On the cusp of swimming-pool season, custom pool designers throughout Northern Virginia are unrolling blueprints and buffing up on county regulations.
Most of all, they're coaching area families on how best to align their visions of a “dream pool” with realities like type of pool usage, available land and budget. But as many area designers have witnessed: For some in this region, the sky’s the limit.
“The basic pool is easy,” said Bob Spero, vice president of Maryland Pools, which has an office in Fairfax. “It’s the other things that increase price.”
Such additions include landscaping, size, lighting and spas, to name just a few.
“I’m amazed at what people are spending,” he said. “But we do build pools without the bells and whistles.”
According to Spero, the average price tag for customized pools built and designed by his company in Northern Virginia ranges from $80,000 to $100,000 by the end of the project.
Think that’s expensive? Spero also noted the company is currently designing and constructing a local pool estimated at $800,000. But don’t let that figure be misleading: There is a good argument for customizing a new pool, not all of which require a second mortgage. Unlike “pre-fabs” and above ground varieties, with custom designing — as the name suggests — the level of creative control depends entirely on the client. However, at the end of the day, the inescapable truth is that regardless of how many bells and whistles were thrown into the design, these pools are expensive.
BUT PRICE ASIDE, future pool owners may tend to think the window of opportunity for building a backyard oasis this time of year is fleeting. With spring weather soon turning hot and humid and the traditional first wave of openings for county pools, local water parks and HOAs set for Memorial Day weekend, is it still worth installing a home pool with the season already entering first-gear?
Historically, the market dictates the answer as “yes.” In fact, according to Spero, this is the busy season for pool design and construction.
“We try to build 12 months out of the year,” he said. “But a lot of the decisions are made when it finally gets warm outside.”
And according to Fred Flippen, owner of the Springfield based Town & Country Pool, there is no financial premium for building during peak season.
“It costs the same amount to build in March as it does in December,” he said.
Sure, warm weather picks up demand for all types of pools, but how does one get started when pre-fabricated designs are thrown by the “pool side” and the imagination is let loose on the project?
“Our designers sit down with homeowners and try to get an idea of what the function of the pool is going to be,” said Spero.
Flippen noted that “sometimes [families] come to us and they’ve already talked with a landscape artist.”
THERE ARE COMMON hurdles both Spero and Flippen encounter each time they begin shaping a project.
Arguably the most important initial question: What is the purpose of this pool? The answer is not simply “for swimming in.” In fact, according to these two pool experts, a pool’s intended use is paramount for determining the outcome of the final product. Similar to car shopping, deciding on a type of car – like mini-vans over sports cars – is a prerequisite for all else that follows. Pool-use is the first step towards narrowing down the shape and general dimensions of the structure. It’s an initial indicator for designing the surrounding landscape work and also for flagging what pricey peripherals will be installed later in the project. After all, a client who solely wants to swim laps for exercise will have a different set of choices than parents building a focal point for family activities.
Peripherals — such as diving boards, slides and hot tubs or spas — are all influential in determining the depth, size and shape of the pool. Likewise, it’s essential to review and choose the property location of the pool early in the project, especially if there’s a desire to take a dip before summer’s end. County development regulations, HOA restrictions, underground wiring, piping and even difficult earth like marine clay can be a possible subterranean set back. Helping to avoid delays, fines or a complete shut-down of the project, clients might find it useful to keep design and construction teams well informed to all facets of the property by researching neighborhood rules, county regulations and property land maps.
Finally, atmosphere has a large impact on not only the size and duration of the project construction, but also on the pocket book. Plants, rocks, lighting, waterfalls, deck layout and many more architectural and wildlife possibilities are available for consideration – clients have only to indicate what they envision and the rest is left to the drawing board.
To help narrow the options, Maryland Pools offers an online photo gallery of completed projects in the area, divided aesthetically into four categories of the out-door variety. Meant as a creative guide for new clients, the “Classic,” “Freeform,” “Natural,” and “Formal” galleries showcase an array of bells and whistles.
“Sometimes people will be willing to go the extra step to get that backyard resort,” said Spero. “They’ll have the backyard all summer instead of going to the Caribbean.”
While it’s not too late to begin the design and construction of a new backyard addition, there is much to be considered; and time, as always, is of the essence.
When asked the best time to begin planning for a custom built pool, Spero quickly replied.
“Yesterday,” he said.