Page 5 - Home Lawn and Garden Spring River Valley and Ozarks 2015

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRATGAZETTE • HOME, LAWN & GARDEN
SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015 5VVV used a particular pool company.
It’s important that homeowners rec- ognize that the installation of a pool may require some heavy machinery, which can damage lawns. Fence panels may have to be removed to let in excavation equipment. Sand, soil backfill or gravel may be needed to level out a landscape, and things may get noisy and messy when the installation hits full swing.
Some homeowners can handle installing above-ground pools on their own, but less DIY-savvy homeowners may want to leave the installation to a professional installer to ensure that the job is done right.
Always secure the proper permits and inspections prior to using the pool. This not only ensures the safety of swimmers, but also guarantees that the pool is legal.
Backyard swimming pools make for an enjoyable place to congregate when the weather is hot.
Follow a few guidelines and ask the nec- essary questions to make a pool installation go more smoothly.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative Connection, with contributions by Bruce Guthrie, special sections writer
areas that get many hot days will likely get their money’s worth. But if the climate suggests that a pool will sit unused more often than not, perhaps a pool is not the best investment.
➤ Can we afford it?
A pool can range from a few hundred dollars for inflatable or self-installing models to many thousands for elaborate in-ground designs. Your budget will dictate which type of pool you can afford to install.
“I would figure out what type of pool,” Lawson said, “from a vinyl pool, which is the most cost effective, to a fiberglass pool, or a concrete pool, which is the most ex- pensive.”
➤ How will we use the pool?
Decide if you’re putting in a pool for the
kids, to entertain the family or to make an architectural statement in the yard. Having a clear sense of purpose will help to guide the decision-making process.
“Some want to swim year-round,” Lawson said, “so they want a heater in their pool. For some, if the pool is open when the kids get out of school and closes when they go back to school, then that’s perfect for them.”
➤ Who will maintain the pool?
Many homeowners tackle the day-to- day maintenance required to keep their pools clean and safe. Others hire pool cleaners to maintain their pools and en- sure that the water is properly balanced. Maintenance can cost additional money, so consider this potential cost when de- termining if a pool is for you.
The amount of work it takes to maintain a pool is sometimes daunting for prospec- tive owners. Maintenance tasks that are necessary every few days, as well as weekly, monthly and yearly, are required to keep the pool safe and clean.
“Consistency is the most important at- tribute that you can bring to a swimming pool,” Barnett said.
➤ Are there any safety concerns? Parents of young children may be
hesitant to install a pool, but today’s pool-installation codes consider many of the potential hazards of a pool and attempt to eliminate them. Fences with self-locking gates for inground pools, as well as locking ladders for above-ground pools, can eliminate accidental falls into unattended pools.
“The pool itself has to be fenced in,” Bar- nett said. “That could be simply a privacy fence around the yard.”
But the access of the pool by small chil- dren may necessitate further measures.
“A lot of homeowners will put up a second fence to keep small children away from the pool unless somebody is there to help them,” Barnett said. “There are all kinds of safety alarms you can install leading out to the pool. You have to make sure you are in control of when that child is in the water.”
Your municipality will have a list of re- quirements for pools, so peruse the list prior to making a final decision.
If the decision has been made to move ahead with a pool, it can be helpful to un- derstand a few facts about the process of installing a pool.
Always work with a pool-installation company that has earned positive reviews and has a stellar record of service.
While this does not guarantee that the job will not encounter problems, contrac- tors with glowing reviews tend to have earned those reviews. Read reviews from unbiased, online customers, and talk to any friends or family members who have