Pool Magazine - Volume 2 - Issue 4

One on One With Danny Wang Elite Pool Designer

• • • • • • •

A Look Inside

A Look at Swim Stadium With Bradford Products Hurricane Ian Impacts Florida Pool Industry NDPA - “Have We Hit a Crisis Point?”

AIPER Budget Pool Cleaners Make a Splash Out With The Old & In With The New - Chuck Baumann Famous Pool Painting Becomes Most Expensive Sold Introducing The OnDeck Waterproofing System

VOLUME 2 - ISSUE 4 NOV 2022 - JAN 2023

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Office: Coast West Office: Coast Office: West Coast West Office: Coast West Blvd Lamb N. Lamb 2925 Blvd Blvd N. Lamb N. Lamb 2925 2925 Blvd N. 2925 Office: Coast West Office: Coast West 89115 NV Vegas, Las 89115 NV Vegas, 89115 NV 89115 Vegas, LasLas NV Vegas, Las Blvd Lamb N. 2925 Blvd Lamb N. 2925 30 702.201.18 702.201.18 83030 702.201.1 830 702.201.1 89115 NV 89115 Vegas, NV Las Vegas, Las 830 702.201.1830 702.201.1 DESIGN

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Editor’s

LETTER

I

t’s been one of the most challenging summers for our industry. Everywhere we look prices keep rising and the news of inflation has us all a bit concerned. After two years of unprecedented growth, we are seeing the market readjust to a post-pandemic environment. While the industry is recalibrating to the current market conditions, there is still immense opportunity. A few down quarters does not make or break an industry but we are seeing the reality of what is occuring in the market place play out in real life.

From the moment we fill our gas tanks, to the food we buy to put dinner on the table for our families, we’re feeling the creep of inflation at all levels.

One of the favorite quotes I’ve ever heard about how to deal with adversity comes from Booker T. Washington who said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” This statement is as true today as it was 135 years ago.

In a down market there is opportunity to pick up market share. As the industry contracts as it often does during times of financial crisis, pool professionals are in an advantageous position to prosper. Those with a solid plan in place will thrive in the face of adversity and come out on the other side, better for it.

While we’re nowhere near the recession lows we saw in ‘08, at this point it’s impossible to ignore the upswing we saw during Covid has ended. The saying goes “failing to plan is the same as planning to fail”.

This is true in every aspect of our lives but especially true for those who are responsible for the welfare of others. Putting a solid plan in place for how your business will deal with adversity can make all the difference between surviving and thriving.

After the first year of printing Pool Magazine; with our fifth issue, I can tell you how personally grateful I am to be part of this ever changing and dynamic industry. No one has a crystal ball and it’s impossible to prognosticate what the next year will bring. Moving into the holiday season, it’s a time to show gratitude for what we all have as well as take measures to protect all that we’ve built.

Wishing you all the best,

Founder, CEO & Editor: Joe Trusty

Contributing Editor: Marcus Packer

In-House Photographer: Jimi Smith

President, Associate-Editor: Marianne Trusty

Contributing Editor: Alise Everton

Op-Editorialists: Paolo Benedetti Chuck Baumann

Director of Marketing/Sales: Carol Gigliotti

Production Editor: Sarah Wambua

Guest Content: GPS Trackit

Cover Photo Credit: Jimi Smith Photography Advertisers: Basecrete Technologies, OnDeck, SKIN, Viking Capital, Hide Skimmer Lids, Lyon Financial, Ledge Lounger,, Rock Solid Tile, Aquastar Pool Products, CamerEye, Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, GENESIS®, Bathing Brands, Chlorine Genie, Aqua Blu Mosaics, Diamond Spas, Underwater Pool Windows, Peridon Entertainment, PAL Lighting, Aiper, North American Pools POOL MAGAZINE - PO BOX 278 - Pilot Hill, CA 95664 www.poolmagazine.com | info@poolmagazine.com

Table of

CONTENTS 06

FLORIDA POOL INDUSTRY REELING FROM IAN

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PROPER INSTALLATION STARTS WITH MATERIALS

Pool industry still reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian.

