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Archive for May, 2012
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Posted on: May 22nd, 2012 by Team FS
Pool Houses & Pavilions make for a perfect poolside structure.
Years ago if you mentioned pool houses and pavilions, you might’ve been talking about a very rich family. It is quite easy to consider palatial estates and luxury dwellings as the only residences for which these installations would fit. The truth is that a pool house can be erected quite easily near your backyard pool. The process is simple when you have a company that knows how to do it properly and within budget. There is a wide range of styles and models to choose from.
Looking seriously at pool houses and pavilions.
We will not mince words here: not just everyone can afford to have someone build them a pool house or pavilion. However, for those that can do afford it—and keep in mind that having a pool house is still considered a luxury in these parts—having a pool pavilion can actually give you some ideas as to how to use and maximize the limited space you have in your home. A pavilion can be effectively constructed with the goal in mind of giving a distorted (in a good way, of course) sense of a larger space in such a limited area.
There are actually fixed “patterns” that one can use when trying to build your very own pool pavilion. For one, it is already considered a given that most pool house ideas should at least start with a white base in the majority of your pieces, only to be suitably drawn out by the contrasting dark colors that you may carefully scatter around the area. In this way, no matter how wide or narrow the space of your patio is, this sense of “purity” can actually have a calming effect on the eyes of one who happens to wander in (or out, depending on how you want it) the patio.
On the other hand, if you want to be stylishly modern, then you can always go with the usual mix and match combinations that all contemporary fashion designers seem to be so adept at. For example, a striped rug which you may have positioned at the center can serve as the “centrepiece” in which it can be surrounded by all the relative pieces that can exude a sense of “brightness”, which may either, be those coming from simple base colors or just a simple pattern to base your other pieces around.
So, why should you choose to invest in a pool house then? it may not be readily apparent, but it really is quite simple: it can be used as a recreation space when there are no other “spaces” left to hold a, say, party. If you have noticed majority of the parties that are being held inside some houses, having the sight of a pool inside a house can cause most guests to gush at how in the world the owner can afford to build a pool inside his or her house. Know what else would knock their socks off? Yup, a pool pavilion can do the trick.
Think about this for a sec: you just can’t expect everyone to know everyone if everyone of your guests (yes, this may be redundant, but you get the point) is holed up into their little places inside your house. Bringing them outside your house—ergo, within the vicinity of your pool—should makes sense if you want your little soiree to be a smashing success. And yes, having an open pool pavilion can help you achieve that. See, it’s a sensible investment, after all.
Pool House Ideas
A swimming pool is, of course, made for swimming. However, as we have just proven with the points we had made in the previous section, a pool can be the primary social hub of your whole household… provided that you know where to place some things in their “proper” place.
Yes, we do understand that not everyone can be an interior (or is that pool-terior?) designer. It’s a good thing that we’re here then! For starters, here’s what you need to know about every pool pavilion area: not only will you need a dressing room for the ladies (and the men and the kids, of course) to change into their summer best, you should also have the foresight to situate a convenient shower near or outside the pool and not inside your house; otherwise, you will have to content yourself with going after the wet mess they have made. And before we forget, you may also have to place some well-situated seats or stools, a mini-kitchen (or heck, even a grill can do) and, sure enough, you may have to go the whole mile and build a fireplace while you’re around it.
Okay, are those enough pool house ideas for now? Well… not quite. But that doesn’t mean we’ll just leave you out in the muck! If it’s ideas you want, it’s ideas you’ll be getting! And here are some of the best of ‘em:
- Wet/Dry Bar
What kind of party doesn’t have a bar to begin with? None, that’s what! If you want to play amateur bartender and mix your buds some drinks, then a wet bar shouldn’t be that hard to install; just connect the sink to a plumbing coming from the house or even the sprinkler system, and you’re in like Flynn. And yes, a dry bar should also make sense because… well, it’s tradition! You’ve got to at least put a (literally) dry place somewhere in the pool area where a tired body can drink in peace… or have some fun, it’s your pick.
