Pool Magazine - Volume 2 - Issue 1

One on One

VOLUME 2 - ISSUE 1 WINTER 2022

With Designer Ryan Hughes

Discussing resort style backyards & outdoor living.

Featured

News & Stories • • • • •

Preventing Glass Tile Failures Rise of the Virtual Pool Inspection Upcoming Mote Marine Project Building Pools in NYC - Bob Blanda Bang for Your Buck - CB Stanley

Industry Leaders Joe Vassallo

President of Paragon Pools in Las Vegas, NV

We Build Better.™

Editor’s

LETTER

W

ell we successfully made the leap from digital to print. To be honest, the reception Pool Magazine has received has been nothing short of remarkable. Getting the first issue into the industry’s hands at the International Pool & Spa Expo was a real milestone for us. From the feedback we received in person, to the online comments we’ve gotten from those we’ve never met - the response has been tremendous.

As we progress into now our second issue, our new trade publication has been circulating throughout the industry and people are starting to become more and more familiar with Pool Magazine. At the expo in Dallas, one of the most well known designers in the pool industry, Ryan Hughes, stopped by our booth to do an interview with us. We caught it all on video and you can actually scan a code on the article in this magazine to watch our one-on-one with Ryan as you’re reading the article. It’s one of the things that best differentiates us from other trade publications. Closely integrating the two platforms of digital and print will become even more essential in the years to come.

Everything is changing about the news, from where we receive it to how we consume it. There was a time when we all read the newspaper to get our news, that model has shifted to online platforms over the last decade. Pool Magazine is a quarterly publication highlighting the best of the best, however there is so much content that comes out daily. It is why our website is the most reliable means to find out what is going on in the pool world. At a glance you’ll find the most current news and information from around the entire pool industry as well as compelling content you won’t see anywhere else.

It’s why in less than two years time we’ve become the number one source for pool industry news. That’s not hyperbole, that’s Google. Our cutting edge news platform aims to be your trusted source for what is happening in the pool and spa industry.

Joe Trusty Editor

Founder, CEO & Editor: Joe Trusty

Contributing Editor: Marcus Packer

In-House Photographer: Jimi Smith

President, Associate-Editor: Marianne Trusty

Contributing Editor: Alise Everton

Art Director: Tabitha Sorenson

Director of Marketing/Sales: Carol Gigliotti

Production Editor: Sarah Wambua

Op-Editorialists: Paolo Benedetti Talking Pools Podcast CB Stanley

Cover Photo Credits: Ryan Hughes Design, Jimi Smith Photography Made Possible By: Basecrete Technologies, Viking Capital, Hayward Industries, Inc., Hide Skimmer Covers,Lyon Financial, Rebound Pool Surfaces, Pool Yoda, Steele’s Signature Pools, Art & Mosaics, Aquastar Pool Products, CamerEye, Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, GENESIS®, PoolMarketing.com® POOL MAGAZINE - PO BOX 278 - Pilot Hill, CA 95664 www.poolmagazine.com | info@poolmagazine.com POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

3

Table of

CONTENTS 06

CAJUN COMFORT BRANDON MILLER

22

BANG FOR YOUR BUCK - CB STANLEY

Brandon Miller taps the elite of the elite in order to make client dreams come true.

CB Stanley discusses why when it comes to pool design you get what you pay for.

08

26

PICKING UP THE PIECES

REBOUND POOL SURFACES

Tony Arredondo and Jacob Schroth have been helping Olympus Pools customers.

Pool Magazine bounces a few different questions off Rebound Pool Surfaces.

10

28

BUILDING POOLS IN NYC - BOB BLANDA

Bob Blanda on building pools in the busiest city on Earth - New York City.

14

PRICING SERVICE TALKING POOLS

RYAN HUGHES ON OUTDOOR LIVING

One-on-one with outdoor living expert Ryan Hughes at the PSP Deck Expo.

32

BEST POOL ALARM SYSTEMS - 2022

Talking Pools discusses why pricing pool service accurately is so important.

We rate and look at the best pool alarms being sold on the market today.

16

34

HEAD TO HEAD WITH JOE VASSALLO

Pool industry veteran Joe Vassallo on the paradox of the Covid-19 pandemic.

4

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

BECOMING A POOL BUILDER IN ‘21

Freshman pool builders discuss challenges faced & lessons learned.

36

FORM, LIKE PELOTON FOR THE POOL

48

PREVENTING GLASS TILE FAILURES

FORM are the new smart swim goggles with a cutting edge heads up display.

Find out what pros like Tributary member Danilo Bonazza are using for glass tile.

38

50

LAUREN BROOM REINVENTS HERSELF

IMPROVING YOUR POOL FILTRATION

Lauren Broom used the pandemic as an opportunity to change her life.

Ask 100 pool techs about pool filtration and you’ll get 100 different answers.

40

52

HAIR ENTANGLEMENT - PAOLO BENEDETTI

A LOOK AT POOL SCOUTS GROWTH

Industry expert, Paolo Benedetti weighs in on how to prevent hair entanglement.

A glance at one of the fastest growing pool franchises in America - Pool Scouts.

42

56

A SNEAK PEEK AT MOTE SEA PROJECT

MAGIC 5 JUMP INTO THE SHARK TANK

Preview of the upcoming $130 million dollar aquatic facility being built in ‘22.

The Magic 5 hook all the sharks on their revolutionary new swim goggles.

46

58

RISE OF THE VIRTUAL POOL INSPECTION

Changes in legislation now allow for completely virtual pool inspections.

LUXURY POOLS WITH DESIGN ECOLOGY

Discussing luxury pools and Ben Lassetter and Scott Cummings of Design Ecology.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

5

Pool Builder: Cajun Pools & Spas

Cajun Comfort Redefined

BRANDON MILLER

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Jimi Smith Photography

When looking at luxury pools from around the country, we’re always searching for pools that break outside the paradigms of the norm. The pool we’re highlighting here is a perfect example that redefines what cajun comfort is supposed to feel like in Louisiana.

B

These days he works with some of the most discerning homeowners in his local area. Miller has become an expert at helping homeowners envision and actualize their dreams of the ideal inground pool and outdoor living environment.

Coming from a family of pool builders, Miller was immersed in the world of pool construction from a young age. Following his uncle on various job sites, Miller picked up the trade early.

When a homeowner wants a luxury pool, frequently Miller is the one they turn to with their vision. “What I tell customers is, come to us with some ideas. We want to know the things that they like when they’re looking online,” said Miller.

randon Miller is an award-winning designer from Breaux Bridge, LA that has been slowly making a name for himself in the Louisiana market over the past decade and has his fingers firmly on the pulse of what the client wants.

6

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

With a track record for building award-winning pools, Miller is no stranger to collaborating with some of the elite in the industry when it comes to satisfying his client’s goals for an over-the-top backyard. That clearly is the story here, with his latest project which is turning heads and helping set a new standard for luxury outdoor living in Louisiana.

“This project was actually a repeat customer,” said Miller, “ten years to the month from when we finished their last project we had started this one. We stayed in touch through the years. They said they were going to build another house and that we’d have the opportunity to build them something cool again.”

For the design of the project, Miller opted to bring in award-winning pool and outdoor living designer Shane LeBlanc. “Shane knocked it out of the park on the design and our team really hit one out of the park on the construction aspects,” said Miller, “I wasn’t going to shortchange them on the design. Shane’s a Louisiana guy and I’ve always admired his design work.”

Yards that look this way are atypical for Lousiana which has very flat topography. “We were fortunate enough that the sunken seating area of the pool had enough fall from the house pad” said Miller, “We were able to get drainage out to it without having to have some kind of pump - it’s just gravity fed.”

“On the design we have a vanishing edge wall.

Once again, our yards are flat but were able to cut down some of the yard where if you’re in the house looking out at the pool area, the line of sight doesn’t let you see the catch basin,” said Miller.

Take a deeper dive into this Cajun Queen on the Pool Magazine website.

Additional Builder / Designer Credits: Greatwood Homes, Concrete Revolution Eden Scapes, Dreamscape Paver & Drainage Shane LeBlanc - Selective Designs Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Technology

It’s subtle nuances like this which are wellthought-out design elements demonstrating forethought into what the overall client experience would be.

Read the entire article...

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

7

“It’s left a bad taste with most potential new swimming pool homeowners, and even some pool renovation clientele. Most that are familiar with the Olympus Pool situation, are very hesitant” - Tony Arredondo

Pool Builders Help Customers Pick Up The Pieces

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Tampa Pool Pros

L

ittle by little, Olympus Pools customers are looking to pick up the pieces of their abandoned projects, some have been reaching out to local pool renovation experts like Tampa Pool Pro - Tony Arredondo.

Lack of communication was a complaint Arredondo heard again and again from customers having little to no idea as to the progress of their build. “No one was returning their calls, and it was weeks and months before hearing from an assigned Project Manager for their build--if they heard anything at all,” said Arredondo.

There is still a ton of work to be done on many of these pools Arredondo is looking

8

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

at. Often homeowners are looking at a bill of tens of thousands of dollars to complete their backyard pool project. This uncomfortable fact comes after paying for most of their pool project upfront with Olympus.

Many of these pools are abandoned jobs that have been exposed to the elements for months before a contractor has had a chance to review the work that has been done. Still, Arredondo says he is eager to work with the ones intent on finishing their pool project. “We walk them through the deposit schedules and educate them on the scope of work needed for completion,” said Arredondo, “this includes the processes and timeframes. We have a 100% success rate with the clients we’ve worked with and have completed their projects in a timely manner. It’s really helping to restore their faith in the swimming pool industry.”

Arredondo has been coordinating with pool contractors from around the Tampa region to help finish some of these jobs. “That’s the beautiful thing about the pool industry. There is so much work for everyone,” said Jacob Schroth who has been working closely with Arredondo, “There is no competition between us and when there’s a problem within our industry we are able to all fix it together.”

Abandoned Olympus Pools Project Completed in Tampa, FL

While the majority of homeowners are still looking to the district attorney’s office for a final resolution and compensation, that process may take years to fully see the course.

For those homeowners who are ready to pick up the pieces, it’s refreshing to see some of these completed projects. One year after all of the negative attention and bad publicity this has created, the process of healing can begin for those homeowners. Eager to make a difference in their community, Arredondo and Schroth know that re-establishing that trust with consumers and the pool industry is absolutely vital in Tampa.

Read the entire article...

Photo Credits: Tony Arredondo, Jacob Schroth

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

9

Building Pools in the City

BOB BLANDA

We go one-on-one with pool industry veteran Bob Blanda who made a career building pools in the busiest city on Earth.

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Mill Bergen Pools

I

If you’re going to build pools in the busiest city on Earth, you need your head on a swivel to say the least.

Recently we had a chance to catch up with Bob Blanda of Mill Bergen Pools. He has been performing pool construction in the Big Apple for over three decades and is one of the premier pool builders in New York City today.

The journey to becoming a high-end Manhattan builder was a long one and success didn’t happen overnight for Blanda who started off like many doing pool service. He began his first forays into the industry as a teenager in Brooklyn. It was in 1986, after finishing with a bachelor’s degree in business management that Blanda would form his second company Manhattan-based Mill Bergen Pool Center.

Today he holds the certifications of Certified Building Professional (CBP), Certified Service Professional (CSP), and Certified Pool Operator (CPO). Blanda also serves as president of the Northeast Spa and Pool Association (NESPA) and sits on the board of directors for the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA).

