Concrete, Vinyl, and Fiberglass Pool Fading: Which Fades the Worst?

In a continued effort to point out the pros and cons of all types of swimming pools on this blog, this article will discuss a common issue that can arise with a swimming pool over time--- fading. As you are likely aware, any surface of any product is going to lose some color and brilliance with time. So the main goal here is to give you an accurate expectation of each type of pool, as well as the factors that can dictate color loss.

Vinyl Liner Pools

Without a doubt, vinyl liner pools have more fading and color-loss issues than any other type of swimming pool. Whether it's an above ground or an inground, the liner is produced the same, with an extremely thin colored pattern overlayed on the vinyl material.

There are two main causes of color loss for a liner: Chemicals and Sunlight.  Although the second cannot be deterred or managed (unless you have an automatic cover), chemicals are almost always the downfall to a vinyl liner, namely chlorine.

Because chlorine is a halogen (bleach), it will inevitably over time cause the design on the liner to fade. Combined with the bleaching power of the sun, a liner will often lose serious amounts of color within the 5-7 year mark, and can even eventually turn completely white. Obviously, this number can vary drastically, especially if a homeowner puts too much chorine in their pool or shocks it too often. This is another benefit of a using a salt chlorine generator-because it causes the chlorine production to be consistently low, yet effective, without ‘shocking' the pool and elevating the chorine levels drastically.

Concrete Pools

In the past, most concrete/gunite pools were white plaster, but today more and more consumers are choosing to utilize colored finishes with their concrete pool. In general, these pools look much better than their antiquated white counterparts, but they do surprisingly deal with quite a bit of color loss over time.

Anyone that has had a colored concrete patio will typically recognize the sun's dulling effects over time, which is certainly the case with a concrete swimming pool. The sun light, combined with the chlorine, will typically have a significant effect on colored concrete surfaces in the 8-12 year mark.

Fiberglass Pools

Like concrete, fiberglass pools in the past were mainly ‘white' or ‘baby blue' in color. But today, with the soaring popularity of colored finishes on fiberglass pools, most consumers are choosing to go with darker finishes for their aesthetic value.

Just like vinyl and concrete, fiberglass pool finishes will be affected by the sun but the main question is how much. I've written quite a bit about this on other posts, but there are some fiberglass pool manufacturers that make great color finishes (Leisure), a handful that make utilize average finishes, and then a few that use substandard finishes.

Keep in mind that the finish warranty on a fiberglass pool is often only as good as the disclaimers that comes with it, so make sure you see the written text before you assume that something with a frivolous  ‘20 Year Finish Warranty' has any value.

In general, quality fiberglass finishes will start to experience some fading at the 8-12 year mark whereas the cheap finishes can experience fading within 1-2 years.

Questions about pool finishes and color loss? As always, feel free to leave your comments below.

Awesome Fiberglass Pool Installation Video!

Many people, especially when debating over whether to install a fiberglass pool themselves or have a professional installer do it for them, are frankly not quite sure of what a proper installation entails. As we have done with so many other videos regarding the swimming pool industry, this video (produced by Jason Hughes) takes all the essential steps of unloading, excavating, setting, plumbing, filling with water, and backfilling a fiberglass pool and rolls it into a concise yet extremely informative and entertaining 10 minute video.

Upon reviewing the video, if anyone has any comments or questions about what a proper fiberglass pool installation involves, please don't hesitate to put your thoughts below.

As always, we appreciate the involvement of the community that has grown here at the River Pools and Spas blog.

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.**

Blue Pools: How Blue has Become the Color of the Fiberglass Pool Industry

 

Blue Pools: How Blue has become the Color of the Fiberglass Pool Industry

Often times, when a pool shopper is considering the aesthetics of their new pool, one of their first desires is to have a strong bluish tint to the water. Such a desire is understandable because blue colors tend to be inviting and appreciated by all during those blazing hot dog days of summer. In the past though, such a request was hard to achieve considering that most concrete and fiberglass pools came only available in lighter blue colors. But times have changed with the advances in swimming pool technology, especially with the introduction of colored finishes to the fiberglass pool market.

The history of blue fiberglass pools is quite interesting and is one I could talk about for hours. But for the sake of simplicity, the first deep blue fiberglass pools were produced in Australia. Yep, the country from ‘down unda' has frankly dwarfed American manufacturers in terms of their willingness to embrace technology and change within the composite pool industry for many years now (although some American manufacturers are finally waking up to this and becoming much more progressive). As I have mentioned in multiple other blogs, most American manufacturers have just started producing colored finishes, realizing that ‘white pools', whether they be concrete or fiberglass, have simply gone the way of the dinosaur. Understanding that most pool customers do want some type of blue finish to their water, many manufacturers are offering quite an array of blue finishes, going from a ‘cloud blue' appearance to a ‘deep navy' or ‘dark blue'.

Along these same lines, many customers often ask me if the color of the pool will make a difference in terms of the water temperature. Well the short answer to this question is ‘yes' but just how much a difference it makes in terms of actual degrees is a study I've not yet been able to make. But rest assured, darker/blue pools will attract more heat than white pools.