- Mini-kitchen
A closed grill situated between the main kitchen and the pool makes too much sense at this point that it’s almost clichéd. Want something different? Then try bringing some portable electric appliances. For one, an electric range and oven can be used in lieu of a traditional, “gas-powered” one. Of course, you also have to make sure that the appliances are plugged into the sockets that area relatively away from any body of water. The more you know…
There are more things that you can put or construct inside your pool pavilion. But if you find yourself starved for grand schemes and designs, then you can just call on the next best thing—FS Landscaping Contractors. Or if you want a pre-fabricated pool house or pavilion kit then you can contact us at Froehlich’s Farm & Garden and we can design and build a pre-fabbed unit for you.
There are more than a couple of factors to consider prior to building pool houses and pavilions. For one, you’ve got to get that ever-elusive permit to have one constructed in your property. And you’ve also got to figure whether you need the help in finishing the job… and most likely, you may need it.
Hence, you can just go ahead and have someone bid for their services for you. Better yet, ask anyone from your trusted friends or acquaintances if they know anyone who they can refer to you, since that always seems to work out fine.
 Start the planning process early. Take a look at your surroundings in the springtime and arrange your budget. Map of the area where the pavilion or pool will be located. Calling your contractor for a good heart-to-heart talk regarding your plans and get designs and estimates laid out. The most experienced designers and contractors know exactly how to make the most of your resources to get the best for your money. Remember that there’s no need to rush into building a pool pavilion just because summer is just around the corner. Carefully outline your plan and connect with the right people to help you achieve your goals. Once you’ve established your structure and all the installations are completed you will find that your dreams of pool houses and pavilions could come true.
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Posted on: May 18th, 2012 by Team FS
Bring Your Back Yard to Life
Outdoor living has played a major role in the landscape design and architecture for many backyards in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. With the economy woes and building market declining residents are turning to renovating their existing homes and creating a place on there property to relax and enjoy a vacation like retreat. Other elements such as an outdoor fireplace, firepits, kitchen areas and shade structures such as pavilions and gazebos are becoming the popular choices when planning and designing these areas.
Unilock Pre-Built Fireplaces
Outdoor fireplaces are growing in popularity with the outdoor living craze featured in many Home and Garden. Magazines and web-publishers frequently post beautiful photos of large stone fireplaces and homeowners are now demanding fire places, not just fire pits in their outdoor living rooms.
 At FS Landscaping Contractors we specialize in designing and building these wonderful features. We have custom built fireplace options to fireplace kit options. Natural stone to Paver options. The options are endless. This particular property in Doylestown, Pennsylvania features a custom built, stone veneer fireplace with double wood boxes and full length hearth. We used a red brick to accent the arch in the fire box to add unique detail.
No landscape and hardscaping design element will better anchor an outdoor living space than a custom built outdoor fireplace.
Outdoor fireplaces are growing in popularity with the outdoor living craze featured in many Home and Garden. Magazines and web-publishers frequently post beautiful photos of large stone fireplaces and homeowners are now demanding fire places, not just fire pits in their outdoor living rooms.
There is a calm tranquil ambiance that surrounds an outdoor fireplace. The light and glow of the fire invites guests to sit down, relax and have peace of mind. Proper design features for outdoor fireplaces encourage conversation and sooths the soul. Design and installation of these popular features can be very technical and it is important to educate yourself on the proper construction techniques beforehand to avoid costly mistakes.
That is why it is important to choose FS Landscaping Contractors to design and build your new outdoor living space today. Click here to contact us for your free design consultation.
Outdoor Fireplace Video
The picture below features Unilock’s Tuscany style design for an outdoor fireplace. This particular element is easy to install and takes no more than an hour to install with a proper concrete footing. Wood and gas are both options with the Tuscany Fireplace. Fire box, wood box and hearth are all sold seperate. The price to install in picture below in full is around $11,500.00 to complete.
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Posted on: May 8th, 2012 by Team FS
Fiberglass Pools New Jersey
Swimming pools are the greatest, are they not? If you are too bummed that the beach is too far from where you live in, then investing in a custom swimming pool should make sense to your… err, senses frayed from spending too much time in the sun. But what if a “traditional” swimming pool just does not do it right for you? You want something more modern, more chic; more millennial—or some adjective to that effect? Then maybe you are looking for a fiberglass swimming pools.