10

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

It’s safe to say that Blanda has made a name for his firm during that time span as a trusted pool construction company of choice in New York City.

An industry thought leader and seasoned veteran pool builder, Blanda knows what it takes to execute a pool project where most people in their right mind wouldn’t even attempt to park a car.

Simply traveling around the city itself can be daunting, as the congestion in Manhattan is ranked #1 for worst traffic in the United States. With drivers experiencing an average of 102 hours delayed each year, Blanda confirmed this adds another dimension of complexity to building pools.

“If there’s traffic, you can sit there for an hour and a half waiting just to go around the block,” said Blanda.

“Trying to get cement delivered to the city means you have to get 4-5 parking spots cleared,” he explained, “What we do is wait until they have alternate side parking for the street sweepers and that is the day we’ll schedule cement.”

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

11

Pool Builder: Mill Bergen Pools

A new level of complexity Blanda may soon be facing is the recent changes to legislation that allow for a new toll system designed to alleviate traffic and generate revenue for the city. “Now they’re adding congestion pricing,” said Blanda, “I think it’s pretty close to being put through where they charge like $30-$40 dollars per day per vehicle just to get into the city. This, on top of the gas, tolls, and all the other expenses.”

Aside from these new concerns, Blanda says the requirements for building pools in New York City are more stringent and regulated. “All of the rules that go on everywhere else are enhanced in Manhattan. Having your OSHA-30, hard hats, and the proper gear (are required).”

The security around some of these job sites is often higher than typically found in your normal residential pool construction project. “Walking into a job site means having to sign in, having to sit on safety meetings. Some of the jobs are so secure

12

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

they’re using retina eye scans to get in and out. If it’s a high-end residential project, there is probably a security guard sitting at a desk in the hall of the house,” explained Blanda.

The challenges of building high-end swimming pools in the Big Apple don’t end there. “There is a lot of difficulty working with other trades,” said Blanda, “if you’re working on a job like that it’s often in the middle of the construction of the home or building. You’re contending for use of the elevator, other trades with materials in your way, so it’s not like you’re alone there and given the exclusivity to be the only person working there.”

Read the entire article...

Pricing Pool Service

TALKING POOLS “What would I pay for pool service?” - does it

BY RUDY STANKOWITZ & ANDREA NANNINI

W

e were having a conversation earlier in the Talking Pools Facebook Group about what to charge for Pool Service. People were discussing the problem of new pool service companies undercutting the market and coming in at a lower price.

Many folks were suggesting that when you do that you open up the doors to shoddy service.

Ultimately they said that operating on price alone; companies have a propensity to do a bad job and disappoint their customers.

One of the people we were speaking with said that as a new company, it was harder for them to

14

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

really matter what you would pay? You’re not your customer. - Talking Pools Podcast compete against seasoned well-established pool service firms. Since they were less experienced they felt the need to have to compete based on price alone.

Now see, here’s a perfect scenario where someone is projecting their own lack of knowledge and lack of self-worth into commoditizing pool service.

Establish What You Should Be Charging For Pool Service When you look at your pricing, what you would pay for something should not even factor into the equation. Your pricing should be based on what

the market will bear. The best way to figure out what you should be charging for pool service is to research pricing in your market. Do a competition survey and find out what your competitors are charging and just average it out. Whether you’re in the high-end or in the low-end you should still be pricing your services at an average of what other companies in the market are charging.

Why It’s a Bad Idea to Low-Ball Pool Service Pricing Customers have become used to seeing advertisements for discount pool cleaning services.

Many have been paying low prices for decades because new companies start up in their area all the time.

New firms want to get their business going as quickly as possible so they undercut everyone in the market to build up their route as fast as they can. They charge as low as they can and do as many pools as they can. Consequently, everyone suffers.

The cycle repeats itself as new companies enter the market following the same flawed strategy until eventually, the consumer perception of what pool service is supposed to cost has been drastically diminished. This is a practice that has to change for the good of everyone in our industry.

When new pool service companies set up shop in town they need to do their research to ensure they are charging prices in line with what other companies are charging. When they fail to accurately assess the prices other local firms are charging, they showcase their inexperience and allow the customers to dictate how much pool service should cost.

The customer values their time and money the same as we do. As an industry we need to ensure we are providing them a premium service; one that doesn’t operate on a cut-throat pricing model. It is how we collectively determine what pool service should cost.

Failing to factor in all of the variables in coming up with an industry scale pricing model is a recipe for disaster.

Permanent Discount-Pricing is an Unsustainable Business Practice What happens when you try to be the lowest price in your market is a combination of the following.

You’ll find yourself working harder than ever, doing 100 pools a week to keep up with what you sold.

This isn’t sustainable.

Before long, companies find themselves skipping steps, cutting corners and providing nominal quality that will eventually lose them the account.

The customer then wants to pay $70 to the next company that comes along because that’s what you told them pool service is supposed to cost.

Listen to the Podcast...

When pricing what to charge for pool service do some research in your local market to see what other firms are charging first before trying to compete on price alone.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

15

Pool Builder: Paragon Pools

Head to Head With

JOE VASSALLO

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Paragon Pools

F

We asked the pool industry veteran for his take regarding the increase in demand, “In 30 years, I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Vassallo.

or Joe Vassallo, the path to becoming a top builder in the Las Vegas market wasn’t always a linear one.

Recalling setbacks that came with the Great Recession in 2008. “Las Vegas went through a very rough period,” said Vassallo, “where we were having more foreclosures than anyplace else in the country.

In order to survive that (time period) we started doing more of the remodeling and repair work. A lot of people were probably underwater at best.”

The inability for homeowners to get full market value for their homes during the Great Recession meant that many opted to remodel their existing pool and stay in their homes. A sophomore pool company at the time, Paragon Pools was able to

16

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

ride out the recession doing remodels. That was a make-or-break time period that saw many seasoned builders leave the industry. What followed would be a contraction in the industry that would last for the next five years.

“The remodeling and repair business became kind of a lifeline for us and then finally we moved out of that bad time into some better times. Right now things are just going through the roof. I’ve got way more business than I can handle,” said Vassallo.

While supply and demand issues still remain a problem, Joe Vassallo says that it is a better problem to have than the one he experienced a decade during the Great Recession when no one was looking to buy a swimming pool.

Vassallo has been in the industry for decades and has seen bull markets and bear markets. We asked him if he has ever experienced anything like this and if he could predict what was coming next to which he responded, “In 30 years, I’ve never seen anything like this. I can only guess, I’m not an economics expert but I think it was a confluence of several things,” said Vassallo.

“Number one, when Covid hit, manufacturing started to dwindle,” said Vassallo, “plants were either closing or just running skeleton crews, and transportation stopped,” explained Vassallo.

There was a paradox with Covid increasing the demand for swimming pools.

“Look at the other side of that,” said Vassallo, “Mom, Dad, and the kids are home. They’ve been talking about getting a boat or something for the last few years and just never pulled the trigger. Now everybody is home and looking at an empty backyard in 100-degree weather and said ‘you know what, we can’t spend money going out to dinner or traveling on vacation, let’s spend it in the backyard.”

The paradox in how a pandemic could lead to a booming economy for the pool industry is one Vassallo feels can be explained. “Luckily everyone was still working. Most people were able to work from home given all the new technology we have. There were still those discretionary dollars available and they were able to pull the trigger,” said Vassallo.

“We have this downturn in supply and a huge increase in demand. The resources just aren’t there to capitalize on it.

I know I’m getting five times more leads than I can handle.”

18

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

There is another problem, however, and that is setting expectations with customers. Given the nature of the sheer influx of consumers interested in a pool versus the amount of labor and materials to actually build them, a backlog is forming. Managing those expectations to capitalize on momentum is essential during this time.

A sentiment to which Vassallo agrees, “The first thing I tell potential customers is that I’m probably not going to be able to get back to you for at least six weeks. That’s before I can even give them a design or proposal and in some cases, it’s gone further than that.”

As Paragon Pools moves into its third decade of existence, the milestone is a poignant one for Vassallo who has been slowly making the transition to take a step back. Joe Vassallo Jr. who recently was named PHTA Builder of the Year, is taking a more active role at the helm of operations for Paragon Pools. It is a point of pride for Vassallo Sr. (who received the Builder of the Year Award in 2012) and has been grooming his son over the last decade in preparation for handing over operations to him.

Vassallo Jr. was recently voted Builder of the Year by the PHTA at the PSP Deck Expo.

“Little by little he started to get more and more involved. I don’t want to say that I pushed him that way but I did not discourage him in any way,” said Vassallo, “he started to demonstrate some talent and I helped him nurture that talent and as time went by he became one of my best designers and salespeople. Obviously, the next step was to run a company. He took to all of that and embraced it and enjoys it.”

Paragon’s reputation as an elite builder continues to grow and as a result, the jobs are getting more complicated, more over the top, and more expensive. “There was a time where we were doing maybe 150-160 pools a year.

Now, it’s more like 50 or 60 but they’re much higher-end and more complicated than they were before,” said Vassallo.

Read the entire article...

Two Generations of Excellence: Joe Vassallo Sr. & Joe Vassallo Jr.- Paragon Pools

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

19

y Create More

immers?

cause imming...

?

Why Create More

Swimmers?

Because Swimming...

Reduces Fatal & Non-Fatal Drowning

88% among children ages 1–4

Increases Physical Activity Creates Vocational Opportunities

Leads to Sports Opportunities

Contact Rowdy Gaines, PHTA’s VP of Partnerships & Development or donate POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 1, ISSUE 2 21 now at stepintoswim.org

Bang For The Buck

CB STANLEY Photos: Jimi Smith Photography Build / Design Credits: Tipton Spires Design, Green Couture Co., CB Stanley

S

o, you are looking for professional design?

Or, at the very least, something thoughtful, creative, and well-planned? Seems simple enough, right? Not so fast.

There is an adage that says, “you get what you pay for,” one of a few dozen similar sayings, and all of them are still very relevant to present-day products and services. The first question is always, “How much will this cost?” Well, that depends on if you are looking for the cheapest possible outcome or one that is well-thought-out with careful planning.

I always say, “bang for your buck,” and “quality” are never to be used in the same sentence, unless it is this sentence, right here.

Fortunately (from a consumer perspective), if you are looking for the cheapest possible outcome, there are

22

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

an abundance of options to choose from. But don’t be upset when you see the product, or when three revisions later, you’re still not happy, and now you’ve wasted three weeks of time.

So, what are the potential pitfalls of going down the path of cheap? They can vary from minor inconveniences, to impacts on lead-times, and to issues that may result in legal action. ANY quality product has appropriate costs associated with it.

When these costs are cut to achieve the cheapest outcome possible, it is never a good thing.

Benjamin Franklin was quoted as saying “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten,” which is still true today, especially when those change orders start rolling in after the contract is signed. You might think you saved 30% in costs up-front, but you should have saved 60% with the quality of the product that you got.

It’s not wise to pay too much for a product, but it is certainly worse to pay too little, or (from the design perspective) nothing at all. When clients are setting a budget for their project, there are variables such as property value and resale to consider when designing the space.

Are they going to get the best return on investment when they sell the property? Is that cheap product going to be a red flag to the potential buyer who can spot an inferior product and move on to the next property with a better-quality product (from a construction perspective)?

The common and most-talked about solutions are always determined by three factors:

• • •

How good does this need to be?

How fast does this need to happen?

What is your budget?

