The light weight structure made of composite (fiberglass) is one of the primary reasons that the 787 is 20% more fuel efficient than previous counterparts.  It is now possible to easily fly non-stop from New York to Hawaii or to Johannesburg or to Hong Kong in what is considered to be a mid-sized airplane.  No longer are those routes exclusive for the “jumbo” jets.

The composite (fiberglass) construction of the 787 allows the cabin to be pressurized at an altitude 25% lower than most other aircraft.  What does this mean?  Your body will absorb almost 10% more oxygen into the blood quicker so passengers experience fewer headaches, less dizziness and fatigue.  In Aluminum airplanes, pressurizing the aircraft at the same altitude would be weight prohibitive and cause structural fatigue concerns.  The composite (fiberglass) fuselage on the 787 will allow cabin pressurization at the lower altitude with almost no weight impact.

Did you know that the windows on a 787 are 30% larger than a similar size plane?  Ever sit in the aisle seat and wish you could see outside?  Now you can!  Why is this possible?  Like so many innovations, this is possible due to the strength and durability of the composite (fiberglass) fuselage.

So why are we talking so much about planes on this blog?  Only because fiberglass pools

have made a huge positive impact on the pool industry over 50 years ago like the Dreamliner has to aviation today.  I can’t wait to fly in one.  Come to think of it, I can’t wait to start splashing around in an American Fiberglass Pool in another 3-5 weeks too!

The latest addition to the American Fiberglass Pool family of sizes and shapes is the Pecos II.  This brand new American Fiberglass Pool is one of a kind and is available only thru American Fiberglass Pools.

The Pecos II is the largest kidney shaped fiberglass pool available in the USA.  The dimensions are 17’ wide and 34’ long.  All dimensions are maximum inside width and length.  The depth is 3 ½’ to 5 ½’.  There is plenty of seating area in the Pecos II.  The benches will seat up to ten people with room to spare.  With long sweeping curves of the kidney shape, the Pecos II lends to relaxation to the max.  The Pecos II does not lose valuable swimming space like all the other free form models offered by other fiberglass pool manufacturers and is not sold using deceiving “outside dimensions” like most other manufacturers.  You can be assured that this beautiful new American Fiberglass Pool model is constructed of 100% pure fiberglass and chemical resistant resins.  Absolutely NO core or filler materials that weaken the structural matrix will ever be installed in a beautiful, affordable, VERY LOW maintenance American Fiberglass Pool.

So if you truly wish to swim in style and comfort with the most swimming area available in a kidney shaped fiberglass pool, call us today at 800-324-7665 for the name of the American Fiberglass Pool installing dealer near you.

Pecos II

How about telling us what you think about the Pecos II.  We would love to hear your thoughts so give us a reply.

So exactly what is a “baby boomer” pool buyer?   Here is my definition:  A significant part of the population, but to be on point, they have been around long enough to acquire a reserve of wealth that younger people have not been able to save up to yet.  Statistically they control over 80% of the personal financial assets and have over 50% of the discretionary spending power.  They are the baby boom of nearly 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 and have molded the world as we know it today.  OK, I know my definition is a little long, but please bear with me another minute or so…

Many baby boomers grew up with a swimming pool in their parents, friends, or relative’s home.  I remember very well all the fun and excitement spent in those backyard swimmin’ holes of my youth.  As we got into our 30’s and were raising our own family, the real pool buying explosion began.  Many of us have owned and enjoyed several pools during our lifetime.  The trend I have seen is that first time pool buyers typically purchased pools with lots of bells and whistles.  This usually culminated in a full blown “pool monument” on the 2^nd or 3^rd pool purchase.  Spas, slides, waterfalls, fiber optic lights, fancy decking, etc. was the order of the day.  What has changed between now and then?

Well, first of all, the kids are all grown and gone.  There is no longer a need for a large, elaborate pool to keep them home and occupied.  No more need for slides, diving boards, and all that other stuff.    Life is more simple now so a smaller pool without the huge amenity package is much more desirable.  Here’s why:

1. You likely have downsized the house and the yard.  A smaller pool will fit perfectly in most tiny backyards.

2. You want less maintenance to deal with. Just like a smaller house and yard means less maintenance, so does a smaller pool.  An American Fiberglass Pool will offer you the least amount of work / maintenance that any inground pool can provide.

3. You don’t have a lot of swimmers to accommodate.  The kids are grown up and the grandkids only come over occasionally.  It’s just the two of you 90% of the time.