You can avoid costly tile installation failures by starting with proper materials.

08

20

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY WITH FLEET TRACKING

AN OPEN LETTER TO HOME DEPOT (OP-ED)

Adding a GPS fleet tracking system can be a game changer for your service business.

Did Home Depot miss with a commercial that poorly characterizes pool builders?

10

22

TALKING POOLS PODCAST IS A HIT!

HIDDEN WATERFALL POOL GOES VIRAL

Talking Pools, a new podcast geared towards pool professionals, is a hit on Apple podcasts.

A hidden waterfall goes viral but swimmers may be in for more than they bargained for.

12

24

STRAY VOLTAGE CAN BE DANGEROUS

SEEKING INSPIRATION NOT JUST EDUCATION

Stray voltage can be a silent killer. Learn why stray current can be so dangerous.

Jason Brownlee discusses seeking out an education that inspires one to greatness.

14

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BUILDING POOLS IN SOUTH FL HAS CHANGED

Ike’s Carter Pools has seen 3 generations worth of change in South Florida.

A head-to-head interview with elite pool and outdoor living designer Danny Wang.

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ONE ON ONE WITH DANNY WANG

A LOOK AT STADIUM SWIM IN LAS VEGAS

Bradford Products discusses their role in the development of Stadium Swim.

DW Design Build - Jimi Smith Photography

36

HAVE WE HIT A CRISIS POINT WITH DROWNING?

38

FAMOUS POOL PAINTING BECOMES MOST EXPENSIVE

Dr. Katchmarchi, Executive Director of the NDPA believes we’ve hit a crisis point.

54

BUDGET CLEANERS MAKE A SPLASH

56

HEALTH BENEFITS OF A BACKYARD SAUNA

Aiper’s line of budget-friendly pool cleaners are a smash hit with consumers.

David Hockney pool painting becomes most expensive sold by a living artist.

We discuss the health benefits of a steam sauna and some of the best sauna options.

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60

INTRODUCING THE ONDECK SYSTEM

GOING ABOVE & BEYOND

We take a closer look at Basecrete’s new OnDeck waterproofing system.

A lesson in having integrity to fix the problem when a situation goes awry.

44

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THE POWER OF PEOPLE

How a retail company leverages their most valuable commodity, willpower.

48

EXIT INTERVIEW WITH TROY FRANZEN

One on one with Troy Franzen, departing president of Fluidra North America.

FRANCE USING A.I. TO FIND UNTAXED POOLS

France is embracing A.I. to find tax cheats who have not claimed their pool.

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OUT WITH THE OLD & IN WITH THE NEW

Chuck Baumann discusses removing old pools and replacing them with new ones.

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 4

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Florida Pool Industry Reeling

AFTER HURRICANE IAN

BY JOE TRUSTY

Residents are still struggling to rebuild in the aftermath of what could prove to be the costliest hurricane on record for the state of Florida.

I

t’ll be months before the aftermath of Hurricane Ian is cleaned up in many parts of Florida. Pool professionals throughout the state are scrambling to deal with the cleanup after swimming pools were flooded, and in some cases destroyed by the incredible force of the storm.

After knocking out power to the entire country of Cuba, Ian would move in to deliver a onetwo punch of high winds and torrential downpouring rains as the storm made landfall in

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Cayo Costa in southwestern Florida. The storm would indeed become a Category 4 hurricane that would leave areas like Fort Myers and Naples, FL and the surrounding region virtually flooded.

The storm has caused building collapses and damage to swimming pool structures throughout the region. Many residents are still coming to grips with the extent of the destruction the storm left in its path. We spoke with Florida resident Stephanie Parcus who said, “This

was life-altering devastation. We experienced a 500-year flood event impacting all the way from Daytona up to St. Augustine. My neighbor Cindy Cole took these photos during the storm because she could safely keep me posted while staying inside.”

Sanibel suffered major flooding as well with its causeway collapsing during the monster storm. Florida homeowners were told to evacuate in some areas, and water rescues were still ongoing days later as rescuers struggled to reach people.

