Typically, an outdoor shower is designed to match the style of the house that it is installed in. If the materials used to build the house were adobe, or concrete, the outside shower would be built of the same material. However, this is not always the case.

Sometimes, the shower may be designed to match the surrounding patio garden area, painted to match the colors of the plants and flowers. Other homeowners may choose to install a simple shower unit beside a pool.

How creative the homeowner wants to get with the outside shower is up to them, and there really is no limit to the design possibilities.  Some homeowners would like to have a shower outside as an easy way to cool themselves off on a hot summer day. If, for example, a pool is unavailable, an outside shower can make a great substitute.

Outdoor Shower Enclosures

You can see that this gorgeous outdoor shower enclosure is as beautiful as the deck itself.

Others are installed for more practical purposes. If the homeowner is a hobbyist with an enthusiasm for wood work, and does much of the work outside, having a shower nearby would be helpful in preventing sawdust from entering the home.  In fact, the outdoor shower enclosure itself could be built using a nice outdoor-friendly wood like cedar, redwood, lauan or teak.

Photo credit

The same could be done for those heavily involved in gardening, so the dirt and plant material do not make their way into the home.

For homes close to the beach, an outside shower is very useful, especially for those who swim or surf in the ocean. Salt and sand can quickly destroy the carpets and woodwork of homes, so having a way to wash it off is important.

When designing outside showers, keep in mind the aspect of privacy. If the shower is going to be used poolside, while bathing suits are being worn, having an open-air shower would not be a problem.  A simple cedar or teak outdoor storage bench could be a great place to not only store the shower supplies, but a perfect place to sit and dry off.

However, for more private shower uses, integrating the surrounding shrubbery or trees, building walls or fencing materials to enclose the area, or other means of blocking the view can easily be achieved. This will prevent any prying eyes.

In any case, for a typical outside shower, when enclosing the area of the shower, it should stay open to the air above so that the sunlight can still stream in.

Outdoor showers can not only make beautiful additions to a home and raise the real estate value of it in a cost-efficient way, the benefits to owning one can be surprising.

Like everything else though, the suggestions found in those glossy pages rarely stand the test of time but rather are only the fleeting fancy of some editor who needs to put together a story to fill a magazine.  If you are someone who is truly at a loss for what to do when it comes to upgrading your home and yard, I suggest go out and window shop.

When I say window shop I mean drive around your neighborhood and see what others are doing see what you like and what you don’t and make your decisions that way.  This holds especially true when you are shopping for a pool safety fence.

If you are in the market for a swimming pool fence you may have noticed that there are a considerable amount of choices out there.   There are a lot of things to consider when shopping for a fence such as height, color, material, length and function.   I list function here as something to consider because I believe it is something that can make all the other questions easier.

Figuring out what you want the function of the fence to be is really the only question you need to answer everything else will answer itself.  For example, if you are looking for a pool fence that provides privacy you are going to want one that is maybe a little taller and one that is made of solid material.  However, if this is not something you particularly care about you may be able to look at other options that are potentially less expensive.

Also, something you may want to think about when buying a fence for your pool is wear and tear.  If you have kids for instance, you may not want to get a plastic or vinyl pool fencing because they can become brittle in the winter  weather (depending upon where you live) more easily than a wood fence.   So you see if you can figure out what you want the function of your fence to be you will be able to figure out what kind of pool fence you want without relying on some so called experts advice in a magazine.

Photo credit

This article brought to you by the experts at www.swimuniversity.com

You can choose to create a tropical oasis or keep your landscape design elements in line with your local environment.  At Patio Covers Place, we support the use of landscape materials, plants and design that take advantage of local environmental considerations to not only give your plants the best chance of thriving but also to preserve local resources.  If you live in the desert southwest, then your landscape plans should take arid conditions to heart.  That lush full green lawn you are used to ‘back east’ is not supposed to grow in the middle of the desert.  However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have a beautiful green yard and patio space.

Pool Landscaping Ideas

Here is some hardscape elements; stones and a fountain feature.

There are several things to consider when you are formulating plantings ideas.  This is especially true of swimming pool landscaping.  The main reason is that both debris and run-off will affect your experience with your pool or patio space.  Without knowing it, your plants might look great in the spring or summer, only to drop all their leaves or have a big bloom of flowers that drop right into your pool.  If your pool landscaping plans don’t take these matters into consideration, you might find yourself forever frustrated by the space you spent so much time and money to enjoy.

