7 Qualities of the Best Fiberglass Pool Builders in America

7 Qualities of the Best Fiberglass Pool Builders in America

Although I’ve been living the life of a ‘pool guy’ for about 10 years now, it has been over the last 3 where I’ve really begun to know the industry in and out. Because of this blog, the eBook, and the events I’ve had the opportunity to teach at, my conversations with fiberglass pool builders and consumers all over North America have increased 100-fold. In fact, on a normal day I’m now getting as many emails outside of our installation area (Va/Md) as I am inside.

I do not mention the facts to brag. No, such is not my goal at all. As most of you know, I’m all about teaching. I love learning, giving, and sharing knowledge in all its forms. Being a part of ‘the great discussion’ has satiated this tremendous need I have. Along this path of discussion with so many people, I’ve come to notice certain qualities that every great fiberglass pool builder has. And although most of these qualities are certainly applicable to vinyl and concrete pool builders, I decided to focus on fiberglass for now as it’s a subject that has weighed heavily on my mind for quite some time now.

So without further yapping on my part, I’d like to point out the top 7 qualities of the best fiberglass pool builders in the world today:

1. A Focus on Fiberglass: Although there are a few exceptions to this rule, in general the best fiberglass pool companies only focus on fiberglass. Instead of pretending to be great at more than one type of swimming pool, they focus their thoughts and efforts on becoming great with one thing. As I’ve watched many pool builders throughout the country expand into fiberglass due to consumer demand and the need for diversification in a down economy, I’ve also seen quite a few mistakes by builders who got into the business and simply assumed that installing a fiberglass pool would be a piece of cake. Granted, installing such a pool is not rocket science, but there are certainly many things that can go wrong. This is why a crew that installs fiberglass all the time, and experiences the repetition that comes with said installations, will likely commit fewer errors than a crew that ‘occasionally’ installs fiberglass.

2. Gravel over Sand: If there is anything about this blog that I’m proud of, it’s the fact that it has brought so much attention to the importance of using gravel (small size, roughly 3/8”) as a base and backfill versus the antiquated approach of using sand with fiberglass pools. Even better, most manufacturers have embraced this paradigm because inevitably, even though installations usually end up costing more initially, the pool structure benefits over time. 5 years ago I’d say only about 15% of fiberglass pool builders used gravel as a base and backfill. Today, I’d estimate the number of gravel users to be about 70%--a huge change for sure, and one that will only benefit the industry in the long run. At this point, even the most old-school installers have begun to embrace the common-sense and qualitative approach of gravel utilization.

3. Not Accepting the Status Quo: This goes along with sand versus gravel but it needs to be given attention as well. You see, for years there were a few ‘power-players’ in the fiberglass pool industry that really controlled the industry’s image, consumer awareness, and installation methodologies. But as we all know, the ‘status quo’ is often times NOT a good thing. Today, instead of just accepting things ‘the way Daddy did it’, builders all over the United States and Canada are looking for new ways to innovate, change, and become better at what they do. I think this movement is wonderful and I’m excited to see what it will bring to the industry over the next decade.

4. An Understanding of Product Limitations: This quality applies to all pool builders and what it stems from is the fact that most pool builders are very biased. The ‘liner guy’ thinks everyone should go liner. The ‘concrete guy’ looks down on the ‘other guys’ because ‘unless it’s concrete, it’s not a real pool’. The fiberglass guy tries to pretend their product has no limitations at all…and on and on and on.

The fact is that fiberglass isn’t for everybody. Yes, it does fit the needs of about 85% of the market, but for the person that absolutely has to have a size/shape/depth beyond the scope of fiberglass, then it might not be a great fit. This is why every year I tell every homeowner, quite bluntly, that I might not have a product for them. And do you know what? I’m OK with that…because it’s the truth.

Pool builders need to stop acting like their product is perfect. The concrete guy needs to accept the higher maintenance that comes with their product. The liner guy needs to stop misleading homeowners to believe that the liner will go at least 15+ years before replacement. Fiberglass guys need to accept size limitations.

I have seen a few builders around the country utilize such an honest approach and to them I say Good for You. You are doing a favor to the industry. Your honesty will be rewarded.

5. Hold Manufacturers  Accountable: Nobody is perfect. This applies to all pool builders and it certainly applies to fiberglass pool manufacturers. I’ve seen 2 types of builders over the years:

                1. The one who thinks their manufacturer is flawless

                2. The one who appreciates their manufacturer yet looks for them to improve

As you might imagine, I’m not a fan of the ‘Our Pool Manufacturer is Perfect’ builder. As everyone knows, I’m a huge fan of Leisure Pools. I think their quality and company are tremendous. Notwithstanding, they have their flaws, and I let them know it at times. In fact, I’ve gotten in arguments with the owner, Ashely Gill. Why? Because we both care and are passionate about the industry. And when it comes down to it, we both want the same thing. We want the industry to be better, and we want the pools found therein to be built and installed better. That is our goal and I see us getting closer each and every day.

6. Willing to Fix Mistakes:  Ahhh, the tough one. Maybe the hardest thing to do in any business is to fix mistakes that eat up profits. The life of a pool builder is no different. We all make mistakes. In fact, I tell every customer that I by no means can guarantee their job will go perfect, but I can guarantee they’ll recommend us to their friends when it’s all said and done. Such is the true mark of a great company. Are they willing to fix mistakes when it was their fault or do they just tell the homeowner to deal with it?

7. A Focus on Education: As previously mentioned, I love teaching. That’s why I (and my biz partners) write this blog. 90% of the people that come to this website are not even a potential customer of River Pools. But this matters not, as our goal here with this blog and everything we do is to empower pool shoppers through great education. I’ve seen other pool companies around the country begin to jump on this education wagon, which, to say it in the very least, thrills me. So as you go about looking for your pool builder, ask yourself how much time they’ve invested in your education. Are they ‘though leaders’ or focused solely on making more sales? The difference between the two can be quite profound.