The storm claimed the lives of over 100 Florida residents, including one elderly man who had been trying desperately to drain his swimming pool during the height of the hurricane. Many areas are still without power throughout many regions of Florida where flooding was the worst, relegating whole communities “off the grid”.

Over 1,000 rescue personnel were dispatched to the Florida coast with more than 700 rescues completed.

In Florida the situation still remains uncertain for those still dealing with the aftermath. Property losses right now are projected well beyond $47 billion. This could very well make it a more costly and destructive storm than Hurricane Andrew which destroyed 150,000 homes in 1992.

Photo Credit: Cindy Cole

Many pool industry professionals find themselves struggling in the aftermath of the storm. Entire projects have been lost, as well as equipment and vehicles damaged.

Those with pools currently under construction were hardest hit as they had little time to prepare their job sites. Many existing swimming pool structures suffered catastrophic damage as well and will need major repair work done.

There were also numerous social media posts with residents complaining of collapsed pool enclosures.

Damages from Hurricane Ian estimate at a range from $47 to $258 billion.

Tampa Bay had the equivalent of 25 olympic sized swimming pools worth of stormwater enter the watershed, creating additional ecological concerns which have arrived post Ian. Cleanup efforts are still ongoing as many swimming pools turned green due to stormwater in some cases flooding entire backyards.

Efforts to repair damaged structures could take many months if not years. To make an immediate impact with those who are struggling, the FSPA has also organized a fund offering forgivable grants to members who need assistance to pay employees in the interim, make business repairs, pay insurance deductibles, etc.

Make a Donation to FSPA Ian Fund

Photo Credit: Todd Honeycutt

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 4

7

Improve Your Effeciency With

GPS FLEET TRACKING

F

BY GPS TRACKIT

or Superior Pool Service, organizing its 10 crews to service more than 500 weekly Dallas-area clients is like choreographing a dance. Even if most of the participants are doing what they’re supposed to do, the entire performance can fall apart if everyone isn’t on the same page.

That’s why it was so important for Superior to find a fleet management system that would give manager Elizabeth Donald ondemand, real-time information about all of her active crews—while also providing enhanced customer service and fleet efficiency.

With GPS Trackit’s integrated system of in-truck monitors and powerful reporting tools, Donald always knows how specific crew routes are being covered.

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She knows where each truck is at the moment to how long it is spending at each job. That means more efficient crew scheduling and job quotes that more accurately reflect costs. “With the reporting function, I can see how long a crew has been at each pool, and that each pool was covered,” Donald says. “It helps with staffing—so we have enough coverage—and for keeping crews to the standards we expect.”

Better information about route coverage and length of jobs also gives Donald the ability to communicate very tight and accurate time windows to customers about when their technicians will arrive, and track specific job start and completion times. It also helps her back up her teams if a potential dispute comes up about whether or not a job has been completed. “Customers are always wowed by the fact that we know where our guys are,” says Donald.

“A customer might call and say they don’t think their pool was serviced, and we can go and look at the GPS data and share the details—that they were there from this time to this time. Customers love knowing exactly when somebody has been on their property. That’s helped us retain customers…it helps us every day.”

The central dashboard lets Donald keep track of how her drivers have performed, but top fleet management solutions also help train drivers into more efficient, safer performance as they drive. GPS Trackit’s VidFleet solution uses a driver-facing camera and sophisticated artificial intelligence to analyze driver behavior and give real-time feedback to improve performance. For example, when VidFleet senses a driver’s attention might be diverted, it offers an audible warning. Studies show that optimized feedback systems can reduce accident costs by 50 percent and reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 percent.

Customers get better service and more accurate information. Managers can more accurately quote jobs and schedule crews. More efficient routes mean more jobs can be scheduled per truck. And drivers can be rewarded for operating safely and efficiently.

Since 2002, GPS Trackit has been a pioneering force in cloud-based, IoT fleet solutions and GPS fleet tracking.

