Fiberglass Pool Owners: Never Tell your Friends with Concrete Pools These 5 Things

Attention Fiberglass Pool Owners:  Please Do Not Disclose this information to your buddies with Concrete/Gunite Pools…..because they’ll be way jealous and drastic things could happen. 

We have to be considerate here, what’s done is done.  They can never enjoy the benefits of fiberglass pools the way you can, so there’s no point in rubbing their noses in it.

*Concrete pool owners: if you have accidently come across this article, save yourself years of regret and anguish and leave this page now before any more damage is done.  If you have a friend with a fiberglass pool that deliberately referred you here they should immediately go on your pooh-pooh list and lose all future Christmas gifts.

Now that’s behind us:

Here are 5 Things You Should Never Disclose to Your Friends with Concrete Pools     

 

1.  All the time you’ve had with Your Family while They’re outside Cleaning the Pool

Please, never mention all the times you’ve watched them, dripping with sweat, brush and clean the pool from your air conditioned kitchen.  They don’t have a choice you know.  Because of the porous surface of concrete pools, weekly brushing of the entire pool is recommended to remove any algae that imbeds into the surface.  Yes, I know you probably never brush your fiberglass pool.  Why would you?  The surface is non-porous, inhibiting the growth of algae, and that makes your life really easy.  I know you feel guilty, maybe you could volunteer to brush their pool for them next week….NOT!!!

 

2.  What You’ve done with the Money You’ve Saved on Chemicals

Clothes for the kids, a few nights out to dinner, they’ll never know how much more they spend on chemicals per year than you do and what they could be doing with the money….no need to even bring it up.  It’s because of that porous surface thing again.  It takes a lot more chlorine or other sanitizer to kill the algae and other bacteria imbedded in those pours.  Because your fiberglass pool doesn’t foster algae growth, it only requires a fraction of the chemicals used by your friend’s concrete pool. 

 

3.  How non-abrasive the Fiberglass Pool surface is

I know they told you that their kids have to wear water shoes while swimming in their concrete pool because the surface is so rough, so you never want to tell them how gentle, but skid-resistant, the surface of your fiberglass pool is and how easy it is on your children’s feet.    

 

4.  That you don’t need to Plan for Costly Repairs

I’m sure that they’re aware that they’ll eventually be spending $10-$20k on tile, coping, and plaster work, so there’s no need to point that out….not to mention acid washing every couple years.  They’re responsible, I’m sure they’ll plan their budget accordingly.  But you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank with costly renovation work with your fiberglass pool because the lifetime cost of ownership is significantly less.  The vast majority of fiberglass pools installed in the United States since the 1970’s have never had any major repair work.    

 

5.  That you Don’t Stress over pH and other Water Chemistry Stuff

You’ve seen your friends dumping gallons of acid into their pool, but you probably didn’t know why.  It’s because concrete pools are naturally alkaline and raise the pH of the pool water.  Therefore, it’s much more difficult to keep your buddy’s water balanced than in your fiberglass pool that is inert and does not react in any way with the water in your pool.  That’s just one less stressor you have to deal with, but remember……let’s keep it hush, hush.

 

Ok, so that’s it.  You should be able to disclose any other info about your fiberglass pool to your concrete pool friends without fear of jeopardizing the relationship.

 

Glad I could be of service.

 

Please feel free question or comment, but please, let’s make sure it stays between us:) 

Despite Advances, Some Concrete Pool Companies Still Hanging on to the Past

Just the other day I was speaking with a pool customer in the Maryland area who was debating the merits of concrete vs. fiberglass swimming pools. During our discussion, I became disenchanted to hear some of the concerns this gentleman had—not because he had concerns, but the root of the concerns themselves.

You see, this man had talked with a sales person from a major concrete pool builder in Maryland, a company that has been a ‘Top 50 Builder’ and one that has been doing concrete pools for many, many years. And it was during this conversation with their salesman that he was treated to a plethora of inaccurate statements regarding fiberglass pools.

Despite the fact that I was frustrated such a company would elect to take the road of fear-mongering so as to make a sale, I ended up reflecting upon the experience and came up with two realizations:

1. Swimming pool consumers are more informed than they’ve ever been regarding the incredible merits of fiberglass. Despite the efforts of concrete companies like this on in Md. to fight the tide of positive information regarding a gunite/concrete pool alternative, most consumers are now smart enough to know when sales persons and marketing departments are being dishonest. The pool shopper I mentioned above had just begun his research, and therefore was more susceptible to mythology. But in many cases this past year, I’ve spoken with homeowners that were incredibly turned off by this and other companies that are obviously desperate to hold fast to concrete pool superiority in the marketplace.

