass each have their own unique appearance and come in a range of color choices. As with pebble, each consists of particles in a cement base, which often is itself colored to complement the aggregate. Like pebble, they’re all more expensive than standard plaster surfaces, but also more durable. Quartz is one of the hardest minerals known, second only to diamond. Quartz for pools takes the form of small beads of sand-like silica coated in a specialized ceramic. Marble for pool surfaces is crushed to a small, uniform size and polished for a smooth feel. Some marble mixtures have crushed abalone shell added for color and light reflection. In surfacing products like Beadcrete, glass spheres embedded in the base give color and refract light to create spectacular visual effects.

Tile surfaces can create some of the most artistic pool designs, but it’s also the most expensive. While almost all pools are built with a decorative band of tiles at the waterline, fully tiling a pool is another proposition altogether. But for those who want the most premium surface available or want to incorporate a one-of-a-kind design into their pool, tiles are the way to go.

The dedicated professionals at Hop Cassidy Pools can help you remodel your old pool into one that’s fresh and new, including an attractive new surface applied with care and precision using the materials of your choice. The time to upgrade is now, so that your remodeled pool is ready to go for the swimming season. Hop Cassidy is a premium Scottsdale swimming pool builder that’s been serving homeowners and contractors in the Valley of the Sun for more than 25 years with quality Phoenix pool construction and remodeling services. Call today for a consultation with a Hop Cassidy representative at 480-905-8780.

Saltwater Pool Systems: Myths and Facts

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

The first misunderstanding that people have about saltwater pool systems is that they are a new technology. While they have only recently gained popularity in the United States, saltwater-based purification systems were invented more than 30 years ago in Australia and have long been in use there for commercial and backyard swimming pools. Today, 90 percent of Australian pools use saltwater systems.

But an even bigger misconception is that saltwater pools are chlorine-free. They are not. Even in a saltwater pool system, chlorine is the element that keeps the water clean and safe by killing algae, bacteria and viruses. The difference is the chlorine’s source. Instead of requiring the addition of chlorine in granules, tablets or liquid, saltwater pools continually manufacture their own chlorine.

To understand how this is possible, remember one of the first bits of chemistry that you probably ever learned. The salt on your table, like the salt in the ocean as well as the salt used in pools, is a compound called sodium chloride, represented by the symbol NaCl. That Cl and the chlor in chloride mean that salt contains chlorine atoms. Saltwater pools simply employ a piece of equipment that sets the chlorine atoms free from the salt molecules. In fact, this device is actually called a “chlorine generator.”

In a saltwater pool, the pump drives water through the filtering system and through the pool’s chlorine generator. Using electric current passed through plates made of titanium and the rare metal ruthenium, the generator constantly breaks apart the salt molecules that pass through it. The freed chlorine goes on to form other compounds such as hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite, which are what actually disinfects the water. These compounds are no different than the ones that form in a “regular” pool system from the direct addition of chlorine.

So if the end result is basically the same, what’s the point in installing a chlorine generation system in the first place? Actually, the end results are not quite the same. Standard chlorination also produces chemicals called chloramines, which are what can make pool water smell “chloriney” as well as drying the skin and burning the eyes. Chlorine generators do not produce chloramines as a byproduct. And there are several other advantages to this method of pool sanitization as well:

The water feels “softer” to the skin because the same process that produces chlorine from salt also removes dissolved minerals, reducing the pool’s alkalinity.
By the same token, calcium buildup on the pool is reduced.
There’s no need to buy, store and handle chlorine products. And even the necessary salt is added to the pool water once, because it’s recycled by the system.

With a saltwater system, you can have a true luxury pool that not only looks good but feels good to the skin and eyes of swimmers. With our expertise in custom pool design and construction, Hop Cassidy Pools can help you achieve the swimming environment of your dreams. We’ve been a trusted and respected Scottsdale swimming pool builder for more than 25 years, performing some of the most unique Phoenix swimming pool construction and remodeling projects. Call Hop Cassidy today at 480-905-8780 for a free initial consultation and quote.

