Design Planning

Visualize your complete dream setting when planning a pool - To create a plan that captures your dream resort, we know what questions to ask about your family’s lifestyle.  Gib-San will help by showing you creative options not only for the pool but for the surrounding areas as well. Our Design and Build Consultants will advise you not only on the pool shape, water features and materials, but also on how to best integrate the pool, patio, play areas, and landscaping with your natural setting.  You need to consider the big picture at the same time.

Creation Centre – a major Gib-San difference! No other pool builder offers as much to help you research pool design and get an appreciation of your options. Large poster-size photos and video presentations showing pool and landscape designs help stimulate your thoughts and assist you in determining your creative likes and preferences. Find out about pool lighting, safety fencing, and decking materials – all in one place. Pictures say a thousand words, but touching the actual materials adds so much more. Then how about a working session with the designer where you can interact and refine your plan shown on a huge computerized white-board. And if you want to visualize just what each outdoor living area vantage point will look like, you can see it as portrayed by 3D rendering. The Gib-San Creation Process and Creation Centre really simplifies the design process while maximizing the creativity to meet or surpass your expectations. Gib-San professional designers – Our team designs pool and backyard resorts full time and are continually taking courses to expand on their extensive practical experience. Our skills development objective is to excel in all three pillars of pool and landscape design - creative, theoretical and practical. Our head designer, Jay Middleton, is a Certified Landscape Designer (CLD) and university Art graduate that gives him added creative perspective. Jay Middleton Head Designer

Three designers are Gold Members of Genesis 3 University - the leading design/build educational force in the landscape and water-shape industry. Genesis 3 courses range from computer modeling to feng shui, colour theory and architectural fundamentals. This broader appreciation ensures greater integration of the pool design with the architectural settings and landscaping. These designers are actively pursuing the next design level of acceptance in the Society of Water-shape Professionals - a level only achieved by a select few industry designers in the world.

Two other designers are near completion of CLD and OLAD designations. To meet our clients’ dreams that become more creative each year, we are committed to being on the leading edge of design. Expert functional designs come from professional designers with the experience and practical knowledge to know what works.

Alex Hubick Designer

Evan Baard Designer

John Kenyon Designer & Sales Manager

Igor Sisteroli Designer & Consultant

The initial objective of a design plan is to assist you in visualizing how all the elements fit together and into your planned space. It is then rendered into working drawings for the respective installation teams, and if required into different installation phases.

Estate pool plans are brought to life with 3-D presentations. Review the details of a complex estate pool plan with a 3-D presentation that features your pool from different angles as if you were walking the property or enjoying the pool from your patio.

Download this Design planning checklist You can use the attached checklist and graph sketching paper to make notes and check off what you like as you review the gallery. Click here to download a Design Planning Checklist. [PDF - 186KB] Check off the options you want - Whether you are looking at a new pool or renovating an existing one, the following information will make you more aware of the available options, features, and “technical toys” available.

Pool type & shape Will it be a custom concrete or a custom vinyl lined pool? - Refer to the Pool Type section to see how each are produced and the advantages of one to the other.  Determine a pool shape - There are hundreds of pool shapes shown in the Photo Gallery.  Gib-San will customize a pool design for you, be it a concrete pool where virtually any shape is possible or a custom vinyl lined pool that has a few more limitations. See “Pool Types - Vinyl Lined Pools” for a listing of shapes.  Select a vinyl liner pattern – If having a vinyl lined pool built, you have a wide variety of patterns to choose from. Refer to the “Pool Types - Vinyl Lined Patterns” section.

Pool equipment & accessories

Equipment selection by Gib-San – Pool equipment technology has advanced significantly to simplify your pool operation while optimizing healthy sparkling water.

Primary operating system-  The pump and filter specifications are matched to your pool’s requirements. Generally we make the selection, providing you with viable options based on performance options.

• We favour cartridge filtration because it has much finer filtering than sand filtration, and does not require backwashing.
• A two-speed or variable-speed pump is our preference for both energy efficiency and quietness.
• A heater is always recommended as part of the equipment package for maximizing the season and your comfort.

 

Water management systems - Gib-San has different packages depending on the pool configuration. We consider whether an alternative sanitizers system or automatic sanitizer dispenser is best to reduce the amount of chlorine and maintenance time required. Operations Control Systems automate and simplify operations and can make most functions remote-controllable from inside the house. In fact, we can install a system that allows you to control your pool operation from outside the country or for us to monitor for you. Pool cleaning options simplify maintenance as well - from suction and powered systems to complete in-floor cleaning systems where water jets pop up from the floor to direct the dirt to the drain.

