Thirty years ago every pool was a 20 x 40 rectangle. It sloped from 3 - 8 feet and had a diving board at one end. In fact, every pool followed the same format found in virtually every YMCA - and it was boring. Not that square isn’t beautiful, but as Frank Lloyd Wright left as a legacy, design and form should follow function.

What do you want from your pool and patio? Can these they work together harmoniously or should they be separate spaces for varying entertainment? These are questions that you should discuss with your Trilogy Builder and together you can build a perfect backyard. Today, many fiberglass pool manufacturers and pool builders are in the "shell game" (i.e. slam as many shells in the ground as one can in a season and don't worry with aesthetics). 

The idea behind the shell game of course, is to create the lowest price possible, because after all the ONLY thing a customer cares about is price, right? We know this is not the case. Many satisfied Trilogy customers have told us, that price was important, but what was more important is not paying more than they needed to for a quality pool.  When we introduced the FUSION line, we decided get out of the shell game.  We are charging more for our FUSION line than the Classic line, but you get much more value. An integral part of that value is integrated water features. Why do we believe every pool should have a water feature? 

A really fantastic pool builder in Florida explains it best: 

"...when you are sitting on the lanai, enjoying a cup of coffee, and reading the sunday morning paper with your back to the sun, you still should enjoy your pool."

The key is some kind of water feature in every backyard. This is a way to not only bring your pool up onto your patio, but it is a way to literally bring the outdoors in on those days to brisk to swim, but perfect for airing the house with open windows. While it may seem a little strong in opinion, every pool and patio needs some kind of water feature. It can be a simple urn pouring into a basin, or as elaborate as a tropical waterfall oasis.

The Sound of Silence

Water moving creates a wonderful white noise. The best quality of the sound of water is that it drowns out many of the other sounds you don’t want. Certainly all studies point to the relaxing calm and peace the sound of falling water can bring to your life. Let’s take a look at some of the basic water features and identify the pros and cons of each.

Bubblers (spring jets) - These are a fantastic addition to your pool. The require very little water and are economical to run around the clock.  

Spillways (spillover, spillover spa) - Refers to water spilling from one body of water to a second at a lower grade. Spillover spas are very common. If built correctly, they can be somewhat economical to run. Far more often, a large pump is used to overcome poor construction practices resulting in an expensive operational cost. 

Waterfalls - Much larger than a spillway, typically associated with rocks or boulders. these can require extremely large volumes of water. Beautiful for that oasis look, but very expensive to operate.

Sheer Descents -  These thin sheets of water are popular additions to pools. They do have a few drawbacks. First, they can be highly susceptible to wind at the more economical flow rates. The second, is that debris or calcium scale can build up in the fixture and cause the sheet to become irregular. 

Artistic Statuaries - There are many examples from spitting dolphins to the little boy doing his business that make for fantastic pool side water features. Keep in mind it doesn't take a lot of water to operate these and they can make a beautiful sound. A well place urn spilling into the pool can be simple, yet stunning. High wind can be a concern. 

Laminar Jets - These are very sensitive to correct installation, but will fascinate your guests. With almost a glass rod like appearance, everyone is typically drawn to touch the stream of water. Economical to operate, but sensitive to high winds. Can be dramatically lighted with fiber optic lights.