With a Beautiful and Luxurious Spa, Make Your Backyard a Mecca for Relaxation

Posted on January 9, 2012 by admin

Few things can soothe and relax your tired body – or your tired mind – like immersion in the steaming, bubbling waters of a spa. For most people, the feeling of physical and mental well-being that comes with spending time in a luxury spa is something they can only get during a trip to a health club or a stay at a resort hotel. But that feeling of well-being is a daily experience for those who have invested in their own backyard spas.

A home spa can stand alone or be integrated into a new or existing backyard swimming pool. Installing a spa as part of a pool remodeling project is a popular choice with homeowners who want an added touch that will increase the appeal of their outdoor space year-round.

While there are mass-produced, pre-cast spa “shells” available from many manufacturers, spas can be custom-built to just about any shape and size that fits the available yard area. Circular spas are quite popular, but they can also be constructed in semi-circular, square, rectangular or oval shapes.

A stand-alone spa can be built flush with the ground, or it can be installed semi-in-ground, meaning part of the spa’s depth goes below ground level and the exposed exterior portion above ground is covered with a decorative rock veneer or tile that matches or complements the rest of the yard’s hardscape and landscape. Coping – that’s the name for the stone or concrete “edging” or trim around the perimeter of a pool or spa – is also chosen to blend with the overall outdoor design.

Things get even more interesting when a spa and pool are designed as an integrated unit. The spa and its heating and circulation system are walled off from the pool by a barrier that can sit almost flush with the level of the pool or be raised slightly above it, giving spa users the feeling of being “in” the larger pool while still being shielded from its cooler water. The spa’s coping usually runs seamlessly with that of the rest of the pool.

Even more visually interesting are spillover spas that are designed to channel some of their water over the edge of the spa into the main pool, either directly, creating a mini-waterfall effect, or indirectly, by cascading the spa’s overflow over a surface of decorative rock before it mingles with the pool water. As with a pool, separate water features such as falls, cascades and fountains can be built as a backdrop to the spa, creating even more visual interest and adding the soothing sound of flowing water to the relaxing spa experience.

Spas can be constructed with bench seating – usually running around the perimeter of the spa – or individual seats. The number and arrangement of jets can be suited to your needs and tastes. Choose an experienced spa builder, one with expert knowledge of the mechanics and functioning of spa circulation systems, to insure that your system is designed and built properly.

If you’re contemplating adding a spa to your home, either separately or as part of a new pool construction or pool remodeling project, the experts at Hop Cassidy Pools are the ones to call. Hop Cassidy specializes in luxury pools and spas, custom pool design and upscale pool remodeling projects. We’ve been a trusted residential and commercial Valley swimming pool contractor for more than 25 years. Call Hop Cassidy today at 480-905-8780 for a free initial consultation and quote, and get started on the pool of your dreams now!

Choosing a Pool Contractor

Posted on January 3, 2012 by admin

You know that you want to finally own your own backyard swimming pool – and you know that winter is a great time to carry out Phoenix pool construction projects – but you haven’t decided on all the details yet. What shape do you want your pool to be? Do you want it surfaced with plaster, or with an aggregate material like Pebble Tec®? And what color would you like that surface to be? What about the decking material? How deep do you want your pool to be? Do want an infinity edge, or maybe some water features?

While these are all fun and exciting decisions to make, there is one decision that’s more important than all of them; indeed, it determines how well all of your other design and construction choices are executed, and how well the pool you end up with fulfills the vision you had in the first place: the decision of which Arizona pool contractor to entrust your project to.