Fiberglass? Isn’t that the kind of thing they use for the backboards in a basketball court where a single thunderous slam dunk can shatter it to pieces? Well, it may not be readily apparent, but a fiberglass is one really sturdy material. And besides, when you dive into a pool, you are not doing so in a “dunking” fashion, are you?
So why do so many people consider fiberglass swimming pools to be such a big deal? Are they supposed to be that different from a “regular” swimming pool? Well, if you mean that both of them have the capacity to take in gallons and gallons of water without displaying a single crack in the surface, then there is probably none. But other than that, it is like a whole other world in terms of the construction of a swimming pool.
For one, fiberglass swimming pools are highly economical. “Economical” not only in the sense that they are more cost-effective (although that is also one of its unique selling points), but because there is not a lot of raw materials being used to construct one. Yes, not only are you paying for a swimming pool, but you are also doing it in an economically conservative manner. You are saving the environment!
Materials made from fiberglass (that are, in turn, used for constructing pools) are manufactured in a highly controlled environment. That means that the quality you get from a fiberglass swimming pool is above reproach. Aside from that, the fiberglass pool materials have already been proven to be more durable than those made from the “usual” concrete and vinyl liner pools by using a process called “composite technology”. What is more remarkable is that this kind of expertise has already been in practice ever since the Vanilla Era known as the ‘50s. It was only during this era that the fiberglass “boom” has been in effect starting from, we can only presume, televised basketball games, up to its current incarnation as a tool used for a swimming pool (hey, that rhymed!).
The material offers a smoother feel then a concrete pool which makes it easier on the kids who like to touch its surfaces. They are less likely to scrape their knees and toes while playing. There also more resistant to cracks than concrete pools because they are more flexible. Fiberglass swimming pools are produced in a wide variety of shapes and colors and hold up well under extremes of annual temperatures.
You will need to keep it filled to a minimal level at all times in order to maintain the pressure between the inside wall and the surrounding earth. You won’t be able to completely drain the pool during winter months because of that. The material does stand up to tree roots that tend to borrow through vinyl line pools and even compromise concrete. These pools offer a great family leisure experience at a reasonable price.
What about the maintenance? Surely that would still be a hassle, right? Well, since the whole pool is not made of concrete that means you won’t have to spend a lot in buying expensive cleaners, installation of underwater lights, or even on the outright repairs. If you see a smudge, then all you have to is to go down and scrub or wipe it. Easy-peasy!
Fiberglass Swimming Pools Installation
Choosing a fiberglass design is only the start of the whole fun process! There are more than a 50 options to choose from in terms of what kind of fiberglass swimming pool installation you want to add for your new “toy”. Some of the more common add-ons are those that you can see on other immaculately designed pools that are not otherwise made of fiberglass. For instance, customized “waterfalls”, LED lighting, fiber optics, and even computer generated images that simulate the surface of your pool even when you’re swimming deep within it.
There was a time when fiberglass swimming pools resembled nothing more than a drab, translucent shell. But now? You know—as in “the world is your oyster”? Okay, we agree, that’s too vague, but the point is that if you want to show off your inner Picasso (or Rembrandt, if you’re feeling all Neo-Classical about it), then you can just as easily paint or design the fiberglass the way you want it!
There are also the high end spectrum of the fiberglass pools—the ones which look like it was made from a traditional gunite material but is, in fact, built by only using a conventional gunite builder; however, the whole structure of the pool is still made of fiberglass materials. Now how that is for a mixing of old school concepts with new school styles?
Fiberglass Pool Design
The typical installation time for fiberglass swimming pools are ridiculously fast. How “ridiculous”, you ask? Well, try five days at most (if your contractors are on sugar, maybe they can even finish installing it in just over three days!).
Since the materials are naturally flexural, you do not have to worry about the surface displaying a fracture or crack when exposed to both extremes of the weather. Couple that up with a very smooth finish, and you have got a picture perfect swimming pool right in your backyard! All of these things are expected; after all, it is seventeen times more durable than concrete.
Water World Fiberglass Pools
Wondering where you can get a fiberglass pool in a jiffy? Then try trooping over to Water World, New Jersey’s house of the most extensive and complete collections of fiberglass materials and installations that can ever be found in the Northeast.