2. More and more concrete pool companies have now decided to embrace the 21^st century. The same holds true for quite a few vinyl companies as well. The economy, because of its tough state, has forced businesses to make decisions that they simply weren’t making just 3 years ago. Whether it has been a massive pool builder like Anthony Sylvan or a mom and pop company in the Midwest, gunite companies are accepting the reality that fiberglass pools are now in high demand due to their many benefits, as shown in this incredibly telling video we just released a few weeks ago.

But as I mentioned at the start of this article, there are still a few holdouts. Despite all the facts and signs of the times, there are still some companies like the Maryland pool builder I mentioned that elect not to embrace the future, but instead hunker-down and do their best to misinform. So as to protect those consumers who truly are looking for the pros and cons of fiberglass pools, I’ve listed here 6 of the most common myths a few gunite pool builders are still using:

1. Fiberglass Pools Don’t Work in Certain Soil Conditions: The Md. customer told me this statement the other day and I laughed. The reason for my amusement was simple: I’ve heard this silly myth used by pool companies literally in every part of the US and Canada. If it was up to certain builders, apparently fiberglass wouldn’t work in any soil condition in the world. As I’ve discussed before in other posts, fiberglass pools are incredible strong, flexible, and even repairable—which makes them perfect for any soil condition.

2. You Don’t Have a Pool Unless It’s Concrete: Yeah, and Henry Ford said you didn’t have a car unless it was a Model-T……Frankly, I’m amazed this is still a line used by sales persons. A note to sales guys, what do you say we embrace the technology of the future and not stifle it??

3. Fiberglass Pools are Ugly: 25 years ago, maybe. Today, well, I’ll let you decide—just take a glance at a few of our photos.

4. Fiberglass Pools Float: Alas…..I can only slap my forehead with this one. First of all, any vessel, be it concrete or vinyl, can float. But when built properly, and maintained with water, this should never happen with a swimming pool—as it has never happened with one of the 600+ fiberglass pools we’ve installed during our time in business—many of which were built on the water, hence River Pools and Spas.

5. Fiberglass Pools aren’t Repairable: Huh??? This statement is a laugh, really. Just talk to a boat guy if you want the ultimate unbiased opinion.

6. Fiberglass Pools only Work in Certain Warmer Climates: Again, totally bogus. The fastest growing pool in Canada is fiberglass.

Well there you have it folks—the top 6 myths concrete pool companies are still using to sway consumers. As I’ve mentioned before in other articles, there isn’t a perfect pool out there. They all have their drawbacks. Fiberglass is limited in its shapes and sizes. Concrete is high in maintenance, chemicals, and long-term costs. Despite their drawbacks though, swimming pool ownership is an amazing experience, especially with all the technology advancements of the 21^st century making the process of ownership such a more pleasant one.

But hopefully this article will help some of you that are currently in the process of researching and buying a pool to make the right decision for your situation based on facts, and not on the frivolous and inaccurate statements some will make simply in an effort to get a sale.

As always, happy swimming to everyone (only a month or so left)!

Marcus Sheridan

Unbiased Pool Owner Speaks Out Regarding Concrete vs Fiberglass Debate

As just about any pool shopper knows, there is a significant debate raging on in the swimming pool industry:

Concrete Compared to Fiberglass: Which is the Best Swimming Pool?

Understandably, this question merits serious consideration. But the truth is, just about every pool guy is quite biased when it comes to the product they sell. And no matter what any person says, they are almost always leaning one way or another when it comes to what they tend to recommend to customers.

I've mentioned many times that we try not to be 'that guy' here at River Pools---You know, the one that is so blinded by his own products and need to 'make a sale' that he completely loses track of what the customer is really looking for. In reality, the fact is fiberglass pools aren't for everyone. Nor is a concrete or gunite pool the right choice for many consumers. One has size/shape limitations. The other involves significant upkeep, chemicals, and maintenance.

But when comparing the two, the truest way to know the merits of each product is to actually ask a consumer who has owned or currently owns both products. After all, pool owners that have experience with only one type of pool only know things from their one-way perspective. Not that this is by any stretch a bad thing, it just is what it is. But when you take an individual who owns both and ask that person to compare, well then we have a serious analysis at hand.

So without further ado let's finally hear what a customer who owns both products has to say. The following video shows Ken Knull, owner of Yankee Pt marina in Lancaster Virginia. Ken owns a fiberglass pool at his marina. He also owns a concrete pool at his residence. Considering the heavy usage of his fiberglass pool, Ken is the perfect case study of someone who can shed legitimate light and understanding on such a long-standing debate:

Swimming Pools and Dogs: A Few Points to Ponder

Many of you seeing the title of this article may laugh at the idea of pools and dogs, but believe it or not for many families out there the dog(s) have just as much say in the pool as the rest of the family does. Just ask my business partner Jim with his two pugs. Heck, sometimes I think those two dogs have more say than any one in Jim’s household…..but I digress. :-)

So let’s take a look at a few common questions we get regarding pools and dogs:

What is the best type of pool for my dog?

