We are pretty direct with your customers when we say swimming pools are a significant investment – not only in terms of money, but in terms of time. It’s certainly a worthwhile one as you’re creating a space that will bring you and your family enjoyment and better overall health. 

However because of that – you should have something that’s uniquely yours. That reflects your wants and needs. That can fit into your lifestyle and schedule – a pool that will be more of a boon than a burden. And for that reason, many homeowners are going the custom route when it comes to designing their swimming pool. 

Could you purchase a model and install it and enjoy it? Sure! But if you’re going to spend the time and the money – why not get what you really want? Today, we’re going to discuss some of the reasons you should consider a custom pool. Let’s jump right in!

Something just for you

Premade pools are a dime a dozen and not every pre-built solution is a good one for every situation. Yes – when you go the custom route – you’ll be able to choose things like the accessories, features, lights and all the good stuff. But more importantly you’ll be able to maximize everything else around it. Instead of blowing your yard to bits and overwhelming the space you have – you’ll have something that helps maintain the area around the pool and give you a solution that fits neatly into its parameters. 

No need to worry about permitting

Custom pool builders will help you cover all the legalities of installing your pool – from permits and licenses and the like. This in and of itself is a huge relief for families as working through the red tape and paperwork can be a major headache for families. They’ll also be well-versed in your area’s regulations and standards and you can rest assured knowing your pool will be up to code and meet all the extremely important safety standards it needs to. 

It’s more cost effective

I know this sounds a little preposterous on its face, but it’s true! While you may incur more up-front costs in terms of design and installation – it’s actually going to end up saving you a ton of money down the road. From lighting, to heating and maintenance costs- there’s a lot more expense to a pool than the up-front – and a custom pool done right can save you significant money on all these issues in the future. 

If you’re considering a custom-made swimming pool for your home, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to help you wade through the process. Until then, good luck!

Purchasing and installing a swimming pool is a great idea; but as people who do this every day, we see lots of people who sometimes make some severe mistakes – or are considering owning a pool for the wrong reasons. And obviously as a business, while everyone wants to make money – swimming pools are a significant investment – not just in terms of money – but of your time as well!

Today, we’re going to share some of those mistakes and misguided thoughts in hopes that it helps you make a better, more informed decision when you’re ready to purchase a pool. Let’s jump right in! 

Poor design

Design means a lot when it comes to installing a pool. Everyone loves something that’s different and ‘something different’ is somewhat of a specialty of ours; but having a clear understanding of the materials you like, size, scope and even how much shade you want is important. Not only does it have to be something aesthetically pleasing – it also needs to be functional and sustainable. Maintaining your pool is a significant expense in terms of both money and your own time!

Not understanding materials

If we notice issues in the design phase – it’s almost always rooted in a client’s ability to understand materials, how they work and what their benefits, costs and detractors are. But most specifically – the materials you choose will have by far the biggest impact on how your pool is maintained and the cost to both install it and care for it. 

Not considering your climate

This is a big one we as swimming pool contractors deal with in Oldsmar, FL. While you might have a certain set of materials in mind, they might not be the best overall, long term fit for where you live and the climate you reside in. Especially if you reside in an area where there’s frequent ground freeze or earthquakes, you’ll want to have some more involved discussions with your contractor. 

Cutting corners

Everyone wants to save money but at a point the question becomes ‘but at what cost?’ Look inflation is rampant and everything’s more expensive. We all get it and are shouldering this burden together. But what’s cheaper up front is almost always more expensive down the road. It can be an outright detriment to a project if you’re cutting corners on things like quality based on money. Work within your budget – but don’t work with a budget that’s not big enough to help you take care of problems you’ll see down the road up-front. 

Hopefully today’s blog was helpful. If you’re looking for an Oldsmaar pool contractor, give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Until then – good luck!

The fall is a pool owner’s least favorite time of year. While it’s true, the folks down here don’t get that traditional season with leaves turning and falling into the pool like those up north do, we get our own fair share of challenges we have to deal with.

Today, we’re going to discuss some of the things you can do in order to have a smoother fall maintenance schedule. Let’s jump right in!

Debris pickup

If you’re up north, you know the routine! Use your skimmer to help remove leaves and other debris that falls from trees and elsewhere. We recommend getting on this early because it doesn’t take much time for them to take on water and sink to the bottom of your pool. For folks down south? Well it’s storm season for us! Which means hurricanes, tropical storms and generally less predictable weather that can lead to the same kind of debris build up. Stay on your simmer and make sure you’re doing a passthrough every other day or so. 