Water World has about every design and style of fiberglass pools you can ever imagine. For instance, you can try and have a look-see at any one of their “designer” pools that can boast beauty as well as balance. They have installed several in-pool seating options on one of these designs, and you can also choose to have pressurized jets surround the steps on the pool just as you are descending to take a soak.
You can also choose from two types of installation for your fiberglass pool, Turnkey or DIY (which also goes with the name “Drop and Set”). If you want more information as to how else you can have your customized fiberglass pool set up, you can just as easily click HERE! And with a delivery time of two weeks, you will be amazed at how quickly they can also install the whole pool in just a single day! You are also guaranteed to receive a fifty-year warranty for their services. If you think that that’s too much, just remember that Water World has been doing this for over forty-five years, so product quality and customer service should naturally go hand in hand with these nice guys!
And don’t forget about chossing the best fence company in New Jersey for installing your new fence for around the pool. FS Fence is New Jersey’s top choice…
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Posted on: May 5th, 2012 by Team FS
Custom Pool Builders in New Jersey and South Eastern Pennsylvania
For a majority of the folks living in this great state of Pennsylvania, having a pool is a sure sign that you have reached the pinnacle of financial success; that you are now confident to invest in your leisure. On second thought, scratch that—it just means that you now have the capability to have a custom pool built up in your backyard. Custom pool builders in PA are making life great for families.
What is it about having a pool that seems to bring various sorts of people together in one place? Well, as folks like to say, fun is a universal language, isn’t it? Other than that, a swimming pool is more than just a pool to swim in. It can now serve as a general recreation space, a function “room”, a playpen, a dining room, or even a place to hang out with your friends and family. If anything, a custom swimming pool has now served as a symbol of the good American life that can be made available to every age, gender, or race. Yes, you heard that right—a swimming pool is an equal opportunity fun dispenser, as unlikely as it may first sound. The folks in PA; from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh people are looking to take advantage of custom pools this summer.
If you have been considering getting your own custom pool, now that you have got a budget in mind and a potential area that you can “sacrifice” in place of your future custom swimming pool, what more is left to do? Well, you still have to choose your custom pool builders in PA, that’s what!
If you want a hint of where you can find the best swimming pool contractor in town, just remember to look out for the unmistakable insignia of the “Diving Lady”. If you see a silhouette of a woman diving into something, then that means that it is safe; (crazy, but true!).
These trustworthy individuals are not only well known for building intricate and well-designed custom pools in Pennsylvania, they also specialize in remodelling other custom made pools. For example, most people who have been putting up with their sub-par gunite pools for years just can’t stop raving about these twenty-first century artisans. They are also available for designing and constructing fibreglass pools and vinyl liner pools. And perhaps the best thing about all of these is that they can provide you with various pricing options that are sure to protect your pocketbook at all, “costs” (pun very much intended).
Custom Pool Builders in NJ
Do you happen to live in New Jersey? If so, do you also aspire to own your very own custom pool? If you answered “yes” to these questions (not that it’s a hard thing to do), then we think it’s about high time that you set yourself up with these custom pool builders in NJ. The process is not very difficult because these folks make it easy to order and easier to decide what you need to get it done. Custom pool builders in NJ are very effective at doing their job therefore it is easy to see why people offer testimonials to the company that made their pools.
These custom pool builders aren’t just any run of the mill contractors that you can find in just about any nook of the state. They really are locally owned businesses, if note regionally, renowned for having the most professional-looking workmanship and architecture that anyone else can provide in New Jersey. Take a look at their history and their accomplishments and you’ll understand why people choose to get the job done. The custom pool builders in NJ also know how to make the job cost effective and save you dollars. That’s reason enough to think about going custom with your pool project.
While they may happen to specialize in custom pool designs, these professionals are more than just mere one-trick ponies. They also know how to add and install pond designs, waterfalls, expert lighting around the vicinity of the pool, and even elaborate landscaping and garden designs. If you can find all of these in one place, then why do you still need to go out and bother to search for the standard sizes and shapes that everyone else have?
Water World Pools & FS Landscaping Contractors
Water World is more than just a near-forgotten Kevin Costner “epic” (awesome premise, though); in this case, these fine folks are known to be one of the top contractors for custom fiberglass pool and spa projects. Always on the cutting edge of the latest technology and trends in pool technology, they also maintain a tradition of adhering to a strong code of standards, all the while keeping in mind to change or update them when new developments call for it. This company has been around for over 45 years and still produce amazing work.