Although I’m sure there are other mentionable qualities with merit, I hope these at least help some of you out there that are in the process of researching swimming pools to make the best decision for you and your family. I would also invite the pool contractors/manufacturers out there that have read this to offer your thoughts on the matter. What qualities would you add? Do you agree or disagree with what I’ve written here?

As always, Happy Swimming to everyone.

Marcus Sheridan

Is a Swimming Pool Worth All that Money?? 5 Points to Ponder.

I was at an appointment recently with a customer who asked a question that I've heard so many times before. In the midst of her struggle to justify a swimming pool purchase, this is what she said:

It's a tough call Marcus. We are just not sure if we should take the plunge....I just wonder if a swimming pool worth the money we are going to put into it?

Ahh, the great debate, and one that could easily be argued on both sides. Do you take the plunge or not take the plunge? Just as my 3 year old daughter in this photo, many of you are likely having an internal civil war as we speak on the merits of such a purchase. I empathize with your struggles and hope this discussion brings clarity to your question.

Pool guys are often times extremely biased. Heck, such can be said for anyone trying to sell a product and make a living. And although I'm not necessarily excluded from this group, I do own a pool. I've also assisted over 600 families in Virginia and Maryland in the purchase of a pool. And considering I've had hundreds and hundreds of email and phone discussions regarding the subject with customers around the country who purchased my eBook, I am very opinionated at this point as to the true value of a swimming pool.

So for those of you that are currently asking the question "Is it worth it?", allow me to make a few points for your consideration:

1. Real Estate Value

Despite what you may have heard in the past, YES, an inground swimming pool does increase the value of your home. This is especially true because of modern technology like salt and fiberglass have changed the paradigm that ‘pools are a lot of work'. A few years ago, the National Association of Realtors stated that on average, an inground swimming pool will increase a home's value by 4-6%. Therefore, on a $500,000 home, one could expect to get 20-30k in additional home value with a pool purchase. No, this does not typically cover the entire cost of the pool project, but yes it does certainly make up quite a bit of the difference.

2. The Impact on Children

I love my kids. I love watching them play. Their laughter brings me joy. And our time with them as parents is finite. Now I know some parents out there can't wait for the day when their kids are out of the home, but let me clearly state for the record that I don't fall in this category. Although I know the birdie eventually must fly from its nest and build its own home, I'm not going to push that birdie out. In other words, I'm going to enjoy ever moment of this wonderful gift called parenthood, and I can definitively say that owning a swimming pool adds incredibly to this time period and the joys that come with it.

3. A Family Affair

Children aren't the only ones that benefit from swimming pool ownership. In fact, I have many customers that are grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc-each looking forward to the times they'll share with their family in the backyard in and around the swimming pool. Considering my sister is my neighbor, it has been unbelievable just how much we've grown together as a family since installing our pool five years ago. Basically, the pool is a hub for all of us to play, talk, laugh, and genuinely pass quality time together without the normal distractions of the world.

4. The Community

Although this may not be for everyone, it has brought my family great joy to have youth groups and church activities at our home and swimming pool. Many of these people, because we live in such a rural area, don't have the opportunities to swim in a pool very often. Owning a pool has strengthened our relationships with these great people whom we otherwise would not have gotten to know so well.

5. Creating a ‘Staycation'

I'm sure by now you've heard the new phrase ‘Staycation'. For those of you that haven't, it means to ‘Stay' (at home) and have a ‘vacation'. This word entered the modern vernacular in the early 2000s, and is likely a result of 911 and the fact that more and more people decided to stay home and invest in their backyards instead of going on cruises, traveling, etc. I know many customers that have taken ‘Staycations' at their home since buying a pool and not only have they saved quite a bit of money, but they've also have told me such respites have been surprisingly entertaining and some of the best vacations they've ever shared as a family.

Well I hope these 5 points give those of who are debating the merits of swimming pool ownership a more clear idea of the beauties of such an investment. Although it may sound cliché, money comes in and out of our lives, but the memories we create as family and friends are something that will last forever and simply have no price tag.

As always, happy swimming and I hope everyone is having a great summer thus far.

Viking Pools: New Warranty, Same Problems, Disturbing Photos

Before I get into the meat of this important article regarding Viking Pools and their many current issues, allow me to prelude things with a few thoughts on the direction of this blog, as well as the fiberglass pool industry.

A Comittment on Education

My business partners and I made a commitment about 3 years ago to focus our entire business model on educating others about the swimming pool industry. Along these same lines, we have spent much of our time here discussing the particulars of the fiberglass swimming pool industry, as this is the mainstay of our business.

Along with our basic website, our brand as industry educators for the pool consumer really took off when I wrote my swimming pool eBook, ‘How to Buy a Fiberglass Pool the Right Way, From the Right Company, at the Right Price.' This book was the first of its kind because other than speaking directly at consumers regarding how to buy a fiberglass pool, it also gave my opinions of the various fiberglass pool manufacturers. And because I believe that speaking honestly and frankly is always the best policy when talking to consumers, the eBook raised quite a stir with manufacturers and consumers alike.

The Reactions Begin

But no bigger fuss was made regarding the eBook's contents than Viking Pools. In fact, you can read how Viking, and their owner Todd Stahl, handled the situation here. As I mentioned in that previous article, many fiberglass pool companies contacted me after the eBook came out to address/discuss their issues with some of the things I had said. With each of the manufacturers, I told them that my ratings regarding their product would be adjusted as they made changes, and I was more than ready to change anything negative into a positive as such improvements occurred.(Note: The eBook discussed their quality control issues and how our company had had so many problems with thin pools. The picture you see here is a cut-out of a Viking/CPC Pool. I'll let you be the judge of its thickness.) This being said, in the 2+ years since the eBook first came out, many manufacturers have made some serious positive strides with their businesses and their products. These actions have lead me to update my thoughts on said manufacturers in the eBook multiple times.