Keep your cover clean and in good working order

Up north – this answer is pretty obvious. You need to do this to help the pool retain heat a little bit longer and keep leaves, branches and other random occurrences out of your pool. Down south – the same thing applies. Also – the air can have a significant impact on the condition of your pool cover and erosion can occur where there’s a lot more salt in the air like you’d find down here in the Tampa and Oldsmaar area. Inspect your pool cover for any potential hotels, deterioration or other possible defects. 

Keep the surroundings clean

This is something you should always be doing no matter what the season is. While there are certainly more seasonal considerations for debris up north, it’s not like that goes away in the summertime and regardless if you’re dealing with traditional fall conditions or not – debris buildup in a pool is almost a direct result of your ability to keep the surrounding area clean, full of clutter and in good, working order. This is a great time to trim branches, bushes, maintain peace stone and other debris that might find its way into your pool. 

Filter and chemical checks

Make sure you clean your filter completely right around early August. You want your filter to be in as good a shape as it possibly can be for storm season and the fall. Use your operator’s manual for the best way to maintain optimum performance and make it as durable as possible. 

Also in the fall, you can draw back a little bit on the amount of chemicals you’ll be using. If you have any expiring products – clear those out and purchase new ones. If you’re trying to find the right composition – ask your local pool pro. 

We hope you found today’s blog helpful! If you need to get your pool cleaned or have it regularly maintained, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction. Until then – enjoy the remainder of the summer and we’ll look forward to hearing from you soon!

One of the best things a homeowner can do is take genuine ownership of their swimming pool. Like anything in life – you get out of it what you put into it and even when something goes wrong that is beyond their control – you can almost always tell the people who take a serious pride in ownership of their pool and who doesn’t when you’re on site. 

That being said – sometimes we try to do a little too much and end up making problems worse than they need to be. Sometimes you’re better off just taking a step back and letting the pros come in and do the work. Here are a few of the common ways owners can make things worse for themselves and how you can avoid doing so yourself.

Let’s jump right in!

DIY repairs

Trust us when we tell you this. There is a laundry list of thing we more or less ignore and hope they go away on its own. The absolute last, possible thing you should apply that logic to are swimming pools. If you notice a tile or two falling off, new cracks, liner coming off track, pumps acting up or anything like that – unless it’s insanely routine – you really, really, really need to call a professional.

Most of the time the problem presenting itself is not always the actual problem – it’s something that’s happening because of another problem. You have a huge hole in the ground with lots of intricate pipes, inner workings and it’s all filled with water. There’s a lot that can be wrong. So we recommend that instead of playing hero – you just call a pro. 

Exaggerating problems to get faster service

One of the most common problems we get is pool owners thinking their problems are way worse than they are and/or embellishing what the actual problem is in order to get us over to the house sooner. Here’s why this is a problem. For one, if you’re describing over the top symptoms, our service pros may start looking for the wrong things. Which means the problem isn’t going to get fixed. If we have to run certain tests or get certain parts and components in quickly – that’ll be on your dime! So whenever you do have a problem – try to be as clear and accurate as possible when communicating the problems with your pool. 

Teaching themselves chemistry

We’re not saying pool owners can’t improve their chemistry and maintain it on their own. You can. But you need to learn how to do it the right way, first. Take a class. Ask your maintenance pros how to do things the right way. This is important to understand because you’re dealing with chemicals. Not just a ‘whatever’ kinda thing here. And not only are we exposing these chemicals to ourselves loved ones, but how those chemicals interact can also have an impact on how various components of your pool function and operate. So if you want to manage your pools chemistry – learn exactly what it is you need to do or you could create some significant problems for yourself. 

Pool owners are capable of making problems worse. Know what you know. Know what you don’t know and when it’s the later- call a pro! If you need advice on how to better manage your pool give our team a call today and we’ll be happy to help. Until then – good luck!

So saltwater pools aren’t necessarily our specialty, but they are something we get asked about a TON, so with that in mind – we figured we’d tell our readers what exactly is up with saltwater pools, a couple of reasons people like them and why one might be the best option for you. 

Believe it or not, Saltwater pools have been around for a long time – and got really popular in Australia as early as the 1960s. They didn’t really catch on here until the 80s but with so much time to swallow up market share; chlorine pools are certainly more of the norm here whereas in Australia they make up about 80% of all swimming pools. 

While they aren’t as popular as their chlorinated brethren, they are well past gaining a foothold and are becoming an increasingly popular alternative. Here’s why:

It’s kinda swanky!