 

Automatic covers provide function year-round with push button convenience.  In the summer it stops evaporation to reduce both water and heat loss, while providing more safety. In the winter it is a winter cover, keeping debris out of the pool while providing more safety for children and pets. Seasonal winter covers – A Gib-San consultant can advise you on the merits of the two cover options that are available.   Winter safety cover stretches across the pool like a custom trampoline virtually eliminating the need to remove water-soaked leaves.  It looks better and provides more safety, even for pets, all winter long. The traditional winter cover sits on the pool water and is held in place by the coping track or by water bags depending on the coping track. This is an economical option.

 

Jumping rocks add enjoyment – Large stone slabs have virtually replaced diving boards and slides because of better aesthetics and safety. Fitness accessories - Volleyball and basketball net systems add hours of family fun and can be set into the decking with easy setup and removal options. Entry-assist support railings - Customized pool-entry areas and railings can be added for seniors and rehabilitation exercising. In-pool lighting co-ordinated with garden lighting - Lighting enhances both the beauty and safety of your backyard setting. Choose from bold white to mood-shifting colour-sequencing LED lighting to enhance any entertaining mood.

Select fencing for safety, privacy, and aesthetics – Fencing must meet certain safety standards to restrict access from outside the backyard, and in Toronto from the house to the pool as well.  Gib-San design and build consultants will advise you on the specifics for your backyard situation.

• To see a variety of fencing options refer to the "Photo Gallery – Yard Accessories – Fencing" section.  It shows you a wide variety of materials and appearances available that will greatly enhance the beauty of your backyard environment while providing privacy at the same time.
• Removable pool-barrier fencing that restricts young children and pets from accessing the pool from the general backyard area is also available. This can easily be removed for social events, however it should be noted that a fence is no substitution for adult supervision of children when they are around a pool.
• Toronto fencing by-law  – The by-laws regulating fencing of the pool area were significantly revised in 2008.  For details, click here [PDF]
• Toronto water disposal by-law - The by-laws regulating the discharge of pool and spa water into storm sewers is new and places significant restrictions and potential fines for doing so. For details, click here.

 

Hot tubs / Spas Feels Soooo good! Being massaged by pulsing warm water is the ultimate in relaxation – You first have to decide whether you want a custom built spa integrated with your pool or patio and landscaping, or a stand-alone hot tub.   For the acrylic hot tubs see the Marquis Hot Tub selection in the Pool & Hot Tub Centre section of this website. These can be set into your patio stonework or surrounded with an attractive wood cabinet that complements any patio setting.

Landscaping & yard features The backyard plan should be considered as a whole – It is best to consider the complete area in the initial planning stage so one feature complements another to ensure compatibility of different materials. Even if the installation is done in phases, having a master plan upfront produces the most pleasing results. The cabana design – This can be the focal point of your deck or a shed hidden somewhat by landscaping. You decide how it will be used and how much profile you want it to have. Will it store the pool equipment? Is it a change room, a garden tool shed, an outdoor kitchen and bar, or will some of these functions be located elsewhere? Outdoor kitchen and BBQ – If these are not in the cabana, then where? With outdoor living trends, grand stainless steel outdoor “kitchens” – complete with pizza oven - rival inside ones as a focal area ready for the master chef to perform!

Gazebo or bridge – Take advantage of a small creek or pond as a focal point, or add a gazebo for both tranquility and beauty in your dream setting. Lawn sprinkler system – Plan this as soon as the landscape plan is done. Why create your dream and then have another tradesman in later to mar it? Landscape theme – Our landscape designers are experts at getting your ideas on paper. They draw the type of yard you envision. Do you like lots of flowerbeds or more formal gardens with a fountain? Do you prefer a rustic natural stone and trees setting? Is there a need for privacy blocks from neighbours? Do you require a large play area with a playhouse and climber gym? Do you need large retaining walls to access lower yard areas better? How about focal stonework with weeping water or rushing waterfalls, or fish ponds and streams? Make designing your pool easy – visit our Creation Centre where you can see hundreds of photos of pool and landscape ideas while you discuss options with our designers.

Let us help you visualize and make your dream a reality. The possibilities are endless … and so is the enjoyment!