- Review Design Concept/Considerations: Existing home/landscape & desired pool and/or spa, waterscape, landscape and associated amenity design theme outcome.
- Design Concept: The greatest synergy will more likely be achieved by keeping the consistency in balance and congruency of the surrounding elements and the flow from the house. Example, if you put a lagoon themed pool/landscape into a small yard surrounded by a phalanx type wall of houses backing onto to it, it won't realize as much synergy in design as it would if placed on a larger lot with a natural setting.
- Contemporary/Modern; Geometric/Rectilinear.
- Common building materials used;
- Stone.
- Style;
- Square cut consistent or random sizes.
- Type;
- Granite, Marble, Limestone, Silver Valley.
- Characteristics;
- Guaged thickness.
- Uniform top (minimal clefting).
- Saw cut sides.
- Style;
- Stone.
- Accent Materials;
- Glass;
- Clear.
- Etched.
- Fogged
- Steel;
- Stainless Steel.
- Shiny.
- Brushed.
- Galvanized Mesh
- I Beam
- Stainless Steel.
- Copper;
- Water pours.
- Accent features
- Retaining walls;
- Straight, block like, stone fascia.
- Glass;
- Common building materials used;
- Natural landscape; Lagoon/Lazy River.
- Common building materials used;
- Stone.
- Style;
- Random sizes/cut 5 point or other.
- Type;
- Flagstone, Credit Valley, Owen Sound, Slate Grey.
- Characteristics;
- Random thickness.
- Clefted top.
- Chipped sides.
- Style;
- Accent Materials;
- Wood;
- Cedar.
- Epei.
- Douglass Fir.
- Rock;
- Armour Stone.
- Hand cut/dressed.
- Over size flag
- Armour Stone.
- Water features;
- Natural Stone/Random.
- Armour Stone.
- Frontenac.
- Other.
- Natural Stone/Random.
- Retaining walls
- Natural Stone/Random.
- Armour Stone.
- Natural Stone/Random.
- Wood;
- Stone.
- Common building materials used;
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- Frontenac.
- Other.
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- Ornate & Formal; Italianate/European.
- Common building materials used;
- Stone.
- Style;
- Square cut consistent or random sizes.
- Type;
- Travertine Marble, Granite, Limestone, Silver Valley, Bronze Star.
- Characteristics;
- Gauged thickness.
- Uniform top (minimal clefting).
- Saw cut or chipped sides.
- Style;
- Accent Materials;
- Glass;
- Etched
- Fogged
- Stone.
- Common building materials used;
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- Water pours.
- Formal.
- Rustic.
- Aged.
- Water pours.
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- Accent features;
- Sculptures, Marble & Limestone.
- Bowls Marble & Limestone.
- Retaining walls;
- Formal.
- Rustic.
- Aged.
- In Line, arched, block like, stone fascia.
- Accent features;
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- Contemporary/Modern; Geometric/Rectilinear.
- Design Considerations.
- Pool and/or Spa & associated Aquascapes:
- Shape: The more pure of a fit with the overall plan, the more sound the overall aesthetic product will be.
- Size: The average size pool is 16' x 32' (approx 5m x 10m). The chosen size should be about the best overall balance. Having a pool on the larger side of the spectrum costs more to heat and keep up. It may not be the capital cost that determines what exact size is actually honed in on but rather the projected running cost to keep it up to the temperature that you feel that will be most comfortable and will maximize usage.
- Interior configuration dimensions: Careful consideration should be given to the distribution of the dimensions of the interior configuration. Example; overall 32' long pool. Which suits your family's use better, the standard 8' long shallow end followed by a 14' front slope, a 6' bottom and a 4' back slope as is a standard configuration, or longer shallow end or larger hopper etc.
- Finishes: There are a plethora of options regarding the interior finish, types, colours & unit sizes of tile and plaster lend variation to fine tune the look within the chosen theme. Besides the many vinyl liner prints to choose from, step type, colour and matching capacity, adjusted water levels/notched coping etc all contribute to the overall aesthetic value.
- Options:
- Inclusions/exclusions: Determin the items that must be part of the poolscape from the start, identify the optional components that be easily be added afterward at little to no extra encumbrace of cost.
