Surprises during construction are never good. No pool contractor wants to bid out and start a job, only to start digging and realize there are soil issues that will increase costs or impact the project’s schedule. The risky business of soil “You want to make sure you’re putting the pool structure into competent soil,” says…
For pool builders who deliver presentations to customers, virtual reality is, in a word, awesome. The technology fully immerses users in a digital environment that’s so lifelike they feel that they’re actually wandering through a backyard that doesn’t yet exist. The technology, however, is clunky and complicated, and it requires goggles, headgear and other expensive…
Rebar, or reinforced steel poles, are a vital structural element of a pool. They are used to support the concrete, which would move and break if set against soil alone. Pool construction crews must place each steel bar and drop of concrete with precision to avoid future structural problems. The tendency is to lay rebar…
When Scott Cohen began using drones for aerial photography in 2013, he was not aware of another pool builder using the technique in the entire United States. Three years later, drones have taken flight across the industry. The days of standing on barbecue grills and climbing on rooftops to get overhead pictures may be coming…
By Christina Blakeslee-Sexton, Zodiac Pool Systems Lights add drama and sizzle to any pool or spa. Most pool professionals are familiar with traditional niched incandescent lights that for swimmers can mimic the sensation of moving head-on toward a locomotive. Fortunately, advances in pool lighting technology mean pool builders can leave those eye- and energy-burning incandescent…
Have you ever made a big-dollar purchase and found yourself frustrated at the service provider’s or contractor’s lack of communication? Communication is a fundamental component toward customer satisfaction, more referrals and goodwill. Three industry veterans offer what works well for them — and what messaging paths to avoid — in the world of instantaneous communication….
My dad was a business owner. I clearly recall his reaction when the local police would call him at home to say his business was broken into, and equipment or inventory (or both) had been stolen. It’s more than a miserable feeling; it can halt your ability to make a living. Ryan Shepherd, who manages…
Zodiac Pool Systems claims its iAquaLink controller system is the most intuitive, easiest to use pool controller on the market. “iAquaLink 2.0 took a major step forward in terms of ease of installation and connecting to the home owners Wi-Fi network,” says Dave Goldman, Zodiac’s director of product development. “We’ve also been working with several…
Membrane Concepts in Massachusetts is one of a handful of companies in the nation that installs custom 60 mil PVC in-ground pool liners. Owner and general manager Ron Melbourne has three employees who travel all over the nation together installing pool liners. All of them say they couldn’t be happier in their jobs and having…
It comes as no shock to pool builders that the popularity of tile finishes is on the rise nor that clients are increasingly asking for glass and translucent glass tile, which brings its own set of challenges. In early 2014, Brian van Bower, president of Aquatic Consultants, Inc., and a co-founder of Genesis 3 told…
For decades, the only way for most people to light their pools at night has been to use one or two large, bright niche lights. They are usually placed under the diving board or in a spot that won’t shine back at the house. And while improvements have been made on that light, a new…