Custom Pools MN

Understanding the Inground Pool Construction Process

Have you recently made the decision to add an inground pool to your Minneapolis home? If so, then it's important that you prepare yourself for the rewarding process of constructing a backyard pool. This process will begin with the marking and excavation of dirt within the area of the future pool. Next, your pool service and contracting team will install the plumbing and bring in an inspector to check for any leaks. Once the plumbing has been approved, a steel frame will be installed and then filled with concrete to create the pool frame. Finally, the form will be finished off with gunite.

After the pool frame is nearly complete, your inground pool contractors will add tile or marble finishing to the inside of the pool, then complete the look with attractive coping and decking. As soon as all final touches have been made, your pool will be filled with water and several essential chemicals in order to create a safe and enjoyable environment for you and your family to swim in. You can learn more about the intricate process of constructing an inground pool by calling Custom Pools of Minneapolis at (612) 568-0824.

Factors to Consider When Deciding Whether Your Backyard Can Accommodate a Pool

From the financial boost that a pool could bring to your property to the recreational benefits that it could add to your day-to-day life, there are plenty of reasons to install an inground pool in your backyard. Unfortunately, not all properties can accommodate a large-sized pool, so it's important that you carefully weigh out the practicality of constructing a pool before meeting with your pool service and contracting company. Here are several factors to consider when deciding whether your backyard can accommodate a pool:

Zoning Laws

Regardless of how large your backyard is, you will need to follow regulations set by the city of Minneapolis before beginning construction on your inground pool. Minneapolis' city building code requires you to acquire a permit for any pool that is to be larger than 150 square feet. Pools and hot tubs smaller than this do not require a permit.

Space for Outdoor Activities

Once you have considered the legal aspects of constructing a pool in your backyard, it's time to think about how practical a pool would be for your lifestyle. If you enjoy having extra space outside to barbecue with friends or play with your kids, then consider building a smaller pool that leaves plenty of room for additional outdoor activities besides swimming.

Decking and Landscaping

Another important factor to consider is whether or not your space will allow for decking. While a large deck is not essential, it does add a certain amount of physical appeal to the pool and can make the yard look more complete. Be sure to also consider where you might place flower beds, trees, or other landscaping features that could also enhance the overall appearance of the outdoor space.

Once you've decided to create the pool of your dreams, contact Custom Pools. We can work with you to design an inground pool that fits your budget and your backyard. To learn more about our comprehensive pool services in Minneapolis, call (612) 568-0824.

Pool Landscape Quick Tip: Shade

Before swimming season officially arrives, now would be a good time to add vegetation to the area surrounding your pool. Adding plants and trees accentuates the look of your pool while also providing relief from the sun’s harmful rays. But before you head to the nursery to pick out the plants you want, remember that the best trees to put by the pool are those that are less prone to shedding. If you insist on getting a tree that sheds, make sure it is far enough away from the pool that its branches do not hang over the water. Also make sure that the root system of the tree you select is not known for being too aggressive, because this can easily damage your patio or the area around the pool.

For tips on pool landscaping, call Custom Pools at (612) 568-0824. We also offer a number of other pool products and services like water analysis and testing, pool equipment repair, pool installation, and more. Visit us on the web to learn why Custom Pools is one of the most trusted pool installation and repair companies in Minneapolis.

What Every Pool Owner Should Know About Water Chemistry

Without the proper pool water chemistry, a pool will develop pathogens and become unsafe to swim in. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, it’s important to maintain your pool’s water chemistry. Learn more about the four basic measurements of water chemistry by reading the following article.

PH Level

The pH level is a measurement from 0 to 14 that tells you the acidity of the water in your pool. If the pH level is below the neutral level (7.0), the water is too acidic. If the pH level is close to 8.0, then the water is too basic. If the pH level is not kept in balance, other pool chemicals will become less effective and the pool equipment and lining might even start to wear out faster. Ask your pool professional about the ideal pH level for your swimming pool.

Chlorine

The two measurements used to see if your pool’s water is sanitized are Free Chlorine and Total Chlorine. The first measurement measures how much chlorine is able to keep the pool clean and the second tells you how much chlorine residual is in the pool. When these levels are out of balance, your pool will either be too dirty to swim in or have a chemical imbalance that will cause skin and eye irritation.

Alkalinity

This measurement lets you know the total amount of alkaline substances in your pool’s water. Having the right amount of alkalinity ensures that there won’t be a sudden increase in the pH level of the pool water.

Cyanuric Acid

Having the right amount of cyanuric acid in your pool water ensures that your pool won’t lose too much chlorine in the summer season after it is exposed to the sun’s UV rays. Having too little cyanuric acid means the chlorine will evaporate, but too much will reduce the efficiency of the chlorine.

Custom Pools is happy to offer you water testing and analysis services so that your pool is in good shape for swimming season. Call us at (612) 568-0824 for more information, and visit our website to see the other pool products and services we offer in the Minneapolis area.

Simple Steps to Making Pools Safe

Swimming pools are a leading source of summer fun, but they can also be quite dangerous to users that are not familiar with pool safety. For the most important pool safety tips, watch this video clip.

There are three primary safety rules to create a safer pool environment: safer water, safer kids, and safer response. For safer water, add a pool fence to deter unsupervised children from getting into the pool area and a pool cover that you can put over the pool when it’s not in use. For safer kids, make sure your children take swim lessons and that you or somebody else who knows how to swim is watching them. For a safer response, be sure that you are familiar with CPR and rescue techniques and that there is a phone next to the pool in case you need to call for help. Watch the video for more important pool safety tips.

If you are considering a pool but you are concerned about pool safety, contact Custom Pools of Minneapolis at (612) 568-0824 for more information about staying safe. You can also visit our website to learn more about the pool installation, repair, and maintenance services we offer.