Should You Build a Spa With Your Pool? What Los Angeles Homeowners Should Know About Building Their Own Spa
There is one conversation that comes up nearly every time before we start building a pool.
The shape has been decided, the size has been determined, the family has chosen the finishes that everyone seems to agree with, and someone has already begun discussing where the outdoor furniture should go.
Then someone pulls out the blueprints and asking if we should add the spa before completing the project or if it can wait until a later date.
It is a question that people really wrestle with.
They are not questioning if they will enjoy the spa.
They are thinking very practically for reasons.
Perhaps they have to be practical with the budget, or perhaps they believe it will not get used very often.
Or maybe they are just waiting to see if it can be added to the project later.
They are thinking about the big picture.
And it is hard to say that they are wrong on their assumptions, because so many people come to the conclusion with the same thoughts and beliefs in mind.
What is hard to say as we complete more and more jobs year after year is that the conversations we have after the pool is built are completely different from the conversations we have before construction begins.
The Spa is not what We Expected It to be
When people think of spas, they are typically thinking about getting together with loved ones or a special someone for a weekend getaway, or a unique, and special experience in a place that they think is far from home.
They think about the days when life just slows down, and people can sit down, relax, and take away all of the stress.
Then they return home after the pool has been completed, and life seems to go back to its normal pace in the blink of an eye.
Spas are actually something that many homeowners come to realize that they use the most as a part of their daily lives.
There has been times when our office has received phone calls from our clients telling us that during their busy work week, they rarely used the pool.
However, they would sit in the spa 2 or 3 evenings out of the week without realizing it.
Whether it was during a busy weekday 20 minutes after eating dinner, and early Sunday morning, or an evening spent right after finishing work, those moments were not the moments that appeared as examples in magazines and websites, but those are the moments that are fondly remembered by our clients.
One Conversation that seems to be very common
Every so often there are homeowners who call our office expressing that they wish they had added the spa to the project.
Typically, their comments do not refer to a dislike for the pool.
Rather, it comes down to an understanding of how the space is actually used.
The pool is where the whole family goes in order to be together when the weather is not cooperating.
Meanwhile, the spa serves as a separate function in the backyard for when they actually do want to relax.
This is a concept that can not be completely understood until you have had the opportunity to see the space in person.
Los Angeles Makes all the Difference
If we were building pools in a climate with long winters, this conversation might have been different.
Los Angeles allows homeowners to enjoy their outdoor living spaces for long stretches of the year, and on many occasions, the evenings can remain enjoyable even when it has gotten colder in the afternoon.
Spas allow the entire outdoor area to be used to the max with a function that is not limited to simply swimming.
Many homeowners who rarely used their pool during the cool nights simply found their new spas to be well worth the investment.
Those moments of enjoyment change the perception of value for most people who add a spa to their backyard remodeling project.
Waiting to Add one Seems Easier Than it Actually Is
There is always the conversations about whether or not it is possible to add it later.
While it is not uncommon to add new elements to a pool project at a later date, adding a spa is not typically a very easy process for many reasons.
The construction process has to begin again, the materials needed for the project had to be acquired, plumbing systems may have to be altered, and the entire backyard becomes a job site all over again whenever the homeowner decides to change their mind.
As often as possible, we encourage people to think about the future while we work on paper plans for the new pool construction project.
Making decisions in advance is always going to be easier than doing so later.
In addition, a spa can affect more than just the waterscape.
A New Space is Created Naturally
When people begin to think about the spa, they think about the function and the benefits that it provides.
What they do not consider is that the spa creates a separate space in the backyard where friends and family can gather even when the pool is not being used.
While someone is enjoying the benefits of the spa, friends can gather nearby and wait to join, the children play while the adults enjoy their time in the heated water, and even people who do not use the spa regularly find themselves spending more time in the backyard.
As much as we enjoy making beautiful outdoor living areas, good design is all about encouraging people to spend time outside, and a spa always helps make that happen.
You Might not Actually Need One
That should be a surprise to many of our readers.
There are occasions when we discourage our clients from adding a spa to their backyard remodeling projects.
If someone knows that they will not use it.
If they are trying to stay well within their budget, and another aspect of the project was more important to them.