There are also things to consider from the designer and builder’s perspective. The client base that you desire isn’t driven by “cost,” but rather by “value.”

Clients understand that quality, in any industry, takes a certain level of expertise, thought, and creativity. They expect to pay for your services because your diverse portfolio covers a spectrum of design styles that would fit their needs, and your range isn’t limited to “modern,” or “traditional,” or one specific “design style.” These clients also see that your work just looks better than the other 99.9% of products they have been presented within creativity, function, and form.

Good, fast and cheap – pick two of the three.

• • •

If it needs to be done fast and cheap, it isn’t going to be good.

If it needs to be good and cheap, it probably won’t happen very fast.

And if it needs to be good and happen fast, it isn’t going to be cheap (relatively speaking).

Credit: Tipton Spires Design, Green Couture Co., CB Stanley

So, let’s get to the point – you charge for your experience and creativity, not so much your time. Never let the client dictate your fees. Clients are not paying you for the 20 hours (more or less) that it took you to properly design a space. They are paying you for the years it took you to master your craft.

You must have the mentality that you won’t be the cheapest, but where you miss on competing against the cheap products that flood the industry, the client will gain in the added value that you can offer in terms of creativity, thoughtfulness, and pride you take in the details of your work.

But, yes, there will be a cost, and you will always get what you pay for.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

23

11

B

UILDER PROFILE: Steele’s Signature www.steelespools.com 609.850.0111 www.steelespools.com Pools is a client-focused team of

experts that specializes in residential custom pool design. This boutique firm is making a big impression when it comes to luxuriating swim and spa experiences across New Jersey, crafting their work approach from ambition, innovation, and moxie.

Instead, each build caters to the client’s preferences and incorporates the homes’ landscapes and the ways the client likes to entertain. “A backyard pool isn’t meant to be enjoyed alone.

It’s a shared space where people create memories,” Steele insists.

“We pay respect to that with each design, making sure that the client gets a beautiful product that suits their lifestyle.”

“We pour ourselves into every pool we design,” quips Adam Steele, CBP, Steele’s Signature Pools. “Our design process begins in the mind and is finished by hand, but it’s our heart that drives everything we do, 110%.”

Attention to detail, a knack for pushing boundaries, and a taste for complexity is what makes Steele’s Signature Pools a leading luxury pool builder in New Jersey. In 2022, the Northeast Spa and Pool Association (NESPA) honored the firm with three gold awards for Outstanding Achievements and featured Steele’s in their quarterly publication, The Edge. “We like to push the It’s this ambition that’s highly evident in the Photo Credit: Jimi Smith Photography boundaries of swimming pool architecture,” states Steele. “Our firm’s design principles. They don’t rely on a innovative designs are bold and daring.” catalog of previous patterns when mapping out a client’s project.

Photo Credit: Jimi Smith Photography (609) 850-0111 | www.steelespools.com

Art & Mosaics is the leading Mosaic Tile Art & Mosaics is the Installation firm. leading Mosaic Tile Installation firm.

World acclaimed artist and muralist Danilo World acclaimed artist and Bonazza creates muralist Danilo Bonazza breathtaking Mosaic creates breathtaking Mosaic art the the world over. tiletileart world over.

Contact us,

347-429-0244 | danilo@artandmosaics.com

VIEW OUR ONLINE PORTFOLIO AT ARTANDMOSAICS.COM REINVENTING POOL SAFETY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POWERED CAMERA TECHNOLOGY

Visit booth #230 at the Western Pool & Spa Show

CamerEye is the first advanced AI Smart Fence camera -based alarm system to provide the fastest distress detection with fewer false alarms than any existing technology.

Keep an Eye on the Pool 24/7 Easy-to-install, affordable safety and security camera system to: MONITOR the pool 24/7 from home or anywhere on your phone DETECT distress and near-drowning behavior through AI powered overhead cameras ALERT within 10 seconds of distress and near-drowning being detected

Increase client’s peace of mind and your bottom line for builders and service techs. BUILDERS AND SERVICE TECHS - Seeking dealers for all territories.

SET UP A DEMO AND LEARN MORE AT WWW.CAMEREYE.AI/EXPO OR 800.906.2810

Bouncing a few questions off

REBOUND POOLS Rebound pool surfaces are becoming

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Rebound Pool Surfaces

R

ebound is a soft and slip-resistant pool texturing that is becoming increasingly popular with homeowners who are looking for a safer pool deck. Not only that, but swimmers can actually enjoy the same bouncy texture inside the interior of the pool. To get a better understanding of the product and how it works, we reached out to Rebound Pools to get with Steve Walsh and Lance Johnson of Rebound Pools.

“Our new system for decks and pool interiors creates a soft surface. This is a pretty simple system that can go over existing pool interiors including concrete, plaster, pebble, and stone finishes. It creates a beautiful finish for pools and

26

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

increasingly popular with pool contractors and homeowners concerned with safety. decks,” said Steve Walsh. The product, which is available in a wide assortment of colors, resembles floor safety systems that many with small children will already recognize existing in their local playground or schoolyard. Rebound is very similar to that bouncy texture found in areas where small children play. To see this type of material showing up around the pool deck is a new feature that is catching on with homeowners concerned about safety. The slip-resistant and soft bouncy feel of the texture provide better traction and feels great on bare feet.

When looking at where the product is being installed, it’s primarily homeowners with small children that are looking for safer alternatives and

additional slip resistance around the pool deck.

“Side by side, if you compare rebound to all the other decking products on the market, on the safety issue – it’s a slam dunk for our product,” said Lance Johnson. “In addition, if you’ve applied the product on the interior, this product offers a huge benefit if you’re worried about safety at all.

Walking around in the shallow end is a lot safer,” explained Johnson.

For those who are wondering how durable this surfacing is, the two part polymer and plastic thermo granular material is designed to be submerged under water and hold up year after year in wet / dry conditions. “It’s really impervious to water,” said Walsh, “it doesn’t react to it and we think it has got a really long life on both decks and pool interiors. The granules we use feel like a squishy soft rubber but are actually a high end product called TPV

– it’s a type of plastic without any fillers. It lasts a long time and doesn’t leach or interact with anything.

Because it’s completely inert, it’s a great product for the pool environment.”

While the product has only been around for a few years, there is considerable data from the splash pad/ playground sector to indicate that the product will have an equally long life in pool interiors. Steve Walsh helped explain, “I think the best test for us has been the 10 years or so that it’s been used in splash pads, which has heavy traffic and high chlorine water. The product is exposed to the sun all day. It gets wet and dry, on and off constantly. Holding up to that is much tougher than what is happening when it’s sitting in a pool.”

In terms of how the product feels, Walsh described the end product. “That quarter inch you get is very durable and very flexible. It has some elongation properties to it. We call it rebound because it’s kind of a soft squishy product,” said Walsh.

One contractor that swears by the product is Sacramento pool industry veteran, Gregg Sample of Gregg’s Pool Works & Pool Yoda. An early adopter, he was one of the first installers of Rebound Pool Surfaces. “The low start-up cost of becoming an installer make it a really viable business for pool contractors to get into,” said Sample, who has been installing the products in pools around El Dorado County.

With a short learning curve to become an installer, Walsh says that learning how to apply a Rebound Pool Surface is incredibly easy. “If you can use a paintbrush or a roller, you can learn how to install this product,” said Walsh, “the product can be applied in fiberglass, gunite, and composite wall pools as well as on decks and steps.”

“The product works well vinyl liner pools,” said Walsh, “the whole industry has been looking for a product that can fill in the nasty cracks that develop in broken pool stairs and are finding this product works better than a patch.”

Learning how to apply a Rebound Pool Surface is incredibly easy. “If you can use a paintbrush or a roller, you can learn how

Read the entire article...

to install this product,” said Walsh POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

27

Luxury Outdoor Living With

RYAN HUGHES Ryan Hughes has built a career out of working with some of the most discerning homeowners in Tampa, Florida and continues to set the bar higher and higher in the industry.

BY JOE TRUSTY Photography: Jimi Smith, Joe Traina

H

aving established a reputation for creating exceptional outdoor living spaces, Hughes continues to elevate the industry with his award winning designs. We had the opportunity to catch up with him at the International Pool & Spa Expo in Dallas recently. During the course of our conversation, we got to learn a little bit more about his process for conceptualizing resort-style backyards for high-end custom homes.

While widely known as an expert in the field of pool and landscape design, the industry acclaimed designer is also a licensed pool builder. Hughes explained how his rebranding process was an essential turning point that allowed him to reach the next level and connect with more affluent homeowners.

28

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

“Creating better lifestyles through innovative outdoor living” is Hughes mission statement.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

29

Hughes, who certainly didn’t start off building million-dollar backyards, says that it was a lengthy learning process to get to that point in his career. “In 2008, I got a chance to sit down and reflect on why I wasn’t connecting with the top 1%,” said Hughes, “I realized a few things, for one, I was focused on design and construction and I wasn’t focused on the client experience. I didn’t even know what that meant. I needed to educate myself on how the top 1% buy,” he explained.

“I also realized something even more important,” said Hughes, “and that is the (profit) margins. The margins I had prior to 2008 were from my father’s business or what I had learned from other folks in the industry. If you’re trying to do something exceptional you can’t mimic other people,” explained Hughes who said that it’s not enough to be able to sell to the 1%, you also have to be able to build these projects profitably. The second point is the more difficult aspect, which builders have a tendency to struggle with.

Like many in the industry, Ryan Hughes Design / Build has grown in the last two years in part due to the increased demand from consumers looking to enhance their backyard during the pandemic. With the virus curtailing travel and limiting the number of options on where to put those discretionary dollars, homeowners are reinvesting in their homes. Being confined to the home during this time put a renewed focus in the minds of consumers to create an outdoor living experience that the entire family could enjoy.

“The economy already started to heat up in 2017 so we were already preparing for some pretty big growth, we were ready for it, and then, of course, Covid hit and we got a little nervous,” said Hughes who recalled some hard discussions with his wife during the depths of the pandemic.

“We were discussing whether we wanted to expand or retract and we said ‘let’s keep going’ and started recruiting even faster than we were,” said Hughes, “Wow, did we time that right, because then all of a sudden things went the other direction with Covid and the demand has gone through the roof.”

30

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

Hughes, who is busier than ever says he currently has a two-year backlog to get through what he has already sold. “The leads are still coming in,” said Hughes, “we’re up to a six-month wait time so if someone signs a design contract, they’re waiting six months before we can even start the design.”

“In the early parts of 2021 we were victim to price increases,” said Hughes, “we do fixed cost contracts with our clients so we had to honor them, but because I keep the margins high, I was able to do that. I didn’t have to go back to a single client and say that we were over budget and needed more money,” he explained.

“There was probably around 6 months and 8 or 9 projects that we did for practice because the margins crushed us.”

“We’re doing some creative things now,” said Hughes, as he described how he is dealing with any further anticipated increases. “With every challenge, there is always an opportunity. One of the things my father taught me as he went through the inflation in the ‘70’s, he said if inflation hits, buy inventory,” explained Hughes, “We bought a very large warehouse and I just talked to Jandy; we’re buying as many pumps and heaters as we can fit.”

“If you don’t have the right margins, you can’t over deliver.”