4. You really are not into swimming laps anymore.  Today’s pool recreation is cooling off, BBQ-ing, social events, water aerobics, exercise, and something to take away the aches and pains.

5. You want to make a smaller investment on your pool this time around.

So by now I would like to believe that we are on the same page on this subject.  Who needs to build a monument anymore?  You have been there and done that, maybe more than once.   All you need now is a simple pool that is easy to take care of and looks nice.  The most common pools that we construct for baby boomers are the Nueces (10’ X 20’), the San Marcos (10’X20’), and the Trinity (11’ X 27’).  Some pictures of these pictures are below.  These pool models typically install quickly (2-3 weeks), sell for the right price, and provide all the exercise / entertainment value necessary.

Do you sound like you are a baby boomer?  Even if you are not, we would be pleased to hear your response.

Nueces

San Marcos

Trinity

1. AUTOMATIC SUCTION CLEANERS

This type of cleaner is operational by typically connecting to your skimmer or in some cases a dedicated suction line on the side of the pool.  They basically act like a movable main drain.  These cleaners agitate themself as it moves around the pool.  The debris it picks up goes directly into the pool filter so it can actually remove much smaller particles than a pool cleaner with a bag on top of it.  In almost every case there is no plumbing to alter to utilize the units and it does not require the addition of a booster pump.  The cleaner will accordingly be less expensive to install and will not need electricity to operate other than your dedicated pool pump already in place.  The primary drawback is that pools with larger debris, especially leaves, pine needles, and twigs need not apply.  It becomes a real pain when the larger debris fills up your pump basket and clogs up.  In these cases, a leaf trap can be installed in the cleaner hose, unfortunately these also tend to clog up so the unit stops working and your pool will lack circulation.  This type of cleaner also requires that your filter be clean.  If not, the cleaner’s ability to operate will suffer dramatically since your pump will not have sufficient suction to drive the cleaner.

Rating: GOOD  Cost: $500 – $1200

2. PRESSURE SIDE CLEANERS

These types of cleaners are driven by the water returning to the pool from your pool equipment system.  The pool pump can be used as the driver, but most commonly a booster pump works better.  These cleaners are designed for the driving pump to force debris up into a bag that will contain the debris until it is emptied.  A pressure side cleaner does not suck things into your pump basket or filter.  This means less cleaning / backwashing etc.  This type of cleaner does a much better job if your pool is in an area where trees and heavy debris are located.  As mentioned earlier, the bags do not do well with smaller particles like sand and silt.  This type of unit is not particularly good on scrubbing the walls.  Lastly, they tend to occasionally get caught on in pool ladders and corners.

Rating: BETTER   Cost: $1800 – $2500

3. ROBOTIC POOL CLEANERS

These units are driven by internal motors.  They run electrically.   This is generated from a transformer that just plugs into a wall outlet.  The electricity is converted to either 6 volt or 12 volts by the transformer that is provided with the unit.  The down side is that the long cord between the unit and the transformer will drape over the pool deck and into the pool.  The debris vacuumed into the cleaner goes directly into self-contained filters within the unit.   The computer within the unit “memorizes” the shape of your pool within hours so it rarely covers the previously cleaned areas twice.  The top of the line units even possess a remote control that will allow you send the cleaner directly to a spot it may have missed.  Robotic cleaners are the absolute best when small debris, sand, or silt are in the pool.  They are also the only unit that brushes / scrubs the pool walls and floors as it operates.  They can even scrub the tile line!  If you use a robotic cleaner for 2 hours a day, it is not uncommon for most pools to be able to reduce the pool pump and filter operation for the same amount of time.  These robotic units are VERY powerful and in my opinion are worth every penny they typically cost.

Rating: BEST   Cost: $1000 – $2500

A cleaner yet to be mentioned is the “in floor” type.  My own opinion is that while they may work well in some cases, the expense of the installation ($5000-$10,000) is not as rewarding as one should expect for the cost.  So lastly, here are some tips to remember when using any type of auto pool cleaner.

A.         ALWAYS remove the entire unit including cords and hoses from the pool when you are ready to swim.

B.         ALWAYS store the unit in an area out of direct sun light.

C.         ALWAYS purchase a unit that has an “ON SITE” warranty plan.  Just so you know, the

deals you find online almost all require that you ship the unit somewhere in outer

Mongolia for warranty work and it takes months to get them back in many cases.

