If you are like a lot of other folks, you are torn between purchasing a fiberglass pool or a gunite pool.  You are not quite sure about which type of pool best meets your family’s needs. Frankly, both types of pools have their attributes, but to follow are the primary reasons why so many folks are selecting fiberglass pools.

A. MAINTENANCE COST
This is always the primary consideration from potential pool buyers.  How much time will be necessary to keep the pool swim ready?  An American Fiberglass Pool has a smooth, non-porous surface and better yet, it always stays that way.  Further, it is up to 70% less expensive to maintain proper “water balance”.  This term includes Ph, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and metals content in the pool water.

Concrete pools on the other hand are installed with rough, porous, plaster type surfaces that due to the nature of the materials are susceptible to getting every pool owner’s nightmare, the dreaded BLACK ALGAE!  Also, the concrete and plaster are alkalined based materials.  This causes “alkaline bleed” for at least the first 3-4 years of the pool’s life.  This raises the alkaline and Ph levels in the pool making proper “water balance” difficult at best to maintain.  The solution is the use of lots more chemicals to offset the alkaline bleed problems and of course the expense of the chemicals.  Maintenance cost:  Advantage Fiberglass

B. SURFACE COMFORT
It is a common occurrence for many 2^nd or 3^rd time pool purchasers to switch from concrete pools to fiberglass pools.  This is primarily due to the smooth non-porous gelcoat surface on a fiberglass pool never chewing up the toes and feet of the swimmers.  Think about this.  Very likely you have experienced this “cherry toe” phenomenon since you were a kid and swam in your first concrete pool.  Now if you elect to purchase a concrete pool, you will expose your own kids or grand kids to the very same condition.  Kids play for hours on end in pools so only a fiberglass pool will keep their feet comfortable and not have the kids complaining about your rough pool surface.  Surface comfort:  Advantage Fiberglass

C. SOIL CONDITIONS
American Fiberglass Pools are engineered to have an enormous amount of tensile strength and flexural strength.  Ground conditions are different everywhere you go in the USA.  It does not matter if the soil is rock, black dirt, sand, clay or topsoil.  The American Fiberglass Pool will be able to flex as needed.  By nature concrete pools are not designed or able to flex in the slightest.  This means possible cracks, structural issues, and leaks.  Just look at the condition of many concrete streets, sidewalks, driveways, and home foundations.  All these items are steel reinforced, but they all crack, heave, and settle with relative ease.  Soil conditions: Advantage Fiberglass

D. VISUAL APPEARANCE
Back in the old days, the 60’s & 70’s, fiberglass pools were made in bluegreen, light blue, or white.  The color of the pool was based solely on who the manufacturer was.  Tile on fiberglass pools did not arrive until the late 80’s.  Some people today still think that fiberglass pools look that way.  American Fiberglass Pools come in a variety of beautifully dazzling, high definition colors.  Waterline tile is now a common option selected by pool buyers.  Today’s fiberglass pools are constructed to include various water features and all kinds of exotic looking deck materials.  Truly an American Fiberglass Pool constructed within the last 20 years rivals a concrete pool’s appearance.  Visual appearance:  Advantage Fiberglass

E. DURABILITY
The perception of some folks is that a fiberglass pool won’t last as long as a concrete pool.  The facts are that many other items such as gas, chemical and oil tanks that used to be made of concrete or steel have been replaced with fiberglass. The commercial airline you fly in to see Aunt Mary in Florida is made primarily of fiberglass or composite materials.  American Fiberglass Pools has hundreds of pools that are around 40 years old that are still doing their job for families all over the USA.  On the other hand, show me a 40 year old concrete pool and I will show you a pool that has had the plaster replaced 4-6 times.  That, my friend, is an expensive proposition, likely $4-$5K for each replaster.  Durability:  Advantage Fiberglass

So there you are.  Even though the list could have been much longer, you can get a general feel as to why fiberglass pools have been the fastest growing segment of the pool construction business for 19 years in a row.  Any thoughts you wish to share, please do so.

