Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Mon, May 10, 2010 @ 10:43 AM
When one looks back on the fiberglass pool industry over the last 25 years or so, it's truly amazing the amount of progress the industry has made as a whole. Upon reflection on these changes, I figured it would be a good thing to look at this time period and mention the innovations that have made their mark on the industry.
Top 5 Fiberglass Pool Innovations of the Last 25 Years
1. Vinyl Ester Resins
Without getting too technical here, there are many grades of resins that can be used in the construction of a fiberglass swimming pool. Unfortunately, fiberglass pools a few decades ago were being constructed without vinyl ester resin, which is a tremendous barrier and prevents water wreaking havoc on a fiberglass pool over time. When cheaper resins are used, such issues as cobalting and blisters rear their ugly heads, which was certainly the case with some of the first fiberglass pools. But today, just about every manufacturer in the fiberglass pool industry is using at least a layer of VE resin in their pools, which is a great stride in the right direction.
2. Cantilevered Coping
Maybe the biggest knock on fiberglass pools from pool builders and consumers in the past was their ‘bathtub' and modular-looking appearance. This stigma was mainly a result of concrete patios being poured up to the fiberglass lip versus on top of the fiberglass lip. I've spoken heavily on this subject before (watch a how-to video here), as it still is a subject of debate at times due to antiquated thought on behalf of certain builders and manufacturers, but the simple fact is that cantilevered concrete coping not only forms a powerful bond-beam around a fiberglass pool, but also allows it to rival a concrete/gunite pool in terms of aesthetics.
3. GOOD Color Finishes
Notice I did not write here ‘Colored Finishes'. This is because colored finishes on a fiberglass pool have had a tremendous benefit in terms of aesthetics to this industry, but is some regards these colors have hurt the industry as well. I mention this because like everything else in the world, just because a manufacturer produces a shell with colored finishes doesn't mean it's a quality product. Heck, warranties don't even mean it's a good finish considering some of the semantic games I've seen certain manufacturers play in recent months. Fact is, there are companies
out there that are offering great colored finishes on their pools that will last a long time, which is a great thing for the consumer. I can only hope some other manufacturers that are not so ‘quality oriented' will soon follow suit.
4. Gravel Base and Backfill
Another point of controversy here but I'm happy to say that just about every forward-thinking, quality-minded builder and manufacturer (Trilogy Pools was pushing gravel 6 years ago)in the industry has now moved to gravel as the base and backfill to their pools. Having discussed this point in multiple other
articles, I'm still at times saddened by the fact that some manufacturers have put up a fight against suggesting gravel as the base and backfill for their pools, which is a clear sign of delusion. In fact, just as vinyl ester is now a standard part of the fiberglass pool experience, gravel will soon be as well, mark my words. Simply put, there is just too much science, evidence, and common-sense on the side of gravel.
5. The Use of Tile
These days, it's quite common to see the use of ceramic tile in fiberglass swimming pools. Whether it's tile on the waterline, inlay tile in the steps and seats, or possibly a mosaic in the floor; ceramic tile has allowed fiberglass pools to take one more step in their customization abilities as well as their aesthetic rivaling of concrete pools. Other than the great videos
that are available on our site, I'd also suggest you learn from one of the premier tile experts in the industry, Robert Ault, to learn more about the subject.
So there are your top 5 fiberglass pool innovations over the last 25 years. Although I'd could certainly list many, many more, suffices to say that these 5 have been critical to the growth of the industry.
Marcus Sheridan
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Wed, Apr 21, 2010 @ 12:20 PM
A few weeks ago, I posted an article called Small Fiberglass Pool Design Awards for 2010, which has been received with tremendous response. Considering the article has already been read over 1000 times in such a short period of time, I figured we ought to discuss as well the ‘Big Boys' of the fiberglass pool industry and give out awards to the designs that are at least 16'x40' in size. As with the previous article, I have analyzed all the fiberglass pool manufacturers in the industry to come up with awards. As always, the information herein is my opinion, and just because I like or dislike a design does not mean it should totally influence your decision as a fiberglass pool shopper. But like everything else found here on this blog, this article is meant to educate and enlighten consumers so that they are able to make the best decision possible for their family when it comes to purchasing a fiberglass swimming pool. So without further ado, here goes:
Classiest/Roman Design
The Regalus from Trilogy stays at the top this year. This 16'x44' unit is a sport bottom pool and may be the nicest looking design in the fiberglass pool industry. It's extremely classy, has quite a bit of play area despite the large ends, and because it falls in the Fusion line for Trilogy a customer can customize whether one of the ends gets a bench, a tanning ledge, or additional steps. Major props to Trilogy for producing a design that will aesthetically rival any concrete pool.
