pools

Considering Plants & Pools
For many watershapers, plants are a mere afterthought. That’s a mistake, says “garden artisan” Scott Cohen. He takes the opposite approach by embracing planted areas as one of the primary design elements in all of his company’s projects. Doing so, he explains here, reduces liability, increases project control and opens up myriad design possibilities.   ...
Water in the Air
Do pools raise humidity? Given that moisture content of the air is the result of evaporation, the vast majority from the ocean, is it possible that areas with high numbers of pools experience more humid conditions? If so, do pools ironically compromise the outdoor experience rather than offer comfort? Eric Herman tackles those questions, with an eye toward separating fact from “suburban” myth.   ...
Living on an Edge
Vanishing edges and other water-in-transit details remain among the most popular design elements in custom pools. Moving water over an edge can be a powerful aesthetic element, one that expands the perception of space and enhances reflection. Taking advantage of those qualities requires mastering the technical specifics.
The Big Cover Story
Deploying its slat-based automatic cover, Aquamatic Cover Systems recently completed work on a massive existing pool on a college campus where administrators were looking for a state-of-the-art way to conserve both water and energy, all with the touch of a button. ...
Polishing Paradise
A beautiful aquatic setting deserves equally dazzling water, explains water-quality specialist, Steve Kenny. That universal truth can lead anywhere, he says, including this project that is nestled in the heart of a tropical paradise, where he rescued a gorgeous pool from the murky depths of an inadequate treatment system.   ...
Naming a Legacy
Coining a term intended to define anything truly new is no small task, even for the most skilled of wordsmiths. But that is exactly what Jim McCloskey did 23 years ago, when he came up with a way to describe an emerging industry – an epiphany that, by the way, materialized during a nice, long soak. ...
Investigating Corrosion
Corrosion in swimming pools can present something of a mystery, explains Jeff Freeman and Mark Holden, and that is especially so if all the possible causes are not taken into account. After years of investigation, the pair discovered a set of corrosion-related issues that are pervasive, as well as sometimes challenging to identify and decipher. ...
Price & Profit Strategies
Although pricing and profits go hand in hand, Mike Farley points out many in the watershaping industry are woefully misguided when it comes to what they charge. That needs to change, he says, and for anyone seeking guidance in this all-important facet of doing business, there’s a terrific “no BS” resource worth reading. ...
Concrete Contemporary
Concrete is amazing material. Its presence in the modern architectural landscape is so widespread and diverse, it can be easy to miss the masterful way it's been used both as a structural and aesthetic element. Here's an example of both, a modern classic Eric Herman discovered near his home in the California desert.
Detail: A825
 Tectonics is defined as the science or art of assembling, shaping, or ornamenting materials in…