Interior finish and details
Pool interior finish options have multiplied over the last decade. White plaster is no longer the only choice and white plastic steps for vinyl pools are no longer the only option. Interior design finishes are limited only by the client’s imagination and budget, and the contractor’s skill set. For example, top of the line glass-tile interiors can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cost of a high-end project; however, the end result is breathtaking. Less expensive options include natural stone, porcelain, glass bead, aggregate, plaster, fibreglass overlays, heavy-duty vinyl and two-coat waterproof colour systems.
Hydrotherapy options
Hydrotherapy and swim jets can be added to any pool. As yards become smaller, these options become more popular. Future designs will take advantage of small spaces to incorporate spas, swim spas, pools and water features into one compact unit.
Hydrotherapy jets with air blowers placed in the pool allow bathers to relax and enjoy hydro massage without being immersed in 40 C (104 F) water. Vertical jet placement allows bathers of all ages to use the pool as a complete therapy and exercise centre. Shallow lounging areas, swim outs and benches are all ideal locations for installing these jets.
Another interior feature is the addition of foam jets. These water features take up little space, are almost invisible when not operating and look spectacular in the evening when lit from below. Water cascades, shoulder massage jets and spillways are all part of advanced pool interior designs. The number and combination of these options are only limited by the builder’s imagination.
The great colour debate
The colour or ‘look’ of the water is extremely important to the client and designer. This detail is often difficult to explain, and sometimes results in endless debate. A number of factors influence the final colour of the water. For instance, shade, surroundings, cloud cover, depth, sun angle, and most importantly, the colour of the pool’s interior finish, all impact the final view of the pool.
It can be difficult to convince a client that a beige interior will result in a Caribbean-blue finished pool, while black interiors always elicit a strong positive or negative reaction. One reason for the negative reaction is the common myth that the pool bottom is not visible. The reality is, however, these pools show every speck of dirt, similar to a black vehicle. On the positive side, however, the reflective quality of a black-interior pool creates a stunning effect, especially when combined with the mirror-like finish of a perimeter-overflow pool.
Other interior finishes such as elaborate murals that cover the entire pool to simple tile features that highlight step edges, almost always ensure no two pools are alike.
In terms of the pool’s plastic components, at one point in time, all that was available was white. Today, however, more pool designers/builders are using colour co-ordinated accessories to camouflage items such as drains, returns, skimmers, steps and vinyl-over step fittings in concrete and vinyl pools.
It is also becoming common knowledge that pool plaster and standard tile adhesives are not waterproof. All concrete pools can benefit from the application of a waterproofing system. In some cases, additives can be mixed into the concrete at the batching plant or coatings can be sprayed on after the concrete has set and properly cured.
Light it up
Illumination options are also sometimes overlooked. The use of light emitting diode (LED) fixtures allows pool designers to position multiple lights throughout the pool interior. Special emphasis should be placed on lighting entries, exits and any obstacles inside the pool. Another option is to place lights in the pool floor to illuminate raised walls, pool interior walls, water features, ceilings, arbours or even overhangs.
