When you think of the ultimate luxurious swimming pool, you probably picture a pool with water feature. This is hardly surprising – pool water features add design interest, making your pool more attractive. They can also improve the quality of the time you spend in the pool. But when choosing a water feature design, what should you consider to ensure you are making the right decision?
We have made the process easier for you by taking a look at the various different types of water feature available, and discussing exactly how these features can make your pool a more relaxing and welcoming place.
The most popular water feature designs
Whether you are looking for something grand and opulent, or something more sleek and subtle, there is a pool water feature out there for you. Here are some of the main types of water feature, so you can get to know the terms and gain a clearer idea of what you are looking for.
1. The Sunpod
This is our personal favourite, as it is exclusive to Compass Pools. Designed by the expert team who brought you the super-strong ceramic core fibreglass pool that cleans itself, the Sunpod is an unobtrusive little water feature which also manages to be highly attractive and stylish.
The Sunpod contains a series of bubblers, which create small water jets. These gurgle pleasantly at a relaxing pace, enabling you to enjoy the sounds of bubbling water along with an eye-catching visual display.
One of the main advantages of the Sunpod is its extreme versatility. It can be installed in practically any way you choose – along one or more sides of your pool, wrapping around a corner of the pool, or dividing your pool and spa areas in a distinctive and attractive way. The possibilities are endless.
As a licensed Compass Pools dealer for the Sydney area, we can supply and install the Sunpod along with any Compass pool of your choosing.
2. The deck jet
Deck jets might not look impressive when turned off, but switch them on and they burst into life, spraying water into your pool, seemingly from the ground, in attractive arcs. You can position them practically anywhere you want around your poolside area, enabling you to create fascinating designs with the water, and also letting you have a lot of fun standing under the arcs and running through them. This is a great way of cooling off when the weather gets too hot!
Deck jets can look even more attractive with LED lighting, which can light up the water in a variety of changing colours and really make it sparkle.
3. The water wall
When it comes to sophisticated, luxurious pool water features, the wall water feature is one of the most highly desirable. It creates a constant cascade of water into your pool, via a wall-like structure which is built at one side of the pool. Within this wall is a water blade which pushes the water through the wall so it falls back into your pool in a stunning display.
Water feature wall ideas are numerous – your water wall feature can be tiled in any way you like, to make it coordinate well with your pool area and the architectural style of your property. This creates a seamless design which gives your home and backyard a stylish and streamlined look.
4. The waterfall
If you like the idea of a water wall feature but want something which looks and feels more natural, perhaps you would prefer the thought of having your own waterfall in your backyard. A pool waterfall feature creates a truly relaxing and refreshing environment, transporting you into the heart of nature and making you feel as if you are miles away from anywhere in your own personal lagoon.
A pool waterfall feature can be created by arranging rocks and boulders in a stacked design at one side of your pool. The water cascades down them and falls into the pool at the bottom, exactly as it would in a natural setting. This gives you the ultimate calm and peaceful setting where you can relax and unwind.
5. The scupper
Scuppers are ideal when you want a water feature which adds interest and personality without being too obtrusive. They are a series of slots and spouts attached to a wall next to your pool, arranged in different shapes and designs so the water pours out of them in different ways. For example, you might prefer a large sheet of water or smaller chutes.
You can make scuppers look even more attractive by adding lighting, as this picks out the different shapes made by the water as it falls.
6. The fountain
The all-time classic water feature design. Fountains never go out of style, and as there are so many different varieties available, you can always find a fountain to suit your tastes and coordinate well with the style of your pool.
Most fountains are fixed within the pool so the water is pushed straight up and falls back down into the pool again, but some are designed to float. There are a huge amount of fabulous designs to choose from, from traditional to contemporary, all of which add significant design interest to your pool.
What advantages do water features offer?
The most obvious answer to this question is that a water feature can make your pool look more interesting and attractive, giving you the opportunity to express yourself by creating a custom look for your pool and making it totally unique. By adding extra effects such as LED lighting, you can achieve truly spectacular results which will bring your pool to life and make it a real showpiece in your backyard.
However, water features also offer a variety of other benefits. They increase the versatility of your pool and make the time you spend there more fun, particularly for children, who love splashing around and playing in water jets. You can spend more quality family time in a pool with water feature than one without.
A water feature also increases your ability to relax in the pool. The continuous sound of running water is soothing, and adds to the benefits of water when it comes to reducing stress and increasing your sense of wellbeing. It brings a sense of peace to your pool, enabling you to unwind and ease the pressures of modern life in your own private oasis away from the rest of the world.
Also importantly, installing a water feature can enable you to get the most out of your investment. Pools are expensive, and when you purchase a pool you hope that it will increase the value of your home. Adding a water feature does cost extra, but it boosts the possibility that your pool will help you achieve a higher valuation for your home. Pools with a water feature look more attractive and show prospective buyers that you have put a lot of time and effort into the appearance of your property. This increases the appeal of your home and shows them that they are buying a property which will not need a lot of work doing to it.
There also is another option to consider. If your site is sloping, you might want to think of building an infinity pool which will further increase the value of your property. Infinity pools look amazing, they look like they blend with the environment thanks to their recessed edge and it is a constant pleasure to enjoy those great views, whether it is green nature, the sea or the ocean.
When is the best time to install a water feature?
A pool water feature can be installed at any time. If you know from the outset that you want a water feature as part of your pool, it makes sense to have it installed at the same time as your pool is built. This way, the additional pipework required to carry the water to the water feature from the pool can be installed while the plumbing for the pool is being completed, giving you a working water feature from the beginning.
However, if you would prefer to split the cost and have a water feature installed at a later date, you can easily achieve this by letting your pool builder know that you would like the option of adding a water feature in the future. This way, the infrastructure can be put in place, so it will be easy to add a water feature at a more convenient time when you have planned and budgeted for it.
It is also possible to fit a water feature to most pools retrospectively, if you choose the right water feature and select an experienced and reputable pool builder who understands the unique requirements of installing a water feature.
If you are thinking of building a new fibreglass pool with a water feature, do not forget to think of the smart options that make your pool intelligent. Intelligent pools can clean themselves, they have a centralised pool management system and are friendly towards the environment. The lower operating costs will also positively impact your family budget.
More information about water features
If this article has interested you and you would like to find out more about water feature design options, or you are a pool owner wanting a water feature added to your pool, Compass Pools Sydney can help. We are specialist builders of Compass fibreglass pools, and we are highly experienced at installing a wide variety of water features, including the exclusive Sunpod which is only available with Compass pools.
If you would like more help and advice, please contact us, and our team will be happy to discuss your requirements.