Last Drop: The Pool Craft Company

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The Pool Craft Company Ltd.

By Jason Cramp

The Pool Craft Company Ltd., a full service pool and spa design/build firm in Richmond Hill, Ont., was practically given a blank canvas from which to create this project as the client’s backyard had never been landscaped.

For this homeowner in Aurora, Ont., landscaping the backyard and owning a swimming pool was as much about creating a place for entertaining as it was about satisfying their children’s need for fun. In creating this backyard escape, Pool Craft put just as much emphasis on the swimming pool and its features as it did the surrounding amenities.

In doing so, a 5.5- x 11-m (18- x 36-ft) kidney-shaped pool was installed, featuring two, 2.4-m (8-ft) Roman steps—one in the shallow end and the other in the deep end—and an attached spill-over spa. A diving rock was also integrated into the waterfall feature, opposite the spa, where the kids can spend hours jumping into the pool. To facilitate this, the deep-end step was conveniently located directly beside the waterfall to provide easy access for the next ‘jump.’

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Design Ideas to Enhance Privacy: How’s The View?

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By Clayton Ditzler

The first step is to explore how the garden will be used and through this process identify the areas of the garden that require privacy. For example, a grassy area where kids might kick a ball around requires much less privacy than an area where the homeowner plans to sunbath.

A site analysis should be performed as part of this step to identify site-specific opportunities, which can be exploited to enhance privacy. Landscape elements and characteristics of neighbouring properties should also be noted, including locations of trees, windows and outdoor spaces. Views from inside the home to neighbouring properties should also be noted. From a privacy perspective, these views are just as important as those from the garden spaces.

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Industry Shaping Initiatives: Facility Access

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By Connie Sue Centrella

The U.S. Department of Justice has broadened its reach to include swimming pools, wading pools and spas defined as a ‘place of public accommodation’ in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Signed into law on July 23, 2010, full compliance to the new regulations was required in March.

The ADA is a comprehensive civil rights law with specific accessibility guidelines for newly constructed and altered facilities south of the border. All pools and spas that serve the public must comply with the rulings or the facility will face censure and fines for not providing appropriate means of access.

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Busting Water Maintenance Myths: #2 Spas Are Basically Little Pools

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By Patricia Fitzgerald

Understanding the uniqueness of a spa (i.e. its higher temperatures, smaller volume, jetted water and likelihood of high bather loads) is important to establishing usage rules and a proper cleaning, testing and treatment regime. These insights will also explain why the disinfection and water-testing regulations for public spas are even more stringent than those for public pools.

Pool water temperature is generally 26 to 29 C (78 to 84 F), while spa water runs between 36 to 40 C (96 to 104 F). Heated water, coupled with jet action, promotes a buildup of contaminants in the spa. Consider that, without enforcement, most people do not shower first, so whatever is on their skin ends up in the water—from natural body oil, lotions and perfume to grime, sloughed-off skin cells and what is politely known as ‘cheek wash.’ Further, it is estimated an adult will carry about one billion bacteria into the water, some potentially detrimental to health.

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Swimming Pool Startup: Basic Opening Procedures

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By Bob Harper

While saltwater pools have unique water chemistry parameters and use specialized equipment compared to traditional pools, the process for opening them is relatively the same, with a few key exceptions:

1. Remove any debris and standing water from the top of the cover (if a solid type).

2. Remove any debris from the pool, brush the pool and adjust the water level to about halfway up the skimmer face.

3. Remove all plugs and replace the return fittings.

4. Check the pump and filter to make sure they are working properly and turn on the equipment.

5. For saltwater pools, put the electrolytic chlorine generator (ECG) back in place, but do not turn it on until the last step.

6. Run the pump for at least 24 hours to circulate the water thoroughly.

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