A backyard reborn: Turning an aging pool into a modern retreat

by arslan_ahmed | December 7, 2023 5:27 pm

[1]

By Jason Mitchell

When this young family bought their home 20 years ago, the backyard pool was the catalyst that sealed the deal. It featured a large, freeform pool, with lots of space for kids to splash and play.

Summer after summer was spent outside, enjoying the pool. Family, neighbours, and friends all gathered in the backyard which brought so much joy.

Fast forward to 2022, and the family had evolved. The kids had grown up, busy with lives of their own. The pool still saw use, but the days of endless diving and handstands were in the past.

These avid entertainers were not ready to wrap up their backyard story. At some point, they had installed an outdoor TV on the shed to watch golf and soccer matches while floating in the pool. This inspired a new vision—they wanted to continue to enjoy outdoor entertainment. This was the time for poolside afternoons to stretch into evenings, with friends and family eager to stay and enjoy the space long after the sun would set. They saw the value in a pool, having enjoyed it for many years, but they wanted to incorporate more into their outdoor space.

And so began the quest for their dream backyard renovation.

[2]

To renovate or remove?

To elevate the space, the client wanted to add a pavilion with storage, a large outdoor dining area, a complete outdoor kitchen, and a hot tub. However, their existing, older-style pool, typical of its era, occupied a substantial portion of the backyard’s square footage, making the wish list a bit of a challenge. To top it off, there are four unique access points to the yard, each needing consideration.

As always, township setbacks need to be considered when designing a backyard pool with a structure, but this property became more of a challenge with city easement in the backyard. The 9.1- x 15.2-m (30- x 50-ft) space was starting to feel tight.

The scope of the work required to ensure the backyard aligned with the vision meant there was no salvaging the existing pool; a complete overhaul quickly became the better option.

[3]

The design and its challenges

Starting from scratch, Pool Craft’s objective was to create a modern, opulent outdoor space that incorporated all the elements on the client’s wish list.

A quality design not only shows the client how their space can be transformed but also what is feasible. To enhance accuracy, Pool Craft overlayed a property survey onto the design early in the process. This provides the team with detailed information in the event fences are installed inside the property lines. The municipal setbacks also needed to be added for the pool and structure, as well as the easement. It is also worth noting that measuring becomes more complex when an existing pool and structure are present.

From a design perspective, the challenge was ensuring the elements on the client’s wish list flowed seamlessly with the multiple entry points into the yard. These included a walkout basement that required substantial access, an elevated door off the kitchen, and gates on either side of
the house.

Once all measurements, setbacks, and easements were considered, a 4.3- x 7.3-m (14- x 24-ft) pool and spa combination was proposed as the best use of space, with a step and sun ledge combination running along the side of the spa. The pool was finished off with a raised feature wall housing two stainless steel 0.6 m (2 ft) sheers. A 3.3- x 5.8-m (11- x 19-ft) structure was designed to accommodate a lounge area, a bar-height seating area, and a utility room. A tiered deck with an elevated outdoor kitchen adjacent to the house, and a lower dining area eliminated the potential for a long set of stairs protruding into the yard, taking up more valuable space. Everything was surrounded by an 84-m² (900-sf) patio, which served to pull the layout together, connecting all the entry points and all the elements.

To fulfil the wish list, a feature privacy screen located behind the pool, complete with an outdoor TV, meant soccer matches and movies could still be enjoyed on the water.

No element was overlooked

This design elevated the space into a whole new backyard retreat. To top it off, the clients, who had an eye for detail, requested a custom fence design with privacy screens placed throughout. This not only broke up the composite fence with design flare but allowed a breeze to move through the space.

The project process

For this yard, the need for a pool permit (fence enclosure) was not required because it was considered a renovation. That said, securing permits for the structure, deck, and detailed locates, including the easement, all had to be obtained before the project could commence.

[4]

The removal of the pool starts with the excavator pulling the existing panels into the pool. Then, the concrete was broken up and removed. Pool Craft’s team prefers to first break a hole in the bottom of the hopper for drainage before starting the removal process.

While the orientation of the new pool was the same as the original, the shape and size changed. In this case, the installation team used 51-mm (2-in.) stone to create a new shelf, bring up the hopper, and reshape the walls. Determining the pool’s height was relatively straightforward due to the pre-existing pool. However, a drain located in the back corner meant additional considerations for landscaping, elevation, and drainage.

To maximize the space, the new pool was moved back as far as possible, and structural supports were required next to the easement. The company’s landscape and pool teams came together to construct a retaining wall within the pool over-dig, just outside the easement, with freeze protection for the foundation in mind. Although this sounds like a simple task, these nuances required careful planning and execution.

Next, the new pool and spa walls were installed with specialty box-style supports. The structural foundation was poured and packed with stone, then plumbing pool and spa lighting, and the recirculation system were all added. This project had an added layer of complexity with plumbing, as the team need to consider the hydraulic requirements of the pool, spa, and water features.

Since the original power supply was not strong enough to accommodate all the backyard’s new features, gas and electrical had to be trenched in. All equipment in this case was upgraded, including two variable-speed pumps (VSPs), a cartridge filter, a new heater, and a pool automation control system.

Finally, the concrete was poured. While the pool was ready for the liner at this stage, Pool Craft’s best practice is to hold off until the project is closer to completion. The chance of liner damage due to construction is high and this was a risk the installation team prefers not to take.

The Stone Craft landscape team then took over. This project features the 305-mm (12-in.) Melville coping and an 84-m² (900-sf) patio in Mega-Melville, all in amber beige. Stone steps leading to the walk-out basement were laid, and the water feature wall was also finished to match.

[5]

For the pavilion floor, a porcelain tile imported from the U.S. was laid in a herringbone pattern. Softscaping was then planted, complete with landscape lighting.

Once the pavilion floor was completed, carpenters on the Timber Craft team were able to start their portion of the project. The pavilion was erected with a hip-style roof, and finished with Maibec, in Muskoka Brown, with a cedar ceiling. The storage side housed the equipment, with lots of room left for floaty toys and chemicals. The carpentry team also installed the Maibec privacy screen, centred with the middle of the pool to as a feature wall, ready for the outdoor TV. The composite deck, custom glass railing, and custom fence and gates were all completed at this stage as well.

The finishing touches from subcontractors included the kitchen and cabinetry team who installed the built-in BBQ, pizza oven, bar fridge, and pavilion built-ins. Lastly, roll up privacy screens were added to the pavilion.

The dream becomes reality

The construction process started at the end of March and wrapped up at the end of July, taking approximately four months. This scope of this project involved the combined efforts of all the company’s teams, as well as some subcontractors. Co-ordinating a project of this nature demands a delicate balance that must be completed in stages. When relying on the weather, various teams, and specialized materials, one must anticipate some unforeseen challenges.

Sometimes it is easy to get lost in the process and lose sight of the end game. Fortunately, quality work speaks for itself, and this project will ensure this family has many more outdoor stories to tell.

A Modern Backyard Renovation

Author

With more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, Jason Mitchell is the president of Pool Craft, a full-service pool company that specializes in all aspects of pool planning, installation, and backyard design in Richmond Hill, Ont. Pool Craft is the parent company to Stone Craft, the landscape silo and Timber Craft, the carpentry silo. Mitchell can be reached via email at jason@poolcraft.ca.

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/features/a-backyard-reborn-turning-an-aging-pool-into-a-modern-retreat/

---