Maintenance for Your Gunite Pool: Keeping Up To Date Year-Round

Maintenance for Your Gunite Pool: Keeping Up To Date Year-Round

Having a gunite pool as part of your outdoor space offers infinite recreation possibilities, but it does require regular maintenance and care to keep it in optimal condition. Proper gunite pool upkeep is vital to ensure your pool remains beautiful, safe, and in perfect functional condition for many years to come. Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas, the premier gunite pool designer, builder, and maintenance company on Cape Cod & The Islands, stands ready to provide experienced maintenance services to your exacting standards and needs, making sure that your gunite pool remains in top condition.

Understanding Your Gunite Pool

Gunite pools have a well-earned reputation for their flexibility of design as well as their durability. Gunite pools are constructed using a mixture of cement, sand, and water, and sprayed over a rebar framework to create a long-lasting and solid structure. Their versatility in design and shape makes them an extremely popular choice for homeowners. However, routine and consistent cleaning and maintenance are mandatory to enjoy the benefits of your Cape Cod gunite pool for many years. Living Water Gunite Pools & Spas expert technicians understand all aspects of the unique construction of gunite pools, and offer services tailored to maintaining the integrity of your gunite pool’s interior.

Routine Maintenance Checklist

Keeping a gunite pool in tip-top condition involves many different routine tasks, including brushing, skimming, vacuuming, and making sure that the chemical balance of the pool water is maintained. Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas provides a plethora of maintenance packages that cover all these required tasks so you can enjoy your pool without having to endure the hassle of day-to-day upkeep yourself.

  • Brushing & Vacuuming: To ensure that algae growth doesn’t occur, Living Waters’ expert technicians routinely brush the pool’s gunite interior, which disrupts any algae formation. Our state-of-the-art, industry-standard best practices are used to vacuum up all debris and algae from the pool floor, ensuring your pool water Is and remains crystal clear.
  • Skimming & Removal of Debris: We also provide regular skimming and cleaning services so that your pool remains free of bugs, leaves and other types of debris. This keeps your pool looking great and ensures your filtration system is clog-free.
  • Cleaning & Maintenance of Filters: Pool filters are vital for keeping water safe and clean. Living Waters offers routine pool filter cleaning and maintenance; this includes cartridge, sand, and DE filters. Result: your pool filtration system ends up running efficiently, maintaining water clarity and prolonging the life of your equipment.

Water Balance & Chemistry

Making sure that the chemical balance of your pool water is hands down one of our top priorities for proper gunite pool maintenance. Our expert pool technicians at Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas routinely test and adjust the levels for chlorine and pH, ensuring that the water in your pool is always balanced and safe.

  • Chlorine & Sanitization: We maintain all proper chlorine levels in your pool, effectively preventing algae and bacteria bloom. We also offer alternative sanitization methods, (i.e. saltwater systems), tailored to your exacting preference.
  • Testing & Balancing Pool Water: Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas uses professional-level testing kits to keep an eye on your pool’s chlorine and pH levels. We adjust the chemical balance to prevent any damage to the surfaces of your pool and to ensure a safe environment for swimming.
  • Shock Treatment: For pools that may require shock treatment, Living Waters provides up-to-date interventions to restore chemical balance, especially after heavy use or when addressing algae blooms. Our many years of expertise ensures that your pool inviting and safe.

Consideration for All Seasons

Depending on the season, gunite pools require different types of care. Our seasonal maintenance services at Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas include everything from pool openings in the spring to pool closings in the winter, with our goal to ensure your pool is maintained and ready for use when needed.

  • Pool Openings for Spring: As part of our maintenance packages, Living Waters  will handle the entire opening and start-up process in the spring, from debris removal to cleaning and inspecting pool filters, balancing of pool chemicals and ensuring that your pH and chlorine levels for your pool water are ready for the forthcoming season.  
  • Pool Closings for Winter: Our pool winterizing services ensure your gunite pool is wholly prepared for the colder months. We add winterizing chemicals, lower water levels, and cover your pool securely to protect it from any freeze damage or debris.
  • Tips During the Off-Season: Even in the off-season, Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas offers routine maintenance checks to make sure your pool cover stays secure and is free from any potential algae growth or debris.  We offer this proactive care to also make sure that the pool opening in the spring goes smoothly.

