Granite Patio Pavers and Pool Coping – A Basic Guide

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Granite patio pavers
A granite patio by Gappsi

There’s no doubt about how much a swimming pool can enhance the appearance of your backyard. Regardless of the shape and size, they are a wonderful addition to your home exterior. However, when it comes to pool coping, most people want to stick to granite patio pavers and pool coping. If you’re wondering whether the material is appropriate for your needs, keep reading.

Why Do You Need a Pool Coping?

Before we get into why we need granite pavers, it’s important to understand the role of pool coping. A pool coping directs splashout into the deck drains and away from the pool. It also blocks water flow from the area behind the pool, preventing further damage. The most important role it plays is that of an inhibitor. It inhibits dirt, debris, and grass from entering the pool area. Last but not least, it provides swimmers with a sturdy and safe way to enter and exit poolside.

Granite Patio Pavers and Pool Coping: Why Do You Need Them?

Granite Is Durable and Long-Lasting

Any product you choose for any purpose should have the quality of being durable and long-lasting, especially when it comes to enhancing your home’s appearance. This is precisely why granite is a sought-after choice.

It is a popular choice among many people mainly because of its durability. However, the consensus on its popularity isn’t new. It goes back to the time of the construction of Roman aqueducts. All in all, the material is highly resilient and sturdy and requires minimal maintenance, making it perfect for everything, including your patios.

It’s Moisture Resistant

The best quality of granite is that it adapts well to wet areas in Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. Hence, when you install these pavers as pool coping, you won’t have to worry about water seeping in. The stone is quite impenetrable to most liquids.

It Adds a Level of Elegance to Your Exterior

Our designers at Gappsi ensure that the granite stone you choose enhances the beauty of your backyard or lawn. Furthermore, thanks to the huge variety of colors and formats in our showrooms, you will have no trouble finding your favorite color.

It’s Much More Affordable Than Other Options Out There

Granite stone has long been the ideal solution for most pool copings. Apart from the durability and variety factors, the price also plays a role here. You can get it repaired or replaced at a reasonable price if needed.

Granite Patio Pavers
A granite patio in a house on Long Island

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Pool Paver

From our suppliers and distributors to our contractors and installer, everyone ensures that you get exactly what you’re looking for. However, there’s more to the subject than just appearance and durability. You must consider the following factors, too, when it comes to choosing your pool paver.

Price

Cost plays a vital role in the selection process. You want to ensure that whatever you’re choosing is cost-effective and has a long life span. Stone pavers usually require much less upkeep than other options in the market.

Glare And Heat

It’s important to consider how the paver surface feels on a hot day. While most surfaces are prone to getting hot in summer, some get hotter than others. You want to get a denser and lighter paver in Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. You may also want to factor in the amount of glare you’ll experience. The rule is to consider the color. The lighter it is, the greater the glare.

Surface Finish

The surface finish should be a primary factor to consider when choosing pool paving for an outdoor space. Since avoiding spills is the priority, it’s important that you with something with a non-slip finish.

Sealing

Using the right seal for pool pavers is imperative, especially since natural stone is porous. Make sure to seal your granite patio pavers and pool coping correctly, or it may not be able to stand the test of time. The stone’s quality falls prey to environmental factors over time which is why protecting its natural beauty is important. Nonetheless, our manufacturers ensure that you get the best possible quality no matter what type of pavers you choose. You may also want to consult our professionals to learn more about the sealing process.

Pool Coping

If you’ve decided to pave around your pool, you may want to consider a few more questions. Do you want to use a different coping material or run it along the edge? Regardless, you want to go with a paver that merges well with the remaining landscape. All in all, the deal is to choose a material that isn’t only aesthetically pleasing but also performs well, whether you’re using it for your pool, walkways, or wall veneers.

Granite vs. Bluestone

While bluestone has a sawn finish, Granite has a bush-hammered finish. Both are ideal in terms of their performance. However, with bluestone, you can choose various formats, from cobblestones to tiles. On the other hand, granite has its own way of giving you an elegant finish that meshes well with both traditional and contemporary architecture. While the option of custom fabrication is there, it all comes down to personal preferences.

Learn More About Granite Patio Pavers and Pool Copings

You can’t possibly have a pool without coping. It’s almost like having a plane without a roof. Hence, it’s safe to conclude that the final outlook of your pool depends solely on the material you choose for pavers and copings. At Gappsi, we have an endless list of options for you to choose from. We also encourage the idea of familiarizing yourself with different stone options.

After all, choosing a durable, long-lasting material that increases the aesthetic value of your home is the primary goal. From the style to the budget, you want to ensure that your chosen material fits your needs best. Our customized services have benefitted a number of clients over the years. This gives us even more of a reason to transform your backyard or lawn into the space of your dreams.  For more information, call us at Gappsi and schedule a consultation today!