Most Play Area
The Luxor Shallow from San Juan pools takes this award. This 16'x44' rectangle not only has massive amounts of play area, but it also uniquely blends tanning shelves into the shallow-end step area and has a true swim-lane for those interested in laps.
Most Unique Diving Pool
Although there are more and more diving pools now available in the fiberglass pool industry, one of the most unique I've ever seen is the Frio model from American Fiberglass Pools. Not only is the pool 18'x43' (You can tell it's made in Texas!), but it goes to 8'6" and also has a large tanning shelf in the shallow end. Props to American for producing such a unique design.
Best Large Pool for an Automatic Cover
The 16'x40' Elegance model from Leisure Pools takes this award for a couple of reasons. Whenever a pool owner uses an autocover, pure rectangle shapes are much better because the tracks for the cover can then go beneath the coping edge of the pool versus being on top of the patio. So not only is the Elegance a true rectangle, but it's great for autocovers because all of its seating and entry points are on the long side of the pool, not on the ends. I mention this because auto covers have to roll-up on one end of the pool. This typically means there will be some type of metal lid on that end, which is not as ideal for persons getting in or out of the pool in that area. This is also why the Elegance 40' is great for anyone looking to run their pool parallel to their house.
Best Free-Form Design
The Taj-Mahal Shallow from San Juan pools takes this award. With its many curves and 16'x45' frame, this model is able to offer consumers quite a bit of character as well as a solid amount of play area.
Honorable Mention
The King Shallow from Royal Pools is quite an impressive design with its 17'6"x41'6" measurements. With its large seating area, as well as its 3'6" -5'6" water depth, this pool would make a nice choice for anyone considering a large fiberglass swimming pool for their home.
Marcus Sheridan
Click Here to Receive a Quote for you Swimming Pool, Wherever You Live!
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Mon, Mar 29, 2010 @ 11:44 AM
One of my favorite parts of maintaining a blog about the fiberglass pool industry is the chance I have to look at the unique designs that manufacturers are coming up with as the industry progresses. Last year, we posted another very successful article regarding the top fiberglass pool designs of 2009 but this year I wanted to break things down even further and take this opportunity to solely focus on the ‘little guys' of the industry and analyze what makes some of these small inground pools (anything less than 30' in length) such a unique design.
Also, I want to point out here that I have looked at all the major fiberglass pool manufacturers (San Juan, Leisure, Barrier Reef, Sun, Trilogy, Hatteras, American, Royal, and Alaglass) in an effort to pick which designs I like the best. (Note** With their current financial and quality control issues, I could not in good conscience consider Viking Pool Products for these awards) I'd also stress that all of these awards are my personal opinion and just because some manufacturers are not mentioned does not mean they do not build a good pool or do not have some nice small pool designs. Again, awards are simply a matter of personal preference, so here goes:
Best Small Kidney Shaped Fiberglass Pool
This award goes to the Picasso model made by Trilogy Pools. I really, really like this pool because of its use of a large tanning ledge integrated into the kidney design. Trilogy is well known throughout the industry for their innovative approach to fiberglass pools and the Picasso is a perfect example of their vision.
Best Small Fiberglass Pool with a Spa Combo
San Juan is well known for their original designs and the Mandalay Bay model is certainly no exception to the rule. With its free-form shape, combined with the fact that it has a separate tanning ledge as well as an attached spa, San Juan packed just about every feature they could in this 12'x28' swimming pool.
Classiest Small Pool Design
The Elegance model by Leisure (14'x27') is certainly indicative of its name. Although the shape is essentially a simple rectangle, Leisure adroitly added a small, rectangular-shaped bump-out step/bench on one of the long sides of the pool. This simple addition added quite a classy feel to the design, making the name ‘Elegance' quite a fitting and appropriate one.
