Month: April 2017

At one stage getting a pool was *easy* but today, with so many pool colours to choose from it can be a hard decision, what is the right pool colour for your backyard? Buying a pool for your backyard is a big investment and it is there for all to see, so you really want to get the look *right* and this includes choosing the right colour for your pool. One of the best ways to decide is to visit an Affordable Pools display centre and look at their range of above ground pools for yourself. Here you can see a range of not only the most popular pool colours, but also any upcoming trends. These colours may not be *cool* right now, but give it time…..

Also Read This: Choosing the right depth for your pool

There are a few things you should consider when choosing a colour for your above ground pool.

● What look and feel are you wanting to create in your backyard? Are you planning on a chic and cool place, a lagoon or resort style feel? A tropical oasis or a Tuscan haven? You should also consider the colour of your home, once you have decided on a theme for your backyard it will guide you towards colours to work with.

● Depending on the size of your swimming pool, you may be planning to place it right in the middle of your yard – creating a centre-piece. Of course, like any centrepiece it needs to compliment your yard while adding that *wow* factor.

● Other factors you should consider when choosing a pool colour are *the theme of your backyard * what will be surrounding your pool *water temperatures of a pool with a lighter colour can reflect the sun’s heat – this will result in cooler water *Reflection of the water – a lighter pool colour will draw your eyes to the bottom of the water making it look more inviting, but you will need to ensure you keep the bottom of the pool clean.

● Safety is another important factor – you need to consider how slippery any pool surrounds may be when they get wet, so perhaps select a pool surround that is textured.

● Dark pool surrounds can attract and retain heat, during summer, when it’s hot, surfaces like that may be too hot and uncomfortable to walk on

● Pool surrounds should be darker than the pool, if you have chosen a light-coloured pool, some good complimentary colours include – *Dark wooden decking *Bluestone, *Dark slate, *Sandstone with red, brown and orange earth tones, *Dark limestone, *Dark granite, Dark brick or * Travertine with chocolate and caramel tones.
If you try and keep these factors in mind when choosing a colour for your pool, you should be able to easily achieve the look and feel you are going for. Visit Affordable Pools today for more information and advice.

Installing, or having an above ground pool installed by Affordable Pools is one of the biggest decisions a homeowner can make. Pools are often the centre of attention of a home, great for both exercise and fun, pools also make a great investment as they can also affect the value of your property.

While above ground pools come in different shapes and sizes one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is – how deep do you want, or need, your pool to be? If you have a young family, or you are planning on starting a family the answer to this question is extremely important.

Also Read This: What are the advantages of an above ground pool? – Affordable Pools

When buying an above ground pool – there are 5 things you should consider for your family. A pool is a big investment and you want to get it right.

1.What are you using/wanting the pool for? Do you want a pool for swimming laps, or for beach balls and having fun? Most pools bought for *fun* have a depth of three feet which is enough to accommodate both children and adults, and a maximum depth of four to five feet for safety. If you are looking for a pool you can swim laps in, you are looking at a pool at least 25 meters long and 5 feet deep.

2.What’s the best *safe* height for adults? Most pool owners are quite happy with the depths available in multi-depth pools. For example, starting at between 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet etc, but you should always keep the height of yourself and your spouse in mind. If a husband is 6 foot 3 and the wife is 4 foot 10 and they want a multi-depth pool, a good safe height would be 4 feet, not five. You need to determine the depth of a pool by the height of the shortest person.

3.Keeping your children safe – Unlike adults, children will quickly grow, so it’s extremely hard to pick a *safe height*. For young toddlers, a wading pool no more than 2 feet deep is ideal. After a few years the child will gradually grow in three feet depths and then 4 feet, so never buy a wading pool that’s too large.

4.Do you need a pool for diving? If you a looking at a pool for diving, you will need a pool that is at least 10 feet deep. Of course a pool of this depth will affect your pool budget.

5.What is your budget for a pool? For some it is tempting to splurge out on a diving pool, but you need to consider this fact – deeper pools need more water and more cleaning. Deep pools are not only more expensive, they need more upkeep. Over a number of years your deep pool will add an extra few thousand dollars thanks to additional water and cleaning expenses.

