If you're dreaming of relaxing summer days spent poolside, it may be time to consider a Pool Specialist or Builder. These professionals will not only help to design and install your pool, but they can also aid in appropriate maintenance once the pool is complete.

What is a Pool Specialist or Builder? Whether you're at the beginning stages of pool planning or you need up-keep assistance for your current pool, Pool Specialists and Builders can be just the extra hand you're looking for. If you are planning for a new pool, Pool Builders will analyze your outdoor space and your aesthetic wishes to determine an appropriate design for your yard, installing it once the plan is developed and approved. Once the pool is installed, Pool Specialists and Builders can handle pool cleanings, openings, and closings; water testing; renovations and equipment replacements or repairs.

Before hiring a Pool Specialist or Builder to create a new pool, determine how you'll be using the pool to help you find a builder who shares your aesthetic. Will it be for fun or for lap exercise? Will the primary users be children, adults or a mix of the two? Once you find specialists and builders who share your style, research is critical. Review customer references and comments, collect at least three to four estimates to compare, meet with potential builders in person and ensure that they are both Certified Service Professionals and licensed with the Registrar of Contractors before making any final decisions. In addition, get a sense whether they plan to install the pool and be done with it or seem interesting in building a long-term relationship with you. Be wary of the former: it's likely a reflection on the level of quality of the pool they plan to build for you.

Questions to ask a prospective Pool Specialist or Builder:

• Can you provide me with references?
• Are you licensed and insured? (Check liability insurance and Workmen's Compensation)
• How do you charge and what does that include?
• Can you provide me a written estimate?
• What do your services include?
• What is your experience with similar projects?
• When can your job get done?
• What happens when cost exceeds the budget? What about changes due to materials or labor pricing changes? What kinds of situations do you foresee would cause extra costs?
• What will I need to provide?
• Are there any important considerations or concerns you foresee with this project?

Find a Pool Specialist or Builder on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to Pool Specialist or Builder, then choose the metro area in which you'd like to find a professional. You may also look through photos by style, like Traditional, Asian, Contemporary, Modern, Eclectic, Mediterranean or Tropical, to find a pool you like, then contact the Pool Specialist or Builder who designed it.