A common misconception about saltwater pools is that they are like swimming in the ocean which it’s not. Saltwater pools have a fraction of the salt in them that the ocean does. HOWEVER – saltwater pools feel far more like a natural body of water and won’t make your skin feel as clammy and dried out as a chlorine pool will. The truth is the saltwater is much more in line with the salinity found in our cells – so it feels much more natural. 

Salt Water pools chrloronate differently

A HUGE benefit of owning a saltwater pool is that it chlorinated more consistently than chlorine pools. Yes, you read that right. Salt uses the process of electrolysis to generate a natural form of chlorine that once it kills bacteria actually recycles itself and turns back into salt. Rinse, wash, repeat. 

That means no more buying and chucking chlorine tablets into your pool every week. No more regular chemical treatments. No more testing your pool every five minutes. That being said – you DO still need to check your pool’s pH and alkalinity levels weekly – but it’s not nearly as involved as the process of maintaining a chlorinated pool. 

Value

One of the reasons things take off in general is because they represent a specific value to the customer and saltwater pools are no different. Saltwater pools are more expensive up front, but you eliminate a lot of the maintenance cost of pools over the long turn. Like we said above – no more liquid chlorine, tablets and shock treatments. YOu just need pool salt. If it rains and your salt levels get knocked off balance? Just throw in a bag of pool salt and you’re off. 

If a saltwater pool sounds like something for you or if you think you’d still like to learn more – give us a call today and we’ll be happy to help you work through the decision making process. Until then – good luck!

One of the more interesting questions that prospective pool owners will need to ask themselves during the design process is what shape they want their pool to be.

Objectively speaking, there isn’t really a right OR wrong answer – at least insofar as which will fit your yard from a design standpoint. However, there MAY be one with regards to your vision for the space. Today, we’re going to break down the two biggest benefits of both design forms so you walk away with a better idea of what might work best for you. Let’s jump right in!

Freeform pools

The biggest benefit with a freeform pool is that it’ll give you more of a natural look and feel. Look anywhere in nature and you’ll see countless rounded and imperfect edges all over. Now keeping this in mind – if you’re in more of a country setting or a place where there’s significantly more vegetation and platlife surrounding your pool – this could really work; allowing you to create a space where the water feels free-flowing and natural. 

Additionally, free form can really make a design statement. It’s not to say rectangular pools aren’t gorgeous in their own right, but curvy, wiggly edges of freeform pools can really help set a mood in ways that rectangular pools can’t. So if it’s the vibe you’re going for – freeform pool designs may be for you.

Rectangular pools

We’re big design advocates of rectangular pools in more modern spaces as it gives the space a cleaner, more modern feel. Everyone when they imagine a pool in their backyard – imagines that classic blue rectangle with intricate landscaping all around it. Those well-defined, solid lines help give your pool a sense of space and polish – and dare we say, luxury. 

Additionally, swimming pools are better for add-ons and accessories. For many, a pool is a work in progress -and not always a finished product once the shovels are out of the ground. Adding in things like slide, diving boards, automatic covers, slides and other additions – works better with the well-defined structure of a rectangular pool. 

When it comes down to it – we usually encourage people to make their decision on the basis of what’s most important to them – swimming area or aesthetic appeal. That freeform pool might look great, but you’re sacrificing swimming area. Rectangular pools – while great for swimming, will leave less space around it for other things that might be a driving force in your design vision. 

Either way, when you’re ready to take the plunge, give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Until then – good luck!

Most pool owners in the Largo, FL area don’t close their pools in the winter season. But just because you don’t close your swimming pool up like a drum doesn’t mean you don’t have to worry about maintaining it. 

Even though the weather is mostly incredible here in FL, when it gets bad it gets really bad – from torrential downpours to flat-out hurricanes. Because of that, keeping your pool protected and covered is always something that’s on your mind. 

There are several kinds of pool covers – but one of the most popular choices is of the automatic variety. Today, we’re going to discuss some of the pros and cons to owning an automatic pool cover and what you should consider when buying one. Let’s jump right in!

Less grunt work

One of the biggest pros is certainly the amount of maintenance you’ll have to do. These covers fit tightly up against your pool and keep a variety of debris and harmful substances from getting into your pool’s water. Its also helps keep more water INSIDE the pool – meaning you won’t have to use quite as much chlorine as you would normally. This means less fiddling with chemicals and less time spent skimming and vacuuming the pool. 

How does it heat?

On the whole, an automatic cover will raise the overall temperature of your pool by about 10 to 15 degrees. It also helps save you money because of it. The higher the temperature, the less heat is escaping due to evaporation. At least during normal temperature periods. 