Education Taken to Another Level

About a year after the eBook was released, my business partners and I wanted to educate consumers on an even greater level, and thus this blog was born. And because we have been unfiltered in our efforts to point out the good, the bad, and the ugly in the swimming pool industry, the traffic and growth of this blog have been nothing short of phenomenal. During this time, we have taken active stances on such subjects as:

•  Using gravel instead of sand with fiberglass pools

•  Plumbing with hard pipe versus flex hose

•  Ways to buy a pool without getting ripped off

•  Explanations about the science of colored pool finishes in the fiberglass pool industry.

And as we have written in-depth articles regarding these subjects, as well as established a mountain of video on such matters, more and more fiberglass pool builders and manufacturers have made strides to produce the absolute best products, as well as build the best pools, in the world.

Now do we at River Pools take credit for this movement? No, of course not, but we do take great satisfaction in knowing that there are many fiberglass pool manufacturers, as well as builders, that want nothing but the best for this industry. In fact, with such a quality/workmanship focus in the industry, I can honestly say there has never been a better time to be a fiberglass pool consumer, with many great builders and manufacturers to choose from.

Resisting Positive Change

Unfortunately though, not all manufacturers have jumped on this self-improvement train that so many have decided to ride in the industry. Sadly, while so many other companies are elevating the industry, Viking Pools continues, in my opinion, to stick to old and antiquated manufacturing technologies and business practices. For example, Viking Pools has,:

• Stated they would not warranty pools that are backfilled with gravel

• Attempted to trick consumers into thinking they were River Pools (See Viking's shocking websites here, here, and here) (Of course, I'm sure they won't have the guts to leave these sites up once this article is published and consumers realize what type of business they are)

• Continued to utilize, in my opinion, the worst colored finish in the fiberglass pool industry

• Produced, in my opinion, the Poorest Quality Shells of any Fiberglass Pool Manufacturer (see photos)

And although I'd love to discuss all of these issues with the important readers of this blog, I want to instead focus my thoughts at this time on their unbelievable insistency on using ‘Crystite' as their colored pool finish as well as their poorly constructed pool shells.

More Gimmicks

I was quite disturbed this week when I saw that Viking had come out with a ‘New and Improved' warranty on the finish of their pools. Frankly, earlier this year I thought that Viking was actually going to drop their flawed Crystite in favor of the colored finishes that most other forward-thinking manufacturers have adopted these last few years. But instead of dropping this antiquated product that's so well known for its off-colored repairs(picture to the right shows a good repair) and other issues, they took a finish that had a 7-year warranty (3 years full) and turned it into a 20 year warranty. Yep, 20 years. Except they have yet to show the actual written warranty on their website, with the prorated portions of the warranty as well as the loads of disclaimers that come with it. I can only ask myself if such an action is a means of counteracting the negative press they've received since their bankruptcy announcement late in 2009.

Now don't get me wrong here my fellow readers. I am all for manufacturers of pools elevating their standards. In fact, anybody that regularly reads this blog understands that it was to this end that we created the blog in the first place. But what I have no tolerance for, as I've mentioned in other articles, are gimmicks that are meant to semantically trick consumers into thinking they are getting something they really are not. This is bad business and it only hurts the industry.

But what also hurts the industry even more than Viking's colored finishes is their general shell construction. Based on personal experiences that I've had, as well as the photos and emails that I receive on a weekly basis from consumers all over North America, it is my opinion that Viking makes the thinnest shells in the fiberglass pool industry. In fact, I've received a rash of photos and concerns from homeowners and pool builders alike recently regarding their fiberglass-starved shells. And this thinness (fiberglass pools should be at LEAST ¼" thick, the one shown in these photos are almost exactly 1/8" ), as shown clearly in these photos, has lead to a serious case of cracked Viking Pools across the country (again, see photos).

Where do They Go From Here?

Although I have no faith that they'll actually do it, I'd suggest to Viking that they stop with the gimmicks, stop with the efforts to falsely portray themselves as River Pools (or whomever else they may have a beef with), and start producing a pool with a finish that isn't terribly flawed and as thin as the work-order it was written up on. Believe it or not, at one time Viking was a pretty decent company. They did do many things to elevate the fiberglass pool industry. But sadly, those days are gone.

So for you, the consumer, allow me to again stress the positives of the fiberglass pool industry. Please understand that there are many great manufacturers out there producing quality pools that will last a lifetime in your backyard without maintenance or repair issues while providing years of joy and happiness for you and your family. But because this blog is looked upon by so many as the consumer advocate of the fiberglass pool industry, I felt it was finally time to shed further light upon this unfortunate subject. Hopefully though, my next article regarding this company will have a more positive subject matter.

 

If you have any questions regarding Viking Pools or other manufacturers, please don't hesitate to leave them below. As always, we thank you for stopping by and suggest you enter your email in the upper right hand portion of this page for further articles and updates on the swimming pool industry.

Marcus Sheridan

Viking Pools (Latham International) Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

In a stunning turn of events, Latham Manufacturing Corp, who is the largest manufacturer of inground pools in North America, as well as the parent company of Viking Fiberglass Pools (Viking Pools) and Composite Pool Corporation (CPC), has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. Such is major news in the fiberglass pool industry, considering Viking Pools is one of the most well known fiberglass pool manufacturers in the country.  

As all my readers know, I literally just wrote a blog discussing the future of fiberglass pool manufacturers and alluded to the fact that the business models of these manufacturers are quite flawed, with too many plants to support and not enough pools to build because of a lower demand. A look at the rise and fall of Latham, including their relationship with Viking, is a perfect example of how such a model can cost a company their financial well-being.

