Hello from Westchester County, NY

[momo25]

We just built a house on 7 bucolic acres where the landscaping is very "natural" but hasn't been kept up in years. We are looking to install around a 20' x 40' pool with a outdoor kitchen. Should we start a conversation with a pool builder, landscape architect or another route to get going? Ideally we would have someone that can take into account our unique land surroundings.

With regards to pool, we are thinking shotcrete/gunite. Fiberglass seems appealing but worried about how slippery it might be, especially if we want it to have a Baja deck (or similar). Besides that, we would probably go with SWG and from what I've read on this forum so far, possibly a heat pump (we have solar) and propane heater.

Any thoughts/suggestions/comments are appreciated as well as recommendations for any contractors. Thanks!

 

[kimkats]

Hi and welcome to TFP! I would LOVE to see your property and house. It sounds wonderful. That will also allow us to guide you better with your pool.

Finding a builder-it may be along journey to find the best one for you and your property! Start calling any and all pool builders in your area to get that part started. With the current going ons build are out about a year or more in some areas! I would ask if the PB has a landscaper they like to work with when you talk to them. I would also call some landscapers on your own to get them out to talk about the pool and area around it. You are going to have to make sure the PB and landscapers can work as a team.

Kim

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome! Being slippery from fiberglass shouldn't be an issue if there are steps between levels. Our steps have a texture built into them for good grips. I do have one isolated smooth curve at the base of the pool that you can glide-down on, but it's not normally for standing anyways. Other than that, the gelcoat isn't slippery unless you have algae. Happy shopping!

 

[joboo7777]

We just built a house on 7 bucolic acres where the landscaping is very "natural" but hasn't been kept up in years. We are looking to install around a 20' x 40' pool with a outdoor kitchen. Should we start a conversation with a pool builder, landscape architect or another route to get going? Ideally we would have someone that can take into account our unique land surroundings.

With regards to pool, we are thinking shotcrete/gunite. Fiberglass seems appealing but worried about how slippery it might be, especially if we want it to have a Baja deck (or similar). Besides that, we would probably go with SWG and from what I've read on this forum so far, possibly a heat pump (we have solar) and propane heater.

Any thoughts/suggestions/comments are appreciated as well as recommendations for any contractors. Thanks!

7 acres in Westchester County?? That’s certainly hard to come by these days . I’m originally from Harrison, NY. Must be northern county?

In Texas, I found the Pool builders were not that interested in doing the landscaping. They did have some referrals but I ended up using my own landscaper which worked out for me.

If you need recommendations for landscapers in NY let me know. I know a few and would be happy to share.

 

[momo25]

7 acres in Westchester County?? That’s certainly hard to come by these days . I’m originally from Harrison, NY. Must be northern county?

In Texas, I found the Pool builders were not that interested in doing the landscaping. They did have some referrals but I ended up using my own landscaper which worked out for me.

If you need recommendations for landscapers in NY let me know. I know a few and would be happy to share.

We are in the Armonk/Bedford area so yes more northern Westchester. More than happy for suggestions on landscapers. Got lucky on the 7 acres, bought in 2018 when the market here was somewhat depressed.

Welcome! Being slippery from fiberglass shouldn't be an issue if there are steps between levels. Our steps have a texture built into them for good grips. I do have one isolated smooth curve at the base of the pool that you can glide-down on, but it's not normally for standing anyways. Other than that, the gelcoat isn't slippery unless you have algae. Happy shopping!

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.

Hi and welcome to TFP! I would LOVE to see your property and house. It sounds wonderful. That will also allow us to guide you better with your pool.

Finding a builder-it may be along journey to find the best one for you and your property! Start calling any and all pool builders in your area to get that part started. With the current going ons build are out about a year or more in some areas! I would ask if the PB has a landscaper they like to work with when you talk to them. I would also call some landscapers on your own to get them out to talk about the pool and area around it. You are going to have to make sure the PB and landscapers can work as a team.

Thanks. I've started contacting some builders and we have in the past. We had two builders come out last year, at back-to-back times, while we were still building the house, and one seemed more creative and seemed to appreciate the space while the other just seemed interested in building whatever we told him. Will re-engage the former at some point but it seems like we just need to find a PB with a vision.

I have attached some photos to give an idea of the area we would build on. You can see the entrance to the basement on the side, which we are saying is our "pool house" as it is fully finished and has a changing area and full bath just as you enter, with a bypass to the rest of the basement. Also our elevated deck steps down to the edge of where the intended pool area would be.

 

[kimkats]

Talk about Heaven on Earth! NICE job on picking out the lot!!! You will LOVE having the "pool house"! I can't wait to see what we come up with for your pool! This one is going to be fun!!

Kim