Month: July 2024

Top Trends in Florida Pool Remodels for 2024

July 24, 2024

With sunny, bright Florida days and emphasis on luxurious outdoor living, the state is awash with hot trends in pool remodeling for 2024. Homeowners are retrofitting their pools with new designs and current technologies that enhance their outdoor experiences. Here are the top trends for a Florida pool remodel in 2024.

Eco-Friendly Pools

Energy-efficient equipment leads this change, as more people move toward the use of energy-efficient pumps, heaters, and lighting that reduces energy consumption. Natural pool designs are also popular incorporating things like rock, waterfalls, and plants to fulfill an eco-friendly, yet decorative, pool design. Moreover, pools that are treated with saltwater are gaining in popularity due to the fact that they need much less maintenance and are soft on the body compared to pools with high chlorine levels.

Smart Pool Technology

Smart pool technology allows tasks like cleaning the pool, balancing the chemicals, and temperature control through the use of a smartphone app. Customized LED lighting is yet another tech-savvy trend, which brings out amazing visual effects that coordinate perfectly with after-dark pool ambiance, while also being energy-efficient.

Luxury Features

Infinity edges point to a major trend in luxury features that give the property a resort-like feel. Swim-up bars are turning the pool area into a social hub and a perfect place to entertain your guests. Integrated spas or hot tubs within the pool area ensure a lot of fun and unexpected advantages of relaxation, maybe even therapeutic ones.

Home owners today are avoiding traditional rectangular pools and instead prefer free-form pool designs with rounded curves and natural shapes that result in an organic, fluid look. The more modern, sleek alternatives are geometric pools, with clean lines and sharp angles.

Improved Outdoor Living Spaces

The integration of the outdoor kitchens with the pool area creates an addition that allows for indoor-outdoor living and entertaining. Features include fire pits and fireplaces that add warmth and ambiance, resulting in year-round usage of your pool area. Finally, the lush landscaping with native plants and tropical greenery offers the seclusion needed for an oasis-like setting to complement the pool’s design.

Water Features

Dynamic water features like waterfalls and fountains enhance the importance of visual and auditory appeal for the pool area. Deck jets and bubblers provide playful water effects that make a splash, adding fun and elegance to the pool.

Comfort Improvements and Safety Upgrades

Comfort improvements make it possible to enjoy pools during all seasons of the year. Safety should also be taken into consideration by making sure that pool decks and steps are covered with non-slip materials to avoid accidents. There are also automated safety covers for peace of mind, knowing that the pool is well covered and safe, while also minimizing maintenance and accidents.

Hire a Contractor – Varian Construction

Based in Southwest Florida, Varian Construction has provided extensive commercial building and remodeling services for over 30 years. Furthermore, owner Bill Varian is accredited as a Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), and a Certified Green Professional (CGP), ensuring that your residential and/or commercial space will be built with both quality and care.

Fully licensed in Florida, Varian Construction can complete your renovation projects within your desired budget and timeframe. Varian uses CoConstruct to help schedule timelines, track financials, and as a platform for communication for homeowners so you can be confident that your project is in good hands.

Hire Varian Construction for your pool renovations; call 239.514.0103 or visit VarianConstruction.com.

Hurricane-Resistant Construction: What Florida Contractors Recommend

July 11, 2024

Living in Florida, people are not new to the devastation hurricanes can bring into their lives. The requirements for hurricane-resistant construction are resolute. Here, we’ll discuss some of the major recommendations by Florida contractors about how to build a home that can face a storm’s wrath.

1. Strong Foundations

  • Deep Pilings: Pilings bind the building to the ground as firmly as possible. Deep pilings resist the uplifting forces created by high winds
  • Monolithic Slabs: Use monolithic slabs, which are poured as a single piece, to eliminate the occurrence of cracks which may lead to breaks in extreme conditions

2. Reinforced Wall

  • Concrete Block: Use concrete block walls with steel reinforcement and poured concrete to improve structural integrity 
  • ICFs: IFC’s will give superb strength and energy efficiency. Moreover, they offer exceptionally high resistance against high wind and flying debris

3. Impact Resistance Windows And Doors

  • Hurricane Windows: Design and install impact-resistant windows that endure both heavy winds and flying debris. These are designed to stay intact upon shattering
  • Reinforced Doors: Use doors that are rated to withstand hurricane winds. Additionally, be sure to get your garage doors, which can be problematic, reinforced

4. Roofing Security

  • Metal Roofs: A metal roofing system is recommended due to the simple reason of its strength and durability in the face of hurricane-force winds
  • Hurricane Straps: Install hurricane straps and clips, as well as fasteners to fasten the roof to the walls.

5. Proper Ventilation

  • Vented Soffits and Ridge Vents: Proper ventilation ensures pressure balancing and decreases the risk of roof damage
  • Hurricane Vents: Consider hurricane vents with auto-close shutters during hurricane-force winds to seal against water intrusion

6. Storm Shutters

  • Roll-Down Shutters: Activated on short notice, the window and door protection is very good
  • Accordion Shutters: With easy closure, this is a solid and effective option as well

7. Elevated Structures

  • Raised Foundations: In flood-prone areas, build on stilts or on a raised foundation so that the storm surges and flood waters do not reach the home
  • Flood Vents: The foundation walls should be fitted with flood vents. These will allow an unobstructed path for water rather than pressure accumulation, causing potential structural damage

8. Landscape Considerations

  • Wind-Resistant Landscaping: Plant trees and shrubs that are known to have a higher resistance to high winds. Place them strategically to block or at least minimize wind from directly hitting the home.
  • Debris-Free Zones: The area around the home shall be kept free of loose objects that might become projectiles during a storm.

Hire a Contractor – Varian Construction

Based in Southwest Florida, Varian Construction has provided extensive commercial building and remodeling services for over 30 years. Furthermore, owner Bill Varian is accredited as a Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), and a Certified Green Professional (CGP), ensuring that your residential and/or commercial space will be built with both quality and care.

Fully licensed in Florida, Varian Construction can complete your renovation projects within your desired budget and timeframe. Varian uses CoConstruct to help schedule timelines, track financials, and as a platform for communication for homeowners so you can be confident that your project is in good hands. Hire Varian Construction for your hurricane-resistant construction; call 239.514.0103 or visit VarianConstruction.com.