Back in 2005, right when the swimming pool market was at its peak due to the housing boom/easy credit-for-everyone phase, Latham International purchased Viking Pools. In fact, in October of that year, Bob Dumas of Pool and Spa News reported:

"In yet another major industry acquisition, Latham International, the nation's leading manufacturer of packaged inground swimming pools, has purchased Viking Pools, one of the largest makers of fiberglass shells.

It is the fourth high-profile acquisition for Latham since 2002. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Fiberglass is a growing segment of the market," said Mark Laven, president/CEO of Latham, which up until now had only purchased companies related to the vinyl-liner pool segment. "It's appealing to builders because it's labor-saving, and it's appealing to consumers as well."......... Todd Stahl called Viking and Latham's pairing a "compelling combination" and said that his company is "very excited about our partnership."

"Teaming with Latham was an opportunity we couldn't pass up," he said. He added that he believes the acquisition will elevate Viking's professional profile. "We were a family operation--they're all mom-and-pop operations in the fiberglass industry. But we wanted to be recognized as a leader in the industry, and it's hard to do that when you're a small morn-and-pop business. Now we are at a level that no fiberglass pool company has ever been at before."

Latham, N.Y.-based Latham International also owns Pacific Pools, a leading package-pool maker. The firm has averaged one major acquisition per year since 2002, including:

* Triac, November 2002

* Kafko, November 2003

* Fort Wayne Pools, December 2004

                                                        

Each of Latham's acquisitions has been designed to expand the company's geographical reach and broaden its product offerings, according to Laven. The firm currently employs approximately 1,200 people at 15 locations throughout the United States and Canada." (end quote)

So those were the thoughts 4 years ago of Todd Stahl and Mark Laven. Essentially, Latham tried to buy up a major company in just about every market of the swimming pool industry. The problem, as we all can now clearly see, is that they did not anticipate a fall in the market. In fact, Latham's bankruptcy papers state:

"As of November 30,2009, on an unaudited consolidated basis, the Debtors reported total assets of approximately $66,994,161, including approximately $5,783,601 in accounts receivable and $16,838,340 in inventory, and $239,438,055 in liabilities, which included $2,261,529 in accounts payable and $197,529,346 of long term debt, as discussed more fully below. For the 2009 fiscal year through November, the Company, on an unaudited consolidated basis, reported net sales and losses of$90,190,350 and ($181,414,993) respectively.

C. Circumstances Leading to the Commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases

Significant declines in market demand for the industry's products over the past three years have resulted in lower sales and significant unused manufacturing capacity in the Debtors' product lines. The downturn in the economy has negatively impacted sales industry-wide. The Debtors estimate that industry sales for 2009 will be down approximately 45% from 2008 and 70 to 75% from 2005. As a result of declining sales, there is significant excess industry capacity in the market. Historical sales have been best correlated with consumer sentiment and the availability of credit for customers to purchase the Debtors' products. The housing boom earlier in the decade, and corresponding home equity cash outs and rising prices for the Debtors' products, provided robust sales for the Debtors' products and the market in general. However, commencing in 2007 and continuing today, the housing bust and deteriorating economic climate resulted in declining industry sales. The continued downward spiral of consumer sentiment due to the state of the economy has contributed to the declining sales experienced industry-wide. In addition, traditional lenders who provide financing to consumers, such as GE and KeyBank, have ceased lending for pool purchases...... In response to these economic challenges, the Company aggressively worked to mitigate the economic impact caused by the above circumstances. During the period from 2007 to 2009, the Company made significant headcount reductions over each of the Company's divisions. Along with reducing headcount, management has actively worked to decrease the Company's legacy manufacturing footprint, reducing manufacturing facilities from 32 to 15. Additionally, a significant SKU reduction initiative was implemented in order to simplify manufacturing operations and reduce inventory, and the Company is taking advantage of these changes in 2009. This program has been a key component of managements ability to successfully reduce inventory levels and subsequently drive profitability and cash flow.....While these efforts have, in part, helped the Company weather the current economic decline, the Company still requires additional cash to purchase inventory in the near-term in order to operate their business. Because of the seasonal nature of the industry, the Company must spend approximately $25,000,000 during the first half of 2010 to satisfy the Company's peak seasonal working capital needs, as well as to reduce their existing debt load, in order to continue their operations." (end quote)

 

 Although they could have prognosticated a heck of a lot better in my opinion, I won't make that the focus of my article here. As I stated in my last blog, I've been asked by readers all over the country lately the current state of many swimming pool companies and manufacturers.  Latham's filing for Chapter 11 speaks volumes regarding the stability of some of the industry's most well known brands. 

So What's This All Mean?

Essentially, this all means that the swimming pool industry is similar to just about every other industry out there right now. With the economy struggling, it has created a refiner's fire for the biggest and smallest of companies. As I've stated before, I call it the ‘Bubba Gump' principle. Yes, there is quite a storm out there right now, but just as Forrest's boat survived the storm due to their strong foundation and went on to be extremely successful, so will many small and large swimming pool companies get through these difficult times even stronger. Latham and Viking Pools are not the last pool companies we'll see suffer major financial problems in the coming months. In fact, if I wasn't worried about frivolous lawsuits I'd throw out some predictions. But in an effort to keep things simple, I'll just report events as they happen.

Also, I'd like to state for the record that I strongly hope Viking, Composite Pool Corporation, and some of these other struggling manufacturers are able to weather this difficult storm. When I see a company like Latham, with its 1200+ employees on the brink of failure, it saddens me to know that these companies and their employees, as well as the families of their employees, are passing through a very difficult time.  Also, because Viking has so many pools in the ground at this point, it would be a crying shame for so many pool owners to lose their ‘lifetime warranty'.