In explaining the strategy against hedging against inflating prices, Hughes said, “If things keep going up in price, we may actually make money because we’re buying it at today’s prices. I think doing fixed cost pricing in this environment is risky, but we’ve somewhat mitigated that with what we’re doing.” As one of the foremost experts in his field, we asked him what the 1% want in their backyards. We wanted to know what features and design amenities are trending with high-end homeowners in the Tampa market.

“It’s a tricky question,” said Hughes, “because we do things a little differently.

“It’s about creating a world-class client experience and how do you do that? You over-deliver,” said Hughes.

Hughes says that blowing away the client’s expectations is the secret sauce that has propelled him. This above all is the differentiating factor that has made him the designer of choice on so many high-end projects throughout his career.

For that exclusive 1% clientele, bringing in a high-caliber design firm to connect with their lifestyle is the equivalent of going in for a finely tailored custom suit rather than buying off the rack.

Hitting all of the personalized notes that create a truly custom-tailored experience for the homeowner is a process Hughes is all too familiar

with. He indicated that many builders approach space planning around the pool, this is the opposite approach Hughes takes when planning an outdoor living space that caters to the customer’s lifestyle.

“We start with functionality,” said Hughes, “We don’t even really start with the swimming pool. We start with the overall space planning and create the destinations. So we say we’re going to have a lounge area here, and a social firepit there. We’re going to add an outdoor kitchen and a dining scenario. We’re mapping that out before we even start to conceptualize what the pool is going to look like,” explained Hughes, “We try to figure out which elements contribute best to their unique lifestyle.”

Read the entire article...

Watch our interview with Ryan Hughes at the PSP Deck Expo.

Scan to watch on

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

31

Pool Alarm Systems

BEST RATED IN 2022

A look at the highest rated Pool Alarm systems on the market. These alarms were voted “Best of the Best” by homeowners & professionals in 2022.

BY MARCUS PACKER

CamerEye

Poolguard - PGRM-2

Pool Patrol Alarm

Pool Eye Alarm

YardGuard Gate Alarm

Techko Safe Pool

Best Overall Pool Alarm

Best Value Pool Alarm

Best Entry Level Alarm

Best Above Ground Pool Alarm

Best Pool Gate Alarm

Best Sliding Door Alarm

Features

AI Powered, Camera, App

Features

Inground, Range 200 ft

Features

Features Wave Detection

120 Decibel Gate Alarm

For Glass & Screen Doors

Price

Price

Price

Price

Price

Price

$$$

32

$$$$

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

Incursion Detection $$

$

Features

$

Features

$

Read the entire article...

Poolwatch Pool Alarm

Guardline

SpaLabs Pool Alarm

Wave DDS

Pool Eye Alarm

Poolguard Gate Alarm

Best Value Under $100

Best Outdoor Motion Sensor

Best Value Alarm For Kids & Pets

Best Portable Alarm

Honorable Mention Pool Motion Sensor

Honorable Mention Pool Gate Alarm

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Inground & Above Ground

Wireless Motion Sensor

Wireless Motion Senso

Price

Price

Price

$

$

$$

Features

Devices

Immersion Alarm

Gates/Doors & Screens

Price

Price

Price

Wearable

$$$

$

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

$

33

PHOTO CREDIT: LAKESIDE CUSTOM POOLS

Becoming a Pool Builder

LAKESIDE CUSTOM POOLS

BY JOE TRUSTY

O

ne year after starting a new pool construction company, freshman Austin pool builders Lakeside Custom Pools have learned one of the most vital lessons about building pools. That lesson is, under-promise and over-deliver.

becoming a pool builder during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Having decided to open a new pool company during one of the most difficult times in recent memory, we wanted to get their perspective about what the challenges have been like

The three had decided to start a pool construction company servicing their local area of Bee Cave, Texas at the start of the Covid-19 and have been building pools all through the pandemic.

34

The company consisting of Ryan & Lauren Gunhouse and their friend and partner Kelly Peel, have been operating in the Austin, TX market since early 2021.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

“We all came from different pool companies and met at another pool company,” said Construction Manager – Kelly Peel.

“We saw some imperfections,” explained Peel, “the pool industry here in Austin kind of gets a bad wrap. It starts with consumer trust or lack thereof. We wanted to deliver a high-quality product in a timely manner and decided that if we can’t do it where we were at, we would do a better job on our own.”

Pool builders across the nation have been experiencing logistical delays getting product. There have also been manufacturing shortages and price increases on virtually everything needed to build and maintain a pool. For many, keeping customers satisfied during this time

has been a challenge. Thousands of pool builders saw their profit margins take a big hit with the recent price increases, especially those who fix cost their pricing.

For being a brand new builder in a busy market while facing all of these uncertainties, the waters have been pretty calm over at Lakeside Custom Pools. The company has been actively engaging with customers to make them aware of what has been going on and says disruption has been nominal.

“To be honest, it’s been kind of smooth,” said Peel, “I’m a firm believer that if a pool builder tells the customer that Covid-19 was the reason why their project was delayed, then that builder may need to check their moral compass.”

“We say that because building a pool the right way and doing it efficiently really boils down to scheduling, planning, and communication,” said Gunhouse, “what we’ve done to get ahead of the 8 ball is get things lined up before we ever start so that the project runs smooth. This means getting pool equipment. We had the opportunity to invest in ourselves and buy a bunch of equipment early on so that by the time we needed it we had it.”

“Perception is Reality” this means creating better customer experience.

One thing the new pool builders learned before starting their own firm; you can build a great-looking pool and still wind up disappointing the customer.

Concerned about under promising and over deliving, they feel that how the process went for the customer correlates to them becoming future brand ambassadors.

Conversely, if that process went badly, they can factor that customer experience costing them some business down the road. It’s lesson #1 to learn becoming a pool builder.

Read the entire article...

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

35

Peloton For The Pool

FORM GOGGLES

BY JOE TRUSTY Photo Credit: Form

F

orm smart swim goggles are the first swimming goggles with a heads up display.

This revolutionary new smart goggle is taking the swim world by storm. We recently had the chance to have an in-depth interview with the Founder and CEO of Form, Dan Eisenhardt.

Eisenhardt, who hails from a family of swimmers in Aalborg, Denmark - has always had a passion for swimming. In fact, he swam competitively himself

36

winning NJCAA All-American honors at Indian River College.

Coming up with a superior product in the swim goggle space is an objective Eisenhardt considered his personal mission to achieve.

A feeling the stars had finally aligned for this type of product would inevitably be what propelled the innovation that has become Form.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

The product represents an incredible leap forward with advancements in the field of Augmented Reality (AR) technology which have finally made their way to the swimming pool.

“I always thought the killer app for swimming was AR because there was no alternatives,” said Eisenhardt, “there is nothing in swimming that can give you the real time information without the tradeoffs.”

Building the ultimate app for swimmers would involve finding the right people to help execute in the application design.

When you talk about AR, it’s a completely new category. It’s more of the killer app that runs on the hardware, or the business model.

Here we’re still early on in AR, it’s taken a long time because it’s a difficult problem to solve.”

Many experts feel early AR devices like Google Glass failed because of the social stigma of wearable tech. Beyond that, the overall look and feel of the technology created a usability matrix of problems for Form to solve with their product.

It was through iteration prototyping that Eisenhardt would come up with the perfect balance for the Form swim goggles.

Determining what was feasible was important, “Figuring out how much information we show when you’re swimming and dumbing it down so that it doesn’t distract you was important,” said Eisenhardt.

“Typically you want to be able to see your pace per 100, how fast you’re swimming, how far you’ve gone, a length counter or lap counter,” said Eisenhardt.

Already being considered a revolution in swimming technology by competitive swimmers; the googles allow swimmers to see how they perform over time. “You want to be able to see your split times so you can compare current length over the last length, your heart rate, and so forth,” explained Eisenhardt. The product has a nineaxis sensor in the goggles, combining an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer into the wearable device.

Form swim goggles allow for custom configurations based on the data you want to see in real-time with three different contexts including Swimming, Stroking, and Turning. These aspects allow different data sets of information to appear on the heads-up display as they occur.

All of this data allows swimmers to have better visibility of their stats in the pool. Getting that data in real time is something that has never been done before. The device is being touted as the swim coach’s assistant, given that the 10,000-foot data the goggles provide gives trainers better insight into swimmer performance.

HIGHER QUALITY POOL LEADS

The challenge of putting technology in front of people’s eyes had constraints beyond mere engineering hurdles. Getting the device to spit back the real-time metrics that was important to swimmers was something Eisenhardt worked painstakingly to get right.

Read the entire article...

SHOOTS WATER OFF YOUR POOL COVER UP TO 40 FT!

POOL SERVICE COMPANIES & POOL BUILDERS

A SIMPLE ADDAAATTACHMENT FREELISTING LISTING ADD FREE THAT HELPS PREVENT TOTHE THE #1SITE SITE FOR TO FOR DAMAGE TO#1 POOL COVERS

POOLCONTRACTORS. CONTRACTORS. POOL

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

37

Reinventing During Covid-19

BY JOE TRUSTY

LAUREN BROOM

L

auren Broom is a relatively new face to some but the CPO instructor has been branching out and making a name for herself in the pool industry. Over the last couple of years, she has reinvented herself during the pandemic as a top-rated provider of virtual CPO courses and podcaster.

Pool contractors in the state of Florida have known Broom for years. Working for Florida Health for almost 17 years; she was a

38

health inspector and regulator.

Many don’t realize that Broom has actually been teaching CPO courses just about as long.

Transitioning from regulator and inspector to full-time CPO instructor was a change Broom was longing to make. Like many during the pandemic, Broom suddenly realized that if she was looking for a sign to make a change in her career, this was it.

“What COVID did, was it opened doors for me,” said Broom, “It allowed me to go virtual.”

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

“Since April of 2020, they’ve had everything set up for us to start teaching virtual certified pool operator courses.” said Broom, “The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, which I’m certified through, has the people and resources to get that training standardized and then get it out to us instructors to able to teach.”

In explaining what prompted her to want to seek a new career path, Broom explained, “I had plateaued at the health department. The room for growth was over. I came to realize that I wanted to pursue education rather than regulation as a passion.”

The space for offering these services welcomes a fresh new approach and so far Broom has been very successful in disseminating her online program. Aside from being one of the leading female instructors

CPO Instructor Lauren Broom started her own podcast called “Let’s Talk About Pools”. what Broom says often distinguishes her program is her prior expertise as a health inspector and regulator.

“I come from a different part of the industry than a lot of the instructors.

I understand the regulations that a lot of people are dealing with because many times they will be dealing with commercial pools,” said Broom.

With her expertise being in health regulation and safety, Broom said she is looking to expand on the courses she offers and plans to begin teaching a live OSHA-10 certification course soon. While this new course will be able to be taken online, the requirements still stipulate that it be a live course and not pre-recorded.

In explaining how she developed her virtual CPO course, Broom explained that over the past decade of teaching face-to-face courses, she had developed many materials that translated well to a video series.

“A lot of people like to go to CPO courses for the interaction they get with instructors. During COVID we were unable to do that so I began developing videos of the same material I would cover in my in-person classes,” said Broom.

In developing her content library, Broom said that while she draws inspiration from what others are doing in the industry, her focus is on generating her own educational materials that speak to the content she is teaching.

“It’s all my content, I’m not taking someone else’s YouTubes or borrowing someone else’s material. I create all of my own so it’s done how I would teach it. I’m using my own equipment, so when I pull out my peristaltic pump or my erosion feeder, I’m explaining those components and what they do,” said Broom.