Flat Bottom Pool
Aloha fiberglass pools takes this award with their Palm model, an 11'x25' rectangular shaped pool with quite a large bench spanning the length of one side. If you're looking for a small, flat-bottom pool with a lot of seating, the Palm is a great route to take.
Free Form Design
With its natural curve appeal and large tanning ledge, the Vista Isle (12'x28') by Blue Hawaiian Fiberglass Pool takes this award.
Most Unique Design
Although there are certainly many small fiberglass pool shapes and designs that could be considered unique, I'd give this award to Sun Pools for their 12'x24' South Beach model. This key-shaped design has three unique entry point/benches and certainly has an original feel to its appearance.
So there are my small inground pool awards for 2010. As I mentioned earlier, I happily invite questions and comments below and remind everyone to subscribe to future articles like this one in the upper right hand portion of this page.
Marcus Sheridan, PoolSchool
Want to receive a quote(s) for your swimming pool purchase, wherever you live in the US or Canada? Just click the photo for immediate help.
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Mon, Nov 30, 2009 @ 02:51 PM
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
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Sat, Nov 14, 2009 @ 11:54 AM
As many of you know, I recently posted an article regarding San Juan Fiberglass Pools filing for bankruptcy. 
Kirk Sullivan, the owner of San Juan Pools was kind enough to respond to the blog and he stated the following:
"San Juan Pools and its division are just fine. What is broken is the banking industry when banks can call loans on very solid companies that have a ten-year unblemished credit rating, good cash flows, and assets that are three times the size of their loans. If we were in trouble, why have we not had any problem making payments to the bank to this day? Their decision was simply because they felt they wanted to back out of the residential housing market, not because of any unique concerns about us. What the story in Pool & Spa News failed to mention-and is perhaps the most important thing-is that we voluntarily took some of our divisions into Chapter 11, which is a very typical step to take that allows you to continue regular operations while we simply get other financing. Our operations are unchanged, our commitment to warrantees is unchanged, our good relationships with suppliers and partners are unchanged and our ability to make both bank payments and payments to suppliers is unchanged. Competitors will certainly try to make something out of nothing, but the evidence is that we will have as big of a display at the Las Vegas trade show as ever and look forward to seeing our customers, dealers and suppliers there. By the way, I'll be flying out there on bankrupt Delta and driving a rental car from bankrupt GM. I'm not worried."
I wanted to thank Kirk for taking the time write us and clarify his side of the story. I also wish San Juan the best in their efforts to resolve these financial issues. These tough economic times have put a strain on just about every pool and spa company in the world and will certainly be something we'll be keeping our eye
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Wed, Nov 11, 2009 @ 08:48 AM
As I've mentioned in previous posts, the fiberglass pool industry has experienced quite a down-turn due to the slow economy, and unfortunately, many fiberglass pool manufacturers have not been able to financially cope with this slow down. 
San Juan Pools of Florida is the latest manufacturer to hit a major financial wall, putting the future of their company in serious jeopardy. Although I've been well aware of San Juan's issues for quite some time, I did not want to release any information until the paperwork had been filed. Pool and Spa News, one of the industry's top magazines, recently stated:
The nation's largest fiberglass pool manufacturer has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
American Environmental Container Corp., a Lakeland, Fla.-based company that sells products under the San Juan Pools trade name pursuant to license agreements, submitted the filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Tampa on Nov. 3, according to court documents.
With a network of some 500 dealers across all 50 states, as well as Canada and Europe, the firm has approximately 20- to 25 percent of the U.S. market for fiberglass pools, according to court documents.
AECC, which has three manufacturing plants in Florida, Arizona and Indiana, is owned by Kirk and Todd Sullivan.
Court documents indicate the company owed SunTrust Bank, with whom it's had a financial relationship for 16 years, approximately $5.8 million in secured loans
Although I feel bad that a fiberglass pool company with such a history may go out of business, I feel much worse for customers who own a San Juan Pool. San Juan literally has thousands and thousands of fiberglass pools in the ground, and if they go out of business these pool owners will have no recourse in terms of any warranty issues. ***Note: Kirk Sullivan, owner of San Juan, left a comment below regarding the state of San Juan***
Many of our readers across the country have emailed us lately regarding the stability of different manufacturers out there, and so as I mentioned previously, I will be writing a comprehensive article for those of you out there that will be purchasing a fiberglass pool in the future and want to make sure the manufacturer will be around for years to come. I've seen clear patterns with certain manufacturers and it's important to me that all of our readers are aware of what's happening around them.