Marcus Sheridan

http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/ / http://www.poolschool.us/

**To receive further updates regarding the state of the swimming pool industry as well as other news and information,  be sure to subscribe by email to our blog in the upper right hand portion of this page.**

The Future of Fiberglass Pool Manufacturers: Who Will Survive?

  This article is simply the result of the many, many email inquiries I've received in recent weeks  from our readers regarding the future financial stability of fiberglass pool manufacturers. With the 'troubles' of Ocean Reef and San Juan Pools mentioned in the news recently, quite a few future fiberglass pool owners are now thinking much harder about the manufacturer they choose to do business with. This is absolutely understandable considering a fiberglass pool warranty is a 'manufacturer warranty', not a 'pool builder warranty'. In other words, if a fiberglass pool manufacturer goes out of business and you have one of their pools in your backyard, you're out of luck in terms of any warranty issues down the road.

Obviously, no one wants to make the wrong decision when choosing the pool of their dreams. When it comes to choosing a fiberglass pool, the consumer must make two important decisions: 1. The Manufacturer 2. The Builder. Up to this point, I've talked almost at nausea about the latter so it's time we discussed what's going on with these pool manufacturers.

Let me also say here that this article is purely my opinion based on what I'm seeing within the swimming pool industry. I've got many, many sources that have contributed to my thoughts here. That being said, this article is only meant as a guide to your pool purchase, and no more.

Where the Problem Started

You see, the reason why so many fiberglass pool manufacturers are now suffering is simple. In the early 2000s, the swimming pool industry had never seen such a high. This was especially true in 2005 where just about any pool company and manufacturer had more than enough work to keep themselves busy and pay all their bills without really having to doggedly work for it. As we all know too well, this was a time period of easy credit and skyrocketing home values. Just after being in a home for a few months homeowners had enough equity to borrow against for such items as additions, boats, pools, etc. Looking back at this time period, it amazes me just how easy it was for homeowners to buy a swimming pool. Simply put, it was the perfect confluence of events that culminated in a swimming pool explosion throughout the United States.

Around this same period, fiberglass pools were gaining a large portion of the market share within the United States. Although this trend had occurred years before in other countries around the world such as Australia, the United States didn't truly come around to fiberglass as one of the staples of the residential pool industry until the 2000s.

With all lights flashing green and all signs saying 'grow', fiberglass pool manufacturers sprung up across the country and also many already established manufacturers built more plants in key areas of the country to cut down on shipping costs to builders and also keep pace with production demands.

The Bubble Bursts

As I mentioned, this growth period culminated in 2005 and 2006, and it is now this same period which is putting some manufacturers under a mountain of debt and financial losses. Simply stated, many manufacturers were not intelligent with their business models and got too big for their own britches as they overestimated the economy's ability to maintain such unrealistic numbers.(Read an interesting article about this decline by John Miles of Pool and Spa News)

I'm not saying here that the collapse in the economy was an easy thing to see, because it wasn't. Heck, even our own government was mostly aloof to the disaster that so quickly occurred. Notwithstanding, this boom and bust period was handled better by some fiberglass pool manufactures, and builders, then others.

Manufacturer Benchmarks

In order for a fiberglass pool manufacturing facility to break even, it needs to produce(in most cases) about 600 pools a year. The ideal number though for financial stability is 700+. Of course, this number can vary depending on the facility and its ability to cut costs while still staying above water. Here is a list of the main fiberglass pool manufacturers in the U.S. and their production facilities during the 2000-2007 period:

• Viking Pools(Includes Composite Pools, Crystal Palace Pools, Liberty, etc, etc, etc): 5 facilities: West Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, and California
• San Juan Pools: 3 facilities: Florida, Arizona, and Indiana
• Blue Hawaiian: 2 facilities: Florida and North Carolina
• Aloha Pools: 4 facilities: Texas, California, Georgia, and Tennessee
• Trilogy Pools: 1 facility: Tennessee
• Leisure Pools: 1 facility: Texas
• Sun Pools: 2 facilities: Florida and Kentucky
• Alaglass Pools: 1 facility: South Carolina

If you count the number of facilities between these manufacturers, you come up with a total of 19. This doesn't even include some of the smaller companies. This being said, the industry needed to produce, at least among the top manufacturers, at least 11,400 fiberglass pools to come close to breaking even during the good years. Such was possible at that time but the sad reality is 10,000 fiberglass pools will not even be purchased in the United States in 2009. In fact, the more likely number will be around 7000. As you can see, the consumer demand does not meet the manufacturer overhead demand, which is why we are now seeing so many issues. This is also why the number of facilities now in production is less than the 19 mentioned above. Like all other businesses, manufacturers are doing what it takes to cut costs, and closing plants is often times the easiest way to make a big difference with monthly expenditures.

What Does This All Mean?

Now I'm not going to delve into here which of the above manufacturers have closed facilities. I'm also not going to predict (although I've certainly got an opinion) which ones will foresee major issues down the road. Notwithstanding, I will make this statement:

It is my opinion that the strongest fiberglass pool manufacturers in the coming years will be the ones who have less plants/facilities yet still have the ability to reach high production levels if necessary. Having a plant that can produce 2000 pools during the good times but at the same rate has the ability to turn a profit at 650 pools during the bad times is a much more sound business model then having multiple smaller plants that must be constantly fed when times are the toughest but also reach a certain production limit in the best of economic conditions.(Note** I do realize there are many more factors that will dictate a company's success, so let's just assume we all agree on those important variables.**)

So what am I implying with all of this? No, I'm not saying necessarily that Viking is in trouble yet a company like Trilogy will have no problems in the future. What I'm doing is making a simple analysis of the current state of the fiberglass pool market and where I think it's headed, which will hopefully give you, the consumer, enough food for thought to lead you in the right direction when it comes to choosing the manufacturer of your fiberglass swimming pool.

