Playing It Cool

To prevent spring and summer letdowns, new pool installations need advance planning.

The winters on Long Island in recent years have been tough. In fact, with all the snow and bitter cold that we’re forced to face, it’s hard to imagine when the warm weather will return.

For those of us lucky enough to have a fireplace, we can relax amidst the glow of the flames and think about the return of spring and summer. But unless the drive to Jones Beach brings back memories, most people daydream about their own backyard escape, and a dip into the water without ten thousand other “guests.”

Phil Terribile, owner of Brightwaters-based Terri Associates Landscape Corp., says that if your home doesn’t yet have a pool, it’s important to start planning once your neighbors start covering up theirs for the winter.

“We recently finished a job for a customer who didn’t plan properly and his backyard was a construction site all summer. By the time the job was finished, he missed the season,” says Terribile, who stressed the importance of getting the permitting process going as soon as possible. “In some towns, especially the North Shore villages, the permitting can take months.”

After the permits are filed comes the design process. Customers will have to decide between a Gunite or vinyl liner,

depending on budget, and the type of pool for their backyard.

“We’ve done all types of pools, from lap pools for swimmers to giant pools for entertaining. Everything is custom to the setting of the home and the customer’s needs. The key is to plan ahead so you are not rushed,” according to Terribile. “The whole thing with landscape design is that people don’t know exactly what they are looking for, which is why they call us.

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