Marcus Sheridan, http://www.poolschool.us/
*Don't forget to subscribe to this blog in the upper right hand portion of the page.
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Thu, Oct 15, 2009 @ 11:27 AM
The Science Behind Fiberglass Pool Gel Coats and Quality vs. Cheap Color Finishes
As many of you are quite aware, I have talked quite a bit about fiberglass pool color finishes and their importance in the past. In fact, I've been thrilled this year to receive emails from so many people across the country talking about this important subject and asking further questions. Recently, a customer asked by how the fiberglass pool manufacturers were able to scientifically test their finishes versus just putting a product out in the market and seeing its performance in pools over time. I thought this was a great question, and so I decided to make this video, which was shot at the Leisure Pools facility in New Braunfels, Texas.
Currently, the main method for testing fiberglass pool gelcoats is by performing a boil test. Such a test, which typically means the gelcoat is submersed in boiling water from 100-200 hours, is a great indicator as to what will happen to a pool that has been in the ground for many years and experienced the effects of the sun, chemicals, etc. In the United States, there are only a few color gelcoat manufacturers available for the fiberglass pool manufacturers to choose from. Considering Leisure gets their famous Aquaguard product from Australia, therefore spending much, much more on shipping, they have attempted to find an American manufacturer that will meet the Aquaguard standards. Unfortunately, they have fallen short in these efforts and only found that most of the products don't even resemble the performance of Aquaguard. Although many of my readers have asked how I grade out the different finishes used by the various fiberglass pool manufacturers, I will defer from mentioning a bunch of names at this time. Notwithstanding, I will say that my studies have found that the ‘crystite color finishes' are the worst in the fiberglass pool industry. Obviously, ‘Aquaguard' receives the highest current marks. There are a few middle of the road finishes and there is also a new finish currently in the works being created by another fiberglass pool manufacturer.
The key, as always, is for you as a pool consumer to thoroughly read your pool's finish warranty. Personally, I would expect the warranty to be at LEAST 10-15 years; otherwise I wouldn't consider the product. Also, just because it says a certain number of years the finish is warranted, make sure you still read the fine print. Some manufacturers are famous for their warranty disclaimers.
If you have any questions about color finishes and want further detail, please don't hesitate to make your comments below.
And as always, happy swimming!
Marcus Sheridan, http://www.poolschool.us/
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Tue, Aug 04, 2009 @ 01:52 PM
Welcome to the 2009 Fiberglass Swimming Pool Design Awards!! With the growth and success of http://www.poolschool.us/, and feedback we've gotten from fiberglass pool shoppers, we at PoolSchool have produced the first of what will be an annual review of the fiberglass swimming pool designs of the various manufacturers found within the inground pool industry. As with any awards/reviews article such as this one, the statements found herein are the opinions we've formulated over the years based on our extensive experience with fiberglass swimming pool manufacturers throughout the industry. The companies considered for these design awards are as follows: San Juan Pools, Trilogy Pools, Hatteras Pools, Sun Pools, Blue Hawaiian Pools, Alaglass Pools, Leisure Pools, Royal Pools, Composite Pool Corporation, Crystal Palace Pools, Viking Pools, and Aloha Pools.
The awards are as follows:
Fiberglass Pool Shapes:
Best Roman Design: Trilogy Pools wins this one rather easily with their Hyperion model in the Fusion line. What makes the Hyperion so unique is one's ability to literally choose what type of end they would like to have on the model. In other words, whether you are looking for a tanning shelf, steps, or benches; the customability of the Hyperion is second to none with Roman end fiberglass swimming pools. Another great feature of the Hyperion is its 44' length, making it the longest Roman end design in the fiberglass pool industry.