An above ground pool from Affordable pools is a perfect way to have fun with family and friends, especially during the long, hot Australian summer. Naturally it’s a good idea to *do your homework* first and decide which type of pool is right for you and the needs of your family. Why are above ground pools the perfect choice when it comes to swimming pools?

4 reasons why an above ground pool from Affordable Pools is the right choice for you –

1. Above ground pools are a LOT easier to install! This is one of the biggest benefits to installing an above ground pool in your yard. Unlike in ground pools you don’t need all the manpower and machinery to dig a hole in your yard before the pool can be installed. It takes a lot less time, and a lot less manpower to have an above ground pool installed. If you don’t want to get drawn into a long wait for approvals and work to start – an above ground pool is the perfect alternative.

Also Read This: What’s the lifespan of an above ground pool?

2. Above ground pools are more affordable than in ground swimming pools. When you are looking for the pool that’s perfect for your needs there are a few things to consider – #1 is your budget so look at the costs – from start to finish between an in ground and an above ground pool, you’ll find costs will vary and you can probably get the landscaping included and it will still work out cheaper than an in-ground pool. Above ground swimming pools are the cheaper option, most of the costs involved are just for the pool itself, inground pools also include charges for the hole to be dug, manpower and the pool itself.

3. An above ground pool will increase the value of your home. The installation of an above ground pool can increase the value of your property, this is because for those, looking to buy a home with a pool will see your home as a better investment, they won’t have to wait to have a pool installed, and they can start enjoying the pool as soon as summer arrives. When you are having an above ground pool installed try and install it with two things in mind – enjoyment and placement. You want it to look like a part of your yard and not just as a pool sitting right in the middle of the yard. When an above ground pool has been installed properly, with some good landscaping it improves the properties overall appearance and makes your home look more interesting to any potential buyers.

4. Flexibility – While some homeowners want and love having a pool others decide against it. You may be thinking of the future and the prospect of moving home, so why spend thousands of dollars on something you can’t take with you. With an above ground pool, you can pack it up and take it with you. Of course, if you want to leave it behind, it will increase the value of your home, and for a potential buyer who doesn’t want a pool at all, they know it can be easily taken down and removed.

Above ground pools from Affordable Pools are great for summer and those warmer months of the year, they provide entertainment that makes summer last longer. An above ground pool IS an investment though, it is designed to last a lot longer than just one summer. Of course, after your pool has been installed and properly landscaped, you really do want it to last a lifetime. Everyone will fall in love with those endless summer afternoons and evenings, just relaxing or having fun splashing around with the kids.

Unfortunately, above ground pools don’t last a lifetime.
You find that an above ground pool will have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, which in one way is *perfect* if you are having a pool installed for the kids, by then they will have moved out, moved away for uni, or just have a totally different and independent lifestyle. An above ground pools lifespan is down to a range of factors, the biggest being maintenance.

Also Read This: The SPASA expo was a great success

There is a fair amount of care that goes into protecting your pool and keeping it healthy, from pool owners who forget to treat their pools with chlorine when required, to those who add too much chlorine to make up for a missed treatment and are basically dooming their pool to bacterial infection and premature rusting. When the water levels are constantly unstable the pool water becomes *unsafe* to swim in, it can be cloudy or an odd colour this leads to irritation and discomfort for those who are using the pool.

When the pool is *finished* you need to drain all the water from it and dismantle it. Pool maintenance is a critical part of pool ownership, especially if you want to avoid having to take down your pool prematurely.

Despite what can seem like a short lifespan for an above ground pool there are pools that have lasted in people’s back-yards for 20 years or more. These above ground pools go above and beyond expectation and seem to be *indestructible*, the reason for this comes down to the very best of care and maintenance performed by the pool owner regularly.

Looking after an above ground pool properly from Affordable Pools helps to prevent any rust forming. Rust is the biggest *killer* of above ground pools. While a pool filter will help protect your pool from having to lose large amounts of water, if you find you have a leaking pool liner – it will need to be replaced immediately as the water that is seeping out of the main pool can damage the inside of the pool wall causing rust. Keeping rust at bay is the key factor in extending the life of an above ground pool.