So there you have it, my professional opinion on pool cleaners.  I don’t believe that most

American Fiberglass Pool buyers need one.  Have you had a different experience with pool

cleaners?  Is your opinion different from mine?  Take a moment and send me a reply!

Fiberglass first became a viable alternative to protected steel, stainless steel, and exotic materials in 1950.  That year centrifugal cast fiberglass piping was first used in the crude oil production industry as a solution to corrosion problems.  Later on, in the mid 1950’s, developments in manufacturing with fiberglass products resulted in the application of fiberglass tanks and piping in the chemical industry.  By the mid 1960’s fiberglass was accepted for the storage and handling of underground flammable and combustible liquids and industrial municipal water and sewage as well as pulp and paper processing applications.  As of today, standards have been developed for many military applications such as helicopter rotor blades, commercial aviation for use on jet liners, and bullet proof jackets, etc.

Let us go back to resistance to aggressive environments.  Resistance to corrosion in aggressive environments is one of the primary reasons for specifying fiberglass tanks or pipes.  Corrosion does not affect fiberglass.  This includes galvanic, aerobic, pitting, and inter-granular corrosions that all harm metals but not fiberglass.  This is why all old steel gasoline tanks around the country have been replaced by fiberglass tanks.  As well all new gasoline tanks are made out of fiberglass.  Although fiberglass resists a wide spectrum and range of chemicals and temperatures, like anything else, it does require the right design, fabrication, and installation to match the appropriate application.  The use of the proper resin/glass matrix will minimize chemical attacks.  This is why American Pools are built today totally with 100% fiberglass and resin construction without the use of fillers and cores that may upset the resin/fiberglass matrix.

It sounds enticing to many folks to think about the thought of traveling in complete freedom and in home-like comfort.  But if you do your homework before spending your vacation in an RV, you might want to strongly consider the disadvantages of RV travel and ownership.

1. The price of gas and fuel is increasing every day.  You really have to consider the cost of fuel for a trip while traveling from point A to point B.  Many large RVs burn a lot of fuel and even the smaller ones may require prohibitively large amounts of fuel.

2. While you may have complete freedom when deciding which one of the more than 15,000 places to camp around the USA, you may be severely cramped by the lack of privacy.  Especially during what is generally considered to be “vacation season”.  At that time there are large numbers of families heading out into the countryside in their RVs.  Camping grounds, however big, can easily become cramped and even worse, noisy.

3. There are many unexpected emergencies that you may have to deal with. Such as RV malfunctioning, not finding any “ideal” spots to camp like you had imagined, and finally spending MORE MONEY than you had planned to.

4. Even though you are on vacation, you may still find yourself cooking and cleaning.  (sounds like fun, huh?)

5. Once your RV trip is complete, you may have to go back to that rental space to park it until you can afford to go on that next trip.  Or you could leave it in the driveway at home, have a cramped area for your cars, and likely face some resistance from the neighbors.  My research says that just parking them out in the open can deteriorate the paint and weather sealing joints, so covered parking is preferable.

6. I could go on, but I will leave you the short version that should include cleaning the entire RV (inside and outside) upon your return from vacation, the cost of insurance (whether you are traveling or not), the cost of extended maintenance, and the cost of parking the unit in a covered and secure place.  Plus, some units will require upgraded driver’s licenses and if so, how many qualified drivers will you be taking on your trips?  One driver for 8-10 hour stretches of interstate, not sounding fun to me.  Lastly, RVs can be very expensive to purchase and since rarely can you purchase one with more than 60 month terms.  That leads to quite a payment each month to scrape up on time.

In closing, I’m not saying that you can’t have fun and enjoy an RV trip every now and then.  I am of the opinion that I will enjoy a whole bunch more sitting around my American Fiberglass Pool everyday grilling, sunning, swimming, reading a good book, or listening to music, and having an occasional cold one without worrying about when I will see the next state trooper.  Anyone out there that agrees with me about loving their pool ownership?  Let us hear from you!

1.         NATURAL STONE – This type of waterfall is priced by the “ton” which is the weight of the rocks being used for construction.  Probably the most common type of waterfall installed.  Usually the stone selected is a moss rock variety.  Moss rock is available in many color variations.  Typically you will find a lot of different sized and shaped stones to add to the natural appearance.  Most residential pool owners select 2-3 ton waterfalls.

2.         WATER SHEERS – Water sheers are available in many lengths ranging from 1’ – 4’ long.  they can be utilized by installing just above the waterline or by constructing a raised wall adjacent to the pool.  Often times pool buyers select to have multiple water sheers installed.  If a raised wall for the water sheers is constructed, the façade of the wall can be tiled, stoned, or covered with an overlay material that can also be installed on the pool deck.

