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River Pools & Spas Blog
The most educational swimming pool blog in the country, providing fiberglass pool articles and videos, as well as information on inground concrete and liner pools.
Options and Accessories | Pool Maintenance | Swimming Pool Accessories
How many brands can there possibly be in the pool equipment industry? A lot, as it happens. Fortunately, you have us on your side. Pentair and Jandy are two big names you'll see when you're researching pumps and filters for your inground pool. It can be tough to see the differences in their products, especially if you're new to the pool scene. Worry not! Welcome to our guide comparing Pentair's and Jandy's similar cartridge pool filters.
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Options and Accessories | Pool Maintenance | Swimming Pool Accessories
Story time! Once upon a time, in Warsaw, VA, I was researching all the different types of pool filters. I started with cartridge filters, and they made sense. When the spec sheet said, "Effective filtration area," it meant it. The filter took care of however many square feet of surface area the pool had. It filtered that area. Got it. The D.E. and sand filter spec sheets ruined my day. When the "effective filtration area" was 6 square feet, the filter processed 57,000 gallons of water in 8 hours. Obviously it's not for the world's cleanest bathtub, so what gives? What is the filtration area supposed to mean? Not to worry, my friends. I enjoy research, and I'm here to help.
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Don't blindly wonder if a fiberglass, concrete, or vinyl liner pool is right for you. Our educational ebook does a deep-dive comparison of the 3 types, all while noting the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Cost and Pricing | Finding A Pool Contractor | Patio and Coping | Pool Design Guides | Swimming Pool Accessories | Swimming Pool Design
Most people shopping for a pool think that they know just what they want. For example, 90% of the people who want a diving board think they need it. But after education on the pros and cons of a diving board, only 10% of those people will still get a diving board. You're spending a lot of money on this swimming pool investment. You expect that the person that you invite into your home will be an informed professional and have your best interest at heart. In reality the person who shows up will probably be a salesperson trying to earn a commission that will feed his family or lifestyle. That's what is in his/her best interest, not yours. All too often, the homeowner says, "I want a pool this size and a deck this big," and the salesperson quotes them on what they ask for. It's far easier to sell a pool when the homeowner knows what they want, so why rock the boat? That's the mentality of most salespeople today. The problem: in most cases, what the homeowner thinks they want, and what they really want, are two different things.
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Options and Accessories | Swimming Pool Accessories
The following is a guest post from Diane Pierce at Authentic Plaster & Tile.
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Fiberglass Pool Information | Swimming Pool FAQs
Fiberglass pools are becoming more and more popular...but they're still a relatively new addition to the pool scene, compared to vinyl liner and concrete pools. What do you actually know about them? If the answer is "not much," fret not. This is a judgment-free zone, and we've got you covered. We've collected the fiberglass pool FAQs, and succinct answers for all of them. Plus links if you're interested in more in-depth info. Let's dive in! (Get the pun?)
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Pool Closing/Winterization | Pool Maintenance
As summer draws to an end, we have to bid goodbye to our loyal friend, the pool. You can opt to close your pool yourself or hire a professional. They're both valid options. If you choose to DIY, though, be careful! Many pools across the country get damaged because they were improperly closed and winterized. River Pools specializes in manufacturing and installing fiberglass pools, and we educate on all three pool types through our blog articles and videos. We know pools. And we're here to help you take the best possible care of the backyard oasis you've worked so hard on.
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Fiberglass Pool Information | Pool Manufacturing Process
"Gelcoat" is a funky word to describe the surface of a fiberglass pool. Personally, it makes me think of the expensive nail polish option in a salon. Plus, "gel" sounds like it'll be soft and squishy—not the ideal texture for a pool. So what gives? What is a gelcoat, really? Here at River Pools, we specialize in fiberglass pools. Between manufacturing and installing them, we know them inside and out (literally). We want to share our knowledge so that you can be fully informed when you make that big pool decision for you and your family. Let's start at the beginning: the gelcoat surface. What you should know about fiberglass pool gelcoats: What they are How they're applied How they're tested How they compare to a plaster finish How they compare to a vinyl liner What makes River Pools different
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When I'm doing the dishes, I love the dishwasher-safe ones. I just pop 'em in the dishwasher, run the wash cycle, and move along until they're clean. So easy! Hand-wash-only dishes feel ridiculously high-maintenance in comparison. As I scrub them, I hate them. Sorry, Abraham Lincoln mug. Cleaning dishes is nothing compared to cleaning a pool. How can you make sure your pool is "dishwasher safe"—as low maintenance as it can possibly be? The TYPE of pool you have can make or break your maintenance satisfaction. The interior finish, durability, and more can significantly increase or decrease your to-do list (and your costs).
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Fiberglass Pool Information | Pool Maintenance
In my house, we take turns doing chores, but I’m exclusively in charge of laundry. My favorite (?) part is collecting all the stained clothes so I can apply stain remover and then scrub them like an old-timey washerwoman. It feels as if I should later buy hardened brown sugar in paper bags tied with twine like I live in a Laura Ingalls Wilder book. But that’s just washing clothes. How do you feel about being an old-timey washer for your inground fiberglass pool stains?
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Retaining Walls, Fence, and Landscaping | Swimming Pool Design
Few yards are perfectly flat. (Well, maybe in Ohio, which is so flat I can see Cincinnati from Toledo. But in normal places, no.) Some yards have only a teeny-tiny grade (2 ft. or less), so pool builders can grade the dirt off the patio to compensate for the difference. However, not every situation is so simple. When you have a big slope, you need a big solution. How will you keep the water from running onto the pool deck? How will you keep the pool in place? Enter retaining walls, stage left.
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