Common Issues Addressed

Even with the best of regular maintenance, gunite pools may sometimes encounter staining, algae growth, and issues with surface wear. That’s where Living Waters comes in: with our gunite pool experts that are equipped to address these challenges in a timely fashion, ensuring your pool remains in top optimal condition.

  • Discoloration & Stains: If any stains appear on your pool’s gunite interior, we can diagnose its cause and provide professional services for stain removal. We work to monitor and adjust the pool’s pH levels and chlorine levels to make sure there are no staining and discoloration issues moving forward.
  • Algae Growth: Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas helps prevent algae growth by maintaining optimal chlorine levels and regularly brushing your pool’s surfaces. Our prompt treatment services, including algaecides and shock, should algae appear, will keep your pool clear and healthy.
  • Surface Wear & Cracks: We offer regular inspections that look to detect surface wear or cracks in your gunite pool. Our prompt repairs and resurfacing services can also keep any minor issues from escalating into major problems, ensuring your pool remains a beautiful and safe retreat.

 

Top Gunite Pool Professional Maintenance Services

Yes, it is true that a homeowner can potentially handle many aspects of maintenance on a gunite pool. However, it is highly recommended to have a gunite pool company like Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas provide professional services that takes away that burden from the homeowner. From routine care and maintenance to more complex repairs, we offer a full selection of services to keep your pool in tip-top condition. We have years of experience in pool maintenance (in addition to our custom pool design and construction), ensuring that every area of your pool’s care is handled professionally and in full.

 

Year-Round Peace of Mind Is the Best Reward

Maintaining a gunite swimming pool properly and consistently requires dedication and attention to detail. With Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas, you can enjoy your pool without the stress of regular upkeep.

We provide a full range of maintenance services year-round, including pool openings, pool closings, routine maintenance, and professional repairs to keep your gunite pool pristine.

Whether you’re looking for routine maintenance, or if you are looking for a renovation or brand new gunite pool project for your yard, Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas has the commitment and expertise to design, build, and upkeep your pool so that it remains functional and beautiful throughout the year. Contact us today at (774) 368-4221 or at info@capecodpooldesign.com and put your trust in Living Waters to take care of all your gunite pool needs, so that you can focus on enjoying your luxury outdoor pool area!

Tips to Extend Your Summer Pool Season

Tips to Extend Your Summer Pool Season

While we still have plenty of wonderful Cape Cod summer weather left, it’s also a good idea to be mindful that at some point, our summer’s long nights will be replaced by the cool breezes of autumn.

Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts residents will trade their marshmallowey S’mores and bathing suits for apple cider and pumpkins. Before you know it, preparations for winter will start to happen as our Barnstable County, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket neighbors begin to pull their windows shut, pack away their shorts, and wave goodbye to the migrating birds.

But fret not! Winter isn’t here yet, and fall is still some weeks away…and that is awesome news for all the warm weather fans out there!

For our Cape & Islands gunite pool owners, there are a few checklist items to keep in mind to be sure you can extend the summer season for your pool without having to head south:

Optimizing Your Gunite Pool Water Temperature

Just because it’s August doesn’t mean you have to start thinking about doing a polar plunge in your pool…you only need to make sure the temperature in your pool is maintained. While you don’t need to turn your pool into a sauna, you can raise the temperature up enough to cancel out any chill from the autumn air. How to do so, you ask?

Geothermal Heat

Imagine that you have a Yeti or similar travel mug. Have you ever watched someone at a coffee shop heat up your travel drink container before pouring coffee into it? If you have a material already heated around that liquid, what happens is that mug gets conditioned which keeps your beverage consistently warmer and for longer periods of time.

Think of your gunite pool in much the same way: almost as a heat sink that retains its heat from the ground around it. As we head from late summer into early fall, this geothermal heat retention keeps the water temperature in your pool warmer than the air temperature outside of it.

