Just thinking back… It’s June 2020 in Minnesota and every outdoor public pool and beach is closed for an undetermined amount of time. Everything comes to a screeching halt. We are all at home, with no place to go. Seriously, in Minnesota where we are only guaranteed 3 months of warm weather (okay I may be exaggerating a little, but…), so now what?!
We have never experiences the amount of pool requests that we saw in 2020, and are still continuing into 2021. Our pool contractors are almost 100% sold out for 2021. Will this trend stick? Before 2020, it was nearly impossible to sell your home if it had a pool!
Since, we are in the thick of “POOL-ZILLA Apocalypse” I put together a few key questions we frequently get asked about pools. I also compiled several photos of swimming pools we installed during the summer of 2020 throughout the Twin Cities.
Pool Contractor vs. Landscape Contractor
David Kopfmann and his team have been designing pools for many years. We have expertise in both concrete and vinyl design and installation. One of the most common question we get is, “Who do I contact first, the pool contractor or the landscape company”. It all depends on who will act as the general contractor. If you want someone to manage the whole design and installation, you would contact a landscape design and build company, like us. When researching companies make sure they have experience in pool installation.
If you choose to manage it all on your own, things could get missed, which will delay the process. I would recommend contacting the pool company first in this scenario and they should have a good idea of what the city requirements are. Many times they have landscaping companies they work with and trust for preparing and grading the area, along with finishing the patio surface and enclosures around the pool after installation.
Concrete vs. Vinyl Pools
Vinyl pool construction has come a long way over the past 10 years. You can customize them with many different options. You can now add benches and sundecks, along with sleek stair design. Of course that all comes with an additional price, but much less than a custom concrete pool construction would cost you. For a long time auto covers weren’t easily added to vinyl pools, but guess what, now they are!
Concrete is great if you have a tight lot, desire a different shape, or want to include a vanishing edge. Obviously the options are endless with concrete, it just depends if you want to pay the price. Here are a few things we have noticed over the years and may help when choosing vinyl vs. concrete.
- It cost about 50% more to build a concrete pool vs. vinyl pool
- Yardscapes installs 75% vinyl pools vs. 25% concrete pools each year
Check out how a concrete pool is constructed here from a previous blog post.
Below is vinyl pool completed last summer 2020, designed by Lincoln Danforth.
Sunfish Lake Home in Mendota Heights. New Vinyl Pool Construction and Natural Stone Patio Surface
Not Your Typical Vinyl Pool Anymore. This Design is so Sleek and Modern.
All Complete and Ready for Use! This is a Stunner on Sunfish Lake in Mendota Heights.
Gorgeous Completed Vinyl Pool on Sunfish Lake, Minnesota
A few projects we installed while socially distancing over the past year…
A Before and After of a Custom Concrete Pool Remodel in Orono, MN
Wayzata, MN Vinyl Pool with a Pebbled Design Liner and Sundeck
A Custom Vinyl Pool at Night with Pool Lights and Landscape Lighting in Prior Lake, Minnesota
Bluestone Path with Limestone Steps Leading from the Lake to a Custom Vinyl Pool in Wayzata, MN
Wayzata, MN Lake Home with a Vinyl Pool and Bluestone Patio Surround
Custom Vanishing Edge Concrete Pool Looking out Over Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota
View from the Lake of the Custom Tiled Vanishing Edge Concrete Pool
Concrete Swimming Pool and Patio Area with Travertine Tile in Edina, MN
Aerial View of an Edina Concrete Pool Installation and Backyard Remodel
We are always here to answer questions! You can find our intake form here if you’d like us to take a look at any upcoming projects you may have!
