Your Dream for an Inground Pool Is Not Complete Without These 3 Masonry Ideas in Portsmouth, RI

Your Dream for an Inground Pool Is Not Complete Without These 3 Masonry Ideas in Portsmouth, RI

Some of the most exciting landscapes around the world make full use of an inground pool, and if you’re reading this you’re likely dreaming to make it happen. Pools by themselves make a landscape incredibly exciting or relaxing depending on the mood, but it really comes down to what kind of features you add. Masonry features can take a bland and boring pool to the next level. Here’s why your dream for an inground pool is not complete without these three masonry ideas in Portsmouth, RI.

Related: A Mason Recommends These 3 Additions to Your Pool and Patio in Barrington, RI

A Character-Filled Retaining Wall

The most common use for a retaining wall is to help prevent erosion on a hillside. However, retaining walls can also be used on perfectly flat properties.

Retaining walls can be beautiful features that add dimension and character to a landscape. As one of the most prominent displays of masonry, its vertical and horizontal space can play host to a myriad of different designs, artifacts, and smaller landscape features. 

Retaining walls can also serve as rudimentary sitting areas or a place to set down a glass while socializing. They can also house necessary light fixtures for safety around the pool and landscape.

But the best is yet to come, if you add the element of water to the retaining wall. An exciting example of what can be combined with a poolside retaining wall is a water feature that launches jets and streams of water directly into the pool or if the wall is further away, to a pondless catch basin (this design allows the water feature to continue dazzling guests well into the cooler months after the pool is closed up for the season). 

Adding a water feature to a retaining wall is a great way to integrate the visual and auditory delights of water with a useful masonry feature.

A Low-Maintenance Pool Deck

All pools need an area outside of the water for relaxation and play. The right materials are key. A pool deck can quickly become a challenging area that collects large amounts of water and many backyard accidents occur due to slipping hazards since a film of water on a pool deck can become very slimy. The best pool decks are made using patio pavers, which feature non-slip surfaces for safety.

Some patio pavers are designed to be installed on a permeable base, which can prove to be essential for pool safety. Permeable pavers disperse water through the joints between the pavers, thus minimizing the collection of water on the surface. Whether you choose traditional or permeable installation, your pool deck will feature gorgeous pavers that are inspired by natural stone, brick, or simply embrace their modern concrete character.

A Cozy Fire Pit

Anyone who spends time around the pool knows how cold it can be getting out of the water if there’s even a slight chill in the air. To keep friends and family comfortable outside of the pool while drying off but not yet back indoors, consider adding a natural gas fire pit to your pool area. 

Natural gas has an advantage to wood as a fuel in that it doesn’t produce smoke and eliminates the hassle (and splinters) of firewood. Best of all, a fire pit will make your pool deck usable year-round, not just during swimming season! This makes it a great investment that ensures your backyard will see action for most of the year.

Related: Landscaping Companies Suggest These Beautiful Masonry Options for Activity-Focused Backyards in Middletown, RI