construction

An Eye on Aesthetics
The fact that frog ponds are so shallow offers the pond installer some special challenges with respect to making them look completely natural. As you'll see in the video linked below, there's an obvious temptation to take the easy way out by lining the edge with rocks of similarly large sizes and settling for the dreaded "string of pearls" look, where stones hang out like some sort of lumpy
Raising the Floor
In a great many of the renovation projects I come across, one part of the program involves raising the floor in the deep end of the pool to create the classic play-pool contour with a deeper area in the middle and shallower sections on both ends.  This retrofit brings these pools into line with one of the most popular features of today's new pools, so many of which are set up for pool volleyball and other vigorous games. The great thing about these sporty pools is that the shallower ends have a
Updated Wisdom
Let's stroll back to February 2010:  It was about the time we at WaterShapes started getting serious about establishing an Internet presence - and more than a year before we stopped publishing printed editions of the magazine and went all-digital. Back then, we saw the web site as more of a
2014/11.2, November 19 — Lifting Pool Floors, Pleasing Frogs, Impalas in Flight and more
THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS November 19, 2014 www.watershapes.com LESSONS LEARNED…
Frank Wall Enterprises Offers Literature on AquaForms
Frank Wall Enterprises (Columbus, MS) has printed brochures on its AquaForms aluminum pool forming system.…
Acrylic Pool Windows from Hammerhead International
Hammerhead International (Las Vegas, NV) offers acrylic viewing panels in many shapes and sizes for…
Waters of Paradise
When I first became involved with this project, the property was little more than a muddy slope - a dramatic piece of Panamanian topography that nobody had ever considered developing before my clients came along and decided to build a large, custom home. There was a reason it was available to them when they arrived:  The building site was a logistical nightmare not only because of the topography but also because of the configuration of the lot.  But they
#16: Fire Fountain
In my experience, watershapers have a tendency to focus a bit too narrowly on one or another aspect of the craft - some on pools and spas, others on ponds or fountains.  You get the idea:  In speaking with clients, there's an inclination to play to one's strongest cards - and I think that can be
2014/11.1, November 5 — A Water-Rich Retreat, a Froggy Haven, Accessible Recreation and more
THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS November 5, 2014 www.watershapes.com FEATURE ARTICLE…
Concrete’s Ways
Many times in the past 15 years, articles published by WaterShapes have referred to water as "the main ingredient" when it comes to pools, spas, fountains, ponds and all of the other forms of contained, controlled water.  I'm willing to accept that assertion and have probably offered it myself a time or two. Here, however, I want to