3.         WATER WALLS OR WEEPING WALLS – These types of water features require the construction of a raised wall adjacent to the pool.  The idea is to have just a trickle of water rather than sheets of water or water falling over multiple levels of rock.  These are a nice addition to any pool, but out of all options, the least dramatic.

4.         MISTERS – They may be called by several names but all work for the purpose of spraying a mist of water over the pool surface.  As that mist falls back into the pool, the air cools the temperature of the water.  This is a rather nice effect when the 90-100 degree temperatures arrive.  The mister heads are located on the pool walls just above the water level in the pool.

5.         DECK JETS OR WATER ARCHS – These are pretty dramatic looking feature in any size pool.  The jets are adjustable and with the addition of LED or fiber optic lights, the WOW factor is very high!  These can be pricy but if you’re into adding a drop dead drama effect to your night time pool look, this is it.

Now a few tips for water feature construction.

a. Make sure the pool deck is capable of supporting the water feature weight.  This may require additional steel reinforcement of the deck and a thicker concrete pour at the water feature location.

b. Always pressure test the piping to the water feature prior to pouring concrete.  It can be quite a chore finding and repairing a leak if it entails having to remove concrete to do so.

c. Determine early in the pool design process exactly what you expect from a water feature.  Do you want lots of noise, a more serene sound, or is a trickle just right for your relaxation level?

Let me know which one is right for you.  We will be happy to send you lots of pics of each of these water features.

Swimming pools are the most popular home improvement homeowners can make.  Just ask the kids if they want you to purchase a pool.  Don’t have any kids at home, just think about the exercise the water aerobics or the alone time in the pool with your significant other.  An American Fiberglass Pool in your backyard can be an awesome way to give your family a vacation all year long and a great way to make your home the favorite destination of your kids and their friends.

If these things above sound good to you, you should contact American Fiberglass Pools to locate the nearest independent installing American Fiberglass Pool dealer near you.  That dealer can provide a no obligation site review, help you find the perfect spot for your new pool, work up an exact price, and give you a realistic time frame for the pool installation subject to allowable weather.

Once your purchase is made, think about all those things you don’t have to do as opposed to a vacation journey.

1. NO packing

2. NO gassing up the car

3. NO routes to calculate

4. NO potty stops

5. NO arguments over the choice of radio stations

6. NO mustard on the car seats

7. NO pets to walk every couple of hours

8. NONE of the items 1-7 on your return trip!

American Fiberglass Pools offer the lowest maintenance available on pools in today’s market.  They install quickly and offer your family a lifetime of fun and togetherness.

Chances are that you already know each of these investments can cost about the same. If you expect me to say that owning a boat is not enjoyable, think again. I have owned several and my family had a blast almost every time we were able to drag the boat to the ramp! So here are my thoughts and feel free to share yours!

COST OF BOAT OWNERSHIP

1. FUEL. Yes, that boat and the truck you tow it to water in both consume a lot of that expensive, nasty, fossil fuel. Can anyone tell me why fuel at a dock is always at least 25% higher than the gas station just down the street? Every boat owner knows that spending $100-$200 a day for fuel is more the norm than actually catching a mess of fish. Sometimes those fish get mighty pricey when it’s a slow day with the fishing pole. Use your boat a lot? Expect to spend $2000 in fuel and additives a season.

2. STORAGE FEES & LAUNCH FEES, ETC.
If you are not so fortunate to be able to have that extra garage space, you are likely storing your boat somewhere. If you are a saltwater boater, you likely prefer dry storage. These fees go on all year, even while you can’t use the boat due to weather conditions. Storage fees will typically average around $3000 a year for 20’ – 30’ boats.

3. INSURANCE COST
Everything in life that moves people or freight has to have insurance. Even if you “bundle” all your possessions and use the Gecko, the Caveman, or the squealing pig for your insurance, expect to pay at least $1250 a year on your boat and trailer insurance.

4. MAINTENANCE COST
This is an expensive but necessary evil. Who wants to be 15 miles offshore and have to pay a towing fee since your motor quit? Batteries need to be properly charged, motors require tune ups every 90 hours. Hulls need to be washed and polished for protection. Gas tanks need to be drained and cleaned. Shall I go on? One tank of bad fuel and POW! right in the kisser; a quick grand disappears before your very eyes! Is it easy to put a real cost to all this stuff? Not at all. I believe most boat owners will tell you they spend at least $2500 a year on maintenance and related items.