Our industry-leading technology and focus on worldclass customer service has earned us a place on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list and supports over 12,000 fleets worldwide.

Keeping customers happy means keeping customers—and good word-of-mouth is the best advertising money can buy. GPS-based fleet management also improves Superior Pool’s bottom line on the cost side by optimizing each truck’s operating efficiency. Fuel is an enormous cost— especially now—and even a small change in driver behavior can produce dramatic savings. Idling burns a half gallon of fuel per hour. When diesel costs $6 per gallon, that can be several hundred dollars a day in wasted fuel for a 10-truck fleet.

Aggressive driving—speeding, rapid acceleration, hard braking and turning—can affect fuel economy by up to 40 percent in stop-and-go traffic. Around Dallas, that can mean the difference between Superior Pool making or losing money on an individual job.

Donald uses driver performance data to keep costs in line—and motivate her drivers to improve their metrics. “My drivers are motivated to be the best, and they’ve all improved because they know I’m watching the numbers,” says Donald. “It’s like saying, ‘Hey, you’re fifth in line. You better get that behavior score up.’ They love that.”

Read the entire article...

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Talking Pools

T

The team behind Talking Pools are industry professionals Rudy Stankowitz, Andrea Nannini, Heather Linton, Kelli Clancy, and Dan Lenz.

Dedicated to giving back to the industry, the group finds the time for coordinating to record episodes in their offhours between servicing and maintaining pools.

Best-selling author, CPO trainer, and Talking Pools Co-Host Rudy Stankowitz shared his insights as to what their hit new show is all about and why it is fast becoming a favorite among pool industry professionals.

Being in the #43 position is an achievement in itself. With over 850,000 podcasts out there, its a good indicator that the show has begun to break through and track with listeners outside of the pool industry.

One of the things which perhaps makes Talking Pools stand out from other poolrelated podcasts including our own, is the uniquely spontaneous format of the show. It’s often reminiscent of listening to your favorite radio show on your drive to work.

“Talking Pools is about real pool talk. It’s about the sharing of information, the conversations that you would have with another pool pro in the distributor parking lot; that’s what we’re about,” said Stankowitz.

IS A HIT!

BY MARIANNE TRUSTY

alking Pools podcast recently celebrated a pretty big milestone with their show by reaching #43 on the “How To” section of Apple Podcasts (Chartable.com). The “How To” category typically comprises an audience base of homeowners and DIY’ers looking for sound advice.

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Talking Pools is Uniquely Entertaining

“We have the right hosts in place to ensure a listener doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel; that they can avoid the typical stumbling blocks a service company or builder can face, only one with less than ten years of experience, and two with over thirty years each” explained Stankowitz, “I think I can speak for the five pool pro hosts of the Talking Pools Podcast and say that the goal of this podcast is to benefit the listeners. An occasional interview, but eons from the standard interview podcast format. We mostly talk about our own experiences. Just pool pros talking pools.”

In each episode, you’ll hear plenty of witty banter about everyday issues in addition to whatever pool topic du jour is being served up that day. Perhaps, one of the most pleasing aspects is how all of the hosts seem to have a camaraderie and chemistry that resonates and makes the podcast genuinely enjoyable to listen to.

While all of the hosts appear to have their unique areas of expertise, the nature of the podcast and its revolving guest list makes for the type of impromptu back and forth that stimulates thoughtprovoking dialogue. The unforced and often unplanned approach to the program is often more in line with traditional radio interview formats, which is perhaps the secret behind the show’s success with mainstream audiences.

The fact that you’re listening to a bunch of pool jocks talk shop doesn’t really sink in right away because of the tempo and often entertaining banter between the hosts.

That the show has begun generating a buzz is something co-host Kelli Clancy is still trying to wrap her head around.

“I love being a part of the Talking Pools Podcast Network,” said Clancy, “I’m glad we can represent multiple areas of the country while helping our fellow pool pros grow. It’s been amazing seeing the success of our show grow on Apple Podcast. It is a reward to see our hard work appreciated by everyone. I hope we continue to be an influence on our industry members.”