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Pros of a Gunite Swimming Pool | Construction and Renovation

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Gunite Swimming Pool
A customized gunite swimming pool by Gappsi

Refreshing juices by the poolside are the highlight of summer. If you want to construct or renovate a pool on your premises, our Gappsi Home Improvement Company team can help. We can build pools from materials like gunite, concrete, fiberglass, and more. Gunite pools are quite common these days, so this blog will explain everything about a gunite swimming pool and its construction in Nassau and Suffolk County.

What is Gunite?

In simple words, gunite is a form of concrete.

More precisely, it is a gooey material consisting of water, sand, and cement. Builders spray layers of this material on vertical or horizontal frameworks with a compressed air gun or a high-pressure hose. Once the gooey liquid dries, it turns into a thick, rock-hard structure. Builders usually use gunite to construct pools, roads, and tunnels.

Why is gunite better than standard concrete?

The reason is simple; standard concrete is denser than gunite and solidifies quickly after application, making it difficult to handle. Also, gunite structures made through spraying with a hose or gun don’t develop or sustain any seams like traditionally-poured concrete. Gappsi can build a top-quality gunite swimming pool in your courtyard to make your summer super fun.

Advantages of a Gunite Swimming Pool

Durability

Gunite’s excellent durability makes it a worthy choice for the construction of residential and commercial swimming pools.

Firstly, gunite swimming pools don’t require wooden structures to set their shape. Instead, the structure of gunite is steel-reinforced. This makes the construction of gunite pools simpler and more robust than the standard concrete ones. They can withstand high stress and pressure from external forces and last longer due to their high tensile strength.

Another reason a gunite swimming pool lasts longer is the shifting ground phenomenon.

The soil below and around the pool doesn’t stay still. It keeps shifting due to factors like water intrusion, compaction, freezing, thawing, or drought. Hence, the pool shell should be made from a material that is tough and solid but expands and contracts without cracking. Gunite has this dual quality that makes it an excellent choice for building long-lasting pool structures.

Benefits of Gunite Swimming Pools
An asymmetric gunite swimming pool in Nassau County

Versatility

Another great quality of gunite is its versatility. Our professional masons and contractors can customize your pool in any shape, depth, and size you want. You can enjoy your personal aquatic sanctuary built according to your lifestyle, budget, and style preferences.

A gunite swimming pool can also fit well in any landscape and space. You can choose from an endless list of possible designs, including ones with sharp angles, smooth curves, or both. Moreover, there are multiple options for the pool’s finishing, including plasters, pebbles, tiles, and glass.

Gunite also allows you to install different design amenities in the pool that match your landscape and raise the pool’s overall appeal. Some cool design amenities include water benches, tanning ledges, and barstools. You can also add spas and waterfalls for a natural vibe.

Other alternatives to a gunite swimming pool include standard concrete, vinyl, and fiberglass ones. Although pool construction and renovation with these materials are quicker and cheaper, they offer limited design options compared to gunite. In short, gunite pools are a perfect fusion of fun, fitness, comfort, and visual appeal.

Easy Maintenance

Gunite pools are worth every buck you spend on their construction and renovation. This is because they don’t need relatively extensive repairs and maintenance like pools of other materials.

Basically, a gunite swimming pool retains its shape over a long time because of its steep-supported framework, unlike pools of fiberglass, vinyl, and other materials.

However, you must keep it clean and shiny with the right chemicals to prevent algae and keep its durability intact. You may also have to refinish the pool after a while if it starts showing signs of wear.

Important Considerations for Gunite Pools

●       Be careful with Pool Draining

Gunite can expand and contract due to several environmental factors. A high groundwater table due to improper draining can raise the pool off the ground and cause considerable damage. Hence, you must learn the right way to drain the pool.

●       Scrub, Clean, and Add Chemicals

Gunite’s porous nature makes it prone to algae growth. You must scrub, brush, and use additional chemicals to keep the pool clean and prevent algae growth.

The pool shell’s alkaline pH level regularly raises the water’s pH levels. This requires you to neutralize the water’s pH levels by adding acids.

●       Construction May Take Time

Builders and masonry contractors can usually build a gunite swimming pool from scratch within approximately 2 to 3 months or even more.

Gunite Pool Construction
A backyard gunite swimming pool by Gappsi

Construction of a Gunite Swimming Pool in Nassau and Suffolk County

The first step in gunite pool construction is digging the hole for the pool.

After that, builders install iron and steel bar framework around the pool’s perimeter. The core purpose of this grid-like framework is to reinforce the pool’s structure. This iron framework is suspended in the air on concrete blocks to prevent it from touching the soil, leaving enough space to fill in fresh gunite at the bottom surface.

Then comes the time to spray gunite with high pressure and velocity around and onto the iron bars. This is how builders make the pool’s dense floor and walls. After spraying gunite across the entire pool, they smooth the material and leave it to set and dry.

The next step is to add a finishing material that matches your landscape. You can opt for plaster as the finishing material because it comes in many colors. For a more extravagant or luxurious look, you can consider colored quartz, pebbles, or tiles.

The final steps include leveling and paving the ground around the pool and installing a pool coping. Pool coping separates the pool shell from the surrounding surface area and prevents the water from leaving the pool shell.