The Science of Keeping Heat Consistent

The more scientific term of this is known as “temperature homeostasis” …let’s use a home as an example. During cold or winter months, it’s normal to have a temperature setting on a thermostat change based on if a family is home or out for a time. As you know, making sure the temperature change stays minimal is crucial because more energy is consumed trying to raise temperature more than 5 degrees rather than keeping to a consistent temperature. Many families use this same tactic to maintain a more consistent temperature in their homes. Much is the same with your gunite pool: when working to extend your pool season by raising the heat of a pool, make sure it’s on a timer to keep it consistent, or that any changes in temperature are in small increments at a time. The result being that this will leave your pool at a more acceptable and higher temperature that is more efficient and cost-effective rather than drastically changing it up and down every time when you’re not using it. 

Consistency is key!

“But I don’t HAVE a gunite pool…”

“That’s great advice, but I don’t have a gunite pool” you may say.

That’s where Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas comes in!

Now, it may seem counter-intuitive to consider purchasing a gunite pool after the swim season is over, but in all honesty, NOW is the perfect time to plan for one!

What if you don’t have a pool?

Living Waters will continue to be installing gunite pools over the next few months, and our busy schedule already has us planning for 2025 projects, so right now, today, is the time to get your backyard pool project booked! This is also the perfect time to note the different nuances in your yard, and these thoughts are fresh in your mind while you are thinking of them. For instance, if you wait more than a few months, you may forget where in your yard the sun shines the most, where the ideal spot for a deck or part of the backyard would be best for lounging, where leaves tend to gather, etc.

These are all important details that help to determine what shape, size, and area of your backyard is best for gunite pool construction. Thinking about that dream gunite pool can keep warm weather thoughts to keep you going through the cold nights as well!

Understandably, this can seem like a lot to consider, almost to the point of being overwhelming. But don’t fret, Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas works with you every step of the way, from design to build/construction and maintaining your Cape Cod gunite pool year-round!

Your Dream Pool Project Starts with One Small Step

There’s only one step you need to do, and that’s to call us today at (774) 368-4221 or visit our website at www.capecodpooldesign.com and start the process with a free estimate! Then you can look forward to enjoying that pool through all four seasons!

 

How an Inground Gunite Pool Can Transform Your Entire Outdoor Space

How an Inground Gunite Pool Can Transform Your Entire Outdoor Space

On a hot summer day, the ability to have access to cool, refreshing water in your own backyard is priceless. A gorgeous pool can bring the whole family together and help the space come to life not just during the summer, but year-round.

But there is a lot to consider when deciding on a long-lasting, aesthetically appealing swimming pool.

A perfect pool is the key to transform your outdoor yard area into a gorgeous Cape Cod pool oasis, but it is vital to consider options that work for your space, taste, and budget.

At Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas, we specialize in one specific kind of pool that we consider to be the very best: an inground gunite pool.

What Makes an Inground Gunite Pool So Unique?

An inground gunite pool is a pool design that utilizes a rebar framework sprayed over with concrete.

Because gunite pools are extremely substantial, these are high-end pools that essentially last decades – and in the long term they are way less expensive to own than other options. They can be renovated and kept up over the decades and are designed to truly last indefinitely.

Even commercial properties (i.e. hotels, condos, apartments) that are invested long-term in their pools have the vast majority of inground gunite pools.

We believe greatly in this creed: a well-designed Cape Cod gunite swimming pool is yard art. More than that, it’s a whole outdoor living space.

Thus, Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas have chosen to focus exclusively on inground gunite pools, not only because of their flexibility and durability but because it allows us to be clear experts in the field by specializing in this specific area.

An inground gunite pool for your Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, or South Shore home is a customized engineering product that can be tailored to every exacting need…hence, why we strive to execute the dreams and visions that our clients must make a reality in their outdoor spaces.

Gunite Inground Pools As a Specialty

With Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas, designing and constructing these functional and beautiful aquatic landscapes has been a family passion for many years.  We are a local Cape Cod family-owned business that takes great pride in our work.

Founder Rafael Ribeiro and his team are dedicated to being the best at what they do. These inground gunite pools on Cape Cod and the Islands can transform an entire outdoor living space and assist to create a one-of-a-kind luxury environment for families to enjoy.

If You Can Imagine It, We Can Create It

Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas can create outdoor living spaces that design the pools of our client’s dreams, taking into account all budgets and sizes.

