California Home Improvement Guide
Should You Put in a Swimming Pool?
Are you thinking about installing a swimming pool?
Anthony & Sylvan has achieved the prestige of being the premier designer and installer of residential swimming pools and spas in America. We have built more in-ground concrete pools than any other company in the nation.
If you are longing to take a dip in a pool right in your own backyard, and you have the room to install one, putting in a swimming pool can provide you with hours of relaxation and fun, as well as a great escape from the hot summer sun. But before you begin, you should assess what you want out of a personal swimming pool. Do you want a pool for swimming laps? To entertain? Or a pool to just relax in? Answering these questions will help you best determine the size and type of swimming pool to install.
Types of Swimming Pools
There are basically three types of outdoor swimming pools: above ground pools, in ground pools made of vinyl, and in ground pools made of concrete. Investigate the different types to best determine which will best suit your needs and tastes.
Before putting in a swimming pool, you should also know that you will need to plan on about four to eight hours a week on routine pool maintenance. Basic maintenance equipment includes a pool vacuum, a skimmer, and a water test kit. You will also need to add sanitizing chemicals when needed.
Energy Saving Windows
Window technology has improved dramatically in the past few years, largely with the goal of lowering energy bills. Some of the new features of energy saving, or energy efficient windows include double pane windows, and multiple layers of glazing for better insulation. Tinted glass coatings have been used to reduce heat gain through windows in warmer climates, and ‘Low-E’ glass coating, a recent development that reflects infrared heat radiation back into the room, has been used to reduce heat loss through the windows in colder climates.
Different Windows for Different Climates
Low energy windows are available in different varieties for different climate zones. Because of these different properties you should research the different types of glazing to find what is most suitable for your house, and where you live. For maximum energy saving, you may even want to research the possibility of different types of glazing for the four different sides of your house. If you do order different glazing for your different windows, be sure to keep track of which windows have which type of glazing, as they will probably look identical. That way you will be able to remember which is which when you order replacement windows.