In creating her materials, she said above all that she tries to bring value by developing a course that is an engaging online learning experience for students.

Photos: Lauren Broom Space Coast Pool School

In understanding Broom’s decision to reinvent herself, making a sudden shift in her career plans was a sentiment shared by millions. In the wake of COVID, many chose to switch career paths rather than go back to their previous employer.

Read the entire article...

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

39

W

hen discussing hair entanglement in the pool and how to prevent these types of incidents from occurring, we have to look at a few things.

The first is line velocity. If it is low enough, hair won’t be ingested by the pipe and tangled under the drain lid. Suction entrapment wouldn’t occur either, even if a grate were missing.

The second issue pertains to the current codes and standards. Some states have state building codes that dictate maximum line velocities for energy efficiency.

California and Florida both mandate line velocities of 6 FPS suction and 8 FPS returns for energy efficiency.

Residential In-ground Pools NSPI-5/2003 (9.2) the line velocities were limited to 8 FPS suction and 10 FPS returns. (9.2.1) the limit through the drain cover was limited to 1.5 FPS. Residential In-ground Pools NSPI-5/2013 (9.2) the line velocities were limited to 8 FPS suction and 8 FPS returns. (9.2.1) the limit through the drain cover was deferred to the APSP-7 standard.

Suction Entrapment Avoidance APSP-7 (2013) Piping line velocity is not specified, though the flow rate through the drain cover is limited to 1.5 FPS. APSP-15 Energy Efficiency Code (2011) 6 FPS suction and 8 FPS return ISPSC 2015 (311.3) limits the line velocities in the return piping to 8 FPS. (310) It defers to the specifications in APSP-7 (there is no longer a suction line velocity in the standard).

Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies APSP16/2017 (3.9.2) piping line velocities were eliminated, though 1.5 FPS remained as the line velocity through the RDP/SOFA.

40

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

Hair Entanglement PAOLO BENEDETTI The safety standards are not addressing energy efficiency. Most experts agree that the optimum efficiencies are achieved at 6 FPS suction and 8 FPS return line velocities. The majority of hydraulic engineers are designing at 4.5 FPS suction and 6 FPS return line velocities.

sump size is compliant with the SOFA requirements and the manufacturer’s specifications.

Field-built sumps (divots carved out of the shotcrete) are oftentimes too shallow. Few builders thicken the shotcrete around the suction pipes to allow for a proper depth sump.

This allows for a margin of error and minor deviations that may occur during construction, while still staying below the maximums.

Most codes for public pools recognize the need for low line velocities and therefore limit the velocities at the pipe connected to the main drain to 1.5 – 3 FPS. The safety standards assume two things occur. The first assumption is that the drain

The decreased distance between the suction pipe and the underside of the drain cover increases the flow through the drain cover.

This increases the danger of hair entanglement, as the design standards and flow rate through the cover have been exceeded.

Therefore the sumps are of insufficient size and volume to slow the velocity of the water.

PoolRX Reduces Chlorine PoolRX Reduces Chlorine Consumption by to PoolRX Reduces Consumption by up upChlorine to 50%* 50%* Consumption by up to 50%* Let Pool Yoda show you how you can reduce chlorine usage in Let Yoda show how reduce chlorine usage in yourPool swimming poolyou by up toyou 50%can using the patented mineral your pool by to 50% using the patented mineral technology PoolRX chemical reduction system.usage Let swimming Pool Yoda show youup how you can reduce chlorine in technology PoolRX chemical reduction system.

For allpool yourby alternative your swimming up to 50%sanitizer using theneeds. patented mineral For all your alternative sanitizer needs. technology PoolRX chemical reduction system.

For ELIMINATES all your alternative sanitizer needs.

POOLRX & PREVENTS ALGAE

POOLRX ELIMINATES & PREVENTS ALGAE POOLRX ELIMINATES & PREVENTS ALGAE

Lasts Up to 6 Months Lasts Up to 6 Months Lasts Up to 6 Months

The #1 Choice of Pool Professionals Everywhere!

The #1 Choice of Pool Professionals Everywhere! #1 Choice of Pool Everywhere!

9The Eliminates & Prevents All Professionals Algae 9 Eliminates & Prevents All Algae Eliminates & Prevents All Algae 9 9Reduces Chlorine Demand 9 Reduces Chlorine Demand Reducesfor Chlorine 9 9Effective up to 6Demand Months 9 Effective for up to 6 Months Effective up to 6At Months 9 9Saves Timefor & Money Every Pool 9 Saves Time & Money At Every Pool 9 SavesPOOLRX Time & Money At Every Pool is used by pool professionals like Greggs Pool Works in Sacramento

POOLRX is used by pool professionals like Greggs Pool Works in Sacramento POOLRX is used by pool professionals like Greggs Pool Works in Sacramento

For More Information Contact For Contact ForMore MoreInformation Informationor Contact info@poolyoda.com visit info@poolyoda.com info@poolyoda.comor orvisit visit www.poolyoda.com

www.poolyoda.com www.poolyoda.com

Sneak Preview: $130M Aquatic Facility MOTE SEA

O

ne of the most incredible new projects on our radar is the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) currently in development and planned for Sarasota, FL. The new 110,000 square foot marine science education aquarium will be built on 12 acres on the northern end of Nathan Benderson Park. The construction of the facility is expected to have a $280

42

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Mote Marine

million economic impact on the city of Sarasota. Mote Marine Laboratory is a non-profit marine research organization centered on City Island in Sarasota, Florida, with other sites in eastern Sarasota County, Boca Grande, and the Florida Keys. The laboratory’s mission is to enhance marine science and education while also promoting marine conservation and sustainability. For the general public, study is interpreted through a public aquarium and related education programs.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

The new Mote SEA facility which broke ground in October of 2020 and is projected to open in early 2023, is part of a $130 million dollar facility planned for the region. More than 65,000 children from Sarasota and Manatee counties will benefit from Mote SEA’s interactive state-ofthe-art STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) teaching labs and free educational programming.

Mote SEA will be used to support their expanding scientific and technology programs, and expanded research facilities.

We were excited to learn more about the project and interviewed Michael Moore and Dan Bebak at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium along with Vito Mariano, President of Basecrete Technologies who has been consulting on the waterproofing aspects of the project.

“We are first and foremost a Marine research science laboratory,” said Dan Bebak, V.P. and Director of Aquarium at Mote Marine Laboratory, “the interest in the aquarium concept grew out of Mote’s desire, along with other scientists at the time, to talk to the public about the research that the laboratory was doing and put a public face on our research.”

The aquarium portion of the currently facility displays more than 100 marine species which are cared for by the trained staff and volunteers of the facility.

“The impetetus for the new Science Education Aquarium is tied to the growth of research. We’re going to have three interactive classes there hosting about 70,000 students every year to make use of those research laboratories totally free of charge,” said Bebak.

“The 12 acres we’re actually building on is in a lake. We have to drain it, demuck it, put in the dirt and pack it down before we can even begin construction,” explained Moore.

On this specific type of facility, there are many different environmental concerns when using the different types of enclosures that will have to support marine life. “One of the challenges we’ve had here is that this is a three story building. Some of our larger exhibits like the manatees and river otters are on the top floor. The Gulf of Mexico exhibit stands two floors,” said Bebak, “building a big pool on the roof of a hotel is a perfect example of kind of a similar thing. We’ve had to engineer it all so that it supports itself.”

The team contracted to design the facility include TDS Design in Atlanta, who were the lead architects for the Georgia Aquarium and AOA Studios out of Orlando, FL. Two well known contracting firms Willis Smith Construction and Whiting-Turner, will be working in partnership handling construction of the project.

“Our lead engineers are EXP,” said Bebak, “the life support design and filtration, pumps, motors, bio filters and ozone is being engineered by PCA Global out of San Diego. There are a lot of materials involved, but working with Basecrete has been exceptional. They donated material we’ve used here for our habitats and it’s been a great product. All products have to be resilient. We’re in there scrubbing down walls, animals are in there rubbing against it. Of course they have to be non-toxic because we have animals living in there.”

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

43

Waterproofing and weather proofing on this project will be very important

Since the aquatic enclosures are going to be suspended on the second and third floor of the structure, we asked Vito Mariano. He has worked on numerous projects for various city zoos. We wanted to know what some of the technical challenges were with waterproofing these type of vessels.

“Deflection is probably the biggest issue we deal with. Depending on how much movement, how much support the beams and posts that are supporting it. We have pools that

are 30, 40 stories up and sometimes they are quite challenging,” said Mariano, “if it goes beyond a certain percentage of movement we may have some difficulty. We want to make sure they are structurally sound enough before we do any waterproofing.”

“Waterproofing for marine life is a different challenge. We want to make sure that these animals are well taken care of and there’s no VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) or toxicities. Any elements that are harmful to marine life, we want to make sure that’s encapsulated,” said Mariano.

Sustainability of the eco-environment is a big concern to Bebak, “We’re about 10 miles from the coast and so all of our seawater needs recirculating systems. In order to recapture as much of that saltwater and fresh water as we can we’re going to be using backwash recovery systems,” explained Bebak, “we’ll actually refilter and clean up that backwash,

remove as much concentrated organic material as we can before that goes to waste. We’re also going to have heat exchangers that capture the thermal mass because we have to heat and cool water.”

“All of these tanks require different temperatures all the way from our manatees to our penguins.” said Bebak, “To save on electricity we recapture the heat and cold from the backwash water to save as much as we can on utility costs.”

The design concept for the life support system and the plans to deploy green technologies to lower the carbon footprint of the facility are in line with the organizations goals for sustainability.

This coupled with the exciting design plans for the Mote Sea facility make this intriguing project, one we’re following closely.

Read the entire article...

44

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

The Safer, Softer & Smarter Surface for Pool Decks, Pool Steps and Pool Interiors!

Contact Rebound Pool Surfaces Today! support@reboundpools.com or Visit reboundpools.com

This issue of Pool Magazine would not be possible without the continued support of our friends, patrons, and associates. We’d like to thank our platinum sponsors Viking Capital & Basecrete.

Become a Supporter of Pool Magazine!

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! Want to show your support for Pool Magazine? Join us on Patreon for VIP member benefits, merchandise and a subscription to the quarterly printed version of Pool Magazine.

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE POOL MAGAZINE PODCAST YET?

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

45

Rise of the Virtual Pool Inspection

BY JOE TRUSTY

INSPECTED.COM

I

n the wake of Covid-19, an entirely new cottage industry has popped up.

Virtual pool inspections are becoming increasingly popular in the state of Florida, where new legislature recently enacted now means pool inspections can be done remotely.

inspections are vital as they are used to determine if pools comply with local building and safety regulations. These inspection reports also help home buyers and homeowners identify any potential safety hazards or repairs that need to be made.

Traditionally pool inspections are performed by certified pool inspectors or home inspectors that are able to submit an official report about the overall condition of the home owners pool and equipment. Pool

A white-hot market for pools has seen the demand for these services increase. The process of getting an inspection done traditionally involved scheduling a date and time for the inspector to come out to the job site.

46

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

Changes to Florida legislation were recently made to streamline that process. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, a bottleneck began to occur for many builders.

An incredible backlog of requests for inspections and a drastically reduced number of inspectors who were available to perform them helped ease the pathway for legislation to allow virtual pool inspections.

Recent changes to Section 553.79, allowed a “state or local enforcement agency” to “perform virtual inspections”.

