Tampa Bay spas | hive outdoor living

To Enclose Your Pool Or Not

One of the questions often asked is, “should we enclose our pool?”

The short answer is, “It depends.”

On what does it depend? Several points, actually.

An enclosure can actually assist you in many ways taking care of your pool. First and foremost, perhaps, is that an enclosure will dramatically reduce the amount of debris from entering your pool water, especially leaves. And, while many people have an automatic pool cleaner installed, when a lot of leaves and other types of debris enter your water it can take a while before your water is once again crystal clear.

An enclosure will help extend the amount of time to enjoy your pool. This ties into helping keep it clean, simply because you are spending less time getting leaves out of your pool so you can actually enjoy swimming.

As well, screened enclosures assist in filtering some of the UV rays from the sun. This can result in being able to enjoy your pool for longer lengths of time with a little less worry about sunburns.

Of course, living in Florida means there are times of hurricanes and strong winds. Pool enclosures have been designed to generally handle winds up to 120-130 miles per hour, so chances are they will be able to withstand most anything nature throws our way.

One of the biggest benefits, however, has to do with being far more comfortable around your pool because their are fewer bugs and insects hoovering around you and your family. While the pests are still able to enter your screened-in area, that generally only occurs when a door to the outside of the pool perimeter is open while they are nearby and they manage to sneak into the enclosed area. Otherwise, your screen is able to protect you from insects and bugs to a very large degree and this definitely increases the amount of fun time for you and your family.

Depending upon your design, your screened-in pool becomes an actual extension to your home and living space when connected to your patio roof. You may be able to walk out of your slider and are instantly immersed in your backyard paradise.

To be fair, there are a couple of other, possibly less desirable, factors to consider.

Screened enclosures are not necessarily maintenance free. Over time, an enclosure may develop mold or mildew which would need to be pressure washed. While the amount of time this would take is far less than cleaning leaves every day, it is something to take into account.

The other, which does not happen that often, is when a screen gets torn or damaged. An example may be if a heavy branch were to break free from a large tree and fell into the screen. Not an easy fix when over the pool, but not an impossible task, either.

At Hive Outdoor Living we will help you Create Your Own Paradise, with or without a screened enclosure. The choice is entirely up to you. And, if you decide to install an enclosure, there are different styles from which to choose.

Contact us today for a free estimate! (813) 579-2444

Fire Pits Take Away The Chill

Here in the Greater Tampa Bay Area, swimming can be a year-round activity. Yes, even when the days or evenings can be a little brisk.

One way to combat that cool temperature or breeze is with a fire pit or fire bowl.

A fire pit, or even a fire bowl, is a great way to stay warm when you wish to enjoy the day or evening but the temp is just slightly below your liking. It also offers a dual purpose as possibly becoming the center for your outdoor entertainment area.

One of the wonderful advantages to a fire pit in your backyard is that they take up a relatively small amount of space for the benefit that they provide. And the options of materials for your pit ensure that it will complement your decor and style; brick, stone, pavers, concrete, steel, as well as retaining wall blocks.

Whether you have a pool already or not, a fire pit can be installed just about anywhere. The most popular tend to be gas powered pits, though you could opt for wood, if you so desire. As well, your pit can be either above ground or flush, being built below ground.

Gas burning fire pits are typically easier to maintain (i.e., no ashes or debris to clean). As well, they don’t spark or produce embers or smoke. Wood-burning pits do provide the often well-remembered campfire aroma and can be changed according to the wood that is burned.

One option to consider is if anyone would like to sit on the edge of the pit for a quicker warm-up. If that is the case, your fire pit should be between 18 and 22 inches high with enough area for someone to comfortably sit.

A ground level fire pit with a deck of some type around it offers ground seating, reminiscent of sitting on a beach with an open fire blazing.

We will work with your ideas for where and which type of fire pit to install, from the more simple to the elaborate, including its shape, such as square, circle, rectangle or even something custom. There are, of course, planning department regulations we will need to take into account, but that should not deter or stop you from having a fire pit or bowl to enhance your lifestyle.

At Hive Outdoor Living we provide virtually everything in order to Create Your Backyard Paradise, including custom pools, spas, decks, screen enclosures, landscaping, outdoor kitchens, fire pits and fire bowls, gazebos and more.

Contact us today for a free estimate! (813) 579-2444

Landscaping To Reflect Your Lifestyle

It is never too late for landscaping

When planning for your custom swimming pool, or even when you already have one installed, there is a way to complete your backyard paradise to reflect your lifestyle…landscaping and all that it can entail.

The options to transform your backyard into a unique environment are almost limitless, including, but not limited to: patios, walkways, gazebos, trees and foliage, planters, ponds, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, fire pits, screen enclosures, and much more. There are also numerous water effects and a variety of lighting to consider.

Fortunately, here in Tampa Bay, the #1 pool builder, Hive Outdoor Living, can handle pretty much any request or desire you may have with professional installations that will provide years of satisfaction.

Water effects offer both soothing and dramatic backgrounds, as well as highlights. The sound of running water from a water fall, water bowls or a sheer descent provides a calming affect, as well as a bit of an external noise blocker. Add some colorful lighting, which can be both inside the pool water as well as solid or colored laminars that create a beautiful arc of water that enters your pool.

There are items you may select that will provide you a dual purpose, such as filling planters with fragrant Lavender, Marigold, Scented Geranium and Peppermint to assist in repelling mosquitos. Trees and gazebos add dimension to your yard as well as some very welcome shade during the brightest part of the day.

An outdoor kitchen, with an adjacent dining area and possibly a nearby fire pit with seating around it, makes an ideal area to relax after a day at work, as well as the favorite location to entertain family and friends, pretty much any time.

However you decide to accentuate your home surroundings, rest assured that the experts at Hive Outdoor will work with you every step of the way to Create Your Own Paradise.

Contact us today for a free estimate! (813) 579-2444

There’s a Great Pool for You

At Hive Outdoor Living, we truly believe “There’s a Pool for You.”

Regardless of the size of your backyard living space or the budget that you have allocated for a custom swimming pool, it is our belief that every backyard, especially here in the Greater Tampa Bay area, should have a pool.

There are numerous reasons why. We’ll cover a few.

Swimming pools bring families together, add a tremendous amount of pleasure, and create an at-home staycation or holistay environment. A pool is an investment in years of enjoyment and fun, likely creating memories to last a lifetime.

There is, as well, the health aspect of owning your own pool.

There is ample evidence that swimming is one of the best, if not the best, exercise. The great thing is that, other than competitive swimming, it does not feel like exercise.

The benefits of swimming are incredible: it is low-impact, yet builds and maintains muscles (especially as we age); it improves lung capacity, thus processing oxygen much more efficiently and assisting in immunity to illness; it can help reduce stress, both physical and mental; to name a few.

What could be better than having a closer family and all members being happier and healthier?

The beautiful thing about a Hive Outdoor Living custom swimming pool is that we have created numerous backyard paradises for people in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

That is why we believe that there is a pool for you.

From traditional rectangular or kidney shaped pools, to ones that are free form, using the natural contours of the property and dwelling to define its outline and configuration.

We are a Greater Tampa Bay Area pool contractor with a sole purpose in mind…to provide you and your family with the highest quality outdoor living environment at the best possible cost, using proven materials and equipment, to ensure years of enjoyable and gratifying satisfaction.

Prepare to Create Your Own Paradise.