Pools were once fairly simple: a hole in the ground, varying somewhat in size, with or without a diving board.
These days, back yards are considered as extra rooms — and by extension, pools are part of the furniture.
So homeowners are not only thinking more about the aesthetics of their pools, but they're also considering other options, including "spools" — so-called because they're oversize spas or very small pools.
Foothills residents Tracy and Horace Noland opted for a spool in the long, narrow back yard of their 10-year-old home — "a really weird space," according to Tracy.
"It's too big to be a spa but too little to be a pool," Tracy explains. "You can't do laps in it, but our two kids like to play around in it."
The Nolands paid $36,000 for their spool and waterfall, and another $50,000 plus for the landscaping. The surrounding grass, oleander and shade trees, and the sound of the waterfall, make it "worth every penny," she says.
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Carl Ragel, owner of Carl Ragel's Natural Pools & Gardens, who installed the Nolands' spool, says they're increasingly popular. People can do water exercises or cool off without the headache of a lot of maintenance, he says.
Ragel's company landscapes as well, and he says fitting a pool or spool in with your existing back yard and house is all-important.
For other tips, we quizzed a few more of Tucson's pool experts:
● DO spend time on the finer details. Ragel says he's seen pools in which the pump was placed conspicuously in the middle of entertaining space, for example, to save money. "It could have been placed 20 feet away to the side and would only have cost the homeowner another $500."
● DON'T take no for an answer. Perhaps you have a favorite leafy tree next to where the pool is going to be, and your pool company is telling you it has to come down. It may simply be trying to keep costs down and make its job easier, when another $2,000 will buy you an extra filtration system that can handle the shedding leaves.
● DO consider building your own. A growing section of the market is taking pool construction into its own hands, says Chris Ryan, general manager of Build Your Own Pool, with offices here and in Mesa, and with plans to expand to other states.
The firm helps with design and inspects the project throughout, but it lets homeowners schedule and communicate with approved contractors and pay them directly. Ryan says his company saves customers 7 percent to 14 percent on costs.
It's a popular option among the likes of engineers or people who are building their own homes, he says. "They tend to put a high value on not only the consultation and control of the process, but feeling like they have the ability to oversee and know what's going on."
● DON'T get too hung up about a pool's location. Overexposure to the sun can be addressed through landscaping and use of shade trees.
When placing a pool, do consider whether it can be fenced off, even if you don't plan to fence it yourself.
When they were looking to move into a house in Oro Valley three years ago, Louise and Pete Harrison rejected several homes with pools that couldn't be gated without "taking up the whole yard," says Louise, the mother of two young children.
● DO consider the environment. Solar panels or collectors are "one of the best investments a homeowner can make," says Mark Ragel, president of Patio Pools and Carl Ragel's brother. "They extend the season as long as two months."
There's an initial outlay of $3,500 to $5,500, but there's tax relief on the the purchase. And you can expect to get your money back with the savings on heating bills in as little as four years.
Also, try variable-speed pumps. They use 60 percent to 70 percent less electricity than regular single- or two-speed pumps, but they still circulate water adequately.
● DO investigate the pool company thoroughly. It doesn't take much capital to start one up. Check references and ask friends, relatives and work colleagues for recommendations. Find out if the company has its own business premises and whether complaints have been filed against it. Go with an established company, one with a National Spa and Pool Institute logo, or one that uses subcontractors certified by the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals.
● Contact freelance reporter Gillian Drummond at GCDrummond@aol.com.
» What's cool in pools
• Bold, new plaster colors such as bright green are big in the California market. The makers of Pebble Tec have developed a granite-look surface called Pebble Sheen, and also Pebble Fina, which looks like plaster but is more durable, its makers say.
• Decking that ties in with your house and landscape is a plus. More people are going for flagstone or colored concrete, although traditional concrete toppings such as Kool Deck are still lower in temperature underfoot.
• Pop-up cleaning heads built into the bottom of the pool or step are said to be better than regular pool vacuums. They "sweep" debris into suspension and send it down a skimmer or main drain.
• Consider a beach entry with zero depth at the water line, or shallow "shelves" where small children can splash around. The downside: These take up valuable pool space.