Since your pool is ready at this point, you can now ask plumbers and electrical handymen to install the water pump, any additional water features, and light fixtures.

Want an exclusive swimming pool in your backyard, school, or recreational center? Schedule Your Free Consultation Today with Gapssi Home Improvement Company for gunite swimming pool renovations and new construction in Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.

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Chessboards Life-Size Designers in Nassau and Suffolk County

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Chessboards Life-Size Designers
Custom Outdoor Chessboard

Thinking of hiring our chessboards life-size designers?

The game of chess isn’t loved all over the world for nothing. The checkered board has a charm of its own. Only a true chess lover would know how fulfilling it is to match wits over it. If you’re also someone who wouldn’t think twice before devoting an entire day to the game, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. It’s possible to have a life-size chessboard right on your lawn or backyard. Yes, you read it right. Our designers at Gappsi are not only well-versed in your needs, but they will also leave you amazed with the results.

What Is the Origin of Giant Chess?

Chess was originally a 4-player game that people played with dice. The initial name was “shaturanga.” However, the game no longer has a gambling element now as it used to have due to the dice. Ever since the game’s introduction to Western Europe, people began meddling with the shape and style of the pieces, and the tinkering continues to this day.

Previously, people would opt for marble, wood, and stone to create large chess sets. It wasn’t until the 20th century that a German manufacturer finally mass-produced it in a giant form using plastic pieces. Over the course of years, different companies have tried coming up with different versions of the game. However, the original concept remains intact in the game.

Benefits of Playing Chess

It Improves Your Memory

It isn’t unknown that chess significantly improves your memory. It’s only justified since there are so many combinations one needs to memorize to get the potential outcomes. Now imagine taking the experience up a notch and getting your own life-size chessboard right outside your house in Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.

Not only will the chessboard be life size but your motivation to get through the game will also be life-size. All in all, your auditory memory can improve significantly if the game is a regular part of your routine. After all, memorizing complicated chess combinations in itself is a challenging task.

It Enhances Your Problem-Solving Skills

Playing chess can also have a significant impact on your problem-solving skills. Since the game requires a great deal of patience and planning, it is bound to have an impact on your mind in the long run. The benefits don’t end here.

Our chessboard life-size designers at Gappsi will make sure to create a life-size board that entices children as much as it entices adults. From building relationships and social skills to enhancing thinking skills, playing chess is associated with several cognitive benefits.

Playing It Can Put You In a Flow Zone

Chess is the kind of activity that gets you involved for a long time. When you enter the stage of “flow,” it’s impossible to be aware of what’s happening in your surroundings.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a quiet room or on your lawn playing on the life-size board; your brain is bound to act the same way. This is because your theta brain waves become extremely heightened when you’re completely involved in the game.

Our contractors recognize how important the game might be for you if you’ve chosen to get a life-size board for it. Hence, at Gappsi, we take precision seriously when designing for you the board of your dreams.

It Stirs the Development of Empathy

It’s important to focus on the board from two different perspectives. Hence, having a life-size board will make the task easier. Determining what your opponent is up to can help you come up with your next strategy effectively.

Since playing the game is about placing yourself in your opponent’s shoes, it is bound to stir empathy in you. You begin to see how others see the world and relate to their perspective. Similarly, you also begin to see how another person’s choices can affect yours.

Chessboards-Life-SizeChessboards Life-Size Designers: Why Hire Them

Take the experience of playing the game up a notch by having your very own life-size chessboard right in the boundaries of your house. The element of creativity it adds to your home’s exterior is absolutely unmatched.

Furthermore, at Gappsi, we understand how important precision is in the game. One wrong move could turn everything around in or against your favor. For this reason, our installer makes sure to take your lawn or backyard’s dimensions into account. You do not want the entire space to be consumed by a life-size game, and we recognize that.

At the same time, maintaining the board and protecting it from harmful environmental elements is also imperative. From our suppliers and contractors to installers, every member of the team ensures that your life-size board is created using durable material.

Nonetheless, a “larger than life” chess board will bring a brand new dimension to your garden. This eye-catching addition will surely be the crowd pleaser. Hiring our chessboards life-size designers will help you bring your vision to life. Imagine organizing garden parties and having tournaments in the presence of it.

Dimensions and Material

Depending on the dimensions of your lawn or backyard, our team will determine the right size of your giant chess and draught pieces. The draught pieces are usually made using a strong PVC material that isn’t only waterproof but also UV-protected. No matter what time of the day it is, your chessboard’s quality will remain intact as long as you maintain it and get frequent inspections done from time to time.

Contact Our Expert Designers in Nassau and Suffolk County Today!

The experts at Gappsi are available to help you throughout the course of construction. From determining the right dimensions to ensuring the quality of materials, our team will leave no stone unturned in providing you with exactly what you want. Our contractors will match your needs with the perfect team at hand and ensure that the process is as seamless as possible. Furthermore, our installer will take your suggestions into account before installing the chessboard on your lawn or backyard.

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