5. OTHER ITEMS TO KEEP IN MIND
Even though they are not hard $$$ costs, there are other things that will affect your boat owning experience.
A. WEATHER – Not too many of us like long, rough boat rides that can cause you to want to go straight to the chiropractor after hitting the dock.
B. SEASONAL – Recreational boaters don’t like boating 5-6 months out of the year.
All those payments and other costs keep on rolling in in spite of weather conditions.

6. WARRANTY
Boats usually have a one year warranty. That’s not much considering the amount they cost. American Fiberglass Pools have a Lifetime Limited Warranty; that sounds exceptional compared to one year!

COST OF AMERICAN FIBERGLASS POOL OWNERSHIP

1. CHEMICALS
If you elect, like most folks, to get a saltwater chlorination system installed on your American Fiberglass Pool, you will spend very little money except on a few inexpensive water balance chemicals every 6-8 weeks. Most of our American Fiberglass Pool customers tell us they spend under $300 a year on pool chemicals.

2. ELECTRICITY
All American Fiberglass Pools are installed with auto time clocks that allow you to operate the pool filtration system as little as six hours a day. Put a robotic pool cleaner in the pool and that becomes as little as four hours per day. Again, our customers report spending around $250 a year on electricity to operate the pool.

CONCLUSIONS
American Fiberglass Pools in most areas of the country are swimmable for up to 8 months of every year. If you install a spa along with your American Fiberglass Pool, you can us it every day of the year! Using your pool or spa does not mean having to get dressed, pack a lunch, or top off the tank like a boat does.

OK, so let’s sum all this up.
To keep a boat ready to hit the water at any time it will cost most boat owners at least $8,750 a year.
An American Fiberglass Pool kept swim ready for those BBQ’s and parties, or for a midnight dip, according to a survey of our owners, cost around $550 a year.
                                             5 years          10 years           20 years
Boat ownership cost:         $43,750          $87,500           $175,000

Pool ownership cost:          $2,750            $5,500              $11,000

Sure things like pumps, filters, salt cells, etc. have to be replaced on pools every 10 years or so, but you sure won’t get 10 years of use on a boat motor that runs in saltwater. Buying a new boat motor for $14,000 will sure pay for at least 8-9 completely new pool equipment change outs.

1. THINK LONG TERM

When you purchased your home, you likely financed your purchase with a long term mortgage.  Your new American Fiberglass Pool can be financed the same way.  Most lenders classify a new pool as a permanent improvement to your property that is very likely to increase the property value.  In most cases, they are willing to finance your pool for up to 15 years.  Because you can finance your American Fiberglass Pool over a longer period than a car, your monthly payments are lower.  This means you might want to get a bigger pool or add more options.

2. TAX ADVANTAGES

Home improvement loans are secured by your property.  In most cases the interest will be tax deductible.  Who among us can’t use a few more deductions?  It is always best to consult with your accountant or tax advisor if you wish to confirm the deductions.

3. AMERICAN FIBERGLASS POOLS WILL HELP YOU FIND THE RIGHT LENDER

a. We have many lending sources.  All are very familiar with pools.  Each of these lenders work on providing quick approvals and offer programs that work best for most families like yours.

b. Most of our lenders do not require appraisals.  These take time and can cost usually around $500.  Most of our lenders will determine your property value by the purchase price or a recent tax assessment.

c. Home improvement loans typically require you to have 10-20% equity in the property.  On occasion a down payment will off-set any equity short comings.  This type of lending does not require pre-payment penalties.  Some lenders will “add back” up to 50% of the cost of the pool to increase your equity.

d. Unsecured loans:  There are lenders that will provide these types of loans as well.  Of course, without the security of your property, the loan is strictly credit driven.  You must have excellent credit and expect to pay a little higher interest rate than a secured loan.  Our unsecured lenders do not charge a pre-payment penalty.

CLOSING

While every pool buyer’s situation is unique, every pool installation is also unique.  At times some folks want short term loans, some want longer term loans with lower monthly payments.  Some pool buyers want to finance only the pool while others want to also include fencing and landscaping.  American Fiberglass Pools has lenders that are flexible enough to meet 90% of our clients that apply and have lenders in all 50 states.  We are happy to share our various programs with you.  Call us at 800-324-7665 or send us a reply us here for additional information.