To make sure that this doesn’t happen, look at various pool landscape magazines and online sites to research the look you want.  Then, see if those plants or those like them can be supported in your local climate.  Both water and sunlight conditions will need to be accounted for with your design.  Also, orientation of the area you wish to landscape needs to be looked at to maximize the factors that will support the long-term survival of your plants.

What About Pool Hardscape Features

While water is a must-have component to any landscape design, so is outdoor lighting.  In order to fully appreciate and enjoy your landscape features, having the right type of accent lighting is critical.  Just like having the right patio lights can highlight specific points of interest on you patio, the right landscape lighting can do the same for your pool landscape.  These things, combined with other non-living objects and materials are referred to as the pool hardscape elements.

The typical landscaping materials – plants, flowers, shrubs and trees – are all ‘soft’ in substance.  These are definitely important, as we’ve discussed here.  However, it is these hardscape features that add the punch and background off of which these other elements can pop.  Take the pool deck itself.  This area can be made of many types of materials that enhance the look of the pool area itself and provide a non-slippery surface.  Check out some pool decking ideas here.  Things like stamped concrete, concrete patio pavers and other cement finishing ideas can give your pool landscape a very unique appeal.

This may not sound like ground-breaking information to you, pool fencing has been around for many years.  However, it wasn’t until more recently that our favorite type of fence was introduced, invented actually.  You see, while safety is your primary concern, you don’t necessarily want to sacrifice the looks and flexibility of your patio design and layout.  Your swimming pool landscaping looks great, don’t ruin it with a big block wall or some thick, heavy duty metal fence.  Worse yet, those chain link fences of the past do your patio design ideas no favors.

So, what is a better solution to getting the safety, look and flexibility you want from your fence?  Our favorite is the mesh pool fence.  It goes by other names as well, like safety pool fence.  What you will first notice about it is its relative non-intrusiveness.  This fence will not stick out like an eyesore on your property.  There are several reasons for this.

The mesh fabric of the fence itself, while ‘solid’, is still less visually blocking than a traditional ½” or ¾” tube steel fence.  Plus, since you can get them in black, there is less competition visually for your eyes with regard to the background.  In other words, this means that your landscape will not take a second seat to your pool fencing.

Another key feature of this mesh fencing that makes it great is the way that it is installed.  Even if you have already had your pool for many years, this application can be installed.  The way it is done is using a special tool that bores holes into the pool decking.  It removes cement cylinders that look like core Earth samples.  Then, the fence posts are placed in those holes around your pool.  Because it is flexible to use, your fence can have a more organic shape, rather than straight lines of long spans.  Because of this installation, your pool fence can be removed if you ever need to take it down or remove it for a party or some other reason.

Similarly, swimming pool covers have several components to consider.  Depending upon what you plan on having your cover for, your choices could be drastically different.  Some are looking at pool covers because they need to have it as a safety measure with young children around.  In some municipalities, pool fences are required or special locks on doors leading to a patio need to be in place.  Other people have heating of their pool as their main reason for looking into a pool cover.

Safety Pool Covers

A safety pool cover will have different characteristics and selling points.  The pool cover that you buy for safety will need to either completely prevent a child or animal from being able to enter the water, or will make it impossible for their bodies to be submerged.  Let’s clarify this point a bit.  Some pool covers are a mesh-like material.  These would allow a child’s foot or arm to reach through and may even cause them to be stuck in the cover.  However, it will not allow their head or body to fit between the mesh pattern.

Other styles have a track and rolling mechanism that make it virtually impossible to even see water through the cover.  These can be motorized or hand crank style of covers.  Some of the more robust pool covers, like Loop-loc,  can support the weight of an entire family – even a baby elephant – without allowing any water to leak out or through.  Secondarily, with this type of cover, you will also benefit from some heating properties.  By the very nature of how the cover fits over the pool, your pool will be warmer.

About Pool Heating Covers

Typically, we are talking about solar pool covers.  These work by way of trapping in the heat and allowing the sun to do all the work.  It takes a lot of energy to heat water.  The warmer you want your pool, the more it costs.  Having the sun heat it for you costs nothing, besides the cost of the cover.  If you get a simple ‘bubble’ type cover, you can spend as little as $50-150 USD.  Will this work as great as a pool-heating unit, of course not.  Will it cost you hundreds of dollars a month to run, absolutely not.  These bubble covers work as a type of insulating layer, keeping evaporation down to a minimum and allowing the water to continue to retain that heat.  Decide what type you are looking for, then go find the best swimming pool covers to meet your needs.