First and foremost, vinyl liner is out of the question for most homeowners. For obvious reasons, the liner can tear or get small punctures, which then can lead to major leaking issues and headaches. On the other hand, fiberglass and concrete pools are almost never going to be damaged by dogs and are usually the right choice, depending on the needs of the homeowner. Also, keep in mind that depending on the size of the dog, a decent sized set of steps is important in terms of entry/exit points.

What is the best type of chemical to use in my pool if my dog likes to swim?

Frankly, there just haven’t been many studies on this one in the pool industry, so I’ll just explain what I’ve seen up to this point. Because just about all of our customers (1000+ inground and above ground pools) use salt, and due to the fact that many allow their animals to swim in the pool, we’ve been very pleased to see that salt chlorine generators work very well in conjunction with dogs. Because they produce a low level of natural chlorine, the chemicals aren’t harsh and the salt is easy on the skin. Up to this point, I’ve not had one of our customers say their dog had an adverse reaction to their salt chlorine generator.

Will a Dog Be Hard on My Filter System?

They say a dog is equivalent to about 50 people in the pool at one time. Crazy, huh? Notwithstanding, although their hair and such is harder on a filter system, by no means are they known to do damage either. For example, if you have a cartridge filter on your pool it may mean that you simply have to spray the filter off more often. If you have sand, you may need to backwash more often. But just as with the previous question, I’ve not heard any of our customers complain about how their animals have negatively affected their pool’s filter system.

Well I hope these questions help you dog lovers a little as your consider the process of pool ownership. One thing is for sure—If your dog likes the water, he/she will LOVE pool ownership, and in-turn will not be forced to bath in ice cubes any longer :-)

 

Happy Swimming,

Marcus Sheridan

Beautiful and Elegant Fiberglass Pool Wins Master Of Design Award

This article is the first in a two-part series I’ve done interviewing the winners of the prestigious Masters of Design Award given out by the pool industry’s leading magazine, Pool and Spa News. As you can see from the photo, this 16’x40’ model by Leisure Pools is no ordinary fiberglass pool, and major props to Signature Pools of Chicago Illinois for bringing this project to fruition. If you’re considering the purchase of a fiberglass swimming pool, this article is a prime example of a company doing things in the fiberglass pool industry the right way. Signature’s leading designer, Todd Emmerson, is the voice in the following interview:

 Question: The homeowner could have chosen any type of pool for this project, what made them choose fiberglass?

“…..  Vinyl was never an option for them because they realized it was a look that wouldn’t match the house as far as quality is concerned and they also realized vinyl wasn’t a good option with all of the trees on the property (twigs falling into the pool and tearing the liner).  So it came down to deciding between fiberglass and concrete.  Because of easements on the property they couldn’t fit a pool wider than 16’ so they weren’t opposed to the size of fiberglass pools.  The client loved some of the pictures on our website and could see that we did quality pools so that helped me get my foot in the door.  After we met and I explained the value of a fiberglass pool as being a life-long investment that would never need acid washed or re-plastered, and would also use less chemicals they were convinced. “

Question:  Often time consumers worry that rectangles will look plain. Was that a concern here and how were you able to overcome that?

“The home is a very grand and formal home and from a design perspective it just made sense to go with a rectangle.  From our first meeting I knew they wanted an auto cover to extend the swimming season and being a heavily wooded lot they wanted to keep as many leaves out of the pool as possible.  I knew from seeing the house they would like nice clean lines and that an under guide auto cover was the only option to suggest.

We did three things to overcome the plain looking rectangle pool stigma:

1. We used only high quality materials throughout the project including a natural stone deck around the pool.
2. We softened up the rectangle look by adding a slight curve to a couple of the retaining walls and small portions of the patio.
3. The job also had several different patio elevations with steps coming down from the back of the homes garage area as well as an existing patio off of the rear of the house.  The large steps that we designed separating the main pool deck from the lower outdoor living area with the outdoor fireplace also helped make a rectangle pool look spectacular and elegant.”

Question:  What was the most difficult element of design with this project?

“Two elements of the design were difficult with this project:

The yard had lots of slope to it and also had a few elements that we couldn’t change.  The windows on the walkout basement room were at an elevation where we were forced to lower the patio height in certain areas as to create a beautiful view looking out the lower level house windows.  On the far side of the property we needed to raise the pool as much as possible to create proper drainage around the pool.  Where these two areas intersect we created the large expansive steps.  So the large change in elevation between the two areas was necessary due to the elevation of the property and we were able to design them in a way where the large steps and different elevations added to the overall design.  Good design is always going to take into consideration both good engineering and water flow drainage as well as the desire for a beautiful aesthetically looking project.  As a designer you need to take into account the challenges of the property and then often times some of the design challenges on a project can be turned around and become a benefit to creating a stunning looking backyard. (Although the challenges can make the design look nicer it typically means higher costs to the client)

The other element of the design that was difficult was working within a heavily wooded lot.  We knew we were going to have to lose some trees, but we wanted to save as many as possible to retain the natural looking setting.”