There are reasons for everything that occurs in life.  We recently completed a survey asking a number of American Fiberglass Pool buyers what their most important reasons were that they decided to use American Fiberglass Pools as their manufacturer of choice.

The top 10 reasons informed buyers purchase an American Fiberglass Pool.

1.         American Fiberglass Pools are beautifully built, have a lifetime warranty (ask your American Fiberglass Pool dealer for a copy), and will provide your family with a lifetime of great fun and memories.

2.         American Fiberglass Pools has had the same location, same ownership, and the same phone number for 41 plus years.

3.         American Fiberglass Pools is the oldest continuously operated fiberglass pool manufacturer in North America, since 1971!

4.         American Fiberglass Pools are built without the use of core or filler materials that weaken the structural integrity of the pool shell.  American Fiberglass Pools uses only 100% pure fiberglass construction and are the strongest fiberglass pool built.

5.         American Fiberglass Pool can be full of water and ready for concrete in 5-6 days (depending on access and weather conditions).

6.         American Fiberglass Pools have incredible financing available in almost every state (on approved credit) with interest rates as low as 5%.

7.         American Fiberglass Pools have a dozen beautiful High Definition colors to select from for your family’s pool surface color!

8.         American Fiberglass Pools has been a member of the BBB since 1979 (33 years) and has an A+ rating.

9.         American Fiberglass Pool can be purchased by using most credit cards.  Can anyone say mileage points?

10.       American Fiberglass Pools are built so strong that they can be removed and reinstalled in your new home.

7 REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT WAIT ANY LONGER TO BUY YOUR INGROUND SWIMMING POOL

                Chances are that if you are reading this you know that you’re likely going to get your family that pool they have always wanted sometime soon.  You have finally decided to make the decision to cool off at home from now on.  With all this being said, many of you are going about this “pool buying decision process” the wrong way.

WHY WE DELAY:   Right now when you look outside you wonder if this heat wave will last forever.   Any why not?  It is 79 degrees here at the American Fiberglass Pool factory today! Because of this, you are delaying and putting off that pool purchasing decision that will before you realize it hit you like a ton of bricks in the future!  If I had a dollar for every time a pool purchasing customer has said to me over the last 41 years, “You mean you can’t start our pool for 6-8 weeks?”, well, let’s just say I would be living on a beach in Hawaii instead of writing you this list!

In my opinion, when February / March gets here and the daily temps are in the 80’s, all of a sudden our brains come out of hibernation and we start to realize “Wow, we need to get our pool plans going right away!”.  What we don’t realize is most pools are sold at that time and the construction backlog can be weeks or even months.  To give you an example, last March our construction division sold 38 pools for families like yours.  In April we sold 51 more.  Also, when you factor in the uncertainty of a wet spring along with the hundreds of pools we supply our dealer network with around the country; things can get backed up significantly.  Needless to say, this situation can be a real bummer for folks that procrastinated talking to the pool guy and for us too since we like to keep things in a nice construction grove year round.

So by now I’m sure that you get my point, but read on as I list the most obvious reasons that you need to purchase a pool NOW versus waiting until spring.

1. YOU LIKELY WILL SPEND MORE MONEY IF YOU WAIT:    To be frank with you, our material vendors tend to raise prices on materials it takes to build a pool right after the first of the year EVERY year.  When demand is high for most materials or items, prices are high as well.  When demand is low, prices are lower.  This is all simple economics!  So, take advantage of the lower prices before the demand increases.

2. YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT LONGER TO SWIM:     Since we have already established that February / March can mean a 6-8 week construction backlog because so many folks delay their purchasing decision until warm weather arrives.  That flood of sales means that instead of your pool guy getting started as soon as the permits are completed, he can’t actually start for 45-60 days.  This, as you can well imagine, cuts into the swim season significantly. 

3. YOUR YARD WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET BACK TO NORMAL:    Any type of construction can get messy, especially if the season is a wet one.  For those pool buyers that get their pool installed now, their yards will look much nicer come next pool season compared to those persons that make a later purchase.