Nothing says hot tub quite like cedar.  This wood is great for many reasons.  For its outdoor properties, few other wood choices compare.  We’ve talked about a cedar garden bench and storage bench make great choices.  Cedar is a great choice not only because of its beautiful appearance, but because of its sustainability issue as well.  If you are not familiar with Patio Covers Place, we like to enjoy a patio that is as ‘green’ and sustainable as possible given current products and technology.  Because cedar can be sustainably harvested, it is a wood choice that we like to endorse.

Woods like teak and other exotics make for great looking patio furniture and even have fine weathering properties, but often are harvested from rainforest regions making them a less desirable option in our minds.  Besides, with the look and properties of cedar and even bamboo options, you don’t need to look any further.  There are a multitude of stains and sealers that can produce many shades that you might like as well if you are concerned that the grain or natural color of cedar is not your primary choice.

Having said all of this, the cedar hot tub is a beautiful piece of work.  More often than not, the tub itself is made of a fiberglass or resin cast product that is then set into the wooden frame.  The hot tub pump and motor assembly can be ‘hidden’ within the frame with an access door for easy maintenance or cleaning issues.  As we have pointed out, cedar is a great choice in applications where water is an issue like with decks and pools or hot tubs.  Cedar will not only maintain its appearance when properly cared for, but it can weather beautifully as well if you choose to go that route.

Aside from the look of the exterior surface of your hot tub, the rest is just the same as a fully cast model.  The jets and heater mechanisms work just the same.  Also, having a hot tub cover is a good investment to make.  This will help retain heat in your spa, reducing energy costs.  Your wooden hot tub will also be helpful in this regard.  The cedar boards can be installed over an insulating layer providing even more heat loss protection.

If all of this sounds like too much or you don’t think you are ready for the several thousand dollar investment a hot tub like this will cost, you have the option to choose an inflatable hot tub.  While it may not look quite as handsome as the wooden model, it is a heck of a lot more portable and convenient.  Not that you will want to be moving all around, but when your hot tub season ends and you wish to deflate it for storing, you can do this in an afternoon.  This eliminates any need for maintenance and cleaning when not in use.  However, if you know you will use yours, for the look and function of it, you cannot beat cedar wood hot tubs.

Photo credit

If we are discussing a community or commercial pool, then having multiple access points is of more concern.  At home, in your backyard, you will find that getting a pool fence will provide much in the way of peace of mind.  With this in place, you will not need to worry every time you don’t see your child in plain site.  However, there are other times when being able to remove the fence would be convenient.  For this reason and more, we at Patio Covers Place like the removable pool fence option.  There are local contractors and dealers in your area that you should contact regarding this system.  You can learn more about them online before committing to this over a more traditional metal pool fence.

There are some things to consider when buying either type of system mentioned above.  Mainly, just like how a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, your pool fence is only as secure and safe as its easiest access point.  This point of access is typically the pool gate.  While some types of swimming pool landscaping can provide some protection by keeping your children’s eyes away from the gate area, the key is to keep it locked. With this in mind, some landscapes have concrete poured that can serve as a great place to anchor your fencing as well as a gate.

Similarly, since your pool has some area of pool decking around it, this is where the installers will drill to place the poles for your pool fence posts.  Because you are only human, there are times when the gate will accidentally be left open.  You may be carrying the pool furniture or towels back to the house or you may have just forget to lock it.  This is when accidents happen.

So, how can this be avoided?  The answer is with an automatic closing and locking magnetic pool gate.  Well, more specifically, it is a magnetic switch or latch mechanism.  The gate itself is simply on an automatic hinge that closes the gate when not being held open.  This can be accomplished using a spring mechanism or special hinge.  Then, when the gate closes, the magnetic latch is activated.

These are quite simple to operate and can be opened by simply pulling up on the ‘pin’ and then pulling on the gate.  Since most gates are at a four foot tall height per building code for residential applications, small children cannot reach or operate the latch.  When your child gets older, they will be able to easily operate the latch and if you are still wanting to oversee them in and around the pool – good practice anyway – a more formal lock, requiring a key can be installed.  This next season, get back your peace of mind out on your patio and get your pool gates properly protected.