Question: Now that the project is complete, what are some comments you've received from the homeowner? Are they enjoying the pool? Do they like salt? Have they received comments from friends?

“The wife has hosted several events at the house including a large wedding rehearsal dinner as it is a great entertaining area.  Her friends commented that they felt like they were at a Four Seasons Resort Swimming Pool.  The pool has also been used for an end of school party for the family’s son.

Because of this job I am in the process of designing a pool for a neighbor of our client who has owned a concrete pool for the past 20 years.  The neighbor is moving to a new property and would like a pool that requires less maintenance.  The neighbor was excited to learn of the benefits of a fiberglass pool and should have her new pool installed this fall.  All leads we receive are very valuable, but the most valuable leads we receive are personal referrals from our past clients and I’m sure in the years to come we will receive many other leads because of this job.”

 

****Watch a video of the project here:

Todd’s Bio:

Todd Emmerson is a nationally recognized pool designer who has been featured in many of today’s top pool design publications.  His work has also been featured in advertisement materials for companies such as Leisure Pools, Fiberstars, Garden Prairie Pool Enclosures, Blue Haven Pools, and Composite Pools.  Todd’s straight forward and honest sales approach has helped over 300 Chicagoland clients achieve their own signature pool. Todd is a native of Tucson, AZ and currently lives in Geneva, IL with his wife Sara and son Lincoln.  (One more child on the way )

Tom’s Bio(owner):

Tom McNelis has been installing fiberglass pools for almost 15 years in the Chicagoland area. As a working owner he has personally installed well over 300 fiberglass pools and has also won a Masters of Design award. Tom lives with his wife and two children in Yorkville, IL. The McNelis family enjoys spending time together in their own signature pool – an Elegance 33 model from Leisure Pools.

Pool Excavation: 4 Questions You May Not Think to Ask!

One of our goals with this blog is to nullify what we refer to as the “curse of knowledge” throughout the swimming pool industry.  Pool professionals, and all professionals for that matter, often forget that the common customer lacks the depth of knowledge that they have taken years to acquire.  What results is a breakdown in communication regarding products, services, construction processes, and an overall misconception of what exactly will happens in the backyard. 

I’m certainly not immune to this, as I certainly make the same mistake from time to time with my clients.  So the purpose of this article is to discuss one of the most common pool construction processes that fall under the dreaded “curse of knowledge”:  Swimming Pool Excavation. 

Here are 4 Questions You May Not think to Ask about Pool Excavation:

1.  What if You Hit Rock or Water When You Dig?

Your backyard is like a box of chocolates.  Without a soils test (which 999 of 1000 customers don’t get), pool contractors never really know what they’ll hit when digging in your backyard.  Frankly, none of this really matters to you unless one of two things happen:  your soil condition compromises the structural integrity of your pool, or it costs you more money to install the pool.  The structural component will have to be determined by your pool contractor and is beyond the scope of this article.  However, from a budget perspective, there two primary things a contractor may find when excavating that could result in an unforeseen cost to you:  rock and water.

Options when hitting rock:

1.  Move the pool to an area with less rock:  This one is guess work.  Just start digging some test holes and hope for the best.

2.  Elevate the pool and keep it in the same location:  Work with what you have.  There could be extra cost associated with the elevation change (walls, additional fill dirt, etc.)

3.  Hammer or blast the rock out and install the pool in the original location: minimum cost of $2k just for the hammer rental plus any additional labor the contractor may charge. 

4.  Fill the hole in, pay the contractor for his time, and install a pool at your next houseJ

*Note: We may encounter rock in approximately one in every fifty pools we install.  If any contractor with more experience with rock would like to chime in, please feel free to contribute in the comments section. 

 

Options when hitting Ground Water:

1.  Install dewatering system (which is standard for us anyway), keep the hole dry until the pool is installed, and keep the pool where originally planned.  This option works especially well for fiberglass pools because the pool is installed and full of water in a matter of hours after excavation, lessening the ‘fight’ required to tame the ground water.  When encountering high water tables in conjunction with sandy soil, severe “cave-ins” may occur which increase the amount gravel backfill required around the pool.  In our case, we will allow for one additional load of gravel beyond a normal installation, the customer covers the cost of any additional gravel beyond that.  A load of gravel runs around $400-$500 in our area and it’s very, very rare that we require more than one additional load and have to charge the customer anything.     