4. LESS STRESS:      I can tell you absolutely that NOW  pool installations are less stressful.  There is plenty of 2012 swim time in front of us!  There is plenty of time NOW for construction to be completed even prior to the end of February.

5. YOU ARE NOT SO RUSHED:    No one wants to be rushed when they are spending thousands of dollars on a swimming pool.  It is good to take your time and to have your wits about you when making a decision.  By shopping for a pool now, you can make a relaxed and informed decision.  You won’t have to make a decision simply on “Who can start my pool the soonest?”

6. THE COST OF VACATIONS KEEP GOING UP:   With oil prices going back up and the cost of gasoline already above that level of making vacations even more expensive than you budgeted for; why not get that pool now so your family can “staycation” at home every single day?  A pool purchase from the right pool guy means forever enjoyment, relaxation, exercise, and backyard BBQ’s!

7. AWESOME FINANCING IS NOW AVAILABLE:  That’s right, if you borrow, let’s say $35,000.00, for as much as 180 months, your payment right now is only about $300 a month.  What’s more, the interest is tax deductible, the rate is “fixed” over the life of the loan and better yet, there is NO prepayment penalty.  We have lots of lenders available that also include unsecured loans.  Very interesting, don’t you think?  If you give me a call I can give you further details.

So, now you have it.  I can only hope that this simple list helps you in your efforts to have an enjoyable pool buying experience now and lots of great swimming and fun in 2012 and beyond!  Lastly, as the old saying goes, “Memories last a lifetime, opportunity seldom does”.  Consider this opportunity and feel free to call anytime.

THE “DON’TS”  OF PURCHASING A NEW POOL

I have been around the pool business now for 43 years.  I have seen many pool companies and pool products come and go.  I can tell you straight up that it amazes me how many times I have heard the folks tell me they have had a bad experience with another member of the pool industry.  Here is my “short” list of “don’ts if you want to receive exactly what you are expecting to get in a new pool purchase.

1. Never buy a pool over the phone: If a pool contractor is too lazy to come to your home to take all factors into consideration that can give you a final purchase price, run away, don’t walk!  Why is this so important?  In my opinion you are setting yourself up for additional costs, change orders, and frustrations.  I can assure you that if the pool guy / gal does not visit your home to do a site review, they will not be fully aware of important things like:

a. How to get the pool excavated.
b. What size equipment to excavate with.
c. Where your utility lines are located (gas, electric, sewer, water, telephone, cable, & sprinkler system). Are any of these lines requiring reroutes?  If so, how much more money will they cost to do so?
d. Where are trees and bushes located in the yard that may be in the access or pool area?  What trees and bushes do you intend to keep?  What is the additional cost to get them removed or the stumps dug up and hauled away.

2. Never give a deposit, no matter how small, using a credit card over the phone.  I hear all the time, especially in Houston, Texas area, that folks give these types of deposits and for whatever reason change their mind and never receive their deposits back.  Bottom line, it is impossible for a pool builder to give you an exact price on constructing a pool unless he / she looks at the site.

3. Never sign a contract at a business location, always sign in your home.  Why?  According to the way I have been informed about this subject, your 3 day right of rescission is waived automatically unless the paperwork is performed in your home.  You likely will have to forgo receiving any deposits back if the contractor is unscrupulous.

4. Never buy a pool from a contractor that is substantially lower in price from all the other bids you have.  Never buy a pool from a contractor that tells you they have “figured out how to provide a quality product at the lowest price”.   My experience in the industry tells me that 95% of pool builders are paying the same price for most of the items necessary to construct pools on an “apples to apples” basis.  The companies that don’t know how to create budgets, analysis cost, supervise their workers, etc., may be able to offer a better price for a year or two, then most likely they will be gone forever, just like your warranties.