Lenon Davies and Wayne Ivusitch pop in to support Heather Linton Rudy Stankowitz, and Andrea Nannini at the Under the Sun Expo.

Pool professional Heather Linton is immersed in the construction and remodeling side of the business. This is where she lends her expertise to the Talking Pools Podcast.

Since joining the show, she’s received numerous requests from people to cover various subjects of interest.

“I enjoy our team as we all have different ideas and insights and experiences that can be helpful to others,” said Linton, “whether you’re a pool industry professional just starting out or have been in business for years. My focus is pool remodeling, pool construction, and business coaching. I’ve had several people call my office and ask me to do a certain topic or help them with a particular question.”

“Being a part of the Talking Pools Podcast has been one of the most fun and rewarding things that has come from my time in the pool industry,” said Co-Host Andrea Nannini, “not only do Rudy and I get to talk to some great people who are involved in all aspects of the swimming pool world, but I also get to learn along with our listeners.”

“Heather, Kelli, and Dan each bring their own special elements and expertise to their shows,” said Nannini, “I think that having such a great group of people working together to bring people something entertaining and useful is why we made it to the top 50 on Apple podcasts.

For me it’s still so amazing that so many people listen and enjoy what we wanted to do for them, and I am so grateful.”

Read the entire article...

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Stray Voltage In The Pool

CAN BE DANGEROUS

BY MARCUS PACKER

W

hile swimming pools are an excellent way to relax, stray voltage in the pool can pose a significant threat. Stray voltage typically occurs through improperly grounded pool equipment.

Before you can figure out how to stop stray voltage from happening, you need to know what it is. In most layman of terms, stray voltage exists when unconstrained current leaks from an electrical source.

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Stray voltage is a a silent killer that can have disastrous consequences for unwitting home owners.

When swimmers or pets come in contact, stray voltage can even prove to be fatal.

Most first shocks from stray voltages are less than 10 volts, which is not very strong. When a person gets into the pool or touches a handrail or ladder that is connected to the pool, they may feel a small tingling or stinging sensation. Children are more sensitive to sensory input than adults are, so they often notice these small shocks before adults do.

A faulty transformer or electrical cable can often be the source of stray voltage in the swimming pool. This leaking current then travels through the ground in an attempt to deplete its energy.

Just like a lightning strike, it uses the Earth’s ground as a pathway.

In reality, these voltages can be found under the soil of most homes. Your family could be in danger even if your home’s electrical system meets all applicable standards.

Common sources can include damaged or melted neutral or ground wiring systems, defective lighting systems, and damaged or exposed buried electrical cables. Faulty “drops” from overhead power cables (where electricity is accessed from the main line) can also cause stray voltage as can electric panel issues. Damaged pads underneath transformers in some instances can also conduct stray voltage.

One of the most likely places to find stray voltage is in a swimming pool, simply because electrical current has much less resistant transit in the presence of water. When electricity flows from an electrical outlet and into another conductive item, like a metal water pipe, metal support beam, or concrete slab, this is known as “stray voltage”.

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Until the electric supply is cut or the power source of the energy is removed, the electricity will remain in the water. Having poor electrical wiring, inadequate GFCI protection for outlets and circuits, and electrical cords and appliances coming into contact with water are the three most common causes of electrocution in swimming pools.

There is no visible sign or way to tell if the water in the swimming pool contains enough electricity to kill. Most of the time, people don’t feel electrical current right away when they get into the pool.

This is a lesson New Jersey homeowner James Volk learned first-hand.

“My wife, my mother-in-law, and my daughter were in the pool, and my wife went to go clean out the skimmer basket,” Volk told news sources. “When she stuck her hand in, she got shocked so bad that she felt it down to her feet, like tingling, numbness.”

The family is currently investigating what is causing the issue and have closed their pool until they can determine the cause.

Protecting swimmers in the pool from stray voltage is a top priority. Any pool with underwater lighting, a pump to move the water, or electric heating has a chance that the water could become electrically charged if there is an electrical fault. Most experts would advise to add equipotential bonding grids under the pool and deck in order to provide stray voltage an alternative pathway. Read more tips on how to safeguard pools from stray voltage.