The following photos(all pools built by River Pools and Spas) show just how different pool water appears with a white, medium blue, and dark blue finish to the pool.

Above: White Finish on a Fiberglass Pool

Above: Queensland Blue (medium blue) Finish by Leisure Pools

Above: Australian(deep blue) Blue Pool Finish by Leisure Pools

As always, Happy Swimming!!

Marcus Sheridan, www.PoolSchool.us

Questions? Comments? Don't hesitate to leave your thoughts below and subscribe to this blog in the upper right hand corner of this page!!

New 16'x40' Deep End/Diving Fiberglass Pool Now in Production from Leisure Pools

Although diving pools make a small portion of the sales in the fiberglass pool industry, Leisure pools has just announced the production of its first model, which will measure 16'x40' and is named the 'Grand Riviera'.

The following video is unique because it shows the earliest stages of the Grand Riviera in production where the wooden 'plug' for the pool is currently being constructed. As you will see from the video, the process of of building a new fiberglass pool is not an easy one, and can easily cost over $100,000 just to produce a quality mold.With the introduction of such a model, Leisure Pools will only continue its explosive growth pattern here in the United States and seperate itself further from many of the antiquated fiberglass pool manufacturers in the market today.

(To View the Video, Please Click Here)

Don't hesitate to enter your questions regarding the new Grand Elegance model or fiberglass diving pools in the comments section below.

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

 

Science and Fiberglass Pool Gelcoats: Why Some Colors Stink and Others are Built to Last

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/

Gunite Pools versus Fiberglass Pools: Which Looks Nicer?

 

Gunite Pools versus Fiberglass Pools: Which Looks Nicer?

Because fiberglass pools in America started out as plain white shells without any tiling, colored finishes, and cantilevered decking, they were stigmatized with the ‘bathtub' label, which is why many consumers still to this day mistakenly perceive concrete/gunite pools to be a much more aesthetically pleasing product.  But such a perception is not true throughout the world. Let me give you an example.

The first time I spoke with the Australian owners of Leisure Fiberglass Pools I told them that I was quite impressed with the look and luster of their pools. In fact, my statement to Paul Pusztay, one of their owners, went something like this: "I really like what you've done with your pools. With their deep, rich colors, unique seating patterns, and classy designs, they will compete incredibly well aesthetically against concrete pools."

Upon hearing this statement, Pusztay gave me an odd look/grimace and said something like, "What do ye mean mate?"

"I mean you've got a pretty pool, that's what I mean. Many uniformed people here in America feel like fiberglass pools have a second rate look about them" I said.

"Ahh, now I see your point" said Pusztay. "I was just a little confused because in Australia it's a totally different viewpoint. There, the concrete pool builders are trying to make their pools look more like fiberglass. The last thing we want to do at Leisure is look more like concrete."

And as these words started to sink in, it all started to make sense- I knew that Australia was about 20 years ahead of the American market with the fiberglass pool industry, but I had no idea that the perceptions of two nations regarding swimming pools could be so very different, which explains why resendential fiberglass pools outsell residential concrete pools in the Australia.

 But back to my original question: Which pool looks better?

Well how about I answer this in simple terms- Both gunite and fiberglass pools can look boring or fantastic, but the look of the project will really come down to the following items.

• 1. Decking/Patio Around the pool
• 2. Landscaping other than decking
• 3. Color of the pool
• 4. Shape of the pool

Although there are certainly more factors, those are what I consider to be the most important 4 components to your pool's appearance. Therefore, the actual answer to the question is that it all depends on these variables. There really is no clear cut winner.

So when will fiberglass catch up to gunite/concrete here in the United States? Well let me just say that out of the 80 or so fiberglass pools our company will install this year, more than 50 of the customers were ONLY looking for fiberglass. They were educated, they were informed, and they also knew that fiberglass did not have any aesthetic drawbacks versus gunite. In fact, just like those wonderful people from ‘Down Under', many preferred the deep and rich colors that fiberglass had to offer.

So to close my little article, I'd like to make a prediction. Here it is:

Within the next 10 years, fiberglass pools will have a larger share of the inground swimming pool market than concrete/gunite pools.

Yep, that's what I believe and it's also what has already happened in Australia, so it only makes sense that it will happen here in the United States. But, as always, time will tell. Time will tell.....

 

By Marcus Sheridan, Co owner of River Pools and Spas and author of the popular eBook: "How to Buy a Fiberglass Pool the Right Way, From the Right Company, at the Right Price."

 

To stay informed of all there is to know about buying and owning a swimming pool, don't forget to subscribe to our blog in the upper right hand portion of this page!!

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.

 

2009 Fiberglass Swimming Pool Design Awards

 

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 3^rd 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 .

How Much Can a Mistake Cost on a Swimming Pool Purchase?

 By Jim Spiess, www.riverpoolsandspas.com

 

There are many factors to consider when purchasing a swimming pool. First- Is the type of pool you will purchase, will it be an above ground pool, or an in ground pool? Let's look at above ground pools first.