Water World Fiberglass Pools is one of the only fiberglass pool manufacturers in the country that installs their own pools. That should make them stand way in front of the copy-cat sales organizations that middle man the installation of their pools. Water World is clearly the best when choosing a fiberglass swimming pool.
Also on the cutting edge of swimming pool, landscaping and masonry designs are FS Landscaping Contractors, Inc. These guys are also considered the best in the field that they work in. If you want anything to be built or refashioned in the backyard of your very own space, then you know who to call. The work is geared toward custom design and the unique specifications of the clients.
Obviously, with the strength of these two contracting firms, it only makes sense for Water World and FS Landscaping Contractors, Inc. to work in conjunction with each other. After all, if you want to have the toughest (it’s not an elegant word, but we’ll take it nonetheless) and most beautiful custom pool you have ever seen in your life being surrounded by some of the most stunning landscapes that have ever been imagined and built right inside the limited spaces of a single home located in the South-eastern Pennsylvania areas and all of New Jersey, then you’ve got the perfect team to carry your plans to perfection! Please visit www.fslandscapingcontractors.com or Water World Pools for more information.
Custom Pool Designer in PA
Anthony & Sylvan Pools
What if you’re looking for something definitely Old World or, at the very best, “European” for the look of your pool? Then better choose Anthony & Sylvan Pools, a 68-year old “institution” that has both the technical chops and the technological wizardry to enable you to design your dream pool at only a fraction of the cost.
The great thing to ponder is that so many technical developments over the years in construction and engineering are now being used in the pool design and construction field. You think only the Wright Brothers have the patent on technological partnerships, eh? If you want the best in custom-made gunite pools and spas, then you should familiarize yourself with the Anthony & Sylvan brand.
Basing their designs on the surroundings of your house, they take “custom” to its purest essential. You can expect each design to be tailor-made to each house and its environment, making sure that a pool is a reflection of the tastes and preferences of its owner.
A custom swimming pool is one of the most tangible embodiments of the American Dream; however, that doesn’t mean that it has to be an unachievable ideal. A custom swimming pool can help in bringing the people closest you closer than you can ever imagine. It can be the focal point for memorable parties, family get together and other affairs. For more information, please contact these respectable and trusted brands and contractors.
FS Landscaping Contractors, Inc.: Pennsylvania and New Jersey’s Finest…
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Posted on: May 1st, 2012 by Team FS
Stamped Concrete Offers Unlimited Creative Possibilities
You may have walked into a friend’s home and admired the beautiful decorative stonework throughout the house. The pattern stretches across the patio and out through the garden area resembling something ornamental and timeless. What you no doubt have been admiring is stamped concrete. This is a technique that has been around for over 50 years and once was considered a novelty product.
Stamped concrete is the process of colorizing and texturizing the mixture to resemble a variety of stone or brick work. This technique offers a limitless choice of textures and colors to mimic the look and feel of cobblestone, shells, slate or brick. It can be polished to a high gloss finish for decorative kitchen floors or rustic and aged to resemble stonework by a waterfall pool.
Stamped concrete is ideal for garages, sidewalks and driveways, pool decks and even kitchen floors. The material can be a designer’s dream because of the limitless possibilities inherent in the process. For homeowners, the lower-cost in comparison to the genuine materials that stamped concrete often imitates makes it very attractive.
The process itself made quite an impression when it was unveiled to the public at the World Of Concrete Expo in the mid-1970s. Stamped concrete and decorative concrete continue to be among the main attractions year after year. Part of its charm has to do with the incredible versatility and creative potential for diverse designs and applications.
There are three parts to the process of producing stamped concrete. These three procedures separate this process from other concrete methods. There is the addition of a base color, next an accent color is introduced and finally stamping a pattern directly into the concrete. This process can imitate natural building materials quite easily.
While the concrete is still soft a mold is used to press and shape the material while it hardens. Color hardeners or dry shakes, acid stains or integral colors are used to achieve the color patterns in the concrete as its mixed or when it is placed. Intricate designs can be developed through a combination of these processes and many great effects have been achieved through experimentation.