The vast possibilities for designs are just about infinite. These Cape Cod gunite pools can be strictly tailored to shape, depth, and a plethora of other options. With inground gunite pools, the cost is based on square footage and perimeter footage, plus any other amenities our clients wish to have, such as decking, lighting, water effects, spas and cabanas, outdoor kitchens, and even surrounding landscaping and masonry…the sky is the limit!

In short, there’s no need to feel stuck with a traditional vinyl generic pool if you prefer to have something more suited to your tastes and that complements the aesthetics of your property.  

Inground Gunite Pool Options to Consider

When considering all the options available to you for your perfect pool, there are several factors to think of— functionality, size, aesthetics, etc.

The key factor that we suggest to all customers is to also include an attached hot tub or spa. There are massive benefits to this kind of add-on.

On Cape Cod, we can enjoy long and warm summers, but by adding a hot tub to your inground gunite pool, the timeframe for outdoor activities in the pool area gets greatly extended. With the relaxing and therapeutic heat of the hot tub, you can continue to enjoy the space into late fall and even the winter!

And because inground gunite pools are so versatile, there are many other options to consider.

These include:

  • Vanishing edges or infinity pools — These exotic-looking pools appear to make water disappear over the horizon. It’s then caught in a basin and recirculated.
  • Pebble or tile interiors — Depending on your preferred look or feel, there are different interior options to choose from that will complement the rest of your outdoor space.
  • Self-cleaning systems — These works much like a sprinkler; filtered water pushes debris out of the pool, and the system is almost invisible.

Pools are for Cooling Off…BUT Inground Gunite Pools are a Step Above

While all pools essentially serve the same function, functionality and aesthetics make all the difference between whether a family gets to enjoy their poolscape, or letting it sit unused.

At Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas, we believe beautiful spaces are crucial to the whole process, and that our gunite pool areas are not just used as something you cool off with.

Regardless of one’s budget or size, the key factor is that the gunite pool fits into the entire outdoor space in a way that makes it enjoyable for everyone. Taking the stress and worry out of yours, we’re able to implement an entire vision that considers all elements of a luxurious upscale outdoor living area.

From fire pits to pools to patios to water effects, we can build a space that offers a veritable oasis for the entire family — transforming a formerly boring and unused backyard.

Summer is here, so contact us at this link here or call us directly at (774) 368-4221 for a free quote if you would like to start your process TODAY and explore all the ways that your outdoor area can come alive!

Caring and Cleaning for your Gunite Pool

Caring and Cleaning of your Gunite Pool: Best Practices

Our second most popular question we get (the most popular being “How do we get one of those beautiful gunite pools?”) is “what’s the best way to care for and clean my gunite pool?”

Cleaning and maintenance for any type of swimming pool is vital, but it is especially important with gunite pools. While Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas can certainly handle any of your cleaning and maintenance for you, it’s helpful to refer to the below guide to help you understand what goes into caring for your gunite swimming pool. Adhering to these tips will help keep your pool clean as part of a regular maintenance schedule, allowing you to enjoy your backyard Cape Cod paradise for many years to come!

 

Gunite is a porous material, so it’s important to note that algae tend to breed quickly, which has the potential to mess up your Cape Cod pool’s water and make it unmanageable. To minimize that risk, making sure your pool’s sides are vacuumed and cleaned daily will help keep that gunite pool’s water fresh and clean.

 

Here are some gunite swimming pool maintenance tips to consider:

 

Cleaning of Debris

Before getting started into any major pool cleaning steps, it’s extremely vital to skim any debris and any other particles floating in your gunite pool. Some debris will float, while other types of debris will settle at the bottom of the swimming pool. Before doing anything else with your pool, make sure all debris is out first! Start by scrubbing the pool’s walls and the pool floor as well. Make sure that you use swimming pool manufacturer-recommended vacuums and cleaners (if you don’t know what they are, we can help provide this cleaning service for you).

 

Getting the Best Filter

A vital part of your gunite swimming pool maintenance is having a good quality filtration system. This will play a major role in keeping your water clear and clean. The role of the filter is to remove debris and harmful chemicals in the pool water. If your pool is older, or if you have a consistent issue with algae, that would be a sure sign that your filtration system needs upgrading.

You might also want to get your gunite inground pool inspected by our gunite swimming pool maintenance technicians. We’ll replace your filters or sand used in your equipment. It could be that a simple repair might be all your pool needs to greatly improve the quality of your pool’s water.