Starting on July 1, 2021, SB 1382 now requires building authorities to allow virtual inspections to be performed remotely and submitted electronically.

During a virtual pool inspection all media & reports are actively stored to the cloud.

As we now enter our second year of the pandemic, people have adjusted to doing business virtually. Remote office workers became all too familiar with products like Zoom as they began to rely on these services to conduct business using video conferencing technology.

The Inspected platform is based on a similar concept but is tied directly to the inspection process.

“We developed a patent-pending technology that geolocates the conference call to a specific job site,” said Anthony Perera of Inspected.

“We realized that with the passing of all these laws and with these new house bills that municipalities were allowing third-party providers to perform single-trade inspections around the country. That’s kind of how and why Inspected was born.”

Perera who was an HVAC contractor by trade has rolled out an impressive platform allowing virtual inspections to occur remotely. “We essentially replace the city inspector on job sites,” said Perera, “Gone are the days when you would get to a certain stage in that pool inspection, and would have to stop the project and call up the city inspector to do that inspection; we’re able to do that in real-time now.”

As the sunshine state adjusts to the new rules and regulations regarding inspections, Inspected.com recently has emerged as a leading service provider of virtual pool inspections.

One of the biggest differences between a regular pool inspection and a virtual pool inspection is obviously that the inspector is not physically on-site. “The contractor becomes the avatar for our inspector,” said Perera, “We have our checklist based on the municipality, of the items we have to inspect. We run through the checklists, take the photos, and perform the proper documentation to ensure all of the code standards have been met.”

Ultimately, Perera says virtual inspections create a more seamless process for builders and expects mass adoption soon. While not available everywhere, virtual inspections are slowly being introduced to different cities, states, and municipalities.

Read the entire article...

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

47

Danilo Bonazza & Tile Doctor

PREVENTING

GLASS TILE FAILURES What are the pros using for their glass tile installations? We asked leading installer Danilo Bonazza of Art & Mosaics.

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Art & Mosaics, Tile Doctor

48

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

W

hen discussing how to prevent failures in glass tile installations, we figured it best to consult with the pros. Known as a premier installer of artistic mosaic tile pool interiors, Danilo Bonazza has been the installer for many elite builders across the country.

Part of the Tributary Revelation group, a network of high-end builders and service providers; Bonazza is frequently called in to consult on some of the most intricate and elaborate tile settings. Having access to the same social media groups we do, frequently Bonazza sees his fair share of posts

regarding failures in mosaic tile installations. Consequently, having an in-depth knowledge of what products and methods are being used, he is often afforded an expert’s insight as to why and how specific failures have occurred.

Being in an elite class of highend installers, Bonazza is called to perform his mosaic art in a variety of settings. The pool, being his canvas of choice; Bonazza has been relying on traditional tried and true oldworld methods of tile setting.

This, while still utilizing the most innovative and reliable products available on the market.

Bonazza insists that using the right products to perform mosaic tile installations in the pool is absolutely essential. That, along with using inferior or substandard materials, and applying non-standard installation protocols, is the reason for 90% of failures.

Partnering with The Tile Doctor, Curt Rapp, on many projects, Bonazza utilizes one of the most popular line of products they distribute, the Litokol brand, in the majority of his mosaic glass tile installations. We had a chance to chat with both of them recently, while Rapp was consulting with Bonazza on yet another inground pool project he was doing an installation on.

Rapp had met builders who were doing glass tile projects and were eager to find better solutions. “A lot of them were involved in these education programs”, said Rapp, “they would lean in and say ‘well what do you have?’, generally they were involved with projects that had some problems and were interested in learning how to set glass tile without failures,” explained Rapp.

Bonazza, who first started researching pool tile installation products back in the ’90s, has spent his career field testing products. “It’s great having laboratory tests, but you also have to conduct research out in the field” said Bonazza, who often subjects different materials to submersion tests in various chemicals to test their adherence properties while conducting his field trials when trying any new product.

Subsequently, he had become extremely proficient at using Litokol products early in 2002 in the application of mosaic tile installations back in Italy.

As an expert in his field, he says Litokol is essential to preventing glass tile failures.

Rapp, who started Tile Doctor back in 2000, at first as an informational website that gradually morphed and conformed to his mantra of distributing best-in-class products in terms of health, wellness, and sustainability. “Litokol is exactly that,” said Rapp, “it’s not only high performance, but it’s incredibly environmentally friendly as well.”

Litokol, an epoxy-based grout system, is often the product of choice for many glass tile interior installations. The Tile Doctor is the exclusive U.S. Distributor for Litokol products. As far as The Tile Doctor is concerned, today the end-user in mind is often tradesmen and artisans alike that are looking for performance-based products which can help mitigate catastrophic failures and ensure successful applications.

“Litoelastic which is an epoxy bright white adhesive has amazing properties. non-sagging, easy to use, and mix. It’s not super tough on your hands and it bonds perfectly.” - Danilo Bonazza

Read the entire article...

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

49

Improving Pool

FILTRATION Ask 100 Pool Professionals what their preferred method of filtration is and you may get 100 different answers.

BY MARCUS PACKER

M

any pool owners are looking for cost effective ways to improve the filtration in their swimming pool. The topic of pool filtration is one that garners many different opinions. Depending on who you ask, you may get a completely different answer as to what the most effective filtration product on the market is for residential pools.

We asked service technicians from across the country which products and methods they recommend in order to improve filtration in the pool. Here’s what they said: “Filtration is the key to clean, clear and safe swimming pool water. Homeowners need to be doing regularly scheduled filter cleans every 4-6 months,” said Jeffery Johnston of Quality Clear Pools.

50

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

“Some pools have smaller filters and require monthly and even weekly cleanings.

Keeping accurate maintenance logs will help with keeping filtration optimal.

Keeping the chemicals balanced and using enzymes along with the VSF pumps on the market today help with filtration.” said Johnston.

POOL TECHNICIANS SOUND OFF ON FILTRATION Pool Pros sound off about their favorite filtration methods “In our experience in maintaining swimming pools there are three areas that we use to focus on keeping pools clean and safe for our clients,” said Paul Putscher of Pool Keepers in East Texas, “the three most important areas are chemistry, circulation, and filtration. Chemistry has gotten a lot of focus, circulation gets a fair share regarding pump and pipe sizing, yet filtration appears to be the least focused on.“ Of the three main types of filters we run across in residential pools, sand, DE, and cartridge filters all have their own subtle nuances and preference with pool professionals.

“Sand filters are the oldest type of Cole Daasnes of Poseidon Pool water filtration, dating back to how Service tends to favor cartridge Prices forand dryare chlorine products the Romans filtered water filters because they are prevalent not found,” anticipated the most commonare filters said to level in his out particular market. “As a West untilfilters the reopening BioLab Putscher, “Cartridge on the of the Coast service company we always plant in Louisiana.

Hurricane Ida other hand start out cleaning at about recommend cartridge filters. My has delayed construc20 microns and ashowever, they get dirty, get personal recommendation is to efforts. down to about 10tion microns when it’s always slightly oversize the filter and time to clean the cartridges. DE filters whenever possible use a Jandy CV start at 1-3 microns and get no lower. passthrough filter as it reduces overall When they get dirty a backwash and dynamic head,” said Daasnes. replenishment of DE is required.”

“We prefer cartridges based on type “Sand filters need to run longer than of debris. Sand filters are better for the other two types to keep our suction side and areas of fine debris pools clean and safe. The designed like sand and dust. A bonus is you flow rates of filters should also be can backwash the system and it considered,” said Putscher. keeps you from having to do manual maintenance of breaking down the “Sand should flow about 20 gallons filters and cleanings them manually. per square foot of filter area. Cartridge DE is the finest type of filter, Meaning is 1 gpm per square foot, and DE is it catches the smallest debris. I also designed to handle 2 gpm per square like the idea of being able to replace foot. Plumbing should also be taken cartridges easily. From a service/ into consideration. Knowing the maintenance stance it’s easier to sell design flow rates of all our filters is replacement filters than to change helpful in the proper operation and out sand and less parts breaking than cleaning of our pools,” explained DE system (specifically the grids),” Putscher. explained Daasnes.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

51

A Look at Pool Scouts Growth MICHAEL WAGNER

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Pool Scouts

P

ool Scouts, a pool cleaning and maintenance franchise with 101 locations around the country, is riding the post-pandemic wave of pool construction. They’re also smashing revenue and franchise sales records in the process.

We had the opportunity to go one on one with Pool Scouts President Michael Wagner recently. During our conversation, we discussed their meteoric growth this year.

“A lot of this is attributed to

52

existing franchisees just having spectacular growth years,” said Wagner. “Amidst challenging labor markets, some of our franchisees have not been able to expand as quickly,” continued Wagner. He indicated that hiring still remains a challenge in some markets but has slowly been improving.

Reporting big leaps in sales, numbers were up 76.3 percent year-to-date. The pool service franchise had a year-over-year revenue increase of 77.8% in Q3 2021 vs Q3 2020. In the process they have grown considerably, recruiting 20 new franchisees and 42 purchased territories.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

Most recently, they announced the signing of franchisee Clarence Herry in Annapolis, Maryland. Pool Scouts reached that coveted 100-unit milestone (now 101) as they begin operating in their 15th state on the map.

A big reason why the brand has so successfully resonated with consumers has been its effective digital marketing strategy.

Wagner emphasized this has been fundamental in helping them achieve growth.

“Part of our unique special sauce as a franchise is doing a lot to get the phone to ring. We provide marketing which really affords us the opportunity to scale that for all of our franchisees,” said Michael Wagner - President of Pool Scouts.

Wagner says back-of-the-house operations are the driving engine. The franchise has in-house staff handling marketing for franchisees. A team of graphic designers, videographers, and marketing professionals helps drive lead generation for all of the offices.

Wagner says offering best-in-class marketing at the corporate level leaves his franchisees with more bandwidth to run their business. In a data-driven world, Wagner says using strong analytics tools like Tableau is essential in proving ROI.

Eager to expand the Pool Scouts footprint, Wagner has his sights on the horizon. While proud of the growth his team has managed to accomplish, he says they will continue to absorb market share.

“We’ve added 9 new states to our franchise system this year. We’re going to be opening up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and just opened up in Boise, Idaho. We’re super excited to be in Kansas City and had a great first year in Columbus, Ohio. I see us continuing to expand robustly across multiple states.”

It’s been a big year for Pool Scouts. Due to the thousands of new pools erected during the pandemic, pool sales skyrocketed this year.

With limited choices due to lockdowns, families made a concerted effort to reinvest in their backyards. Suddenly, an entire market of new pool owners needs assistance with pool service and maintenance. Wagner finds his organization well-positioned to meet increased demand for these essential services.

Consequently, he touts the Pool Scouts system with removing the guesswork from marketing and providing franchise owners better optics.

Increased brand recognition in the market has also what has been essential in propelling growth, states Wagner. “We’re really adept at getting the brand out there in the marketplace for the franchisees. We have a PR agency that we work with to tell our franchisees stories in their local market.”

Above all, Wagner credits the culture and camaraderie of the Pool Scouts organization with being their differentiating factor. Elaborating, he explained how this has helped distinguish them from other pool franchises.

“We have varied backgrounds, and we really try to assess the skillset of potential candidates to make sure that they are not only a fit from a business perspective but also from a cultural perspective,” said Wagner.

Backed by Buzz Franchise Brands, corporate team with a combined total of more than 80 years of franchise experience, Pool Scouts franchisees receive extensive training and bestin-class software.