2.   Elevate the Pool:  same as when hitting rock. 

Note:  Don’t let these potential unforeseen expenses intimidate you.  Of the 600+ pools we’ve installed, only around 1% have incurred any additional cost due to rock or ground water.         

2.  Exactly How Much Dirt Will There Be?

Part of planning every pool project is determining what to do with the dirt.  Generally speaking, people have no concept of how much dirt actually comes out of a pool excavation……how could you know right?  I usually tell people to imagine how much dirt they would expect and multiply it by 5 or 10.  Your average pool excavation will generate a pile of dirt the size of about five garden sheds.  So, this is significantly more than we can ‘lose’ in a typical flat yard.  The best plan is to haul that stuff out of there so you aren’t stuck wheel barrowing it on the weekends or hiring someone else to come and get it.          

3.  What will happen to my yard?

We haven’t figured out how to haul dirt, gravel, water, and concrete by helicopter yet; so until we do, we have to move all that big heavy stuff in and out of your backyard the old fashioned way…..via the ground.  And we do this with very large trucks.  So the reality is that your access lane and yard may incur some damage.  Say good-bye to most or all of the grass around the pool as well as a 20’x20’ area for piles of material and the entire access lane if through the yard.  Hey, I’ve yet to hear any complaints about less grass to cut!

4.  Do I really save $ by Digging My own Hole?

Many folks think they can save big bucks doing the pool excavation themselves and have the pool contractor do the rest.  Actually, most pool companies would probably prefer to charge you at least double if you want to dig your own hole, but we’re not quite that generous:).  Seriously though, it doesn’t save much money at all, maybe $500-$1000, because we have to bring our machine to the site anyway to lift and set the pool.  It only takes a couple of hours to dig the hole so we might as well go ahead and do the pool excavation while we’re there.    

 Well, as you can see, there will be some major stuff going on in your backyard (which you can watch in a really cool video here).  But how exciting is a pool....right?  All of this stuff goes by the way-side the first time you and your family relax, play, and laugh around your awesome new pool.  Good Luck!

Jason Hughes

 

Comments and questions welcome as always.

Do Fiberglass Pools Work with Shrink/Swell, Clay, and other Soil Conditions?

Although there are certainly quite a few myths out there regarding the drawbacks of fiberglass pools, one of the most amusing has to do with its ability to deal with adverse soil conditions. For example, just the other day, I had a lady ask me this question after she had sat down with a concrete pool salesman.

"So I hear fiberglass pools do not work well with shrink-swell soil conditions. Is that the case?"

At first, I could only smile, as it always amuses me to see the extent some swimming pool ‘experts' will go to introduce fear in the minds of consumers in an effort to push them one way or another.

Common Sense

But my answer to this lady was just like it is to anyone that poses such a question-"What do you think?"

The lady thought for a second and then retorted, "I would think fiberglass would be perfect for such a situation."

I smiled at her answer, knowing that common sense had again won over befuddling sales tactics.

You see, when someone actually considers the well known flex-strength of fiberglass, and then stacks it up against the utter inflexibility of concrete, it becomes quite apparent that fiberglass pools are perfectly ideal for adverse soil conditions-especially shrink-swell.

The Most Adaptive Pool in the World

This rule of thumb also applies to just about any other soil type, whether it is sand, rock, or clay. Simply put, fiberglass pools are incredibly adaptive to their environment and are therefore the most versatile pool in the world when it comes to soil conditions.

Now some reading this blog may say that I'm being biased. But for those of you that read the information found herein on a regular basis, you're already well aware of the fact that the purpose of this blog is to bring to light the good, the bad, and the ugly of all types of swimming pools, with a particular focus on fiberglass.

So even though fiberglass does have its own set of drawbacks (size/shapes limits), please don't let soil types be one of them. In fact, the next time you hear a concrete or vinyl pool sales person use this false analysis you can then be rest assured the individual is either a) pretty clueless regarding swimming pools or b) trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

Until the next time.....as always........ happy swimming.

Marcus Sheridan

The Top 15 Reasons Why Moms Love Swimming Pools

First of all, let me preface this article by saying that I'm not a mom nor and I a woman, so by no means am I speaking here as if I'm an expert on the subject of ‘Mom stuff'. Notwithstanding, my wife is a mother of 3 and upon discussing the subject with her, as well as having informal discussions with our substantial customer base of mothers here at River Pools, I decided to come up with the following list, which I think is pretty cool. So here goes:

The Top 15 Reasons Why Moms Love Swimming Pools (numbers do not reflect order of importance)

1. No Packing!

Maybe the worst part about swimming for most families, or should I say moms, before they own their own pool is the concept of packing. Whether the pool is a community pool just down the street, or the Fitness Center in town, packing stinks. Even worse, usually something is always forgotten (I can see many nodding heads out there).

