Offering an all-natural organic pool as a pool design option to green-savvy homeowners will soon be essential to meet client demand.
After all, the organic market is a $39 billion industry— and it’s overflowing into the swimming pool design business. In fact, The Organic Trade Organization says 51% of families are buying more organic products than just one year ago. With organic consumerism on the rise, homeowners are adapting organic principles into all areas of their lifestyles and will soon influence pool builders to adapt to the green market.
In 2015, natural pools are beginning to pop up in places like Minneapolis, where the first public natural swimming pool recently opened (here's a video).
To meet the upcoming demand of this growing trend, here's what you need to know when a client asks for an organic pool.
While you’re probably familiar with the term “natural”, the key word describes something new when applied to a natural swimming pool. Various eco-friendly flora and anti-microbial fauna are strategically placed in and around the pool. That means no harsh chemicals for upkeep.
A pool with no harsh chemicals will be an asset to homeowners who embrace the organic lifestyle. They will appreciate a pool free of chlorine for themselves and their families.
To keep the pool clean, the strategically-placed plants act as a mini eco-system to naturally filter and balance the pool.
When designed properly, natural pools are safe and efficient options for homeowners.
Inevitably, clients will be asking for a natural swimming pool design. Here’s a few links to get you started.
It's bound to happen sooner or later if the question hasn't been asked already: Can you build us a natural swimming pool?
When a homeowner asks for a natural swimming pool, make sure you:
Communicate with the homeowner by listening to their needs. Pay attention to their lifestyle to evaluate whether a natural swimming pool is the best option for them.
For example, in a country home, a natural swimming pool can look like an old-fashioned swimming hole or a backyard pond. If the house is more modern, perhaps an urban eco-friendly design would be a better fit. Though plant or gravel filters are always needed nearby, they can be disguised or hidden for a more modern-looking landscape.
Solar heating systems can be applied to natural pools the same way they are applied to traditional swimming pools.
Explain to your client a natural pool is similar in price to a regular pool, however the yearly maintenance can be less expensive because there are no chemicals to buy. A homeowner can also save on weekly visits from a pool maintenance company.
While natural swimming pools seem effortless for homeowners, there are a few points of caution worth mentioning. First, natural pool technology is relatively new to the United States. Also, instead of a crystal clear blue, the water is more of a natural-looking green color, which homeowners might not find as aesthetically pleasing.
The flowing water and plants, natural pools can often attract snakes and frogs. These creatures are beneficial because they tend to eat any insects around the pool such as mosquitos. If the homeowner is squeamish or doesn’t want to swim with these pets, a natural swimming pool may not be the right option for them.
If the homeowner has a large family or lots of people frequently swimming in the pool, the plants used to filter might not be adequate. Make sure to communicate with the homeowner and ask how the pool will be used.
Want to start designing your own natural pool design project? Use 3D outdoor living design software like Vip3D, pool design software such as Pool Studio.