The requirements for joining are a a net worth of $150k. Pool Scouts charges $25k franchisee fee to join, an 8% royalty and a 2% ad fund fee for lead generation.

The model is attractive for pool contractors.

It looks as if the stars may very well align for the type of growth Wagner is anticipating.

Consumer interest in swimming pools and outdoor living continues to be white-hot. If 2022 is a repeat of last year, Pool Scouts could be looking at another year of unprecedented growth.

Read the entire article...

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

53

®

“We’re helping pool companies win at Digital Marketing.”

• • • • •

Website Design & Development Digital Marketing, SEO, Pay-Per-Click Lead Generation & Marketing Management Social Media & Video Marketing Advertising & Product Promotion

PoolMarketing.com® is the parent company of Pool Magazine and proud members of the PHTA.

TRUSTED BY POOL BUILDERS & SERVICE COMPANIES ACROSS THE U.S. CALL (833) 820-9190 & Schedule a Consultation!

2022

Advertising

IT MAKES SENSE TO BE A MEMBER OF PHTA New! Design & Build Certification Pathways Apprenticeship Program for Service Technicians Resource Library On-Demand Education Safety Tools Mentor Program MyPHTA Online Community

Find us at phta.org to learn more!

Pool & Hot Tub Alliance 2111 Eisenhower Ave. | Ste 500 | Alexandria, VA 22314 | 703-838-0083 | phta@phta.org

Jumping Into The Shark Tank

ONE ON ONE WITH

THE MAGIC 5 Technology based swim goggles won over all of the sharks on NBC’s Shark Tank. Take a deeper dive on The Magic 5.

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: The Magic 5

56

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

F

resh off his recent appearance on NBC’s Shark Tank, Rasmus Barfred one of the co-founders of the innovative new Magic 5 swim goggles discusses their revolutionary new product. One that not only caught his company a couple of sharks eager to invest but is making the world reimagine how a performance swim goggle should fit.

Barfred and his partners Bo Haaber (CEO) and Niklas Hedegaard (COO) successfully

pitched their product for investment on the hit TV show back in October. In our one-onone interview, we asked Barfred how he and his colleagues first got into the competitive swim goggle space.

The product differentiates itself from all others on the market in that the Magic 5 goggles are specifically designed for the end-users face. We took a deeper dive with Barfred who broke down the technology behind what makes Magic 5 so unique.

“All other swimming goggles are kind of ‘onesize-fits-all’. Now matter how big a face you have, or how deep your eye sockets are, you buy a product from a retailer and just hope for the best,” said Barfred, “We turned that around and wanted to make one product for one customer.

It is bespoke product and a tailor-made goggle.”

With ringing endorsements from Olympic Athletes, The Magic 5 are suddenly being taken very seriously. Consumers who are looking for a custom-fit pair of swim goggles, can hop onto the Magic 5 website and download their proprietary face-scanning app. The technology maps every contour of the customer’s face and links that data to their order. This is where the magic happens.

“Our AI technology is basically a huge set of rules that we have learned over the course of the last four years. These rules determine and understand how we should produce the product so that it fits your face the best possible way,” explained Barfred.

Exactly how big is the swim goggle market?

“Approximately 70 million people or 9% of the population of the western world, swim for fitness purposes,” said Barfred. “On average, these consumers buy one pair of goggles per year. It’s like a pair of running shoes, you wear them down over time and need a new pair.”

The Magic 5 founders were well prepared to pitch to the sharks, immediately winning them over with the tech behind the goggles. “I think one of our advantages is that our business is born in data and technology,” explained Barfred, “everything that goes on behind the scenes is data-driven. From how you scan your face, to how we make sure that every goggle is produced to fit the exact curvature of your eyes and really giving you that next-level experience.”

While viewers got a good sense of what it was like to be in the shark tank, the Magic 5 founders would spend additional time off-camera pitching their product. “We were in the tank pitching it for 55 minutes, what you see on television is only a snapshot of that. As soon it was established that we were a technology company that makes swim goggles, we actually got 2 offers from each of them,” said Barfred.

On camera, Robert Herjavec decided to go solo at the last second and dropped a bombshell offering of $1M for 6.5% which the founders were thrilled to accept.

Mark Cuban wound up coming in on the investment with Herjavec after the show aired. “They decided to split the deal and asked us if we were interested in that and of course we were,” said Barfred. Having both involved would mean twice the firepower and a tremendous show of faith from the two sharks.

Capturing a larger portion of the roughly $6 billion dollar swim goggle market is first priority for The Magic 5 and was their driving intention to go on Shark Tank. Appearing on the show to pitch their product to the sharks presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Denmark natives.

“Just having the opportunity to go on Shark Tank was a really big deal for us,” said Barfred, “to put things in comparison, there are as many viewers of each Shark Tank episode as there are people in Denmark.”

The Magic 5 were seeking $500K for 2.5% equity in their company. Learn more about the goggles and their recent appearance on the hit TV show Shark Tank.

Read the entire article...

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

57

Talking Luxury Pools With DESIGN ECOLOGY

BY JOE TRUSTY Photo Credit: Jimi Smith Photography

D

iscussing luxury pools with Scott Cummings and Benjamin Lasseter of Design Ecology, we found this dynamic duo known throughout the pool industry has produced some incredible jaw dropping backyards over the years. We had the chance to catch up with them to talk shop.

Cummings and Lasseter hit it off right away as it turns out. The partners both met back in 2006.

Cummings had just relocated from Memphis and began

58

working in Austin for the same company where Lasseter was a construction supervisor. Shortly after they decided to start their own Design / Build firm – Design Ecology / Design Aquatics.

The venture between the two business partners officially began in 2011.

Design Ecology functions as the landscaping architecture / master planning division. While Design Aquatics is the other half of the company which on pool construction and the design and engineering of pools.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

Cummings, a licensed landscape architect, oversees all of the design for the firm. We asked him what it is like working on luxury pools and backyards with some of the most affluent homeowners in Austin.

“It’s very easy to walk onto a job site and design something that is going to be great for me and make something that I think is perfect and going to look great.” said Cummings, “The challenge with design, especially with high end clients is they have a specific vision. You have to understand that vision and bring that to life.” continued Cummings.

“I always feel it’s important to get to know them as people and get to know their taste, family and lifestyle.” said Cummings, who shepherds their clients throughout the entire design process.

Coming up with the budget for Design Ecology’s multi-million dollar projects, is Ben Lasseter’s domain. He explained how the entire budgeting process on high end luxury builds is vastly different than your typical residential pool build.

“With a lot of clients, their budget is irrational to a normal person. They see something and the average person is like ‘Oh, that’s $100,000 for that statue’… the clients aren’t making buying decisions based off budget, but what they want,” said Lasseter. “they want what they saw in the picture executed. You have to get used to throwing out really large numbers.” continued Lasseter.

The average luxury high end build Design Ecology performs for elite homeowners can range into the millions. “We’ve worked on projects where just the tile alone in the pool costs more than a half a million dollars and that doesn’t include the pool structure.” said Lasseter.

The amount of preparation and planning that goes into building the luxury pools Design Ecology is known for is considerable. “We do a lot of work on hill sides and cliff sides. You don’t just go and dig a hole back there. You’re working with soils engineers and structural engineers.” said Lasseter.

“It’s not like your typical pool where you have your excavator come in one day and then your forms and your rebar and your plumbing going in, we may have have six months of structurals going in before we can even get to a water holding vessel.” continued Lasseter. “If you forget one pipe, you can’t just fix it because you’re dangling off the side of a cliff or your access is no longer there because you took the scaffolding down.”

Photo Credit: Jimi Smith Photography

The enormous complexity and forethought that goes into these projects can take years. The average lead time for luxury pool projects can vary dramatically depending on many factors explained Cummings. “The amount of design time can vary wildly. We’ve had some projects go from design to construction document prep in a matter of days while others can take years to plan.” said Cummings. “Right now demand is so high that we just can’t keep up so our backlog is unfortunately longer than we’d like but there’s worse problems to have than that I suppose.”

“Covid has been an interesting phenomenon for us.

There was so much uncertainty at the beginning of 2020.” said Cummings, “We’ve seen a huge boom in the number of people who are looking to build their own oasis and essentially create a refuge at home.”

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

59

For the most part however, Cummings said that homeowners are becoming increasingly aware of the shortages effecting the pool industry and have been sympathetic and understanding that construction time can be much longer than average.

Lasseter explained some of the struggles that Texas pool contractors in particular have faced as of late.

We asked the partners if they had any advice for aspiring builders looking to delve into the arena of Luxury Pools.

“Understand the product you are selling before you sell it. My biggest issue I see with people is that I see dangerous mistakes, code violations. I wish more people would take the time to read the codes and understand the reasons for them.” said Cummings.

“Understand the need for properly sized plumbing,” continued Cummings, “spacial standards, the slopes and breaks of a pool. Lengths and protections for even basic

60

stuff like diving are often misunderstood. If you really want to step into the real high end luxury pools you need to understand what it takes to build them safely.”

Cummings also mentioned the need to price things accurately, a fact which Lasseter went into greater detail on when he expressed the importance of focusing on the business side as much as the construction side. He suggested that aspiring luxury pool builders take a lesson from their own companies struggle. Lasseter explained that as more money begins to come in, it’s increasingly important to focus more and more energy managing the business side.

Lasseter expressed the importance of having oversight over financials. “Know your business. We went from watching every check that went through the bank to having millions of dollars moving through our account.”

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 1

“We grew so fast, we didn’t know what we were,” said Lasseter, “We couldn’t look at our books and say ‘Oh, we showed a profit last month.’ The forensic accounting that went into getting us on track was… IS… a three year process.

Now I can look a report and it’s a click away. It’s not a guess or intuition.”

Read the entire article...

3 DAYS OF SEMINARS 3 DAYS OF SEMINARS

Over 90 Seminar Classes Over SeminarAll Classes Classes90 in Spanish 3 Days Classes in Spanish All 3 Days BEGINNERS TO ADVANCED: BEGINNERS TO ADVANCED: WATER CHEMISTRY, EQUIPMENT WATER CHEMISTRY, EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION AND REPAIR, INSTALLATION AND REPAIR, ELECTRONIC CONTROLS, HEATERS, ELECTRONIC CONTROLS, HEATERS, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND MORE MARKETING, AND MORE

ADDITIONAL CLASSES: ADDITIONAL CLASSES:

➜ Certified Pool Operator Course (CPO) PHTA ➜ Certified Pool Operator Course (CPO) PHTA ➜ Essential Plumbing Installation ➜ Essential Plumbing UNIV. Installation WATERSHAPE WATERSHAPE UNIV. ➜ Water Chemistry for Residential Pools PCTI ➜ Water Chemistry for Residential ➜ Separate fee applies Pools PCTI ➜ Separate fee applies ➜ Water University on the floor with ➜ Waterfree University on the floor with education sessions. free education sessions.

