Phoenix's Unique Landscapes & Unique Custom Pools- Designing & Building Pools Valleywide, Including; Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler & More

Q:

I have a question on landscape design, I'm building a new house that should be done in December, is it too early to start looking into the landscape & pool design now (June?) We love your site!

by-Mark Price, Phoenix at 06-27-09

A:

It's never to early to start thinking about the exterior design for your new home. IN fact, we have clients all the time that start PRIOR to construction. You want to at least have a Phoenix landscape design and pool plan , this helps you establish a budget, and also allows you to set up some critical items on your new pool (which can save you money in the long run). If we start a pool when the house begins construction, you can have gas & electric plumbed to the site of the pool equipment (this saves tons of money!). You can also prewire things such as indoor controls, and remotes. Also, digging your pool while the house is being built can save you money in the excavation department (since there are no walls to navigate around!) For your next Phoenix swimming pool project and new home construction - consider using Unique Landscapes & Unique Custom pools landscape and pool design when you start construction!

Q:

Do you guys install travertine pavers around swimming pools? How do they hold up to the water, sun & traffic around the pool? Are they better than cool deck, or cooler than cool deck? How is the cost compared to other patios?

by-Cindy McGarrahan, Peoria at 06-27-09

A:

Cindy, thanks for the questions - all very good questions too! Unique Landscapes is one of Phoenix's best travertine paver installation companies because of our ability to understand proper paver installation techniques, and our ability to work with natural stone (such as travertine pavers). Travertine is a very durable & dense product, and comes in a variety of colors. It holds up quite well around a swimming pool, and if you stick with some of the lighter shades, it can be comparible to cool deck with the heat factor. Travertine pavers can be relatively the same price as some of our Belgard paver products and tumbled paver products - which is between $7.50 & $9/s.f. All projects are custom bid, and many factors affect price when installating pavers properly.

Travertine pavers look incredible when you invest in some of the large paver patters - such as our Travertine Paver Versailles patters - which consists of 8"x8", 8" x 16", 16" x 16", and the jumbo 16" x 24" travertine paver. Nothing beats large pieces of tumbled travertine stone on your next paver project.

CONS: Travertine pavers can be a little slippery around a swimming pool or spa. Make sure it's not sealed too heavy, experiment with chiseled edges vs. the tumbled travertine pavers - to see which is the most non-slip for your next travertine paver project!

Let us know how we can be your Phoenix & Arizona company for travertine paver installation!

Q:

Do you recommend infloor cleaning systems? I've heard that some of them don't work, and it's better to use a vacuum system over an infloor cleaning system in our Phoenix swimming pool.

by-Chris, Chandler at 07-03-09

A:

Chris,

Very good question! In fact, it's one of the main customer education areas that we focus on when designing and building a new pool! Unique has spent several years perfecting our infloor cleaning systems, and with the help of our manufacturer, A&A Manufacturing in Phoenix, our cleaning systems have yet to have a complaint for NOT CLEANING THE SWIMMING POOL ! That's 4 years straight, over 140 systems installed, and not one issue with improper cleaning or debris removal. When using another system (our first year building pools), we installed 2 cleaning systems, and had 2 major issues and 2 complaints! Needless to say, we did our research and found a great system in A&A Manufacturing! OUr systems have a lifetime warranty, and have some really neat features that help it work better than any other cleaning system on the market in Phoenix!

Q:

I'm looking to build a Green swimming pool (not algae - eco-friendly would be the proper term!) How do you suggest i do this, what products are available for me? Thanks! JP

by-John Price, Mesa at 07-06-09

A:

Unique Custom Pools works with many Eco-friendly pool products, from Pentair's salt water chlorination systems to our Intelliflo Pool pump (which reduces energy consumption by about 30%!) - There are many ways that Unique caters to the GREEN market, but effeciency of the pumps & filters is the main goal. Check out our blog - and Pentair Intelliflo pump video - http://unique-landscapes.com/blog/?tag=intelliflo-pump It should let you know more about the GREEN Side of the swimming pool industry in Phoenix.

Q:

I recieved a quote from one of Unique's designers (as well as some other companies) on a masonry project. 1. 35 lf x 4 ft high = 140sq ft of block wall separating patio and side yard. $3734 / 140 sq ft = $26 - $27 / sq ft. That seems a little pricey compared to quotes I've gotten in the past for concrete block installation. Your expert thoughts?

by-Jeff H., Chandler at 07-07-09

A:

FROM THE OWNER: I get this question a lot on our masonry work. All I can say is that we specialize in masonry, and most landscape companies don’t! Just because you have a landscape license, doesn’t mean you know how to lay block. Building walls & masonry products begins with a solid footer. We have always used ½” rebar and plenty of it (some companies save here!) My engineering backyground helps me understand the purpose of steel in concrete. Next, mortar is the key ingredient to a good wall or structure – it needs to bond to each block. Is our mortar better than the others….No, but it’s mixed properly, with the proper cement, sand, lime & water ratio – this is a common issue with other landscapers who just mix whatever. You will have problems in the future, but the initial installation looks the same. Finally, all of our masonry work has BOND BEAMS. This is probably the single largest reason where I feel like we are better than the others. The importance of the bond beam is to tie-in the entire wall or structure at the top with a course of concrete & steel (similar to the footer). This makes the wall as strong on top, as it is on bottom – and virtually assists the wall in repelling any future cracking. I can’t guarantee that our masonry or concrete work will not crack (no one can…) but, I can assure you that it is FAR less likely!

Q:

Unique quoted me: Irrigation system costs $4235 appear to be much higher ($1K - $2k) than most other Phoenix contractors. I guess I wouldn't be opposed to paying for for a solid product as this is one are dont want to scrimp on. However, bid states 500 feet of poly (x2), which could mean anything. Could you or unique write in a little more detail, so I can ensure the extra money is worth it? 1/2" poly tube from Home Depot (which would appear to meet the written definition) doesnt make me comfortable.

by-L. W., Phoenix at 07-07-09

A:

FROM THE OWNER:** Unique also uses ¾” drip tubing, which is commercial grade polyethylene irrigation tubing, and it allows for our irrigation systems to carry water at an even pressure throughout the line, run longer distances, and provide more even water output at each emitter. The keyword here – Commercial – Built to last in commercial environments.

It also appears that this is an entirely new irrigation system for this project – this does involve some higher up front cost, but is 100% worth the investment, knowing that this system will last another 20 to 30 years, with normal maintenance.

Q:

What does your average landscape design cost in Phoenix? We are looking for both pool and landscape design, and find that most pool companies don't do landscaping, and vice versa of landscape companies. How do we go about this? Thanks

by-Gary Syrti, Scottsdale at 08-22-09

A:

Gary,

The average Phoenix landscape and pool design runs anywhere from $400 to $2000, depending on what you are looking for, size of project, and overall detail put into the design. Our Phoenix landscape design services range from those amounts.... The nice thing is that when you pay for a design, you get our utmost attention, quick design turn around, and a greater level of detail. You are correct, most Phoenix pool builders have very limited landscaping experience, they are looking to sell you a pool! The same is true of Phoenix landscape contractors.... I'd love to talk more!