An Invitation to All Manufacturers

I also want to give manufacturers a chance to respond to this blog below regarding your company. If you'd like to discuss the stability of your company and its current direction, I absolutely invite you to do so in the comments section. Whether you agree with my synopsis or not, I'd still be inclined to hear your thoughts.

**Note: 3 Weeks after this article was written, Viking Pools filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy**

Marcus Sheridan, River Pools

Disturbing: Bad Fiberglass Pool Installer+Irresponsible Manufacturer=Customer Disaster

One of the benefits of having this blog and PoolSchool is the fact that I receive emails from customers across the country at a rapidly increasing rate regarding their good, bad, and down-right ugly experiences with fiberglass pool builders and manufacturers. For example, read the following email I received this past week. (Because this customer is pursuing legal action against the manufacturer, I will hide the customer and manufacturer names for now...)

"We purchased a ****** pool last year and have been trying to get the pool repaired and then replaced for over a year now.  Our pool came with dimples and holes in the steps and within two weeks of the installation the whole pool warped at every curve.  Our pool is a small ****** pool that is all curves and each and every one of them now has a warp that runs from the top to the bottom of the pool.  ******Pools blamed the installers, who in fact did do a few things wrong but we have pictures of the install happening and you can actually see a warp in the pool before it was ever placed in the ground.  The flaws in the steps were there right from the start as well.  Our installers have since shut their doors (due to this) and ****** is laying all the blame on them so they are not helping us out at all.  ****** actually had the installers rip out a foot of concrete all around the pool four months ago stating that it would pop back into shape.  We now have a pool that we can't even put a safety cover on as there is nothing to attach it to, it is still warped and now unsafe to walk around.  We sure wish we had seen your "PoolSchool" before our much regretted purchase."

Pretty pathetic, wouldn't you agree? Such emails allow me to get a much better feel for which companies within the pool industry are willing to stand behind their product and which ones could essentially care less about the customer. Much to my surprise, the entire PoolSchool concept is now creating a source for consumer protection, awareness, and action. With the risk of sounding prideful, a customer recently told me in an email that I had, "become the Glen Beck of the fiberglass pool industry." Although hearing such statements wasn't the original goal of PoolSchool and this blog, it did give me a chuckle. It also gave me a sense of satisfaction knowing that we were able to help this pool owner in some way to make progress in resolving their pool installation issues. It truly matters to us here at PoolSchool and River Pools and Spas that pool consumers across the country, and world for that matter, are informed and have an advocate for truth.

This is also why I invite any of you who may have had a good or bad experience in the past by an installer or fiberglass pool manufacturer to contact us and we will do anything we can to help and make others aware of your thoughts.

Marcus Sheridan, http://www.poolschool.us/

*Don't forget to subscribe to our blog in the upper right hand portion of this page to receive the latest pool industry news, product reviews, etc.

Shady Fiberglass Pool Contractor- Disturbing Video: How Not to Be a Victim

 

Shady Fiberglass Pool Contractor Video: How Not to Be a Victim

The following video shows a homeowner in Canada who purchased a fiberglass pool from a supposed ‘pool contractor' and after giving the contractor $38,000 for simply digging a hole, the contractor took the money and ran, leaving the poor lady with a hole and her yard and 38k worth of debt.

 

Experiences such as these not only hurt innocent homeowners, but they also hurt the swimming pool industry. Personally, as a consumer advocate in the fiberglass pool industry, this particular story really gets me fired up. Unfortunately, all too often, homeowners just don't know what they are doing when they go through the process of purchasing a pool. This is the whole reason I wrote my swimming pool eBook in the first place and it's also the reason I continue to educate on this blog on a weekly basis. Having worked with so many pool shoppers across the country over the past few years, I've many times seen occasions where the contractor was trying to take advantage of a trusting homeowner. This is why I always recommend that before a pool shopper chooses a contractor, they do the following:

• 1. Get ALL the references: Why so many homeowners are satisfied with only a few references is beyond me. The best way to handle getting references from a pool builder is to do the following: Ask the pool builder how many pools they installed last year. Once you have asked them this question then ask them for their reference list for last year. This will quickly show you just how happy they make their customers. For example, if they say they installed 20 pools last year, and then they only give you 10 references, that says to me that there is a 50% chance you'll be unhappy with their company. How do those odds sound?
• 2. Ask the pool builder for a name/number of a customer where they had something go wrong during the project and see how they handled it. (Any builder that says they've never messed up or had any miss-haps on the job is a liar.)
• 3. It's fine to check the BBB but I wouldn't put much stock into it.
• 4. Verify the draw schedule. The payments on the draw schedule should run in conjunction with the progress on the pool. For example, in our company's draw schedule we have a small deposit, a pool delivery draw, an excavation draw, a pool filled with water draw, an electric draw, and a concrete decking draw. Such a draw schedule is much more homeowner friendly than a ridiculously large upfront payment as shown in the video.

So there are my recommendations. If you follow these steps, I can assure you you'll practically eliminate the possibility of being left with a huge hole in your yard and no recourse. And one last comment- Usually, rip-off artists in the pool industry are always the cheapest quote. When a pool shopper looks past the lowest price and focuses on the quality of the company, a smooth pool project will usually follow.

 

Marcus Sheridan, http://www.poolschool.us/

To receive notice of any future articles regarding the swimming pool industry, don't forget to subscribe to our blog in the upper right hand portion of this page.

The Fastest Growing Fiberglass and Swimming Pool Blog on the World Wide Web Keeps Growing

 

Having been in the swimming pool industry for eight years now and after having installed about 600 fiberglass pools of various manufacturers, the owners of River Pools and Spas have made tremendous efforts to educate the swimming pool consumer community over the years. 4 months ago though, when these owners decided to start a swimming pool education blog, they had no idea of the impact it would have on their website. Nor did they realize the general impact it would have on the fiberglass pool industry.