REGISTER EARLY ONLINE FOR CLASSES FOR $85 BY MARCH 1st • $95 MARCH 2nd AND ONSITE REGISTER EARLY ONLINE FOR CLASSES FOR $85 BY MARCH 1st • $95 MARCH 2nd AND ONSITE

FLOOR ACCESS: No Charge for online Pre-Registration. ON-SITE: $5 Badge Fee FLOOR ACCESS: No Charge for online Pre-Registration. ON-SITE: $5 Badge Fee

ON THE THE Exhibit Exhibit FLOOR FLOOR ON Prize Drawings all 3 days Prize Drawings all 3 days

On-Floor Golf Putting contest for Everyone On-Floor Golf Putting contest for Everyone General Show Info: Exhibit Hours: General Show Info: Exhibit 800.787.7727 ThursdayHours: 6:00pm - 9:00pm 800.787.7727 6:00pm - 9:00pm info@westernshow.com Thursday Friday 2:00pm - 6:00pm info@westernshow.com Friday 2:00pm - 6:00pm Saturday 1:00pm - 6:00pm Saturday 1:00pm 6:00pm Exhibitor Sales: Exhibitor Sales: 800-746-9772 800-746-9772 exhibitsales@westernshow.com exhibitsales@westernshow.com

Golf Tournament Tournament Golf Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Wednesday, SkylinksMarch Course9, at2022 LongSkylinks Beach • Course BenefitsatCPSA Long Beach • Benefits CPSA

Western Pool & Spa Show Western Pool & Spa Show March 10, 11, 12, 2022 March 10, 11, 12, 2022

Long Beach Convention Center Long Center 300 E.Beach OCEAN BLVD., LConvention ONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA / HALL “C” 300 E. OCEAN BLVD., LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA / HALL “C”

SUBSCRIBE TO POOL MAGAZINE

Make Pool Magazine Your #1 Source For Pool Industry News

FREE for Pool Professionals

Make sure you don’t miss a single issue of Pool Magazine!

BASECRETE BASECRETE BASECRETE BASECRETE BASECRETE BASECRETE BASECRETE BASECRETE Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible FlexibleWaterproof Waterproof Bondcoat Flexible WaterproofBondcoat Bondcoat

Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Basecrete 5gal Pail Basecrete Liquid 5gl Pail BC-L0145 Basecrete Liquid 5gal Pail& & BasecreteLiquid Liquid 5gl Pail BC-L0145

Basecrete Liquid 5gal Pail& & Basecrete Liquid 5gl Pail BC-L0145 Basecrete Liquid 5gal Pail Basecrete Liquid 5gl Pail BC-L0145 Basecrete Liquid 5gl Pail BC-L0145 3 bags of either BasecreteLiquid Liquid 33bags 5glofof Pail BC-L0145 bags either Basecrete Pail BC-L0145 either Basecrete Liquid 5gl5gl Pail BC-L0145 3 bags of either Basecrete Liquid 5gal Pail & Basecrete Liquid 5gl Pail BC-L0145 Grey Compound 50lb Bag BC-G0250 Grey Compound 50lb Bag BC-G0250 Grey Compound 50lb Bag Grey Compound 50lb Bag Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Grey Compound 50lb BC-G0250 Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat Grey Compound 50lb Bag Basecrete Liquid 50lb 5gl Pail BC-L0145 350lb bags ofBag either Grey Compound Bag BC-G0250 Grey Compound 50lb Bag BC-G0250 Grey Compound Bag Grey Compound 50lb Bag BC-G0250 White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 White Compound 50lb Bag White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 Grey Compound 50lb Bag BC-G0250 White Compound 50lb Bag White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 Flexible Waterproof Bondcoat White Compound 50lb Bag Grey Compound 50lb Bag BC-G0250 Grey Compound 50lb BC-G0250 White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 Grey Compound 50lb Bag White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 White Compound 50lb Bag White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 Black Compound 50lb Bag BC-B0450 Black Compound Bag Black Compound 50lb Bag BC-B0450 White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 Black Compound 50lb Bag Black Compound 50lb Bag BC-B0450 Grey Compound 50lb Bag BC-G0250 Black Compound 50lb Bag White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 White Compound 50lb Bag Black Compound 50lb Bag BC-B0450 Black Compound Black Compound 50lb Bag Black Compound 50lb 50lbBag BagBC-B0450 BC-B0450 Black Compound 50lb Bag BC-B0450 White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 with exceptional adhesive qualities.

Basecrete Liquid 5gal Pail & Waterproof bondcoat with exceptional adhesive qualities.

Basecrete Liquid 5gl Pail BC-L0145 Black Compound 50lb BagBag BC-B0450 with exceptional adhesive qualities.

Waterproof bondcoatwith withexceptional exceptional adhesive qualities.

Black Compound 50lb BC-B0450 Black Compound 50lb Bag adhesive qualities.

Waterproof bondcoat with exceptional adhesive qualities. with exceptional adhesive qualities.

Waterproof bondcoat with exceptional adhesive qualities.

Waterproof bondcoat with exceptional adhesive qualities. waterproof polymer cement for use inin concrete repairs.

Waterproof polymer cement for use concrete repairs.

Waterproof bondcoat withexceptional adhesive qualities.

Black Compound 50lb BC-B0450 waterproof polymer cement for use inBag concrete repairs.

Waterproof polymer cement for use inconcrete concrete repairs.

Basecrete Liquid 5gl Pail BC-L0145 3exceptional bags of either Waterproof bondcoat with adhesive qualities. waterproof polymer cement for use in repairs.

Waterproof polymer cement for use in concrete repairs.

Waterproof bondcoat with exceptional adhesive qualities.

Waterproof polymer cement for use in concrete repairs. waterproof cement for use in concrete repairs.

Waterproof polymer cement for use in concrete repairs. with exceptional adhesive qualities.

Waterproof bondcoat with exceptional adhesive qualities. pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, For use swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, Waterproof polymer cement foruse use inconcrete concrete repairs. swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, For useininpolymer inswimming swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, Waterproof polymer cement for in repairs. swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, For use swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, Grey Compound 50lb Bag BC-G0250 Grey Compound 50lb Bag Waterproof polymer cement for use interraces, concrete repairs.

Waterproof bondcoat with exceptional adhesive qualities.

For use indecks, pools, roofs, foundations, waterproof polymer cement for use concrete repairs.

Waterproof polymer cement for use inthe concrete repairs. swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, For use inuse swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, decks, etc. directly to the substrate.

NoNo For inswimming swimming pools, roofs, foundations, cellars, Adheres directly toterraces, substrate. etc.Adheres Adheres directly tointo the substrate.

No cellars, Adheres directly the substrate.

No For use in swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, decks, etc.

Adheres directly to the substrate.

No cellars, Adheres directly to the substrate.

No Grey Compound 50lb Bag BC-G0250 Waterproof polymer cement for use in concrete repairs.

111Pail Pail and = 1 Kit For use in swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 cellars, decks, etc.

Adheres directly to the substrate.

No swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, For use in swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, Pailand and333Bags Bags = 1 Kit cellars, decks, etc.

Adheres directly to the substrate.

No White Compound 50lb Bag Adheres directly to to the substrate.

NoNoNo cellars,decks, decks,etc. etc.

Adheres directly tothe the substrate. primer/bondcoat required primer/bondcoat required. primer/bondcoat required primer/bondcoat required.

Bags = =Kit 1=1Kit cellars, Adheres directly substrate.

Pail and 33Bags KitKit primer/bondcoat required primer/bondcoat required.

For use in swimming pools, roofs, terraces, foundations, Pail and Bags 1 1 Pail111and 3 Bags = 1 cellars, decks, etc.

Adheres directly to the substrate.

No primer/bondcoat required.

White Compound 50lb Bag BC-W0350 decks, etc. required.

Adheres totoBag the NoNo cellars, Adheres directly directly thesubstrate. substrate. primer/bondcoat primer/bondcoat required primer/bondcoat required.

Black Compound 50lb BC-B0450 Pailand and3 Bags 3 Bags= 1= Kit 1 Kit Black Compound 50lb Bag primer/bondcoat required.

1 Pail 1 Pail and 3 Bags = 1 Kit cellars, decks, etc.

Adheres directly to the substrate.

No primer/bondcoat required. primer/bondcoat required primer/bondcoat required. 50lb Bag BC-B0450 Black Compound 1 Pail and 3 Bags = 1 Kit primer/bondcoat required. with Waterproof bondcoat with exceptional exceptionaladhesive adhesivequalities. qualities.

Concrete Surface Profile Concrete Surface Profile Concrete Surface Profile Waterproof bondcoatcement with exceptional adhesive qualities. waterproof for Waterproof polymer cement foruse useininconcrete concreterepairs. repairs.

Concrete Surface Profilepolymer Concrete Surface Waterproof polymer pools, cement for use in concrete repairs.

For use Profile in swimming terraces, foundations, swimming pools,roofs, roofs, terraces, foundations,

1 Pail and 3 Bags = 1 Kit 1 Pail and 3 Bags = 1 Kit

CSP CSP CSP 2-4 CSP 2-4 2-4 2-4 CSP 2-4

For usedecks, in swimming pools,directly roofs, terraces, foundations, etc. Adheres totothe NoNo cellars, Adheres directly thesubstrate. substrate. cellars, decks, etc.

Adheres directly to the substrate.

No primer/bondcoat required primer/bondcoat required. primer/bondcoat required.

Concrete Surface Profile

CSP CSP CSP 6-8 CSP6-8 6-8 CSP 6-8 CSP 6-8 2-4

Mix it,it,it, Apply it,it,it,Done.

Mix Apply Done.

Mix Apply Mix it, Apply it,Done.

Done.

Mix it, Apply it, Done.

Mix it, Apply it, Done.

MixMix it,Mix Apply it,Apply it, Apply it,Done.

Done. it, it, Apply it,it,Done.

Mix Done.

CSP CSP CSP 8+ 8+ CSP CSP 8+ 8+ CSP 8+ 6-8 Ideal Idealforfor Ideal for Plaster Plaster Ideal for for Ideal Plaster Plaster Plaster CSP 8+

MixMix it, it, Apply Applyit,it,Done.

Done.

7969 Moyer Rd., FLFL 34237 7969 34237 7969Moyer MoyerRd., Rd.,Sarasota FLFL 34237 7969 Ave., Sarasota 34240 7969 Moyer Rd., Sarasota 34237 7969 Ave., Sarasota 34240 7969 Moyer Rd., Sarasota FL 34237 7969 Moyer Rd., 34237 7969 Ave., Sarasota FL 34240 7969 Moyer Rd., FL 34237 7969 Moyer Rd., Sarasota FL 34237 7969 Moyer Rd., Sarasota 34237 7969 Moyer Rd., 34237 941-312-5142 info@basecreteusa.com || 7969 Ave., Sarasota 34240 7969 Ave., Sarasota FL 34240 941-312-5142 basecrete.com 941-312-5142 |info@basecreteusa.com info@basecreteusa.com ||basecrete.com basecrete.com 941-312-5142 | info@basecreteusa.com | FL www.basecreteusa.com 941-312-5142 | info@basecreteusa.com basecrete.com 941-312-5142 |||info@basecreteusa.com | www.basecreteusa.com

941-312-5142 | info@basecreteusa.com Ideal for | info@basecreteusa.com 941-312-5142 info@basecreteusa.com | basecrete.com 941-312-5142 | |www.basecreteusa.com 941-312-5142 ||| info@basecreteusa.com || | basecrete.com 941-312-5142 | info@basecreteusa.com ||basecrete.com basecrete.com 941-312-5142 | info@basecreteusa.com basecrete.com 941-312-5142 | info@basecreteusa.com basecrete.com 941-312-5142 | info@basecreteusa.com | www.basecreteusa.com 941-312-5142 info@basecreteusa.com www.basecreteusa.com Plaster