 

Chemical Balancing

If your pH level of your pool water is not adjusted correctly, the risk of a swimming getting skin rashes could be greater than normal.  An incorrect pH balance could also corrode pool equipment over time. An idea level of calcium hardness and alkalinity is what determines a well-balanced pool environment. Most pool balancers are available in the marketplace, just make sure to follow any instructions presented on pool balancing packs to make sure any chemical balancing is completed successfully.

 

Algae, Algae, Algae

If algae are left unchecked, a small colony can quickly turn into a large infestation. To prevent algae growth in your Cape Cod gunite pool, use algaecides properly. Make sure you add them to your swimming pool on a weekly basis to keep levels in control. If your pool does have algae, our expert Cape & Islands pool technicians can recommend products that will quickly get rid of algae. However, do note that adding algaecides to the water may leave your gunite pool as unusable for a few days.

 

Cape Cod Gunite Swimming Pool Maintenance: Conclusion

Gunite pool maintenance is a recurring task that gets more towards perfection with a bit of practice. The key is to follow steps accurately, and it’s extremely important to protect yourself while you’re cleaning your Cape Cod pool. Make sure that you are wearing protective clothing and gloves while using any tools or chemicals and be sure to follow all instructions provided with chemicals to the letter. Otherwise, not following instructions or failing to wear protective gear could be detrimental to the health of your swimming pool and the swimmers in it.

If the idea of cleaning, filtration, performing chemical balances and dealing with algae seems like a daunting task, worry not! That’s where our Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas expert technicians can step in to take care of any of these items for you. We take the worry, stress, and effort away from you and provide you the utmost quality care so that you can sit back and enjoy that Cape Cod backyard pool paradise! Give us a call today at (774) 368-4221 for a free estimate!

How Long Does It Take To Build A Gunite Pool?

How Long Does It Take to Build A Gunite Pool?

One of the most common questions about our gunite pools that we get is: “how long does a pool take to build”? The question has a relatively simple answer, mainly because a pool builder does not know the EXACT amount of time. While a pool may be the focal point of a backyard project, it is not the ONLY part. 

You may have seen our posts on social media about the necessity of booking with us early in the season so that we can ensure a fully installed pool project by the July 4th weekend…there are many good reasons for this

Swimming pool construction must consider the size of the pool and the area surrounding it. Unless there are space constraints, this is commonly where the patio will be placed. Pools can demand a large area that could conflict with another backyard project. These conflicts can affect the time frame of construction. 

Our team has detailed some things that affect how long it takes to build a swimming pool. To help homeowners understand their role, we’ve broken things down into two main categories: items in your control, and items outside of your control. This is particularly true when looking to build a pool in southeastern Massachusetts, particularly Cape Cod & The Islands.  

At Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas, we find that analogies are helpful. How long your pool will take to build can be akin to asking how long your work commute is in the morning. Most of the time, you end up close to a true estimation, give or take 5-10 minutes.  But occasionally, there could be a big accident that extends that timeline. Building a pool involves many uncontrollable factors for the builder and the homeowner. By working together and ensuring constant communication, the factors that are controllable can be handled properly on both sides. 

Items Within Your Control

Design Decisions 

Finalizing decisions on colors, patio size, and even pool size and shape after it has been excavated can be contributing factors. Sometimes we have seen homeowners decide to change the shape of a pool after it has been excavated and in instances where even after the gunite has been poured and installed. While Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas can handle these design changes, they do add time to a project.  

Additional Backyard Structures 

Examples of additional backyard structures that must be considered can include pool houses, sheds, or cabanas. Typically, backyard structures are very close to the pool. For a pool and an associated pool patio to be completed, the structure’s foundation needs to be installed so that the pool plumbing which can run under the patio can be filled with dirt and compacted to build the patio on. 

Your Electrician & Plumbing (Gas Connections)  

It may be tempting to use a friend or relative who has electrical and/or plumbing experience. It’s very common for this situation to add time to the project. However well-meaning, our team has seen these favors or side jobs go wrong countless times. Sometimes family friends cannot commit the necessary time to complete the project, or they find themselves overwhelmed. Swimming pool electrical & plumbing systems can be very complicated, as many of our pool projects can require a significant amount of electrical & Plumbing work. 