2. Kids Want to ‘Hang Out' at Home

Many of the moms I've talked to get swimming pools because they understand that their kids are going to be looking for fun and entertainment, especially as they hit the teenage years. With a pool in their backyard, kids will therefore invite their friends over, allowing ‘Mom' to not only keep a closer eye on things, but also get to know her children's friends much better in the process.

3. No Driving!

Ok, be honest, how many of you moms out there sometimes wonder if you're a mom or a carpooling service?? :-) This is understandable with the crazy number of activities so many kids participate in these days, which is why having a pool in the back yard is such a relief. So not only does a pool mean less driving, it also means less spent on gas-which saves even more money. Yeah!

4. Low Entertainment Costs

Granted, a pool is expensive initially, but with technologies like fiberglass, salt, etc; pools require less maintenance and chemicals than ever before. This is also why so many families are electing to install swimming pools instead of spending thousands on vacations that come and go within a week's time-hence the new phrase "Staycacion".

5. Vacuuming is Therapeutic

Many of you probably won't believe this statement, but I've literally had dozens of moms tell me over the years how much they enjoy vacuuming their pool, as they find it relaxing and therapeutic. Although this may sound very odd to some who've never owned a pool, I can attest there is something very peaceful about being outside and moving the vacuum through the lucid waters of a swimming pool.

6. Fitness for the Family

I've personally seen this over the past few years with my kids and I've heard other moms comment on this as well. As we all know, swimming is a great exercise, and our kids certainly needs exercise to stay healthy and fit. In many cases, because the kids will spend 2-5 hours every day outside in the pool during the summer, their bodies go through quite a transformation as the winter ‘baby fat' burns right off and by summer's end, they are left lean, healthy, and fit.

7. Great for ‘Date Nights'

I hadn't thought about this one before but a mom mentioned it to me recently and I thought it was an excellent idea.

8. ‘Gal Gatherings'

Moms certainly need their time away from the kids on occasion to refill their tanks, and there may be no better means of this than having a ‘Lady's Night' or similar gathering at the pool. By sitting, laughing, and chatting in the pool for hours with friends, moms can truly receive a much needed respite from their difficult labors.

9. Children Crawl into Bed

I always find it amusing how ‘zonked' my kids are when I get home at night during the summer season. This fatigue is of course a direct result of being outside in the pool all day, but it certainly makes the life of parents and moms much easier when the kids are literally asking to go to bed versus being told to go to bed.

10. Less Bickering

Anybody that has had children can attest that kids can drive themselves crazy with bickering and arguing, especially during the summer time once school is over. What's a great solution for this? Well a pool of course! By laughing, splashing, and playing in the pool all day mothers are often amazed by the tranquil relations of their children as a result of such activities.

11. Tanning!

Many moms love a great tan (I know my wife does) and there's no place better to get one than at the side of your own swimming pool. Even nicer, once you start to get hot, there is a refreshing pool right there to jump in to.

12. Cheap Parties

As every mom is well aware, throwing a party for their kids can get expensive when other children are involved. This is because they have to be entertained and entertainment, like going to Chuck-e-cheese or having a party at the local skating rink, can get pretty costly. With a swimming pool in the backyard, children can be entertained for hours for no cost whatsoever. How about that for savings!?

13. Quiet Exercise

I've talked to many moms that very much enjoy swimming in their pool alone, enjoying the peaceful water while benefiting from the exercise that comes with such an activity. It's really amazing what 15-20 minutes of quiet exercise each day can do for the mind and body as we get older.

14. Scientific Experiments

I thought this was a very cool and original idea that came from a mother I spoke with who utilizes her pool for science experiments with her children during the summer. Just think of all the teaching activities one could have in a pool....the possibilities are endless.

15. Family Time without Distractions

It's tough for families to have great ‘family time' these days with all the distractions of the world. Whether it's an IPod, the TV, the computer, etc; distractions abound. This is just another example of what makes owning a swimming pool so special. A family can swim in a pool for an hour or so together and their only focus is on each other. In my opinion, there is almost nothing better for a family in 2010.

Photo taken by a PoolSchool customer, the Bargoil family,  of their new Riviera Fiberglass Pool by Leisure, built by The Fiberglass Pool Depot of North Carolina.

Marcus Sheridan

 

So there are 15 reasons why moms love owning swimming pools. Questions? Comments? Feel free to add any other benefits you can think of below.

Boats Vs Swimming Pools: Which is a Better Investment For My Family?

By Jim Spiess, Co-Owner, River Pools and Spas

Should I invest in a boat or a swimming pool? Such a question I've heard over and over again from customers over these past 9 years of owning a swimming pool company in a part of the world (Virginia) where boats, in many ways, are a major part of the life and culture.

Some other questions that homeowners are confronted with:

• What would be more fun?
• Which would get used more?
• Which holds its value better?

