Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Thu, Aug 19, 2010 @ 12:13 AM
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:
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Mon, Aug 09, 2010 @ 09:53 AM
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
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Wed, Jul 28, 2010 @ 01:44 PM
T
his 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:
- We used only high quality materials throughout the project including a natural stone deck around the pool.
- We softened up the rectangle look by adding a slight curve to a couple of the retaining walls and small portions of the patio.
- 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.
Posted by Jason Hughes on Fri, Jul 23, 2010 @ 08:18 AM
...and you thought you were supposed to shock the pool, not the other way around!
Whether you are experiencing this in your own inground pool, or are in the process of researching for your future pool, this article will give a brief explanation of swimming pool bonding in non-pool guy terms.
The key phrase to become familiar with here is equipotential bonding, which is essentially a function of connecting various pool components together with a bare copper wire to make them the same potential.
What is Electrical Potential?
To understand potential, imagine how water flows through a pipe. It will naturally flow from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure. If both ends of the pipe have equal pressure the water will not move, regardless of the level of pressure. Electricity works in the same way. There has to be a difference in pressure (or voltage) to create a flow of electricity from one point to another. The purpose of equipotential bonding is to equalize the pressure around the entire pool so your body doesn’t create the circuit between areas of differing potential which would result in getting shocked. This is done by creating a “bonding grid”.
What components are in the Bonding Grid?
The bonding grid is established by connecting a bare copper wire to various components around the pool which include but are not limited to:
- All metal components within 5’ of the water’s edge of the pool including handrails, ladders, diving board jigs (the part that goes in the concrete), slides, pool lights with metal components, etc.
- The metal reinforcement used in the 36” of the pool patio surrounding the pool.
- At least 9 square inches of metal in contact with the water in the pool.
How are the connections made to these components?
All components such as handrails and ladders that have anchors recessed into the patio are bonded by connecting the copper wire to the side of the anchor. The reinforcing metal in the patio is connected to the bonding grid by fastening the copper wire to the metal with a bonding lug (picture) at multiple points around the pool. The required nine square inches of metal in the water can be satisfied through the use of a submersed metal pool accessory such as a light or ladder, or if no submersed metal component is used, through the use of a metal plate known as a “Bondsafe 680” installed in the throat of the skimmer. This is a wonderful product and is perfect for fiberglass pools.
What kind of “Shock” are we talking about here?
The good news is that in most cases the “shock” that occurs is somewhere between 1 and 3 volts, which is considered a nuisance voltage. This often results in a tingling or stinging sensation when a person touches the handrail, ladder, pool coping, or water from outside the pool. These sensations can become more perceptible when there is a cut or nick on the part of the hand touching the component or when the skin softens after spending a long time in the pool. Children are often more perceptive to this than adults and are often the ones who initially notice the problem.
How Can we Eliminate the Problem?
The first thing you need to do is contact your pool guy or a certified electrician to troubleshoot the problem. There is a chance the pool was improperly bonded if the pool was built before recent changes to the electrical code were enforced. The problem could also originate from your utility provider or from a wiring flaw outside of the pools bonding grid that is back-feeding electricity to the pool area. If the pool was bonded correctly there is a relatively good chance that the solution is simple once the problem is identified.
Well there you have it: Pool Bonding 101. Please feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments section. Thanks for Being Here!
Posted by Jason Hughes on Tue, Jul 13, 2010 @ 10:20 PM
One of the most challenging aspects of buying an inground pool is visualizing what the finished project will look like, and this is especially true on a sloping lot where retaining walls are needed.
This short video will give you a walking tour of a completed project that has two retaining walls complete with fence and landscaping to help you conceptualize what an inground pool with retaining walls might look like in your backyard.
This particular site had about four feet of slope from the front of the pool to the back; so the solution was to build two separate retaining walls, each two feet tall. The result was gorgeous....check it out for yourself.
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Mon, Jul 12, 2010 @ 09:54 AM
Although there are certainly many ways to dress up an inground swimming pool, I wanted to write a brief list showing 11 things (just about all of which are shown in the video) you may consider to dress up the overall appearance of your backyard ‘poolscape’. Keep in mind that as you read the following ideas they are just that-- ideas, and by no means a requisite to having a beautiful pool in your backyard. As I always say, it’s better to have a pool in your backyard without all the options you wanted, than it is to have a beautiful pool with every option you ever dreamed of......in your head……and not in your backyard.
But without further ado, here goes:
1. Colored Pool Finish: White pools, especially if you’re considering fiberglass or concrete, have gone the way of the dinosaur. And to this I say good riddance. Colors make swimming pools look more natural, inviting, and often times create that ‘Carribean’ feel so many are looking for.
2. Separate Coping Color: As shown in the attached video, installing a separate border around an inground pool not only delineates the pool, but it adds a ‘pop’ to the shape itself. Borders can be done in a variety of ways, with an 18” stamped concrete border w/extra cuts the most common method on a fiberglass swimming pool.
3. Decorative Patio: Stamped Concrete and Pavers are two of the most common ways homeowners dress up their pool patio, but there are also many more, like bluestone, CoolDeck/Spray Deck, etc.
4. Gravel Between Pool and Fence: You'll notice on the video that the homeowner layed a white gravel beteen the fence and the pool. This makes for a perfect transition and is also rather low maintenance in terms of yardwork.
5. Dress Up the Fence: As shown in the video, black aluminum combined with brick pillars is very, very pretty. It’s also very expensive, but if you have the additional funds, the elegant feel it brings to the backyard is significant.
6. Arched Gate: This one goes hand-in-hand with brick pillars, but an arched gate has an impressive feel adds a nice flare to the fence itself.
7. Flowers/Greenery/Shrubs/Etc: The homeowner in the video did an excellent job with his plantings around the pool area, especially in the pathways that lead to the pool. When done the right way and with the right selection, plantings can completely change the look and feel of a backyard.
8. Water Features: This is one of the few elements not shown in the video, but water features have a powerful effect on the backyard/swimming pool experience. Even simple waterfalls are popular these days because of their relaxing and tranquil impact on the pool area.
9. Multiple Seating Elevations: In the attached video, the homeowner achieved this with a nicely designed composite deck that had multiple levels, overlooking the pool. This can also be achieved by using landscape blocks to create steps, benches, etc.
10. Contour Your Patio: The homeowners did an excellent job of this in the video, as they put an arch in the concrete on the opposite side of the arch in the Moroccan (fiberglass pool by Leisure), thus accentuating the shape of the pool and adding further to the 'classy' feel of the backyard.
11. Landscape Lighting: It's a shame we couldn't do a night-time video of this pool as well, because all of the landscape lighting has an awesome effect on the overall ambiance of the backyard at night time.
Well I hope this little list and video helps you with further ideas to enhance the look of your backyard swimming pool experience. If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to leave them below.
Posted by Jason Hughes on Thu, Jul 08, 2010 @ 07:52 AM
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.