Welcome to the Most Educational Swimming Pool Blog in the Country! By Jason Hughes, www.PoolSchool.us Did you know when the average pool owner "uses" their swimming pool they actually spend about 90% of their time on the pool patio and not in the pool? That makes the pool patio an essential part of the poolscape that you must get right....and hopefully the first time! However, when the budget gets tight, and it always does, the first thing sacrificed is usually pool patio space. After working with over 500 inground pool clients, their #1 regret is that they underestimated the importance of their swimming pool patio and didn't either: get enough patio initially or plan for patio expansion in the future. Ok, now I'll get off my soapbox and give you some pool patio guidelines to help you determine how much area you actually need. A dining area for four people should be at least 10'x10' A dining area for six to eight people should be at least 12'x12' A chase lounge requires an area 4'x7', but figure 7'x7' for two.
You want a minimum of 30" between any patio furniture and the pools edge. Pathways and other traffic areas should be a minimum of 3' wide at all points. Two chairs and a small table require a 6'x6' area. A grill and small side table need a minimum of 6'x6'. 6' feet of space are needed between the base of a set of steps and the water's edge of the pool. An average hot tub requires a 10'x10' space. A fire pit needs 30"-36" of open space between the pit and furniture or seating area. A slide requires a minimum area of 7'x15' beside the pool. Diving boards require a minimum area of 8' long by 6' wide on the end of the pool. Allow at least 24"-30" of space between any water feature and the edge of the patio. An outdoor shower needs an area at least 5'x5'. The average pool deck is approximately 600-900 square feet, but many are much larger. Have you tallied up what you need and found that it just doesn't fit into the budget?
Don't get discouraged....tackle your pool patio in stages. This is very do-able as long as it is planned for. How to pull this off will be the topic of another article, but the most important thing now is to determine how much patio space you need; whether you're getting it now or later. This will insure that at least 90% of the time spent around your pool will be enjoyed to the max! For more depth in pool and patio design and planning check out my book "6 Steps to Pool and Patio Success" available at www.PoolSchool.us/6steps.html. Receive FREE Articles and Videos In Your Inbox! How Much do Above Ground and Inground Swimming Pools Cost? Fiberglass Pools vs Vinyl Liner Pools vs Concrete Pools: An Honest Comparison Fiberglass Pool Prices: How Much is My Pool Really Going to Cost? Should I Get a Salt Water System in my Pool? How to Identify, Treat, and Remove Algae in Your Swimming Pool Top 5 Fiberglass Pool Problems and Solutions Swimming Pool Covers: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
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It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. 2 - 1x8 @ 24 1/2" 2 - 1x4 @ 9 1/4" 2 - 1x4 @ 21" 2 - 1x8 @ 28 1/4" 4 - 1x3 @ 2" (You can use 1x4 scraps as well) 2 - 1x4 @ 22 3/4" (longest point, one end cut at 15 degree bevel - see diagram) 5 - 1x4 @ 24 1/2" 2 - 1x4 @ 32 3/8" (longest point, one end cut at 15 degree bevel - see diagram) 2 - 2x2 @ 28 1/4" 7 - 1x4 @ 30" Build the back as shown above. Clamp joints for the smoothest joint. Build front frame as you did the back. Now attach the front and back to create the seat box.
Fill in the legs to make them look like full legs. Now build the back as shown in diagram. Remember the bottom is angled to create a back angle for the chair. Now attach the back. For sure, it's going to be flimsy at this point. The arms will support considerably.You can also angle cleats downward and backward for an inclinded seat - some prefer for comfort. Finally, just add seat slats and cushions!If you don’t have patio cushions, then you will need to measure your outdoor furniture to ensure you purchase the correct patio cushion. Measuring your outdoor furniture for cushions can be done by following these easy steps. It’s also a good idea to make sure the patio cushions that you are looking at have weather-resistant fabric and are intended for outdoor use. Here are Some Easy Steps to Measure Your New Patio Furniture for Outdoor Cushions Note: If you already have patio cushions and you just want to replace them, check out our article How to Measure Replacement Patio Cushions.
Measuring Chairs for New Patio Cushions Measure for the length of the outdoor chair cushion by measuring the front of the seat to the back of the seat and add 1 inch to the measurement. Measure for the width of the chair cushion by measuring in the center of the seat. If the chair has arms, take your width measurement between the arms for an accurate reading. If there is a curve in the backrest of the chair, add 1.5″ to your measurement. To determine the thickness of the outdoor cushion you will need, measure the back opening of the chair (if there is one) and add an inch. Measuring Outdoor Chaise Lounges for New Patio Cushions If are looking to purchase chaise cushions, you will need to measure your outdoor chaise lounge to determine which cushion will be right for you. To measure for the length (or depth) of the outdoor chaise lounge cushion, measure the length of your seat from the end of the chaise lounge (front of the seat) to the fold at the back of the seat.
To determine the length of the back rest of the outdoor chaise lounge, measure from the top of the back rest of the seat down to the fold at the rear of the seat. To measure for the width of the outdoor cushion, you will need to take 3 measurements on your chaise lounge. Measure the width of the top back of the chaise. Measure the width of the chaise lounge just below the fold (between the arms) at the seat. Then measure the width of the chaise lounge at the end of the seat (at the leg rest). The narrowest measurement will be what you use for the width. Measuring Deep Seating Furniture for Cushions Our deep seating outdoor furniture patio cushions come in a set with a back seat cushion and a seat cushion. You will need to follow these easy steps to ensure you get the right fit for your new outdoor cushion. Measure the length of the seat from front to back. Measure the width of the seat from side to side. Measure the width of the back of the seat. Measure the top of the chair to the top of the seat and subtract 3″ (or the amount of thickness of the bottom cushion that you are purchasing).