If this is the year you’re installing a pool in the backyard, odds are the 2024 calendar is up, and markers are at the ready to “x” off the days until ground breaks! It’s no wonder that swimming pools are a hot commodity in Florida. The luxury of stepping out the back door and diving into the beckoning blue water whenever suits can have many homeowners rethinking the important things in life and changing up their schedules.
Backyard swimming pools provide a range of benefits making it a worthwhile investment for many Floridians. If you’re adding up reasons to take the plunge and get a pool in this year’s budget, here are some reasons that may have you diving in to the idea.
Entertainment value
Swimming pools create a natural gathering place. Family and friends will love coming together to hang out—whether there’s any swimming going on or not! People tend to gravitate toward bodies of water and your pool won’t be an exception.
Pools appeal to people of all ages and age groups mingle well together in them. Kids tend to splash and play near the edges while adults are more apt to break out the floats and head toward the middle. Whether sunning or swimming, everyone is guaranteed to have an enjoyable time.
Rest, relax, and keep fit on the side
If your pool is equipped with a water wall or some other water feature, you’re sure to realize the added benefit equated with the sound of running water and human relaxation. No one exactly knows the “why” of it all, but the truth of it is undeniable.
Being on or around water slows brainwaves which, of course, lends toward relaxation. It can also stimulate creative thinking. And, we believe both can work hand in hand.
The act of swimming increases the release of endorphins in the body. This leads to feelings of euphoria and happiness. Not only will you experience feelings of well-being, but the exercise involved is beneficial too. Swimming tones muscles and increases stamina and body strength. It provides low-impact exercise so is easy on the joints making it the perfect exercise plan for the entire family.
Take that a step further and make pool time a commitment. Rather than having to run out to the gym, gather the entire family and head outdoors. Then, splash your way into physical fitness!
Increases property value
You may not plan to have your home on the market anytime soon, but it doesn’t hurt to consider the fact that installing a swimming pool increases your home’s value. How much, of course, depends on varying factors such as size, materials used, and the finished product.
It’s important to search out the best company for the job. And, unless you are a skilled pool contractor, this is not a do-it-yourself (DIY) experience. Ask around about contractors, especially if you have friends or family who have had pools installed. Personal references mean a lot.
We recommend scheduling appointments with three contractors and having them come out to discuss your needs and give you an estimate. Then compare and contrast the bids you receive before making your final decision.
Enclosing the area
Deciding to enclose your pool gives your family additional benefits that we’d like to quickly share.
Private space
The number one reason that homeowners decide to install a mesh screen enclosure is to provide their family with a bit of privacy. Neighbors are great, but sometimes it’s nice to have a place to gather for a quiet family game night or a family birthday celebration.
Mesh screens won’t completely shield your family from view, but they create the allusion of privacy and the effect is pretty amazing! Some homeowners report that had they realized what a difference it made, they would have installed the enclosure much sooner.
Bugs be gone
Living in a subtropical environment, we have more than our share of bugs. At times, it can seem as if all of them have descended on your yard in the same moment. Don’t be ashamed to admit that you’ve given in to the barrage and retreated to the house despite the burning citronella and heavy aroma of bug-repellant wafting through the air. We’ve all done it—more than once.
The finely woven screen on your new enclosure will block all manner of insects. Mosquitoes and noseeums included. Can you imagine having a night swim with no bugs around? Whether you answered yes or no, now you can look forward to enjoying the experience in real time.
UV protection
Even though mesh screen enclosures don’t block 100% of the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays, they provide varied degrees of shade. Factors such as the type of roofing you have above you and enclosure placement have a bearing on the specific amount of UV protection your new enclosure provides your family.
Less direct sun contact means you won’t be pulling the kids out of the water as often to reapply the sunscreen. They’re going to love that news!
Keeps dirt out
Mesh screen enclosures are constructed to meet Florida’s strict building codes that means when the storms blow through, they stand strong. Dirt and debris aren’t breaking through to trash your space.
It’s going to be nice to walk outside and enjoy your coffee the morning after a storm rolls through without having to tidy up first. And speaking of tidy… The kids won’t be as apt to jump in the pool with stuff from the yard all over their feet once your enclosure is up. Less skimming and more lounging is always a good thing.
Safety features too
If you have a swimming pool and young children, it’s hard not to worry about the “what if” of a child being left unattended long enough to get to the water. Even if it’s not something you even remotely dwell on, the thought manages to pop to the surface now and then.
Once your pool is enclosed, keeping the kids—or your pets—away from the area is as simple as flipping the lock on the door. That’s going to provide some peace of mind. And, these days, every ounce of that you can muster is important!
What are you waiting for?
If you’ve already decided that 2024 is to be your family’s “Year of the Pool,” congratulations! If you’re still considering, let’s recap.
Installing a swimming pool will provide your family—and friends—a place to gather that has something for everyone! They can relax in the sun or under the stars—and if you’ve enclosed the space, you aren’t going to be invaded by bugs. Your pool is going to stay cleaner. And your family will have a private area to hang out in that provides you with some shade as well.
Moreover, life passes by quickly. Spending time poolside with your family guarantees that you’ll be storing up memories that you will treasure for a lifetime.