Or if the backyard was better served with more deck surface than a separate and different waterscape,
we do not try to convince someone to invest in a spa.
A spa can be a fantastic addition to almost any backyard remodeling project, but it still should only be added when it suits the unique needs of the homeowner.
Designing Around the Spa Matters
One detail that seems to be very important to many people is thinking about how the spa fits in with the rest of the backyard design.
Some of the most beautiful projects take shape when the spa is built in a way that makes it look like it belongs with the pool.
It could be elevated, it could be made to perfectly match the waterline, or it could be designed to be the focal point, but those unique perspectives have to be considered when thinking about the entire design.
Designing around the spa matters for many reasons, but the biggest reason is that it encourages people to enjoy their new space even more.
Los Angeles is an area where the value and beauty of outdoor living spaces matter, which is why Custom Pool Design in Los Angeles is about more than simply placing the water.
The Value of a Spa goes far Beyond Aesthetics
After the decision has been made to install the spa, the conversations that follow are typically more exciting.
Questions such as,
What should we use for the finishes?
Should the waterline tile match the tile in the pool or be a unique element?
Is the natural stone a good fit for the house?
How will the deck tie everything together?
are questions that we love answering since they are all about the unique details that bring the space together.
People considering these ideas should consider browsing through Pool Plastering and Finishes in Los Angeles, Pool Tile and Coping in Los Angeles, and Pool Decking in Los Angeles because those elements are likely to have more impact on the homeowner each and every day.
There is Another Perceived Benefit that not Enough People Discuss
It is always about comfort, convenience, and creating opportunities for social gatherings.
The convenience of a spa just steps from the backdoor cannot be stressed enough.
There is no need to get dressed, there is nothing to plan, and there are no extra steps.
It is right there, waiting for you.
That convenience is sometimes exactly what people need at the end of a busy day.
An Outdoor Living Space should Grow With Your Family
People’s lives change, and the ways that they enjoy their homes change with them.
The family grows, their schedules are adjusted, they start entertaining more, and in other instances, they discover that those quiet evenings spent in the backyard are actually something that they want to do more often.
The best designs take all of these factors into consideration.
Spas are a great example as well of an element that makes finding new opportunities easier.
Spas can easily become a more prominent part of a homeowner’s life as their needs evolve with no effort at all because the design accommodates it.
So...Would We Build One?
This is actually a question that we get asked fairly often.
“If this were our backyard, would you add a spa?”
We typically say that we would for most homeowners, but that is not the reason why.
We understand that not everyone needs to invest in one of these additional waterscapes.
It always comes down to a matter of priorities for us, which is why we are always so passionate about helping our clients make better decisions for their own unique needs.
With that being said, if you are considering a custom pool and you know that relaxation is a priority, we would strongly encourage you to think about adding one of these convenient additions to your project before construction begins.
How Triton Pools and Spas Helps Homeowners Make the Right Decision
After years and years of working with wonderful clients across the Los Angeles area, we have come to understand that most people do not want someone to be making decisions for them when it comes to their pool building projects.
They want honesty, we want to have conversations and we want to understand the unique needs of the people who will be enjoying the backyard.
That is why we are so committed to having those conversations, answering questions for our clients, and designing spaces that will be enjoyed for years to come.
Whether or not that means a spa is included, we are committed to making sure that the final design is something that the people who will be enjoying it are truly going to love.
If you are thinking about similar decisions for your own backyard remodeling project, you should consider browsing through our Custom Pool Design in Los Angeles, Pool Remodeling in Los Angeles, Pool Plastering and Finishes in Los Angeles, Pool Tile and Coping in Los Angeles, and Pool Decking in Los Angeles services.
Frequently Asked Questions
In most cases, yes. We always encourage homeowners to consider their options, but it is typically much easier to plan and construct everything at once.
Yes! Many of our clients tell us that they use their new spa more often than they originally expected, because they discovered that it is actually something that they enjoy doing.
With the help of expert planning, the value of the spa is likely to increase for the homeowner, because it typically increases the functionality of the waterscape and fits well with the design.
A spa can be customized to complement any pool design.
Not necessarily.
A lot depends on the budget, available space, and the needs of the homeowner.