Personally speaking, I have owned both a swimming pool and a boat. Both are certainly fun and exciting but in this article I wanted to relate to the readers my experiences and thoughts relating to the pros and cons of boat ownership.

 

My Experience

I owned a smaller 15 ft tri hull with a walk through bough and a 75 horsepower Evenrude motor. Needless to say this boat could move and served several purposes-- fishing, skiing, tubing, hydro sliding and just plain relaxing on the water. Because I live within a quarter mile of the Rappahannock River and in a community that has a boat launch and boat slips, I had the best of two worlds. I could put my boat in a slip when I was done or I could pull it out and bring it home.

I used the boat quite a bit; I was single and had the spare time to go out on the river on the weekends. I was doing construction at the time and I had a job on the river so I would take the boat to the job on some days. I was making good money and a single dad with two kids so spending a hundred dollars on the weekend pulling skiers and such was not that big a deal.

Boat Maintenance

Owning a boat does come with maintenance issues like any expensive toy. The maintenance issue I found to be the most cumbersome was the need to clean the bottom constantly. I did not paint the bottom because you lose around 5 mph when you paint a boat bottom. The reason I had to clean the bottom was because in salt water if you leave the boat in the water for any length of time you will get a buildup of slime and barnacles. I tended to leave my boat in the water because it was easier than pulling it out after each use. Of course, that was until the automatic bilge pump did not work during a big storm and I received a call saying my boat was almost underwater. Bailing a boat out in a huge storm is no fun, and then I had to pull it out and take it home. It was then I decided it was not worth keeping in the boat slip, so I would bring the boat home each time I would use it. Such was a pain but it came with the territory.

Times Change

The kids liked the boat, but my son learned that being on the river in the fall can be very cold and decided fishing was not worth the cold. They enjoyed the skiing and tubing parts of the boat, not the lazy days on the river or fishing. So sometimes they went and others they didn't. Although it was not a large boat it seated six people comfortably. I then got married to a young lady that had four children living at home with her. My new wife and family moved in and the boat seemed to stay parked in the yard. I also started a new business which was a pool business, and guess what went in the back yard? Yep, you're right, a swimming pool. The boat did not make one trip out after the pool went in. So I gave the boat to my son in law. I could have sold it and taken a huge loss, so I decided that my son in law would enjoy it and it would be nice for him and his family. They used it a couple of times but then it sat in his yard. That boat with a perfectly good engine sat and went to waste because it was less fun to take care of than it was to use.

The Difference of Pool Ownership

Now for my experience with the pool. On the first day the pool was being used by my son and his friends, my wife was looking out the kitchen window and said "it doesn't get any better than this-- the kids using the pool and I can watch them right here from the kitchen window."  I also thought it was great because I didn't have to haul the pool to the water for the kids to use it and I did not even have to be there. We could have friends, family, and neighbors all swimming at once and have a blast. The work was minimum-- around a half hour a week and the cost of operating a pool for season is less than the cost of operating a boat for a couple of weekends.

 Now please understand, this is in my case, and not everyone's experience is the same with a boat. For example, it is certainly less expensive if you just fish or anchor and relax. But I had kids, and fishing and relaxing will only go so far as they wanted skiing and action, which gets expensive.

 The Joys of Children

What I enjoyed about our swimming pool was that when I was mowing the grass and doing yard work all I had to do to cool off was jump in. I also enjoyed coming home in the evening and just climbing into a float and relaxing (at times too much because I would fall asleep). One of my biggest enjoyments was watching the grandchildren call out ‘PePe, PePe watch me!', and they would jump into the pool without any swimmies. (Those are the floats that go around their arms to help them learn to swim.)

 

 It is amazing how fast children learn to swim when you have a pool. At the public pool my step son was terrified of letting go of the wall and was not interested in wearing swimmies, but when we had our pool he quickly adapted and wanted to jump in and swim. The pool would bring our children back home with the grandchildren, so they could swim and that was always a pleasure. My wife could use it with or without me, so could the kids, so could the grandkids, none of that was possible with a boat.

When it comes down to it, the pool was all about low maintenance, low operating cost, and high fun. And oh yeah, the people who bought my house bought it because of the swimming pool. So pools do add value to the home, do not let the real estate company fool you. I did not plan the day the people showed up at my house to look at it, but it could have appeared that I did. My step daughter showed up with the van full of my grandchildren and their friends who all jumped out yelling and carrying on while they ran for the pool. House Sold. I never missed the boat at all, and that is why they say it is better to know someone who owns a boat than to own one yourself. In my opinion swimming pools win hands down.