Deciding to fully integrate video technology into their blog system, http://blog.riverpoolsandspas.com/ has become the industry's first blog to truly utilize video as a teaching tool for pool shoppers/owners. The site currently has over 25 ‘vlogs' at the time of this article. It has also become a huge consumer advocate by analyzing different fiberglass pool manufacturers along with their strengths and weaknesses. "Viking Pools vs Trilogy Pools" and "Why is Viking Pools Trying So Hard to Discredit Marcus Sheridan's eBook" are examples of this consumer advocacy and enlightenment. Despite the complaints of certain manufacturers, the owners of River Pools are committed to always informing fiberglass pool customers of the factual pros and cons of the different pool manufacturers. Along these same lines, such articles as "Fiberglass Pool Prices: How Much is My Pool Really Going to Cost?" , "Top 5 Fiberglass Pool Problems" , "Pool Patio Materials: Stamped Concrete Vs Pavers" , and "Fiberglass Pools vs Concrete Pools vs Vinyl Liner Pools: An Honest Comparison" are just a few examples of the articles that have had major success with over 1,000 reads each.

Now, with well over 5000 views on a monthly basis, along with over 100 subscribers, http://blog.riverpoolsandspas.com/ is just beginning to scratch its potential. This is also why the owners of River Pools and Spas would like to invite all current and future swimming pool owners to subscribe to this one of a kind blog and join their community of informed swimming pool consumers.

5 Really, Really Dumb Mistakes People Make When Buying a Fiberglass Swimming Pool

Buying a Fiberglass Swimming Pool???.......

By Marcus Sheridan, www.PoolSchool.us

Well if you're reading this article, then chances are you're considering the purchase of a fiberglass swimming pool. Congratulations, you're on the right track, now you just need a little more guidance with this process. After having worked with well 1,000 people in their efforts to buy a fiberglass swimming pool, I've come up with my top 5 really, really dumb things people do during this important process.

• 1. Believe everything the manufacturer says: I always find it amusing when fiberglass swimming pool consumers tell me, "I've been spending a lot of time on manufacturer websites in order to know which one is the best." This statement, or some derivative of it, makes very little sense. Any fiberglass pool manufacturer can make themselves sound GREAT on a website. Whether it's a bogus statement about the efficacy of ‘ceramic pool cores' or the use of' carbon fiber for structure reinforcement', consumers need to be very careful as to the ‘claims' some fiberglass pool manufacturers will make. So do you want to know how to quickly figure out the quality of a fiberglass pool shell? Well the answer is simple: If the manufacturer does not list the complete, written warranty of their fiberglass pool shell on the website, then flags should go up....i.e.: Their warranty stinks. And remember, this warranty should show not just the structure warranty, but also the finish warranty, which brings me to my next point.
• 2. Don't pay attention to Finish Warranties: There is a reason many fiberglass pool manufactures don't talk much about their finish warranties. The reason, of course, is that their color finishes stink. Yep, that's right. They stink. (As you can see, ‘stink' is my word of the day;-) In fact, I will gladly tell you that any fiberglass swimming pool that has a finish warranty less than 10 years stinks. And be careful about prorated warranties. For example, there is a well known manufacturer that boasts of a ‘7 year' finish warranty. But if one reads this supposed warranty they will see it is actually a 3 year full warranty with 4 years prorated. Furthermore, if one reads all the disclaimers to this finish warranty they'll find they have almost no finish warranty at all. Remember, the colored finish to your fiberglass swimming pool is incredibly important. The last thing you want is a cheap color that fades terribly just after a couple of years and is prone to blisters. Believe it or not, there are major manufacturers in the fiberglass swimming pool industry with these problems.
• 3. Don't ask for references: I've said this before and I'm sure I'll say this many, many more times- If a pool dealer does not give you references, and I mean a LOT of references, then you should be highly concerned. Frankly, you should not even have to ask your pool builder for said references. For example, our company reference list currently holds almost 600 customers. Pool shoppers are welcome to call any one of them. So if a builder tells you that they have no references because their customers refuse to be on a list they are simply lying to you. Look at it this way: Would you ever have a problem fielding a few calls a year if your pool guy did a great job in your back yard? Of course not.
• 4. Focus Solely on Price: It bugs me that I even need to mention this but alas...I guess I must. It always baffles me to hear a customer say they want a great, great super-low price but they also expect great, great quality and service.....Huh? Say what? There is an old saying I once heard. It goes something like this: "All of your customers want you as a business to make money and turn a profit. They just don't want you to make any money on them." This quote certainly holds true for some shoppers, but I find the majority understand that in order to deal with a reputable, steady company where quality and service are a fundamental component of the building process, then the company must make money. This means on all customers. Now don't get me wrong. I am not advocating here that pool guys should break the bank on every job and not earn their keep. What I am saying, though, is that there will always, and I stress ALWAYS, be companies available that will build your pool for less. This is also why so many fiberglass swimming pool companies go out of business. In the short 8 years I've been in business here in Virginia and Maryland I have literally witnessed about 20 fiberglass companies start and fold their businesses. And no, that is not an exaggeration. How would you like to have had your pool installed by one of these companies? Although price always has and always will be an important part of choosing your pool builder, make sure that it's not your first priority. If it is, then you might find yourself being the next victim of a terrible pool building experience.
• 5. Focus on the short-term: Whether you are looking at the type, size, price, or any other component of your swimming pool, you need to make decisions based on how long you think you might be in your home, not just on your circumstances today. There are literally hundreds of examples of this but I'll name a few.

-A customer decides not to get a salt chlorine generator with their pool because they think it costs too much. (What they don't realize is that it will pay for itself within the first couple of years.)