Photo credit

If what you were thinking of at first read was going to be some sort of child-like inflatable pool, you’ll need to think again.  The inflatable spa is much more durable and is made from stronger materials so that it can resist damage and leaks.  In fact, you might be surprised to know exactly how durable and tough the materials are.  With room for up to four adults, these styles are great for most situations.  Since many couples use them alone, room for four is just extra space.

This inflatable hot tub even has a bistro table.

Most modern inflatable hot tubs are made of a polyester laminated PVC material.  Then, some models also offer an inner I-beam type matrix that adds rigidity and aids in heat retention.  This is an important fact, because heat loss can be a major problem with a hot tub or pool, for that matter.  For this reason, you might invest in a hot tub cover as well.  This acts much in the same manner as your pool cover to retain heat and keep debris out of the water.  This will keep your heating costs down and keep your spa cleaner avoiding problems with maintenance issues.  These issues may end up affecting the hot tub pump which can be a costly replacement.

Depending upon where you place your hot tub, debris may be a real factor.  This is why inflatable hot tubs make such a good idea. You can set it up somewhere in the summer, where you have easy access and it provides the best ambiance.  Then, when winter rolls around, you may elect to move it to where falling leaves will not be an issue or simply deflate it for storage until the warmer months.  In some areas of the country, it is possible to have a year-round hot tub experience.

There are certainly times when a wooden hot tub can makes its case.  After all, there is nothing like the look and feel of a well-made cedar structure like this. If you know where you want to place your hot tub ‘for good’, then opting for a more permanent location might be fine.  However, when you talk about inflatable hot tub prices, it is hard to compare.  The inflatable styles will cost you under $1,000 USD and as low as $500-600 USD with about $100 USD more for a cover.  When we are talking about a more traditional spa at several thousands and upwards of close to $10,000 for the premium styles, maybe an inflatable hot tub is a good place to start.

Photo credit

As just alluded to, a swimming pool cover is really meant to help heat your pool.  There are solar pool covers and systems and other more energy intensive systems that one can buy that will do the ‘heavy lifting’ so to speak, when it comes to raising the temperature of your pool.  A cover like this is meant to keep a specific aspect from affecting your drop in pool temperature.

A great shot of a swimming pool cover catching a fall leaf.

The main thing that a pool cover is intended to do is help warm your pool.  Plain and simple.  Now, depending upon your type of cover, it may also help with keeping debris out as well from your swimming pool landscaping.  I wouldn’t worry so much about this fact, unless you have a real issue with clogged pool skimmers and equipment.  In this case, a simply plastic cover might be your best bet.

photo credit

There are also some covers that are designed for safety.  These types of safety pool covers, are made with a different intent.  Some of these styles are a mesh or netting type of thing that stretches over the surface of your pool.  It will not stop leaves or other debris from entering, but it is meant to stop small children and animals from drowning.  Sometimes, a pool fence is left open and that pool float is just too enticing an object to avoid for the little ones.  Tragically, many children drown each year because of accidents that could have been avoided.  Other safety covers are like large tarps that are motorized and drawn across one end of the pool to the other.  Some of these claim to be able to support the weight of a baby elephant.  This one will also help to retain heat in your pool.

When we talk about what it takes to heat a pool, we need to consider sources that would otherwise rob your pool of its heat.  We could call these things heat sinks.  These would include things like the ground and air temperature.  These will actually draw heat out of the water.  Another factors that affects pool temperatures is wind.  As you may notice, all of these factors relate to the greatest threat to pool temperature which is evaporation.  You’ll realize that a pool safety cover made of netting will not help you in this regard.

The simple vinyl covers, with the addition of a bubble layer are quite effective at raising pool temperatures.  Because it takes a lot of energy to heat water, the larger your pool and the greater the chance of evaporation, the more it will cost.  At Patio Covers Place, we believe in a sustainable way to enjoy your patio and backyard outdoor living, so saving energy is  a great idea to us.  We would prefer to see things like the swimming pool solar covers used more often.