You may have seen some of the highly polished marble slabs or the rustic cobblestones which are often shown as examples of stamped concrete. Examples of these can be found in driveways, floors and municipal buildings, pool patios and even state parks. Many people are choosing stamped concrete to enhance their homes and offices, walkways and patios.
What is amazing about this process is that it not only skillfully imitates a wide variety of materials in a realistic way; it is extremely durable and long-lasting. Inlaid stone or paved stone are both expensive and inferior to stamped concrete. A beautiful cobblestone pathway can be designed and constructed in just the right tone and shape to match your decor. Through the use of stamped concrete you can achieve amazing detail and texture without the expense or time involved in other installations.
The process is quicker and more economical for sure but even as important, you have total control over the look and feel of the end product. You can determine the actual texture color and accents that are used in the process. You don’t have to settle for what is available at the quarry, lumberyard or hardware store.
A professional contractor can create beautiful tiled flooring with just the right color and design you choose. Interior work offers relatively quick installation with consistent results. However there are several important considerations when creating stamped concrete for exterior installation.
The time of year can be a factor; cracks, frost heave and aesthetics should be factored into your exterior installation. Frozen soil can cause the ground surface to shift and change with the weather. Stamped concrete works well on a flat outdoor surface and is superior to stone which tends to move around freely as the ground surface changes form with the change in temperature.
Pavers are also susceptible to weeds growing between the spaces. Plants tend to grow out of the spaces between pavers but stamped concrete has no real spaces. The cracks and mortar lines are simply imprinted designs on its surface. This makes the process far easier to maintain all year around.
You can get an authentic “look” from stamped concrete without the time and money involved in construction and installation of brick or stone or even pavers. Modern technology has made the process even more realistic than in the past therefore you can now have a granite, slate or cobblestone pathway leading to the pool without the enormous expense.
Keep in mind that stamped concrete works best on flat even surfaces. Pavers, bricks and stones will tend to conform to uneven ground which makes them more ideally suited for that purpose. However if you are thinking about a backyard area that simply has a few imperfections, it may be far more advantageous to level out the ground and apply stamped concrete. The cost savings may be more than you might think.
Stamped concrete Pennsylvania style
Homeowners from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia are looking seriously at stamped concrete to enhance various sections of their houses. Whether installing a patio for the pool or redoing the basement floor, the smart money is now on stamped concrete installations. Contractors in Pennsylvania are busy working on concrete walkways and even dining room floors to create beautiful new surfaces to give character and new life to indoor and outdoor spaces.
There is no need for tedious maintenance as stamped concrete flagstones never need “weeding”. Pennsylvania residents can take advantage of a huge variety of styles and colors to imitate slate, brick or stone surfaces. It is even possible to mimic the look of wooden exteriors with this process.
The stamped concrete Pennsylvania contractors produce
after laying out the shape and structure to the form, contractors place the concrete after thoroughly mixing it. Color is applied next or is mixed in with the concrete before placement. A release agent is applied which allows the texturizing mats to come off without taking concrete in the process. Then the mats are laid down. These mats are responsible for replicating the surface texture of wood, stone etc. After the concrete is dried for 24 hours, pressure washing releases the agent before a sealant is applied to the concrete surface.
Stamped Concrete Products
At this point the stamped concrete is ready for everyday use. Philadelphia-based concrete contractors create these surfaces on a regular basis and their clients love the results. This process isn’t just for floors either; concrete kitchen countertops can be created to look like tile, stone or any other material. An experienced concrete contractor can offer a designer full creative freedom to produce a virtually unlimited combination of colors, textures and designs.
Stamped concrete can take a humdrum ordinary house and elevate it to a high degree of sophistication and style. New flooring and services could be created to bring a sense of opulence to each room. The process can beautify any home simply by re-imagining the surfaces. Best of all, the price tag is extremely attractive.
Although the process is half a century old, stamped concrete is still cutting-edge technologically today. New designs and combinations are constantly being examined and applied in conjunction with new methods for creating texturizing mats. The finished surface can be highly polished or pitted and coarse. You can choose the rustic look or opt for a highly refined sophisticated surface. Whichever way you choose stamped concrete can get the job done efficiently and cost-effectively.
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