The Backyard Sanctuary You Always Wanted
Have you been wanting a backyard sanctuary but don’t know what to do first? Sometimes, the best way to begin is to create a wish list.
That’s what these Deck and Patio clients did. This is what they wanted for their outdoor sanctuary:
That’s what these Deck and Patio clients did. This was their list for an outdoor sanctuary:
— an in-ground vinyl-lined pool
— large patio area,
— outdoor kitchen,
— outdoor shower,
— fire pit,
— serene streams and waterfalls, and
— high-tech/energy-efficient pool components that are undetectable in the landscape.
“We were happy to assure them that we could bring together all the expertise necessary and design and organize it all,” says Deck and Patio’s Dave Stockwell. “In fact, incorporating outdoor technology with all the mechanics well hidden in beautiful settings fit right into our wheelhouse. It’s one of our trademarks.”
Energy-Efficient Pool
Insulation
The water in a pool is often around 85 or 90 degrees, while the surrounding soil is considerably cooler. Adding insulation around the outside of the pool wall, as we did for this project, creates a thermal break between the warm water and the soil that really saves energy by helping the pool water to retain its warmth.
Heaters/Pumps
We worked with the owners to find energy-efficient solutions for the whole project. There are many ways to increase efficiency:
To heat the pool, we added a hybrid system that uses both a gas heater and an electric heat pump. The heat pump acts like a reverse air conditioner, pulling in warmth from the air and transferring it into the pool. This design not only adds heat taken from the air — and not from electricity — but the gas heater can act as back up when the air temperature is very low or when creating heat more quickly is required.
The “variable speed pump” is an extremely efficient pump that allows low energy use by slowing down the motor dramatically. It decreases the amount of energy the pump uses. It can run twenty-four-seven much more efficiently than others pumps that are used only a few hours a day.
Automation
Raising and lowering the speed of the pump is programmed by computer and they can control when it turns on and off. The computer will also monitor the chemical levels in the pool and decrease or increase them as required.
Hiding the Automation Equipment
Deck and Patio hid the pool equipment away, up a delightful pathway, behind the waterfalls.
We designed and built the streams and waterfalls to flow through berm with moss rock. The gentle sounds of two streams leading to two separate waterfalls, as well as the splash of jet sprays, screen out any sounds from high-tech pool equipment.
This serene backyard sanctuary gives no hint of high-tech energy efficient components supporting it all. The sounds of waterfalls, streams and sprays add tranquility to backyard retreat.
An outdoor shower stands at base of stepping stone pathway (right) that leads up to pool equipment.
Sometimes clients want more than a pool. This newly created backyard sanctuary comprises an in-ground vinyl-lined pool, large patio area, outdoor kitchen, outdoor shower, fire pit, two streams and two waterfalls.
Note: Updating Your Pool
With vinyl pools you can also change a staircase, add a bench or swim-out, change the coping, and of course change your old liner.
Liner color choices are almost limitless and it is amazing what a new liner does to an old faded pool as seen in this photo. There are even pebbled colored liners in a tan tone that make them look more like a gunite pool.
Their sanctuary’s outdoor kitchen includes ample work area, barbecue, sink, refrigerator and eating bar with bar stools.