Planning Water Features and Pool Lighting Early

Why plan features before the shell

A pool is shaped in layers. The excavation sets the footprint, the steel sets the form, and the concrete shell is applied under pressure on top of it. Many water features need to be part of that structure: the walls, the ledges and the plumbing all have to be designed in, not bolted on.

That is why a good designer asks about features in the first meetings. Once the shell has been shot, adding a feature means cutting into finished work. It can be done on a renovation, but it is simpler and cleaner when the feature is on the drawings from day one.

Infinity edges and sheer descents

An infinity edge is designed so that the water appears to extend into the horizon. The pool seems to fall away over a ledge, which works best where there is a view or a drop in the land. Because the effect depends on the geometry of the wall, it has to be built into the structure.

Sheer descents pour water gently into the pool from the pool or spa wall. They come in various configurations, from a sheet-of-glass effect to sheets of rain-like droplets, and range from a few inches wide to several feet. The soothing sound of falling water is part of the appeal.

Tanning ledges

A tanning ledge, also called a sunshelf or baja bench, is a flat shelf typically placed at the entrance of the pool. It is a place for a lounge chair, and for anyone who wants to stay cool without being fully submerged or baking in direct sun. For families with young kids it can also become the favorite spot in the pool.

The company's published Greenwich case study includes a tanning ledge alongside a built-in spa. Because a ledge is a shape in the shell, its depth, its size and its position all get decided at the design stage.

Waterfalls and fountains

Waterfalls are a classic addition to nearly any pool style, and they are popular with kids. All American builds them in natural rock and flagstone, and also as spa spillovers, where the spa overflows into the pool. Each of these affects the grading, the wall and the pump capacity, so they need to be settled early.

Fountains can create a focal point anywhere in the pool, or stand alone as a separate feature. They add ambiance, especially at night when accented with LED lights. A fountain is one of the easier features to picture in the showroom, where you can see how the water moves.

Lighting that is planned, not added

LED lighting can accent the whole project or be built into custom features such as rainfalls, bubblers and steps. A little light goes a long way, and the placement matters more than the number of fixtures. Lights need wiring and conduit, and those are far easier to run before the pool is finished.

Lighting also changes how a pool is used. Steps become visible, a waterfall glows, and the backyard becomes a place to sit in the evening. The company's portfolio includes dusk photos of pools with fire bowls, laminar jets and lit water, which shows how the same pool reads differently after dark.

Questions to settle in the design meeting

• Which features do you want now, and which might you want later?
• Where does the land slope, and does it suit an infinity edge or a waterfall?
• Where will the lounge chairs go, and does a tanning ledge belong at the entry?
• Should the spa spill into the pool?
• Which parts of the pool and landscape do you want lit at night?
• How will the pump and plumbing handle the features together?

Features you might add later can still be planned for now. Running conduit or leaving room in the plumbing is far easier during construction, and it keeps your options open.

Pictures don't do moving water justice, so it helps to see it in person. The All American showroom in Bridgeport has working water features, finishes and lighting demonstrations, so you can see and hear what you are choosing before you commit. It is a good way to find out what you like.

If you are planning a pool in Fairfield County or Westchester and want to talk through features and lighting, call (203) 433-6808 or book a design meeting with the All American team.