Pebble Technology International

Author: pti-ji

  • Turn Down the Temperature with Simple Ways to Shade Your Pool

    Turn Down the Temperature with Simple Ways to Shade Your Pool

    Adding shade to your backyard space is a simple way to lessen sun exposure and drop the temperature a few degrees. Beyond that, shade structures can also enhance your backyard’s design. Here are our top picks for functional and stylish shade options:

    Umbrellas & Outdoor Furniture

    Outdoor furniture is a simple way to add shade to your backyard. Umbrellas are a particularly convenient option due to their mobility. If you’re looking to soak up the sun, take it down. When it’s time to take a break from the rays, open it up or move it where you need it. The versatility you get with umbrellas, as well as the large range of options available, makes them a great option.

    Other more stationary outdoor furniture options include shaded couches and lounge chairs. With an extensive variety of styles, materials, and colors to choose from, adding shaded furniture is a great way to customize your backyard look in a cool, sun-safe way. Play around with different looks and have fun picking out unique styles.

    Shades Sails & Canopies

    Shade sails are a cost-effective way to quickly add shade to any outdoor space. Make sure to plan out how many anchor points you have and how far apart they are to ensure you find the right fit for your space.

    Pop-up canopies are a great mobile alternative to shade sails. If you want something with the aesthetic of a pergola but a little less permanence, this might be the option you’re looking for.

     Shade Structures

    Shade sails are a cost-effective way to quickly add shade to any outdoor space. Make sure to plan out how many anchor points you have and how far apart they are to ensure you find the right fit for your space.

    Pop-up canopies are a great mobile alternative to shade sails. If you want something with the aesthetic of a pergola but a little less permanence, this might be the option you’re looking for.

    Shade structures can provide a more permanent addition to your backyard. From gazebos to custom pergolas, these elements make a big impact on your home’s overall aesthetic. Design a beautiful shaded outdoor dining area or throw in some couches to create the perfect place for a pool day nap.

    For additional coverage, you can add curtains or rolling shades to the sides of your gazebo or pergola. This will allow you to easily customize the amount of sun you want to let in while preserving airflow and avoiding a stuffy atmosphere.

    Plants & Trees

    Plants and trees are a great way to compliment your beautiful new pool finish and provide some much-needed shade. However, it’s important that you research your options before planting anything near your pool. Some trees have invasive roots that can damage the structure of your pool and cause problems in the future. Other plants drop their leaves and can make pool maintenance a headache during certain seasons. The best trees and plants for your backyard will vary based on factors like climate, level of shade needed and desired aesthetic.
    Adding vines to a pergola or gazebo is also a great way to get some additional shade and spice up the look of your backyard space.

    Different shading options provide a great way to make your pool finish really pop! Round out your unique backyard design with some outdoor elements that will make every day by the pool feel like a resort getaway.

    For more on Precision Pool Renovations, visit precisionpoolrenovations.com. To learn more about the PebbleTec remodeling process, visit pebbletec.com/the-process/pebbletecpoolremodels/.

  • What to Know before Starting a Pool Remodel

    What to Know before Starting a Pool Remodel

    With pool season right around the corner, we interviewed Tom Fuller from Timeless Pools. He took us step-by-step through the remodel process and revealed his top tips for homeowners planning a pool remodel. Here’s what we learned:


    Why do you suggest PebbleTec to homeowners?

    1. Quality control team: If there are any issues with a project, someone from the PebbleTec quality control team comes out and gets any issue fixed without bothering the homeowner.
    2. PebbleSheen receives a buffing instead of an acid wash, resulting in a smoother finish compared to any other pebble product on the market.
    3. PebbleTec pebbles are sourced from beautiful settings including beaches and they are pre-tumbled. This gives PebbleTec finishes great color that lasts longer without bleaching out and/or fading.

    Are there any common misconceptions about pool finishes? Myth busters?

    PebbleTec is not the same as all aggregate finishes.

    How is PebbleTec different from other pebble finish brands? How do homeowners know they are getting real PebbleTec?

    It is very important for homeowners to know what brand of finish they are getting because service and product longevity varies from brand to brand. PebbleTec is different because:

    1.) It’s easy to clean – algae does not embed on the pebble/rock

    2.) Color pigment is better

    3.) Glass beads, shells and other materials can be added to enhance a finish

    4.) PebbleTec’s warranty is second to none

    5.) It’s the top finish product you can put in your swimming pool

    6.) PebbleTec finishes look new for 20 years

    Why is choosing a finish so important?

    Choosing your pool’s finish is one of the most important investments you will make during your project because a pool’s finish is constantly attacked from elements including sunlight, extreme weather and more. You want to choose the best finish possible to withstand these stressors. That’s why it’s important to not cut dollars from the pool finish.

    PebbleTec is only sold to and installed by certified builders and applicators. Why is this important?

    1. Exclusivity and value
    2. Professions are expertly trained
    3. True quality control

    Moving onto the project below, what was the homeowner trying to change and achieve?

    • The backyard was neglected, included weird angles of concrete pours and the deck had a step up from the main patio (safety issue)
    • Their main goal was to create a more uniform backyard and gain more space behind the pool



    To learn more about the PebbleTec pool remodel process and to get started, click here to visit our remodel page.