There are many moving parts when it comes to the electrical system of a swimming pool. It’s not uncommon for there to be multiple motors, sensors, heating elements, disinfection items, lights, light systems, along with controllers and communication systems. All these options and factors fall under electrical codes and are required by law to be installed by a licensed electrician. Even electricians who operate pools regularly must do research, check code books, and read instructions on how all these components work together. 

Complex Designs 

Complex pool projects take longer than simple designs. Some pool projects require the pool to be built in specific phases, such as foundations to be installed before the pool can even be started. Some pools may have large structures built on top or adjacent to them or boulders installed as part of hardscapes, etc., so things like this need to wait until the gunite has gained its full strength. This work has to be performed by a structural engineer. 

 

Timing of Construction 

The timing of construction plays a big role in how long pools take to build.  The fastest time to build a swimming pool is in late fall (Oct-Nov) so that pools can be ready by Memorial Day to take advantage of our Cape Cod summers.  

Most homeowners don’t want their backyards under construction during the later summer months. So, if you want to get a pool built as quickly as possible now is the time to do it. The planning process should start around September to capitalize on an early fall construction time. Homeowners should even consider starting earlier if they anticipate permitting issues. 

Otherwise, the next best time to start a pool for ease of construction is in January – February. Starting in the winter season will help ensure that the pool is ready by the 4th of July. Given these factors, a little more patience is required to have springtime/ Winter pool construction, again stressing the need for planning early to have a pool ready for summer! 

 

Final Fill of Water 

The best way to fill a pool is by hiring a water company to deliver truckloads. Water companies pre-treat their water so that once it is in your pool, it only needs a small amount of chemicals and time to get it running properly. Backyard pools range from about 25,000 gallons to 35,000 gallons. A water truck holds approx. 8,000 gallons and pumps the water down a 4” hose into the pool. Most of the time the pool is filled by a truck in one day or less. 

If a homeowner chooses to use city water or well water, it can take much longer to fill a pool, and we could have lots of heavy metal that needs to be heavily treated causing stains and higher price for initial use. We highly discourage the use of city/ well water. An average well can only produce 8-10 gallons per minute. Therefore, a 30,000-gallon pool would require all your well water for 2-3 days (this time frame can also cause major structural problems – cracks, peelings etc.), providing the well has a good water supply. It is not uncommon for a well to run dry while trying to fill a pool. Once the pool is full of well water it can take a few more days and extra cost to restore balance to the pool water. It can cause other issues if it has strange characteristics. 

Items Out of Your Control

Backyard Surface Conditions 

Pools can be built just about anywhere, even on steep slopes and hills. If the yard has a slope, several measures can be taken. The pool can be engineered to retain the uphill soil. Retaining walls can be added before or after pool structure construction. The location grade of the yard will usually dictate which actions need to be installed first. Some pools are even built on deep foundations where piles or drilled piers are installed deep in the ground to hold the pool in place. 

Backyard Subsurface Conditions 

Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas has a decade of experience with pool design and installation across southeastern New England. Our team is highly skilled at anticipating the level of difficulty with an excavation. However, sometimes surprises can arise. We have found a lot of surprises during excavations; some add time to the project timeline, and some do not. 

Discovering ledges or very large boulders can add time to a pool project. Soft soil conditions such as a layer of peat more commonly found near the coast can also add to excavation time. Poor water conditions are also possible in these cases.  

Permitting and Town Approval 

Local Town building departments have by law 30 days to approve or deny your building permitting process, this will vary according to many factors; Examples include but not limited to conservation areas, floating zones, waterfront buffer zones etc. There are some factors that can extend the process. If the desired pool location is within wetlands boundaries or property setbacks, there needs to be approval from the town to obtain a permit to build. Most of the time, if the property’s only option for a pool is within boundaries, but outside the buffer zones, the pool can still be built. Sometimes if the backyard is a wetland, permission may not be able to be obtained, however, these are rare occurrences. Every town has a slightly different permitting process.  To learn more about your town’s process, Google “[your town] pool permit”. 

Summary

Now that we’ve reviewed some items that affect swimming pool construction duration, back to answering the basic question!

