S.R. Smith Unveils TrueTread Diving Boards
S.R.Smith (Canby, OR) offers TrueTread diving boards. Featuring a unique surface texture that has a…
Raypak Introduces Professional Series Pool Heaters
Raypak (Oxnard, CA) now offers a Professional Series of gas pool heaters. Designed for commercial…
One for the Ages
I recently enjoyed my umpteenth visit to the Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens.  It's an amazing estate in the city of San Marino, Calif., a well-heeled enclave near Pasadena, and was established by Henry Huntington, nephew and heir to transcontinental-railroad magnate Collis Huntington.  This is a place that shows you what a serious fortune could buy in the early years of the 20th Century.I like the library and appreciate the art collection, but the reason
The Anxieties of Influence
'I can be quite outspoken,' declared David Tisherman in opening his Details column in the November/December 2001 issue of WaterShapes.  'Here's the unvarnished truth:  No more than a hundred pool builders out there can legitimately call themselves designers, . . . while only a handful design at the very highest level.' 'Almost always, the difference between these top-level designers and
Natural Revision
This is a story about turning an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. It starts with a couple who had recently purchased their ideal home - one with room for them, for horses and for serenely rustic outdoor living.  But the reality as they found it was somewhat different:  The entry from the street was boring, the house was bland, the backyard space was disorganized and the
2016/11.2, November 16 — Rustic Remake, Easement Squeeze, Ancient Inspiration and more
THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS November 16, 2016 www.watershapes.com FEATURE ARTICLE…
Access Excess
It's a small backyard with a Texas-size easement - and a good thing that I like challenges, because designing a project for this outdoors-loving family in Katy was an exercise in making a whole bunch of ideas fit comfortably within an unusually constrained space. As we learned, their gated-community property is separated from the street directly behind it by a tall boundary wall.  This meant that there was no backing parcel to share
Brighter Horizons
I've just returned from the 2016 International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo - a bit tired but, as usual, satisfied with the experience.  As I had hoped, I enjoyed lots of conversations about future articles and an unusual number of chats about advertising and sponsorships.  Also, the show took place in New Orleans, so I had a
The D.I.Y. Trap
While he understands why some homeowners might think that acting as their own pool contractor is a good idea, Paolo Benedetti also knows it's likely to be a huge mistake.  That's why he wants professional watershapers to get involved and be part of the solution.
Pond-Leak Detectives
Where I work in southern California, we're accustomed to seeing changes in water level in our ponds:  The air is dry and the winds blow briskly, so evaporation is invariably a factor.  Before long, it becomes a familiar pattern, and we know that the pond owner or the auto-fill system will be replacing an inch or so of water every week. But sometimes it becomes apparent that