 A Final Review

• Boats depending on use can be as much as $50 dollars a day to operate; this does not include gas to get the boat to the launch site.
• Fiberglass Swimming Pools cost $1 a day to operate; this includes chemicals and electricity.
• Boats are limited as to when you can use them due to time restrictions.
• Swimming Pools are unlimited with use; they are there when you are ready to jump in.
• Boats are limited on how many can go out at any given time.
• Swimming Pools the whole family and friends can enjoy together.
• Boats have high maintenance; cleaning boat each time it is used, taking to launch site, pulling boat out of water can be as much as one hour if you live within one mile of the water.
• Fiberglass Swimming Pools are less than one hour a week.
• Boats lose value very quickly.
• Fiberglass Swimming Pools increase the value of your home.
• Boats are very costly on long term maintenance, the motor and the interior components of the boat like the fabric on the seats and electronics. Over a 5 year period over $2000 that is why they say it is a hole in the water you throw money into.
• Fiberglass Swimming Pools very low cost of long term maintenance, the pump and electronics. Over a twenty year period maybe $2000
• Boats will last you between 5 and 10 years
• Fiberglass Swimming Pools will last you a lifetime

Swimming Pools vs RVs and Campers: Which is a Better Investment?

Swimming Pool or RV , which should I buy...and how do I decide?

Such is a question I've heard many, many times as a pool builder, especially considering we deal with customers throughout Virginia and Maryland, one of the more prominent boating spots in the country. So to help you with the potential debate, I'd like to submit my own thoughts from personal past experience.

I grew up with a pool and my parents also had an RV. I must say I enjoyed both, but we enjoy things more when we are kids and have no responsibility in them. I did help a little with the pool and I would also help some with setting up the camp site when we arrived, but once an adult, I gathered the ‘complete perspective'.

Cost

If you are comparing cost a nice RV will cost you around what a nice fiberglass pool will cost you, in the 40,000 to 60,000 dollar range new. When comparing maintenance cost and time, the RV is definitely more maintenance. It needs to be cleaned while you are using it and when you are done using it for the week or weekend or any trip you take. You have tires, axles, and regular items like stove, refrigerator, water heater any number of things that can and will break down. They are much more expensive than swimming pool pumps and filters. This I know because my wife, step son and I live in a 38 foot fifth wheel while we built our last home. It can be very costly to repair an RV as we learned the hard way.

Usage

I have found through the experience of friends and family that RVs, in most cases, are something that tends to sit more than they travel. Even though the RV is not being used it still requires maintenance and upkeep.  On the other hand, when a swimming pool is closed for the off-season it does not require upkeep in most cases.

But let us take a closer look at owning a pool versus an RV. With a pool your whole family can use it-- kids, grandkids, your children's friends and you can have neighbors over to enjoy it too. With an RV you have to stick with just a few who can be available to travel. You have to worry about gas prices and tolls while you travel, not to mention there is nothing worse than camping when the weather is miserable all week long. With a pool, if the weather is miserable for a week you are at least at home and have other things to do. You not only have the cost of the RV but you have the cost of the camp sites. Depending on your RV, you will have to tow a car with you or be stuck to staying at the campsite. Setting up campsites is OK for one week stays but to me I am not a big weekend camper for a regular basis type of thing, it is just too much work. I find that with a fiberglass pool you would spend as much time maintaining your pool for one week that you would in just setting up your campsite in the first day, plus the cost of operating your pool for one year would be about the same as operating your RV for one month if you went on just four weekend trips and that is providing you stay pretty close to home.

Maintenance

As far as maintaining its value, RVs do not come close to maintaining their value; some people refuse to sell their RV just because they cannot get even close to what they paid for it. With a fiberglass pool it is different, they not only stand up to the test of time but they can increase the value of your home. In fact, the national association of realtors recently stated that a fiberglass or concrete pool will, in many cases, increase a home's value 3-7%.

So let's do a quick review of the two.

• RVs have high cost of operation even when not in use.
• Fiberglass pools have very limited cost even when not being used.
• RVs have high maintenance cost-- For a weekend trip 100 miles away with an RV fifth wheel will take almost $75 in gas $25 for camp site per night for two nights for a total of $125 dollars for a short two day stay.
• Fiberglass pools cost around $130 for a four month season for chemical and electricity.
• RVs have limited return of enjoyment due to time from home.
• Swimming Pools can be enjoyed on a daily basis because they are at your home. They can be spontaneous and require no ‘planning' whatsoever.
• RVs have restrictive family and friend inclusion.
• Swimming Pools can be enjoyed by the whole family and friends almost daily.
• RVs lose value quickly.
• Fiberglass Swimming Pools add value to your home.
• RVs take more time to maintain-- just to clean one is over an hour not including all the other maintenance like the toilet, shower, sink and securing and taking food out that went on last trip. Up to two to three hours work for one weekend trip is typically required.
• Fiberglass Swimming Pools take less than 1 hour a week to maintain with a high volume of use.
• RV life spans vary on how well they are taken care of.
• Fiberglass Pools will last a lifetime as long as manufacturer specs are properly followed.