Most Innovative Design: Innovation has certainly picked up the pace the last few years in the fiberglass pool industry. What was once seen as impossible in terms of ‘custom' shapes and features has become a reality with many companies. The most innovative design, though, for 2009 goes to San Juan Pools for their Barcelona model. This fiberglass free form pool measures roughly 15'x28' and comes complete with a tanning ledge and a ‘spa island' (as we at PoolSchool have dubbed it). We call it a spa island because the pool has a built in spa that sits literally in the pool, touching no side walls. Props to San Juan for this unique model.
Best Kidney Design: Trilogy Pools wins another award for best kidney design with their Gemini model. Although the Gemini design isn't an exact kidney shape, it's pretty close, and it integrates some impressive tanning ledges into the mold.
Best Pool/Spa Combo: Pool and Spa combination designs have exploded recently in the fiberglass pool industry, mainly due to their popularity in such warmer climates as California, Texas, and Florida. Although there are many good models out there to choose from, the award goes to Aloha pools for the Serenade model. The Serenade is a 16'x38' free form design with an intelligent mix of steps and benches throughout the model.
Best Medium Sized Pool: Leisure Pools takes this award with their very popular Morrocan model. This pool is a great design because Leisure took a rectangle and rounded its corners and put a slight arch on one side of the pool. This gives the design the functionality of a rectangle with the personality of a free form look. With three seperate entry/exit points, the Morrocan meets the need of just about any consumer, and it comes in larger and smaller sizes as well.
Most Spacious Design: Blue Hawaiian picks up an award in this category for their large and spacious Olympic Bay model. The Olympic Bay is all about swim and play area, with almost the whole pool(16'x41' rectangle) designed for such activities, which is also why the unit has very little benches and steps that can eat up space.
Most Elegant Design: Trilogy picks up their 3rd award here with their Regulus model. This 16'x44' design can be customized just like their Hyperion model but has an incredibly classy and elegant look about it. Leisure pools also receives an honorable mention here for their Elegance model, which comes in various sizes.
Best Diving Pool(*some manufacturers may or may not allow diving boards with their pools, be sure to check with the manufacturer if you are interested in a diving board with your fiberglass pool): San Juan picks up another award here with their Taj Mahal and Luxor Models. The reason why we like these models so much is because they are 44' long, versus the standard 39'-40' you will find with most other manufacturers. Viking and Aloha receive honorable mentions here with the Island Breeze and Mira Largo Models, respectively.
Best Patio Pool Design: Patio pools are typically considered to be 20' in length or less. So for those of you that are looking for a really, really small unique pool design , perfect for a patio and a quick dip, the Horizon model from San Juan receives the 2009 award.
Most Unusual Pool Design: ‘Unusual' in this sense may have a good or bad connotation, depending on the viewer, but we at http://www.poolschool.us/ have chosen the following designs because they made us raise a brow and debate their unique design, which is why we invite your opinions as well. The models are: The St. Lucia by San Juan, the Manteo by Hatteras, the Rebrandt by Trilogy, and the Twin Key by Blue Hawaiian.
Quality:
When we at PoolSchool first got into the fiberglass pool industry, we were under the false impression that all fiberglass pool shells were created equally. Now, after having installed about 600 pools, as well as receiving feedback from all of our eBook customers throughout the country, we realize that there is a wide divide in the fiberglass pool industry when it comes to quality of pools. Some companies are doing a great job manufacturing excellent pools while others are producing junk and getting by because of their established name. But for the 2009 Highest Quality Fiberglass Pool Award, Leisure Pools get the nod based on their incredible Aquaguard Gelcoat and their use of Isophthalic resins throughout the pool's structure, a combination currently unmatched by any other fiberglass pool manufacturer. Although many other manufacturers certainly produce a quality pool, Leisure does set the current quality standards in the fiberglass swimming pool industry.
Web Site:
Web sites continue to improve for most manufacturers, but Viking Pools get the nod here because of the many, many pictures they have on their website.
Well there you have it folks. Although we could go on and on as to the different designs within the fiberglass pool industry, we hope this article helps you all in your efforts to find the right pool for you and your family. To learn more about fiberglass swimming pools, as well as to read further pros and cons of the different manufacturers, visit our popular website: http://www.poolschool.us/
Questions? Comments? Email Marcus Sheridan of PoolSchool at riverpoolsmarc@gmail.com .