How much will our above ground pool cost, and if it is an expensive pool does that guarantee quality and durability? Just because an above ground pool is expensive does not guarantee anything, for that matter most of your more expensive above ground pools are generally cheap pools that will cost you upwards to ten thousand dollars, and only last a few years. Beware of companies that advertise on television and show a beautiful pool with a ridiculously low price. If it looks too be true it probably is. These companies will do the same with magazine ads, only to do a bait and switch when they show up. There are many good above ground pools out there, Artesian Pools and Strong Pools make great pools, but beware of the riser pool made by Strong Pools, because it has its issues. These two manufactures have a difference of about one thousand dollars in their price; both have great warranties, and will not only last for many years of enjoyment, but will keep their look over the years. How many times have you seen an above ground pool get put up in the neighborhood and a year or two later they look twenty years old? An Artesian 24 foot round pool should cost you in the neighborhood of five thousand dollars with installation, the Strong Pool would be about one thousand more. How much can you lose on an above ground pool purchase? Up to ten thousand dollars if you make a bad choice. It is not a good idea to purchase an aluminum deck for an above ground pool. I recommend a wood deck or a composite deck, which is much more attractive, more durable, and will probably cost less too.

Now let's take a look at inground pools. Here we have really five types of pools to choose from: There is the natural pool which is filtered with plants and can even have fish in them, with a structure that is basically a vinyl liner pool. Initial cost can vary upon plants, type of fish, and stone work, but will generally run around thirty thousand. This is a great pool if you are more interested in a pond than a pool. Personally, I would not spend much on it because vinyl liners have a limited life to them, and it can be a mess to replace the liner on a large pond with vegetation, rocks, and fish. The cost is not that cheap because of the designing, planting, installation, and more, and your loss could be up to ten thousand after replacing liner and surroundings.

Second we have the vinyl liner pool. Its initial pool cost is around $25,000, and it falls into the category of a temporary pool. Liners today generally last between five to ten years, depending on how your pool was installed. If the pool did not have an over-dig and was put in exactly to specifications than that will increase the life of the liner. The problem is a lot of vinyl liner pool companies put the pools in fast and do a slight over-dig to make sure they do not get wrinkles in the liner. This causes the vinyl liner to get stretched and it has now had years taken off the life of the liner. Also, if the pool is put in out of square, it will shorten the life of the liner. We have people who call us to replace the vinyl liner in their pool, and they want to give us the spec sheet for the liner that came with the pool. We never go by that. We have to  measure the pool ourselves and it has not once come up to the measurements on the spec sheet of the customer. Replacing a vinyl liner will cost you between four thousand to six thousand dollars with water. This is also what will bring the value of your home down when you go to sell it. The problem with swimming pools and home sales is that three red flags come up when someone sees a pool. 1. How much maintenance is the pool going to take? 2. How much will it cost me to run that pool each year? 3. What are my future expenses on that pool? With vinyl, you have fairly high maintenance, more cost in chemicals with the pool, and future expenses. Home value can even go down ten to twenty thousand.

Third we have gunite pools or concrete pools. This is a permanent pool, which is high maintenance, high chemical cost, and elevated electrical costs. This pool will have to be resurfaced on average every 10 years, and that can cost from ten to fifteen thousand dollars depending on the type of surface. The price of gunite pools depends on the size and scope of the work, although there are large companies out there that are selling them very cheap because of the economy. My feelings on this is if you have thousands of pools that you have put in and you kept your customers happy then you should not have to cut your cost on your pools so drastically. Most reputable gunite company's pools range around thirty five to fifty thousand dollars. I would beware of the companies that are offering the same pool for ten thousand less. These pools can bring the value of your home down too, usually less than a vinyl pool, around five to ten thousand dollars. Your loss can be as much as twenty five thousand if resurfaced twice during your ownership.

Fourth we have the fiberglass pool wall with a concrete bottom. Initial cost around twenty to twenty five thousand. This pool is still a high maintenance pool due to the concrete bottom, and a lot of times I have seen these pools put in and the bottom painted with a waterproof paint, this can lead to disaster. The life of these pools is determined by the installer, but the bottom of the pool will need resurfacing at a cost of around five thousand dollars. The pool tends to look cheap and will take away from the value of your home, around five to ten thousand dollars. Your loss is around ten to fifteen thousand dollars.

Last we have fiberglass pools. There initial cost is around thirty five to fifty thousand dollars, around the same as a good reputable concrete pool installer. Maintenance is low, operation cost is low, and future cost is very low. Adds value to your home because of all the above. Your gain is extra money when you sell your home, and years of enjoyment without all the work and headaches. But going with the wrong manufacturer, or picking the wrong company, because you are basing your decision on price can cost you more than you save. For instance the pool you have chosen appears to be the same, but the cost difference between the two companies is around five thousand. Well, you could end up the loser when the concrete does not turn out right or the pool was installed improperly, etc. There are many things that could go wrong that will cost you more than the five thousand you saved. Maybe you picked the wrong manufacturer and save five to ten thousand and then find out that you really lost around twenty five thousand and now have a non functioning pool in your backyard. Pool choices are tough decisions, you are spending a lot of money, the last thing you want to do is make a mistake that will cost you even more. For more information on fiberglass pool cost go to http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/ or http://www.poolschool.us/