Here are some things to do and keep in mind when searching for an excellent company to partner with for your pool construction or pool remodeling project:

Choose a company with long experience in pool construction (and make sure those years of experience are in actual construction, not just pool repair or maintenance).
Don’t look for the company that has built the most pools or offers the cheapest prices; what matters most is quality, reliability and professionalism.
Look for a pool contractor with accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and a high BBB rating.
Consider only companies with membership in the Association of Pool and Spa Professional (APSP), a trade organization that set standards for pool builders and protects consumer from unethical practices and poor workmanship. Also look for affiliation with the National Plasterers Council (NPC).
Make sure that the pool contractor you deal with is licensed through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC).
When you have narrowed your search for a pool contractor to several good candidates, look at examples of their past work and find out what you can about their customers’ satisfaction with it. Read online reviews, and ask each prospective contractor for a list of references that you can check – preferably a long list which you can pick from randomly.
While pool design and aesthetics are important, make sure the contractor also has an excellent understanding of the mechanical aspects of swimming pools and spas. Your pool construction contract should specify the makes and brands of the equipment to be installed and the materials to be used.
Make sure your pool contractor understands pool safety issues and codes and will take them into consideration at every stage of pool design and construction.
Don’t hire pool contractor who works out of a truck with no established office, who will not back his work with a clear, written warranty or who demands excessive up-front payment or payment in cash. You should be provided with a clear contract and be allowed time to fully review it or even to have your attorney review it.

Hop Cassidy Pools is an established Scottsdale pool builder with deep roots in the Valley community after more than 25 year in the pool construction business. We proudly carry a BBB rating of A+ and hold ROC licenses for both residential (ROC #B-05 091104) and commercial (ROC #A-09 110818) pool construction. Because Hop Cassidy specializes in custom pool design, we can handle the most complex projects, including designing and installing unique, top-of-the-line luxury pools. Call today at 480-905-8780 for a personalized consultation with a Hop Cassidy representative, and get started on the pool you’ve been dreaming of.

Solar Heaters Keep the Pool Fun Going Without Increasing Energy Bills

Posted on December 21, 2011 by admin

Building a swimming pool in order to fully appreciate the Arizona outdoor lifestyle is something of a no-brainer. In Phoenix swimming pool construction is the one project that can transform a backyard from just another patch of desert into an oasis to be enjoyed despite 110-degree summer temperatures. But what about the rest of the year, when even the desert cools off enough to rule out swimming and water play for most people?

Even in central Arizona, most backyard swimming pools are not heated for year-round use. That’s a shame, because pool owners in the Valley of the Sun can make their pools warm enough for winter swimming with much less energy compared to those in much colder climates. The amount of heat lost to the air in our relatively mild temperatures is far lower than that experienced by a homeowner trying to keep a pool heated in somewhere like Denver, for instance. But our sunny Arizona weather is also very suitable for the least expensive pool heating option of all – solar.

The popularity of solar pool heaters is growing along with interest in renewable energy in general in the United States. Solar pool heating systems are already cost-competitive with pool heaters powered by conventional sources like electricity and gas. Given the current state of solar technology, that comparability is usually not the case. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy actually rates solar pool heating as the most cost-effective use of solar energy at present, and the cost of a solar pool heater effectively goes down each year as the energy savings are realized. A solar pool heating system could also last longer than a conventional one, furthering the savings.

Naturally, in addition to the cost savings, owning a solar-heated pool gives you the satisfaction of not adding to the environmental problems created by adding to the demand for non-renewable fossil fuel energy. In a metropolitan area that sometimes suffers from air quality issues, that’s a big plus.

Different types of solar pool heating systems exist, but they all work by circulating water through a solar collector to be heated by the sun’s radiation before being returned, now significantly warmed, to the pool. The thing that makes these systems so efficient is that the mechanism to circulate the water through the collector already exists – the pool pump. With a solar system, the pump is doing double duty by keeping the water clean as well as heating it.

To learn more about capturing the power of the Arizona sun to heat your pool, call Hop Cassidy Pools at 480-905-8780. We can help you compare the benefits of solar pool heating to conventional pool heaters. Hop Cassidy is a top-of-the-line Scottsdale swimming pool builder that specializes in custom pool design, high-quality pool construction and fine pool remodeling projects. Call us today to plan your solar-heated, year-round swimming pool!

Fine Swimming Pools Add Value to Southwestern Homes

Posted on December 12, 2011 by admin

In the Southwest, pools can add significant value to homes.