    May 12, 2021
  • Before & After: Moderno Pools Dramatically Transforms this Calabasas Pool

    Before & After: Moderno Pools Dramatically Transforms this Calabasas Pool

    From green to gorgeous, Moderno Pools completely transformed this pool and outdoor living space. Here’s what they did:

    “My client’s remodel is everything they dreamed it could be…and more!
    -Eloy Sherlock, Moderno Pools

    • Reformed shape of pool with two large baja shelves
    • Refinished the pool with PebbleSheen Ocean Blue
    • Installed a new 18″ raised spa with 10 jests, internet automation a sanitation system and LED color lights
    • Added a. BBQ, serving station, flagstone decking, outdoor shower and remodeled pool house
    • Added solar heating for a warm pool year-round at no extra cost

    Take a peek at the before and photos below. If you are interested in your own pool remodel, click here to visit our remodel page for a step-by-step PebbleTec remodel guide, tips for a successful project and more!




  • Five Simple Ways to Update Your Backyard with Outdoor Elements

    Five Simple Ways to Update Your Backyard with Outdoor Elements

    If you’re staying home this summer or looking to upgrade your backyard, outdoor elements are a simple way to elevate your poolside living. Whether you want to add the social appeal of a fire pit or create a spa-like setting complete with ambient waterfall sounds, we’ve got you covered. We’re breaking down our top five favorite outdoor elements and showing you ways to use them in the looks below.


    Fire Pits:

    Create a warm, cozy, inviting space to gather (six feet apart) with loved ones or step out for some self-care time. A fire pit is the perfect way to tie together a beautiful backyard space and create the ideal environment for a relaxing night at home. (Pictured: PebbleTec Cast Stone Fire Pit with Lava Rock Decorative Media)


    Scuppers:

    If you envision a waterfall-like element coming from the sides of a pool, it’s all made possible with pool scuppers. Choose from our subtle Sheet Flow Scuppers, medium-flow Trough Flow Scuppers or make the biggest splash with our Chute Flow Scuppers. (Pictured: PebbleTec Copper Trough Flow Scuppers). 


    Planter Bowls:

    Enhance the natural ambiance by filling a custom planter with colorful flowers or lush greenery. Add an optional touch of water with our Planter + Water Bowls. (Pictured: PebbleTec Cast Stone Planter Bowl)


    Fire Bowls: 

    For nighttime swimmers, fire bowls illuminate the water and reflect off the pool’s surface for an eye-catching glow. Mix with water for extra drama with our Fire & Water bowls. (Pictured: PebbleTec Square Hammered Copper Fire Bowl)


    Water Bowls:

    Add a splash of life or relaxing element to your pool area with water bowls. (Pictured: PebbleTec Square Hammered Copper Water Bowls)

    For even more design inspiration and ideas for your backyard and pool, explore our collection of The World’s Greatest Pools.

  • Medallion Pool Co. Earns Masters of Design Spot (Pool and Spa News)

    Medallion Pool Co. Earns Masters of Design Spot (Pool and Spa News)

    Natural materials and tones combine with clean lines and clever features to create a perch at once opulent and homey.

    by Rebecca Robledo

    Some properties just have too much going for them. In creating this pool/spa combination, the designers had two beautiful views to work with — one of the warm modern home, the other of Asheville, N.C. and the nearby French Broad Valley. In response, they developed this sleek pool with knife-edge detail on three sides and vanishing edge on the fourth. 

    The raised four-sided overflow spa with fire pit provides the centerpiece. And it sports a clever feature: The transparent swim-up bar hanging over the vanishing edge. In-spa stools sidle up to the bar so viewers can look directly from the overhanging spa edge to the long vista. The bar achieves two seemingly contradictory goals — making functional use of the best seat in the house while preventing the bar from interrupting the view over the vanishing edge

    To create the bar, the Medallion team cut and polished a sheet of 1-inch-thick plexiglass. It’s set 1 inch above the vanishing-edge weir so water can flow underneath it with the smallest possible profile. It is secured with stainless steel connectors often used for glass railings.


    The fire pit not only frames the vista, but represents a visual bridge between the deck and pool, using the same porcelain tile found on the deck, which is meant to replicate granite, and an accent strip of the mosaic used on the pool and spa. It works with the transparent bar to help protect users at the edge.

    Designers Mark Dorsey and Bob Lewis largely followed through on the home’s symmetry, pairing the spa with a sunshelf of the same footprint so they each take up half the pool’s width. In addition, an outdoor kitchen and outdoor living room each share about half the covered patio space.


    The team contoured the spa seating to resemble that found in manufactured acrylic spas. Recessed jets reduce the profile while increasing comfort. An inset of wooden deck placed on the side opposite the home hearkens back to a similar material used in the architecture.

    The finished product reflects the precision and sensibility of professionals with Dorsey’s and Lewis’ engineering background. In fact, even providing work site access required preliminary engineering, with forms and a walking platform calculated so crews could safely hang the 17 and 18 feet off the ground while working around the vanishing edges.