If you plan on enjoying your pool for a longer season or simply enjoy a warmer one, investing in some type of pool cover is a great idea.  With the various options for getting your pool covered, there is likely one particular style that you will find beneficial.  Pool covers also reduce the costs required to maintain your pool.  With a cover, you will retain water that may be lost to evaporation, reducing by up to 30-50% the amount of refill water necessary.  In addition to this, you will require less in terms of pool chemicals and cleaning maintenance.

Some covers are manual and others are automatic.  The simple bubble style or even vinyl covers are often rolled up on large drums then manually pulled out over the pool.  The bubble style will typically cost you less but only last a few seasons.  The more durable vinyl and other motorized systems can cost substantially more, but will give you a much longer lifespan.  In terms of cost, you can expect to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $150-350  USD for one of these recommended simple insulated vinyl type mentioned.  If you are thinking about the more durable and motorized options, think $2,500-4,000 USD for these swimming pool covers.

This seems like an elementary point, but you might not know how a plant, shrub or other tree behaves when it is out of season from when you purchase it.  You may fall in love with the colors of the flowers or like the shade that the leaves provide only to be disappointed when you find them plugging up your pool skimmer every other day.

This type of swimming pool landscaping is not available in all climate zones.

The point of having a pool is to be able to enjoy it.  The last thing you want to be hassled with is having to clean all your great landscaping ideas out of your pool time and again.  Sure, you could hire someone to do this or get one of those swimming pool covers, but it will still affect the performance and function of your pool equipment.  Your best bet would be to plan your pool landscaping ideas with respect to your climate and local conditions.

photo credit

You can see a lovely tropical setting happening in your backyard patio, with your outdoor fireplace, sitting on your chaise lounge listening to some great tunes, melting the night away.  The only problem is, if you live in a desert or more frost-prone climate, your tropical paradise oasis will quickly turn into a deserted island in the Sahara.  If you don’t match your landscaping to your climate, it will never survive and grow to be what you’d like.

With this in mind, keep native species in mind.  Native plants will do much better because, as their name implies, they have adapted over thousands of years to tolerate the weather conditions in your area.  Aside from this, they will likely bloom and go dormant at the times that would best suit your swimming season as well.  A term that is used for this type of use of native plants and thinking of natural water conservation is called xeriscape.  Xeriscaping can allow you to grow many different species of plants with minimal water use.  We are big fans of not only sustainable products and materials here at Patio Covers Place, but sustainable landscaping as well.  This is a wonderful option for swimming pool landscaping.

Let’s take the desert southwest, for example.  There, you can find structures that could shade your backyard, patio and pool landscape as well.  And, you can also have access to all the water you want – even though using it on landscaping can be considered a slightly irresponsible use of natural resources.  However, you could grow any number of plants and non-native species.  They would require excessive work and also force you to spend more time on them than enjoying your patio or pool.  Desert plants can have a wide variety of color and flowers that can bloom nearly year-round, depending upon species.

Hardscape Elements

This pool landscaping is highlighted by a stamped concrete pool deck and multi-colored gravel with a simple, repeating plant pattern.

There are also ‘hardscape’ features to consider.  In our example here, the plants and trees would be considered the landscaping, while the hardscape could include things like the rock, flagstone or patio pavers you intend to lay, creating some sort of path or walkway.

Great strides have been made in patio concrete designs as well, giving you the ability to paint, stain or stamp concrete in a way that can mimic any natural material.  We’ve written more extensively on this topic elsewhere in our ‘Patio Designs’ category if you’re looking for more specific help in that area.

photo credit

Your outdoor lighting is also something to consider.  Since we were talking about sustainability earlier, let’s continue that theme with a solar discussion for your lighting.  Things like solar garden lights are a great way to conserve energy and place points of interest in and around your swimming pool landscaping.

How far you want to go with your landscape designs is really up to you.  The ideas and material choices are essentially endless.  You can go for a more rustic look and add a nice looking patio cover to go poolside or go with something much more finished in its appearance.  Your patio furniture and other outdoor accessories are all part of your overall design as well.  Matching your outdoor fabric choices to blend in with your landscaping is a nice touch.

Let’s not forget to mention pool safety as well. While not necessarily your first consideration when planning your landscaping, but nonetheless important.  In many areas of the country, a pool fence is mandatory now in newer construction.  There are styles that are less obstructive to your visual line of sight, so they make great choices here.  The last thing you want is for your pool fence or other equipment to take away from your swimming pool landscaping design you worked so hard to create.