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

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

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

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

Now that’s behind us:

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

3.  How non-abrasive the Fiberglass Pool surface is

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

Glad I could be of service.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marcus Sheridan

Unbiased Pool Owner Speaks Out Regarding Concrete vs Fiberglass Debate

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 Simple Ways to Enhance the Look of Your Backyard Swimming Pool Oasis

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.

The Top 15 Reasons Why Moms Love Swimming Pools

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

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

1. No Packing!

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

2. Kids Want to ‘Hang Out' at Home

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

3. No Driving!

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

4. Low Entertainment Costs

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

5. Vacuuming is Therapeutic

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

6. Fitness for the Family

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

7. Great for ‘Date Nights'

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

8. ‘Gal Gatherings'

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

9. Children Crawl into Bed

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

10. Less Bickering

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

11. Tanning!

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

12. Cheap Parties

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

13. Quiet Exercise

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

14. Scientific Experiments

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

15. Family Time without Distractions

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

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

Marcus Sheridan

 

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

Fiber Glass Pools Gain More Market Share with Educated Consumers

Having been in this business for almost 10 years now, it's absolutely unbelievable just how much the inground swimming pool market has changed during this time. This trend was made even more evident to me when I recently sat down with a customer in Baltimore Maryland, who, by all intents and purposes, was a self-taught fiber glass pool expert.

For the sake of privacy, I'll refer to the lady as ‘Renee' in this article.

Intense Research

For many months now, Renee has been scouring the internet doing research on swimming pools. Recently, when her and her husband finally decided it was time to actually have a pool installed, they focused even further on what type of pool to choose and with whom they wanted to entrust their backyard. And with such an outstanding amount of research, Renee knew that a fiberglass pool would clearly be her choice for this important investment. And what brought her to this conclusion? Well she thoroughly understood her goals for this swimming pool project would be as follows:

• A pool that would last forever without big expenses down the road
• As little maintenance as possible
• A visual enhancement to her backyard that would be consistent with her home's aesthetics

And because she was looking for a small to medium size, Renee understood overwhelmingly that fiber glass was going to be her choice. At that point, it was just a matter of choosing the right manufacturer and the right builder.

More Consumer Tools

In the past, most consumers didn't necessarily know how to research fiberglass pool manufacturers as well as builders. But today, with more and more educational consumer blogs popping up all over the internet, as well as a significant amount of pool/spa forums designed to promote conversation on the product, consumers are now light years ahead of where they were just a few years ago.

In the past, I would meet with a homeowner and spend most of my time teaching them the differences between Vinyl, Fiberglass, and Concrete Pools. Now, instead of teaching, I'm listening to them tell me what they want, why they want it, and how they want it to be done. And let me tell you, this type of informed consumer really, really gets me excited.

For example, my friend Renee not only knew she wanted a fiberglass pool, but she also knew that she wanted it to be backfilled with gravel, not sand. (In fact, she finds it hilarious that some slower-minded individuals in the pool industry still subscribe to a sand base and backfill). Renee was quite aware of the differences in pool color finishes, materials, and patio options. And finally, Renee was well cognoscente of what manufacturers have shown financial stability, as well as the ones that have experienced financial disaster due to poor business models and management practices.

Seeing the Big Picture

All this being said, Renee was really the exact type of customer I get excited to work with when it comes to a swimming pool project-informed, able to see the big picture, and concerned enough to do all the necessary leg work(research).

But getting back to my original point, the experience with Renee was perfectly analogous to the great movement that is happening within the swimming pool industry. No longer do consumers simply base their decisions on initial price, what their neighbor has, or what their parents had growing up. Yep, today's swimming pool consumer chooses their own path through diligent research and an understanding of the good, the bad, and the ugly of all their possible choices. And by so doing, they are able to, just as Renee did, make a decision that will bring them joy and happiness for many years to come.

Marcus Sheridan, PoolSchool

Small Inground Fiberglass Pool Design Awards for 2010

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

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

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

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

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

Cost

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

Usage

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

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

Maintenance

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

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

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

Anthony Sylvan Accepts Reality, Does a 180 and Decides to Embrace Fiberglass Pools

 

Anthony Sylvan Accepts Reality, Does a 180 and Decides to Embrace Fiberglass Pools

Ahhhh, isn't it funny how a bad economy forces businesses to be honest with every component of their company? Such was the case recently as Anthony Sylvan Pools, the second largest installer of inground concrete pools in the United States, decided to integrate fiberglass swimming pool construction into their business model. Obviously, I don't fault Sylvan for doing this. In fact, I'm just surprised they were living in denial for these past 10 years. But as I've already mentioned, slower sales will certainly cause a business to accept the reality and trends within the marketplace. In their new fiberglass pool website, Sylvan states:

  "Anthony & Sylvan Pools has built quality in-ground swimming pools and spas throughout the United States for over 60 years. Not only do we offer concrete pools, but many of our markets can also take advantage of beautiful fiberglass pools.

Fiberglass pools are durable, long-lasting and typically are installed much faster than concrete swimming pools. Fiberglass pools come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Anthony & Sylvan Pools builds inground fiberglass pools in the following areas: Virginia Beach, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, Atlanta Georgia and Charlotte North Carolina."

What makes me snicker about Sylvan's sudden appreciation for fiberglass is that for many years they have, or at least their sales people have, talked rather poorly of fiberglass swimming pools. After having gone head to head with an Anthony Sylvan salesperson at least 100 times in the past 9 years, I've heard some hilarious statements, with the top 3 being:

• 1. You don't want fiberglass, it will pop out of the ground! (still my all time favorite)
• 2. You don't really have a pool unless it's concrete.
• 3. Fiberglass pools aren't really pools. (huh????)

So, considering Anthony Sylvan subscribes to this blog(Hi guys!), I have an open question and invitation for them:

Will you now admit that fiberglass pools are the wave of the future for the residential pool industry in the United States(as they already are in Australia)? And what took you so long?? Please feel free to leave your comments below..........

 

As always, happy swimming everyone!!

 

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

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

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