A prime way to add value to a home is to install a quality backyard swimming pool, and that’s particularly true in the region of the country where we live. Some real estate surveys have shown that a pool can add as much as 13 to 15 percent to a home’s value in the Southwestern United States, more than double the increase that could be expected in most northern markets.

Prospective home buyers in places like Arizona, southern Nevada and southern California are more likely to view a pool as a must-have rather than an extravagance. Especially in desert areas like Phoenix and its suburbs, having a swimming pool to cool off in can be seen as a necessity. For transplants and retirees from colder regions looking to buy a house in the Valley, a pool might represent the essence of Arizona living. One of the obvious reasons that a pool is considered a more attractive amenity in a hot climate like ours is simply that it can be used for so much more of the year than the same pool in, say, Chicago or Connecticut.

For reasons like this, the Phoenix swimming pool construction industry is one of the most robust in the nation, with thousands of new pools built here every year. A large percentage of the houses in any residential area in the Valley are likely to have pools. For the home seller, that means that not having a pool can be a significant disadvantage. When prospective buyers look at otherwise comparable homes, one with a pool and one without, the swimming pool can be a major tiebreaker in their buying decision. In a neighborhood that has relatively few pools, the houses that do have pools really shine. So, aside from how much value a pool adds to a home, it can also make a big difference in whether a home sells at all, or at least how quickly it’s sold.

It should be noted that all of the above discussion applies only to quality in-ground pools; above-ground pools are considered to be moveable personal property, not permanent enhancements to the home. Above-ground pools simply do not increase a home’s value at all, and ones that are in poor shape will just reduce a property’s attractiveness to potential buyers.

To add the most value to a house, an in-ground pool should:

Be clean and in good repair
Have well-maintained pump equipment that’s in good working order
Have proper fencing and other safety precautions in place
Not take up the entire available yard space

In addition, a pool should ideally be up-to-date with some of the newer style and design features that have come to be expected, or better yet should include extras that will make it stand out from others if pools are commonplace in your neighborhood. Pool remodeling might be in order if you have an older pool or one that seems too plain by today’s standers. Swimming pool water features are a great choice to transform on ordinary pool into a desert oasis. More expensive properties stand to benefit even more from the addition of a pool because high-end features tend to complement each other in the eyes of home shoppers. For very upscale properties, luxury pools commensurate with the overall luxury of the home work best.

A well-designed, quality swimming pool is one of those rare amenities that will boost the worth and attractiveness of your property to potential buyers should you think of selling in the future, while providing you and your family with lots of relaxation, enjoyment and exercise in the present.

Hop Cassidy Pools is a Scottsdale swimming pool builder that creates top-quality custom pools for Valley homeowners and contractors. Hop Cassidy can design and build the swimming pool that you envision, both for your use today and to add value to your property in the long term. Begin planning now so that your quality custom pool is ready for your family when warmer weather returns. Call today to consult with a Hop Cassidy representative at 480-905-8780.

Heating Your Home’s Pool Offers Year-Round Water Fun and Exercise

Posted on December 12, 2011 by admin

Having a heated pool allows you to get more out of it year-round.

Even in the low desert areas of Arizona, outdoor swimming usually comes to a halt during the fall and winter. While outsiders may assume that Phoenix pools stay busy all year long, there are few people here that want to brave chilly water temperatures to get use out of their pools during the months of October through March.

Arizona pool owners can get a lot more use out of their investment by installing a heater. After all, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to build a swimming pool, just to abandon it for up to six months at a time. The cost of adding a pool heater can easily be justified by the fact that it will open up your pool for year-round use. If regular swimming is part of your exercise plan, or if any family members have physical conditions that can benefit from warm-water hydrotherapy, having your own heated pool can be especially beneficial – and the cost of heating the water will be at least partially offset by the time and money saved by eliminating the need to drive to an indoor facility during the cooler parts of the year.

Pool heaters can be added to an existing pool, but if you’re just in the planning stages of building a new pool on your property – and winter in the Phoenix area can be the best time to do so – providing for a pool heater during construction will keep the cost lower. In fact, it may add only 6 to 10 percent to your overall costs. If you’re planning to have some pool remodeling done, consider adding a heating system as part of the project.

