Outside the Box

Attractive landscaping can add immeasurably to the natural beauty (and value) of a home. But before making any decisions, follow these ground rules supplied by the experts.

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Rockworks (Lake Orion) took third-place honors in the 2009 Detroit Home Design Awards for this pool that features diving stones positioned at varying heights and an overall design that appears almost natural in its wooded context.

Photograph courtesy of Zaremba & Co

DIVING IN

From infinity edges to built-in stereo systems, there are more options for pools than ever before. But jumping in without thinking it through can leave you all wet, area experts say.

“Too many people end up [getting rid of] their pools because they don’t consider them carefully enough first,” says Bloomfield Hills-based landscape architect James C. Scott. Following are four tips — just in time for bikini season.

1. Homework: Know your needs, ground conditions, and local zoning requirements before getting started, says Tom Jaworski of Brighton’s Forest Ridge Construction. “A concrete-shell pool on unstable ground can crack and become a maintenance nightmare.”

2. Privacy: Think twice if you like to sunbathe or if you’re not looking to host the weekly neighborhood pool party. “People discover friends they never knew they had when they put in a pool,” Scott says.   

3. Fencing: Remember that safety features such as gates, automatic covers, and sensors are musts for families with small children.

4. Commitment: “Unless you have a pool service,” Scott says, “you’ll need both time and money to maintain it properly.”