- Position of the walk in steps, ladder and extra deck requirements, lighting requirements of pool and yard
- Operation specifics: Determin the exact functions desired, the filtration, plumbing, heating, cleaning, water purification components/options will vary in type, sizing and interactivity. Take into account the elevations and corresponding pros & cons in operation effect, efficiency, expandability etc.
- Placement location: Considerations that affect function, operation & aesthetics of the poolscape.
- Daily and seasonal sunpaths related to the pool area, prevailing wind directions.
- Drainage patterns and water table of yard.
- Filled, unsettled or moving ground (ravine lots).
- Benchmark and finished grade of pool in relation to existing grades and structures such as door stoops, stairwells, patios and fence lines.
- Accessibility, distance, ease of access and observation from the house.
- Making use of existing landscapes, the accessibility to create burms, retaining walls, tree plantings, wind or sun screens and privacy barriers if necessary.
- Pool and/or Spa & associated Aquascapes:
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- Landscape:
- Design: A design that unites the pool as an extention of the home, keeps in unison with the overall design theme. Each product used has its respective set of characturistics, pros & cons.
- Layout: Imagine moving through the scape, visualize using the amenities, hone in on where each amenity is best suited for maximum aesthetics, function & usefulness.
- Dimensions; The primary focus is most often the pool and that concluding the size, shape and location gets you 90% of the way there. Congruency in dimension, position & spacing of decking areas, pathways & other amenities will maximize the overall easthic value.
- Elevations; The elevation to which each amenity is situated plays an unparalelled part in the overall aesthetic & functional end product. Every site has a low point & a high point, finding that sweet spot that maximizes the look, feel & usefulness of the project is naturally the objective.
- High point grade set; requires build up on the low side.
- Helps with averting water table, water course & drainage issues.
- Maximizes usable patio & decking areas by alligning everything on one level.
- High point grade set; requires build up on the low side.
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- Safety component by not having steps.
- Cost component by grouping the area needed to be retained to one spot & likely at the back where less expensive retaining materials won't be visable.
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- Low point grade set; requires build up to retain the high side
- Potentially complicate water drainage issues.
- Water table issues with the pool.
- Potentially complicate water drainage issues.
- Water course drainage issues with the wall & deck
- Aesthetic & function
- Tiering usually increases the aesthetic value by creating interest.
- Landscape:
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- Decreases function by introducing steps required to negotiate to move from the house to the pool.
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- Mid point grade set; requires retaining on both sides.
- Aesthetics & function;
- Often a happy medium in water drainage control & aesthetic value.
- Having step down of a few steps adds interest and isn't overly cumbersome to negotiate with carrying trays of food & drinks etc.
- Cost component;
- Splits the difference in elevation so that total drop can often be brought down below 1 meter.
- Provides for utilization of natural walling material that is available in the 14" to 20" range. Minimizes waste by not adding material that is taller than required to achieve the grade differential retaining.
- Aesthetics & function;
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- Finishes:
- Building Materials.
- Stone: Granite, Marble, Limestone, Slates, Sandstones, Coral Stone, Flagstone (Credit Valley, Wiarton, Aramosa) etc.
- Metals: Stainless Steel, Galvanized Steel, Galvalume, Copper, etc.
- Glass: Reflective, Etched & Sand blasted, Shaped, Illuminated, etc.
- Plasters: Architectural Coatings etc.
- Building Materials.
- Options:
- Ornamental fixtures.
- Statues, Water Bowls, Fire Bowls, Fountains, Art Forms, Wind Chimes, Bird Feeders, etc.
- Functional fixtures.
- Furniture.
- Sound Systems.
- Theater Components.
- Fog & Misting Equipment.
- Artificial Grasses & Putting Greens.
- Ornamental fixtures.
- Associated amenities: The landscape specifications include the integration of cabanas, pool equipment structure, gazebos, pavilions, water features, ornamental structures, lanais, screens, arbours, sport courts, conservatories, greenhouses, automatic retractable enclosures etc, patio area parameters and materials to be used, fence types, gate size and locations, perimeter, overhead, spot and LED lighting to accent specific environmental features and various shrub and flower plantings.
- Design Concept: The greatest synergy will more likely be achieved by keeping the consistency in balance and congruency of the surrounding elements and the flow from the house. Example, if you put a lagoon themed pool/landscape into a small yard surrounded by a phalanx type wall of houses backing onto to it, it won't realize as much synergy in design as it would if placed on a larger lot with a natural setting.