Pool heaters are available for any traditional energy source, be it propane, natural gas, electricity or oil. A great choice for Arizona’s sunny climate is a solar heater, which will drastically reduce the cost to keep your pool water warm and will do so in an environmentally friendly way. A knowledgeable pool specialist can show you the various options and calculate the heating capacity that you’ll need for your pool size, location and swimming habits. Whatever system you choose, you can maximize its efficiency by using a solar pool cover, which will prevent heat from escaping the water while still allowing sunlight through to provide some direct warming to supplement your heater.

A pool heater for a saltwater system (because of the corrosiveness of saltwater) or for a pool at an elevation of more than 2,000 feet (because of the reduced oxygen level) must be specially chosen, too. Again, a pool specialist can help you find the right heating system for your circumstances.

If you’re thinking about any kind of pool remodeling or construction in the Phoenix metro area, contact the team at Hop Cassidy Pools. As a top Arizona pool contractor, we create quality custom pools for homeowners and homebuilders all over the Valley. Hop Cassidy Pools can also help you figure out how to most efficiently heat your pool to make it the most valuable addition to your home possible. Call us today at 480-905-8780.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year … to Build a New Swimming Pool

Posted on October 14, 2011 by admin

Fall and winter are the best time of the year to build or remodel a pool.

Because of our climate in central Arizona, many rules of thumb that are valid elsewhere do not apply here. When the rest of the country begins to move everything indoors, we’re finally completely free of our brutal summer heat and beginning to enjoy life outside again. Still, by late fall the season for using unheated backyard swimming pools is pretty much over for all but the hardiest Valley residents. But for Phoenix-area homeowners who’ve just been dreaming all summer about the many pleasures of owning their own pool, winter is the perfect time to finally make those dreams come true.

New Phoenix pool construction and pool remodeling projects can easily be done year-round in our relatively mild desert winters. On average, the Phoenix area experiences below-freezing temperatures only a few times each year (and then usually just barely). While our infrequent cold snaps may be hard on citrus, cactus and other heat-loving plants, they don’t hamper construction projects at all. Unlike much of the rest of the country, the ground in central Arizona doesn’t freeze and create complications for the excavation work necessary for new pool installation and some pool remodeling work.

One of the best reasons to build a new pool or revitalize your existing pool now is that the work will be finished before pool season returns to Arizona in just a few short months. Certainly it may be an exercise in patience as you wait for warmer weather to return so that you can enjoy your brand-new or newly refurbished pool, but if you get it done now you’ll be rewarded by being able to enjoy swimming from day one of the season.

Likewise, if you have plans to upgrade the appearance of your yard in the spring to complement your new pool, your landscaping efforts will be much easier if the pool is finished first. That way, you won’t have the inconvenience of working around a construction crew, and having to coordinate planting and hardscaping with the phases of pool construction.

Because so many homeowners do wait until warmer weather inspires them before they begin thinking about putting in a pool (the same way many people in the Valley put off their air-conditioner maintenance until the temperature hits 100 degrees!), pool construction crews are typically much less busy in the off-season. Your pool project probably will get more individual attention and you’ll have an all-around smoother and better experience if you’re facing less competition for the time of supervisors, skilled laborers and even inspectors – all of whom will be dealing with a less demanding workload and not dealing with the crushing heat of summer.

Although price breaks may be available because pool installers want to make sure that their best crews stay busy, you shouldn’t count on a huge discount just because it’s wintertime. The truth is that the sooner you install or remodel your pool the better, at any time of year, because materials costs tend to go up over time. However, procuring the best quality materials is easier for pool contractors in the off-season, again making your pool construction experience a more pleasant and reassuring one.

The professionals at Hop Cassidy Pools can design and build the pool of your dreams, one that will reflect your sense of style and greatly add to the value of your property. Now is the best time of the year to plan the most wonderful gift that you can give to yourself and your family – a stylish new pool that will eventually be enjoyed in our beautiful Southwest climate six months out of the year. Don’t wait – call today for a consultation with a Hop Cassidy representative at 480-905-8780.