Redeveloping poolscapes

by Sally Bouorm | October 1, 2010 3:24 pm

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By David Wright, CLP, OALA, ISA

Changes in the economy and the resulting shifts in the residential real estate market can create new opportunities for the landscape and swimming pool industries. Instead of building a new dream home, homeowners may decide to stay and fix-up their existing residence, or buy an older house to renovate. Instead of shelling out for expensive vacations, budget conscious consumers will save money by staying home and enjoying a ‘staycation,’ using their own backyard as a cottage while exploring their surrounding community.

Homeowners have an easy time understanding the value of interior renovation. A kitchen or bathroom makeover is a proven investment, as is the creation of a ‘rec room’ in the basement—complete with big-screen television, surround sound and all the latest gadgets. However, when it comes to the backyard, what can a homeowner do with a 25-year-old pool surrounded by a cracked concrete patio and disintegrating deck? While most pools built in the 1980s and early 1990s were not designed with the purpose of extending indoor living space, the increasing popularity of the ‘outdoor room’ presents landscape and swimming pool professionals with the opportunity to transform older poolscapes into an integral part of the backyard living environment. With today’s outdoor audio/visual equipment and the latest in built-in barbecues, fireplaces and outdoor lighting, the ‘rec room’ can be moved into the backyard.

With careful planning and co-ordination between the landscaper and pool builder, an outdated pool and tired landscaping can be easily rejuvenated to renew backyard ambiance and make a statement about the homeowner’s lifestyle.

What does the client want?

Start the design process by finding out what the client wants. Determine their likes and dislikes and examine their lifestyle, as this will dictate how the space should be used.

For example, a mature couple with no kids might lean toward a new entertaining space with quiet, contemplative nooks within the landscape, while the priority of a professional couple who have kids will likely be an active play space for children within view of the adult lounging area. A homeowner who enjoys entertaining may prefer an outdoor dining room and barbecue area complete with built-in bar and enough space to accommodate guests.

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When planning an outdoor living area, interior renovation principles can also apply. For example, the tighter the space, the more important it is to perfect traffic flow. Whether it is the route to the pool or path to the soccer pitch, tripping through the dining area will only cause problems. Building smart traffic flow into the plan from the beginning is as important as creating easy access to the active space.

For example, a few years ago a client asked me to look at their 20-year-old poolscape and advise them on how they could create more usable space. The client did not have a cottage, so the backyard was their ‘getaway;’ however, they felt it was underused. They had teenage kids and wanted the backyard to become their ‘outdoor oasis,’ where they could spend more time playing and entertaining.

The existing landscape had several problem areas, including a retaining wall topped by a dilapidated wooden fence shrouded with overgrown cherry trees, which were all dangerously close to the swimming pool’s back edge. The concrete pool deck had settled in many places and the connected patio was divided into uneven sections. Finally, the small lawn was worn out with numerous bare patches and weak, yellowish growth in some areas courtesy of the family dog.

Sketching the ‘outdoor oasis’

The starting point for the makeover included a quick sketch of how the finished project would look. The plans included a pool deck with a new, 1-m (3-ft) wide coloured- and stamped-concrete band, along with a patio finished in interlocking stone using a complementary colour. The patio was designed to provide separate spaces for lounging and dining, while a remote sitting area, shaded by a pergola, was also included in the plans. A new retaining wall and privacy fence, which would open up the space at the backside of the pool, allowed for creation of another sitting area.

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It was decided that the barbecue pad would be placed around the corner from the entrance to the kitchen to keep it hidden from the dining area, while keeping it close enough to provide efficient traffic flow. A fenced dog run was planned for the side yard, complete with pea stone surfacing to allow the dog to be part of the backyard excitement.

Plans for the softscaping included a variety of foliage to highlight the main focal points in each corner of the yard, while buffer and privacy plantings would be used to soften the fences and eventually provide privacy from neighbours.[4]

Upon presenting the sketch, the client requested the design also have a Tuscan feel, having been inspired by this architectural style while on a recent European vacation. Accommodating this request was not a problem. Adding Tuscan columns to the pergola shade structure, Thuja occidentalis (Degroot’s spire cedars) and planter pots on the hard surfaces, brought simple elegance and Old World charm to the traditional landscape.

Planning the logistics

After the design scheme was approved, it was time to start planning logistics. To avoid any damage to the pool’s fittings and coping during removal of the broken and cracked concrete from around the pool’s edge, a swimming pool builder was brought in to assess the damage and determine what was needed to bring the pool up to standard.

It was suggested the pool needed new perimeter coping; since the concrete deck was being removed, replacement of the liner, original plumbing and entry stairs were also recommended.

While the pool was not the original concern, it was the main focal point of the backyard and the entire landscape renovation was centred on it. Although the client did not originally intend to renovate the pool, as with most renovation projects, the snowball effect took hold. The simple landscape transformation turned into a complete poolscape renovation with a total cost of more than $40,000. In the end, the client was happy to finally have the ‘backyard oasis’ they always wanted. The following spring, landscape lighting was installed, which allowed them to enjoy their outdoor living space well after the sun set.

With the right client and an accommodating design scheme, any project can be easily transformed from a simple ‘fixer upper’ to a complete renovation that effectively extends the homeowners’ indoor living space.

By keeping an open mind and listening to the clients’ key desires, it is possible to create a successful and satisfying project that can generate referrals for years to come.

 

Dave Wright is a design/build landscape architect and president of Wright Landscape Services. After working as a consultant for several years on projects around North America and Asia, he returned to the family business and built the company into a full-service landscaping firm. He can be reached via e-mail at davew@wright.on.ca[5].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/redeveloping-poolscapes/

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