To summarize, if the location of the pool is relatively level, and all decisions have been made upfront, and confirming that no other contractors will be involved with the project during pool construction, confirming that Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas will manage the electrical and plumbing, and no subsurface conditions are encountered, a pool can be easily built from excavation to your first dive in within 7-10 weeks. Now, there may still be some final inspections and small items to settle, but after that 7–10-week period, there is an extra 28 days for the Pool Finish Curing Process to complete in which the pool cannot be used or heated.  After that, you will be ready to go.  

It is vitally important to have a full plan before construction! This is so the pool builder’s supervisor and any other contractors are all on the same page as to how decisions affect each other. A plan helps ensure that everything is lined up to happen at the right time, so nothing holds anything else up. 

This is where Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas makes all this effortless for you! All you need to do is to contact us for a free estimate (either through our phone at (774) 368-4221 or by reaching out to us at www.capecodpooldesign.com, (and yes our other website address www.lwgpools.com works as well!) and let us know what you are envisioning, and we handle the rest! 

There is still some time left to get your pool project ideas to us today so that you can enjoy that backyard paradise by July 4th! Contact us today! 

Your Journey To Backyard Pool Luxury: Advantages of a Gunite Pool

The Journey To Your Backyard Pool Paradise: Advantages of Gunite Pools

In the realm of luxurious swimming pools, there are two materials most often used in their construction: gunite, and concrete. While both offer an abundance of benefits, there’s a reason why many homeowners opt for gunite pools and why we at Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas use it exclusively (and made it part of our company name). In this blog post, we’ll walk through the advantages of choosing a gunite pool over the more traditional concrete pool.

Flexible Design Options

One of the biggest advantages of a gunite pool is in its ability to have almost endless flexibility in design. Unlike pre-formed concrete pools, which are limited in shape and size, a gunite pool is constructed wholly onsite using a mixture of cement, sand, and water sprayed over a framework of rebar. For those not familiar with the term “rebar” these are embedded steel bars that provide structural strength to the pool shell and helps stabilize the fresh gunite to build up walls, The ability for gunite to be extremely flexible in design options allows for virtually unlimited design possibilities, from free-form shapes to intricate features like waterfalls and integrated spas. With a gunite pool, the only limit in design is your imagination.

Longevity and Durability

Gunite pools are also well-renowned for their longevity and durability. The application process creates a solid shell of gunite that is resistant to cracks and damage, ensuring your pool withstands the test of time. Additionally, the surface of a gunite pool can be finished with a choice of various materials such as plaster, tile, or pebbles, further enhancing its durability and aesthetic appeal.

Personalization and Customization

Every homeowner who longs for a pool dream of one that reflects their unique preferences and style. With gunite pools, customization is key. From different options available in choosing the color and finish of the interior, to adding custom features like tanning ledges and swim-up bars, gunite pools can be tailored to suit your exact desires. This level of personalization ensures that your pool is built as a true extension of your home and lifestyle.

Increases the Property Value of Your Home

Having a gunite pool significantly increases the value of your property. Not only does a meticulously well-designed and maintained pool enhance the visual appeal of your property, but it also adds to the overall desirability of your home. Whether you’re looking to sell in the future, or simply increase your property’s value, a gunite pool is a very sound investment.

Low Maintenance

Even with their luxurious appearance, gunite pools are relatively low maintenance compared to other types of pools. The smooth surface of a gunite pool makes cleaning extremely easy, and routine maintenance tasks like chemical balancing or vacuuming are very straightforward. Utilizing Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas to provide regular servicing and proper care, your gunite pool will remain in quality condition for many years to come.

Conclusion

The advantages of having a gunite pool instead of a concrete one are clear: flexible design options, longevity and durability, customization options, increased property value, and ease of maintenance. If you’re ready to transform your backyard into your paradise and be the envy of your neighborhood, it’s time to give serious thought to investing in a gunite pool today.

Ready to jump in? Contact Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas today at (774) 368-4221 to learn more about our gunite pool installation services and schedule a complimentary design consultation. Visit our website to explore our portfolio and envision the endless possibilities for your dream pool. But do not wait long, we are already filling up on project work…and QUICKLY. Call us now to lock in your spot and have that pool paradise ready by July 4th….

Built to last a lifetime…for the times of your life!