You do need to consider however, whether or not you should cover your pool when the temperatures crawl into the 90s and 100s. In this case, you’ll want to leave the cover off so it can heat itself. Leaving the cover on can actually lead to worse evaporation than leaving it off in normal temperatures. 

Does it keep people out?

To an extent – yes. We recommend you use a fence anyway, but automatic pool covers will give you an added layer of protection if the loved ones in your lives get a little bit too curious. That being said, a cover and a fence is no replacement for being diligent about pool safety, abiding by coding regulations and having discussions with your family and guests about what flies and doesn’t when they’re in and around the pool. No singular, one thing will keep everyone safe.

The cost

Pools cover costs vary widely depending on what you’re out there looking for. Automatic covers DO cost more, but like most expensive things – they tend to last longer and can take more of a beating. The level of investment up front can be a non-starter for some folks though, so be mindful. 

If you have questions about the best option for your pool, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Until then – good luck!

One of the most common questions we get is why the water in a swimming pool gets cloudy. Is it a problem? Should you be worried? What can you do to fix it? Today, we’re going to try to address some of the most common issues and what you can do to prevent it from happening in the first place. 

Let’s jump right in!

Poor filtration

This one likely isn’t a surprise to anyone reading this blog. When a filter becomes compromised, your pool’s water will not only become cloudy – it can become dirty, too. In fact 90% of cloudy pools usually are traced back to poor filtration. If you notice cloudy water – we definitely recommend that you check your filters first.

Chemical imbalances

• Whether it’s improper chlorine levels, unstable PH, alkalinity or calcium hardness – there’s a whole swath of chemical reasons that can contribute to cloudy water. Generally speaking, here are some guidelines for chemical levels that’ll keep your water clear.
• Chlorine level should always read below 0.5ppm or under 0ppm
  Total alkalinity should be kept under 200 ppm
• Optimum Calcium Hardness range is roughly 100-400ppm. Usually, it just depends on temperature. 

Stick to those guidelines and what your service pros tell you, and you should avoid cloudy water.

Excess particles from swimmers and environmental debris

Sometimes the biggest culprit in causing cloudy water comes from outside the pool. Swimmers might bring in excess sunscreens and oils, make-up or bodily fluid – and that can contribute greatly to the overall look and condition of the water. Rainwater is another major contributor largely because it can cause nitrates, phosphates and other chemicals to run-off into your pool. Especially when rain is heavy, it can dilute your chlorine levels and make them less effective. 

And lastly – leaves, twigs, flowers and pollen can build up too – and worse yet – exacerbate many of the issues we’ve already discussed. Make sure after every use, you do a quick skimming of the pool and use your cover as much as possible. 

If you’re looking for more assistance on how you can keep your pool water clear in the Tampa area, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to help. Until then – good luck!

The best thing about owning a pool isn’t so much the relaxation as much as it is spending your time with the people that matter the most to you. More specifically, your family and your kids. However, pool safety is no laughing matter and as is always the case – it’s a good idea from time to time to have a little bit of a refresher on how to make your pool area safe for your little ones. 

Today, we’re going to discuss a few of the things you can do to keep your kids safe in the warmer months in and around your swimming pool. Let’s jump right in.

Lessons

Swimming lessons aren’t just important for learning how to swim. They’re also important because they help properly train your kids as to the risks and dangers associated with both swimming pools and water. And while your kids may be trained, it’s important to remember that not exactly everyone is – and especially in the event they have friends around, it’s important they know the do’s and don’ts. In fact, it can save lives. 

Supervision

Even when kids know what to do and have the training, they’re still kids. They’re prone to bad judgment, can get themselves in trouble showing off and the like. Anytime your child is in the pool, there has to be some sort of constant adult supervision. Always aim to have a minimum of two people present when swimming or playing around the pool. 

Use safety as a teachable moment for the whole family

Take everyone to a CPR class. Seconds matter in incidents where drowning or water related incidents are occurring and if everyone knows the proper protocol, they’ll know what to do in the event the worst happens. Especially with CPR, too – it’s not just useful in and around your pool area. It’s a life skill- one that could help people later down the line. 

Safety features

It’s always a good idea to do a safety inspection once a year – just on your own. Make sure pool latches work. Make sure railings are secure. Make sure people know where life jackets are, floatation devices and the like. In addition, check the area around the pool for any cracked tiles, gravel and the like. The area around the pool usually sets the tone, so make sure you do a walk through. 

Hopefully you found today’s blog helpful. If you have pool repairs or need help designing a safer pool area, don’t hesitate to reach out to us with questions. Until then – good luck and be safe!