5. Never buy a pool from a contractor that will not disclose to you where he has been in business previously, under what name(s), and the circumstances of them now being in your area. It is unfortunately that there have been numerous pool contractors relocate during the last few years.  It is further unfortunate that Texas has been the final destination for most of them.  Why?  Since Texas does not require pool contractors to be licensed or bondable, it is just too easy to begin new pool businesses here.  If you have all the facts in hand about the past business dealings of a transplanted pool contractor, you should be able to research whether they were previously good or bad builders and how they are addressing warranty claims for previous clients in other states if they filed bankruptcy before or after arriving in Texas, etc.

6. Never buy a pool from a contractor that cannot or will not provide you with a Certificate of Insurance, this applies to both General Liability and Worker’s Compensation.

7. Never buy a pool from a contractor that you don’t feel comfortable with one that acts like a used car salesman, that you catch in obvious untruths, wants you to sign today or the special price goes away, or does not present all warranties on the products used to build your pool.  Always take the time to read, understand, and ask questions about the contract, warranties, and agreed conditions.  Do not accept the old adage that “Nobody reads this stuff” of “it’s all boiler plate items you have read before”.  My experience is most contractors, including pool builders, home builders, and home improvements, will provide you only what the contract says what they have to.  You want to understand the where, when and how of every situation that may occur.

8. Never buy a pool from a sales person that is too flashy or too homey.  You should expect professionalism from the very start to the end of the construction process.  It literally starts with them respecting your valuable time and showing up on time for that very first visit.

THE “DO’S” OF PURCHASING A NEW POOL

No one, including most pool contractors wants customer issues.  While no one, customer or contractor is perfect; there are a number of common interest items to follow that should make your pool purchasing experience a pleasant one.

1. DO your research first!  There are several types of pool construction methods out there you can take into consideration.  There are gunite (concrete), fiberglass, and vinyl pools.  Each type of pool has advantages; each type of pool has disadvantages.  Study to find out which type(s) of pool best meets your family’s needs.  Then find out what pool companies you want to select to visit and discuss things with you.

2. DO your research on the pool companies you decide to visit with.  Are they members of the BBB?  If so, how long have they been a member?  While it is true that BBB membership is voluntary, it is also true that some companies have their membership request denied.  It is also true that occasionally a pool company does not elect to be a BBB member for whatever reasons.  This is not a common stance.   There are also many public records available to the most diligent of us that can reflect bankruptcies of manufacturers, builders, and individuals.  Not to make all this a negative sounding process, but it is your money and no one is going to be responsible for the ultimate decision other than you!

3. DO have the pool company send a representative to your home to provide an exact price.  As discussed in a previous installment, there is NO way to get an exact or final price unless the site review provides the contractor with all the necessary information about the site itself and your help in providing exactly what your family wants and expects a new pool to provide.

4. DO make sure that you have your list of questions ready when the pool contractor arrives.  No question is off limits, seemingly ridiculous, etc.  Once again, you need all the right questions to receive all the right answers that make you comfortable in selecting the right pool and contractor to meet your family’s needs.

5. DO take the time to fully understand what you are purchasing; exactly what the warranties are, etc.  You should request a complete copy of all warranty documents on the entire pool package.  You should understand all the documents you are required to sign.  Lastly, the signing should take place only in your home, not at a place of business.

6. DO request that if you move forward, a certificate of general liability insurance and workman’s compensation insurance certificate.  The only way for you to be 100% sure the policy exists is to receive these certificates naming yourself as additionally insured.  In some states, including Texas, the sub-contractors being utilized, even if insured, do not fully protect you if the general contractor is not insured.  While the chances of having an issue where insurance is going to have to step in to resolve something is remote, you may want to be 110% prepared if it becomes necessary.

7. DO expect to receive a range or pricing.  It is a bad idea to have the lowest price you receive be the only considered proposal.  Frankly, rarely are things 100% the same between contractors.  Although most of the time they are 90% the same.  Some examples of differences are type of equipment specified, construction techniques utilized, product manufacturing methods, types of personnel utilized to perform the job, and whether or not a contractor had general liability and worker’s compensation insurance cost calculated in the cost of the project.

8. DO buy a pool for the fun, relaxation, and health only a pool can provide.  Just use a little common sense in the process