A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT - Building costs worldwide are rising due to shortages in supplies and the increased cost of transportation. Here in the Islands, we experience this constantly, as virtually everything we use is imported. Today, too, we must carefully consider the pros and cons of durability versus price, since the sunny climate is harsh to finished materials.

Most home owners consider a swimming pool when planning their outdoor areas. The Islands’ hilly topography often leads to the swimming pool structures being combined, perhaps with a cistern, beneath the pool and surrounding decks. While your architect’s plans usually deal with the appropriate construction sequence and methods, there are numerous ways to create long-term savings in the final construction cost. Also, the specification of finishes and types of pool equipment are opportunities to consider economical options.

We have grown accustomed to more complex swimming pools, spas and water features and it is the proper integration of such systems into the larger concrete structure that may well determine the success of such waterscapes. Oddly enough, it is the emphasis on simplicity and the use of the right piping diameters that usually sets the “foundation” of a great and efficient waterscape.

Installing the right basic plumbing within the structure and combining this with appropriately sized pumps and filters will provide years of hassle free swimming enjoyment.
Larger plumbing pipes and smaller size pumps may reduce pool energy bills by as much as 80%. When using the right size and type of filter, cleaning cycles may be reduced by as much as 75%, saving service and water costs. Installing a salt chlorine generator will make you independent of the high cost of imported chlorine. And when water features are operated only as needed, evaporation is reduced, as is water use.

When considering the look and feel of your pool, exposed aggregate pool finishes have been around now for about two decades and they have proven themselves with flying colours, and a lot of shades of blue too. The proper installation of these finishes will, when combined with proper pool care, provide up to 20 years of life, saving on operational and refurbishing expenses. These examples are just a few considerations in the planning and building stages of your pool. Talk to your Architect, Pool Consultant and your future neighbours to get the information you need to make these important decisions.

With proper planning and good execution your cost savings will start well before the first hole is dug at your new home site. While some configurations may initially cost a few dollars more, when compared with the savings in operation and the reduced maintenance expenses year after year, these early considerations will pay you back again and again.