Design - Build

The pool and spa industry has always wowed the world with gorgeous bodies of water. However, it takes a lot of work to get there. From meeting clients and landing projects to shotcrete installation, plastering and plumbing, here’s a look at what builders go though to reach that beautiful ending.

 

Check All | Uncheck All

Documents

The History of Swimming Pools

Ever wonder how swimming pools came to be? Check out this historical review.

An Artistic, Retracting Pool Enclosure

This retracting pool enclosure in Tennessee is as beautiful as it is functional.

The Digital-Design Evolution

On large pool projects, AutoCad and BIM keep everyone on the same page.

Understanding Soils

The key to a properly-supported swimming pool is knowing what's underground.

Exporting Elegance

Builder Joan Roca creates an inviting poolscape in a lush Central American setting.

Luxury Among the Vines

California's scenic Central Coast is the backdrop for this outstanding project from Barefoot Pools.

Spotlight: A Cool Renovation

A Bel-Air pool gets a beautiful restoration.

4 Ways Building Software Can Win More Customers

Builders can use software to win a client's trust and close more deals.

What You Can Do With An Aboveground Pool

In this pictorial, manufacturers show us just how pretty an aboveground pool can be.

Spotlight: Spectacular Caribbean Pool

This dual-level swimming pool boasts a gorgeous design and a stunning view of the Caribbean Sea.

Help Your Customers Buy Your Pool

By offering financing options, you make it easier for a customer to say "yes" to a pool.

The Art of Understatement

What constitutes superb swimming pool and exterior design? One of the design greats, David Tisherman, shares his thoughts.

Home Sweet Houzz

As Houzz takes the Internet by storm, pool builders share how it has benefitted them.

Dead Zones: How They Happen and How to Avoid Them

Dead zones are places in the pool the circulation current can't reach. Eliminate them with the right pump and mixing strategy.

Spotlight: Stone Cold Beauty

An abandoned quarry becomes a breathtaking backyard pool in the Berkshires.

A Virtuoso in Tile

This incredible project features wall-to-wall tile, koi ponds, a 12-person spa and more than 5,500 fiber optic strands. And did we mention it's shaped like a violin?

A Water Feature Straight from the Past

Pool designer/builder Bill Drakeley was asked to create a unique water feature that perfectly fits in with its colonial surroundings.

Transformation by Design

Designer/builder Kevin Fleming discusses the transition from template-based production work to high-end custom projects.

Transformation by Design

Designer/builder Kevin Fleming discusses the transition from template-based production work to high-end custom projects.

A Small-Space Fiberglass Pool Installation

A steep hill, a small backyard and little room for error — while there was a lot at stake, designer/builder Jason Hughes nevertheless accomplished this beautiful fiberglass pool installation.

A Wise Succession Decision

Merry and Charles Wise are leaders in the building industry. They're now set for retirement, but to whom are they passing their business? The answer will surprise you.

There's No Place Like Home Shows

Home shows provide a great opportunity for pool and spa retailers to meet qualified customers. Here, a builder shares her advice for making home shows work for you.

Fun in the Florida Sun

The Florida Keys provide the drama and setting for this delightful party pool, built for a professional hockey player and his pals.

Egyptian Echoes

This over-the-top Egyptian-inspired project will serve double duty as a residential paradise — and set for an upcoming reality show.

Spotlight: A Beautiful Steel And Quartz Pool

This rectangular pool sounds old-fashioned, but take a look at its stunning quartz tile and you'll see it's a modern beauty.

LED Lights Just Make Cents

With serious cost savings, long life and aesthetic benefits, LED lights are more popular than ever. Don't believe us? Read this story and be convinced.

The Spa In Focus

This backyard utilizes a portable spa in a gorgeous installation.

The Basics of Fountain Command and Control

More and more customers are looking for fountains to accent their pool or stand alone in their yard. Here, an expert explains just some of the fountain options made possible with automation and controls.

An Inside Look at a Pool Build from 1963

Beautiful images reveal the pool building process as it was a half century ago.

Transform "Plain Jane" Into Something Extraordinary with Artificial Rock

An overview of the variety of artificial rock and how you can use it on your next project.

In the information age, the key to success is rapid access to the exact information you need, the needle in the great haystack of digital content. That's why we created the AQUA Toolbox — to help you quickly zero in on the facts and background necessary for good business decisions. The AQUA Toolbox gathers the most important features and stories from the magazine and website under the most important content categories, and provides them to you in a clean, easy-to-access PDF. Simply complete the free online registration and this modern library of pool and spa related learning is yours!

Want even more great content? AQUA Magazine is the top resource for retailers, builders and service professionals in the spa and pool industry. Every month, thousands of industry professionals turn to AQUA for its valuable mix of news, trends and product coverage. Get your FREE subscription! SUBSCRIBE NOW