-A customer elects to get a propane heater instead of a heat pump because of the huge initial price difference. (Again, just like the salt generator, the heat pump will cost much less to own over time.)

-A pool shopper settles on a vinyl liner even though they really want fiberglass. They do this because the pool will cost them $6,000 less initially. Over the next 25 years, they end up spending about $8,000 more than they would have during the life of pool ownership because of liner replacements. These residual expenses would have been non-existent had just gotten a fiberglass swimming pool in the beginning.

         6.   They don't go to http://www.poolschool.us/ before they buy. (Ok, so I'm biased;-)

   

So there you have it. Those are my top 5 really, really dumb things people do when buying a fiberglass swimming pool.  Although I could easily add about 50 other items to this list, this should give you enough to chew on for now.  As always, good luck with your shopping experience and don't forget to subscribe to our blog here at http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/ (upper right hand side of this page) to receive all the best tips, articles, and videos on buying and owning a swimming pool.

Viking Pools vs River Pools and Spas Pool Company

 By Jim Spiess

My business partner Marcus Sheridan has done pool comparisons on other blogs, this one is a fiberglass pool comparison, but on a little bit of a different scale. As a business owner and as a person, I believe that what makes you successful is not how much money you make, but how you conduct yourself as a business and an individual. Because Viking Pools is so upset with Marcus Sheridan for pointing out their flaws in his popular ebook found at www.poolschool.us , they have stooped to new lows with such websites as www.riverpoolsvirginia.com and other similar sites. Essentially, Viking has made it their main priority to affect River Pools' business in a negative manner. An interesting way of solving their own deficiencies but so be it. So with a new competitor in the Virginia market, I will attempt to compare the two companies in this article. I will also admit right up front that I am biased in my opinions of the two companies, because I own one of them, but just because I am biased, does not mean I am not telling the truth.

Category 1: Innovation

Because Viking Pools have been around so much longer than River Pools and Spas, they were able to be one of the main innovators in terms of the fiberglass swimming pools in the early years of the industry here in the United States. They were one of the first companies to have colored finishes and they did a great job integrating benches, ledges, etc into their pool molds. In the last year though, River Pools and Spas has found two other pool companies, Leisure Pools and Trilogy Pools, that have done a better job with color and one of the companies can customize benches and seats to better suit the customer. Essentially, Trilogy has been the first company to specialize in modular fiberglass customization. In other words, one can take a ‘fusion' model and change the steps, add tanning beds, spillovers, etc. To understand this further, see their website at http://www.trilogypools.com/fusion/the-fusion-advantage.  Simply put, Trilogy has set the tone for the future of fiberglass swimming pool customization. Leisure Pools has set the bar with their color process and all American swimming pool companies have been trying to figure this process out, because when a Leisure pool is repaired it blends in so that it cannot be seen, therefore you do not even know that there was a repair. To learn more on this visit Leisure's website at http://www.leisurepoolsusa.com/ Simply put, Leisure leads the industry in color finishes for fiberglass pools, which when you add the two together, River Pools and Spas has the best color finishes available and the best innovation of fiberglass pools available.

 

Category 2: Shapes and Sizes

Both Viking and River Pools and Spas have a very large amount of pool designs to choose from, especially if you count Viking's multiple lines that they offer with Composite Pool Corporation and Crystal Palace Pools, and then you look at the fact that River Pools carries two lines with Leisure Pools and Trilogy Pools. In terms of sheer numbers, Viking does have an advantage, with more models to choose from. In terms of elegance and classiness though, Trilogy and Leisure dominate when one looks at such models as the Grand Elegance and the Moroccan by Leisure Pools and the Hyperion and the Regalus by Trilogy Pools, which are in my opinion four of the classiest large pool designs in the fiberglass pool industry.

Category 3: Warranty

Marc has spoken heavily on this subject regarding fiberglass pools(to see his now famous blog regarding Viking's color problems, go to: http://blog.riverpoolsandspas.com/blog/bid/22092/Why-is-Viking-Fiberglass-Pools-Trying-So-Hard-To-Discredit-Marcus-Sheridan-s-Swimming-Pool-eBook) , with his emphasis always being placed on the Surface / Finish Warranty of the pool shell and not so much on the structure warranty of the shell. In terms of structure warranty, both Viking and Trilogy boast a lifetime warranty on the structure. Leisure however boasts a 35 year stated structure warranty. But where one will find a significant difference between manufacturers is with the finish warranty, especially now that all manufacturers are using colored finishes, and not just white, with their pools. Viking has a 7 year warranty on their finish, but if one actually reads the warranty (which as far as I can tell is not listed on their website) they will find that the warranty is only 3 years full and 4 years prorated.  Trilogy, on the other hand, displays their entire warranty on their webpage (http://www.trilogypools.com/about-trilogy-fiberglass-pools/warranty ), which shows a 10 year, non prorated surface warranty. Leisure has a 15 year finish warranty and Leisure's warranty covers fading and yellowing. It is because of Leisure Pools' aquaguard gel coat finish that they are able to offer such an exceptional warranty. For more information on Leisure Pools warranty visit their website at www.leisurepoolsusa.com.

 

Category 4: Website

Both http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/  and http://www.vikingpools.net/ are great websites. Both have quite a few videos, but River Pools and Spas has more blogs and more information on pools then Viking does. Both websites have a lot of pictures and a pool styles to choose from. Viking has their models directly on their site, and with River Pools and Spas you need to go to their links to see the different models. River Pools and Spas has a testimonial on every page and also have a page related to testimonials.

Category 5: Owners

Viking boasts that they have the benefit of a big corporation with the benefit of a small family business. Such a statement is an oxymoron. Viking is owned by a big corporation, River Pools and Spas is a small family business that strives to maintain that personal feel, which is why every customer is on their reference list.