Read the entire article...

What’s been missing on your outdoor entertainment area?

While you’re out in your entertaining space there’s a series of things you have to consider to make sure everything is operational and you have the best possible experience for both you and your guests.

While in the design phase of your backyard retreat things to consider: You need music to be able to properly cover all spaces, consider invisible speaker options. Your sound should compliment any water features designed in your space.

You may need more than one zone of audio. Volume controls let you adjust and have comfortable conversations.

Consider video for a single zone or multiple zones with a televesion or screen for your outdoor theater.

There’s several important factors to consider after the pool and design is complete. Contact us for a full scale design based off your floor plans for proper speaker and screen placements.

Builder: Ike’s Carter Pools Photos: Jimi Smith Photography

Building Pools in South Florida

HAS CHANGED

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Jimi Smith Photography

For three generations Ike’s Carter Pools has been building pools in South Florida and have witnessed a change...

W

pools were very templated. A lot of the pools were very similar.

Cookie-cutter production pools that were built out here were just constantly the same thing,”

“My dad designed pools, he built them and was considered one of the better designers in South Florida,” said Eikevik, “back then pools were very basic so there was only so much you could design-wise. Back in the day

The days of cookie-cutter swimming pools are a thing of the past in South Florida claims Eikevik. The perception of what the outdoor living area should look like has changed as well.

“I’m in these neighborhoods and building these pools. These days what I hear is ‘I got to do our pool better than our neighbor. ‘ It’s become a big statement, especially with younger people with families. Their kids are going over to the neighbor’s house, and they’re hanging out there because the swimming pool in their backyard is so cool.”

hen Erik Eikevik first started out in the pool industry, the pool construction market was already changing from the one he knew as a child. By the time Eikevik joined the family business, building a swimming pool in South Florida had suddenly become an entirely different proposition from the projects his grandfather built when he first started Ike’s Carter Pools back in 1949.

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“That was the first huge shift we saw in South Florida. We saw things like that coming out of World War II. If I showed you some of the first awards that we won in the 1960s in one of the original pool magazines from that era, it won awards simply because the pool had a curve in it which was unheard of back then,” explained Eikevik.

“When we first started out, the pools were built where they’d pour a floor, and build it out of concrete blocks. The pool was very small and rectangular. In the late fifties and early sixties, we started doing gunite and shotcrete radius pools and things like kidney-shaped pools. We would win award after award with these pools,” said Eikevik.

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Although much has changed about how swimming pools are built since the era when Eikevik’s grandfather built them, some things are still very much the same.

“Back then it was a status symbol to own a pool,” explained Eikevik, “I think it’s even bigger now. While you don’t have to be one of the elite to own a pool, it’s still definitely a big symbol particularly down in South Florida and I think in many other places of the country.”

“We used to think people came down to Florida to retire. All that has changed since the pandemic.” said Eikevik

Eikevik said he feels that a goal of keeping up with the Joneses is one that has permeated throughout the years in South Florida. “Every customer these days is like, ‘Well, they had that on their pool, we’ve got to do that’, I literally have people who have gone to another customers house on a pool tour and say, ‘I want ours to be better than theirs’, so there’s definitely that sense that everyone’s trying to one-up each other in the backyard,” said Eikevik.

“The pandemic just blew that up and put it on steroids. Like, we already had a fire that was burning for years, and Covid came and poured gasoline on it that caused some type of explosion. Suddenly everyone had to have the best pool and the best backyard,” said Eikevik.

“In the northeast, most people are going to have a vinyl liner pool and you have to be doing pretty well to even have one in your backyard. It’s a massive luxury in that area,” said Eikevik, “they all have this yearning to move to Florida and a big reason is that everyone’s got a pool. It’s like as soon as you move down here, you get a swimming pool and you’re doing better than everyone else already. It’s one of the reasons so many people move here because they want to have a big beautiful yard with a swimming pool.”

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Although building an inground pool may be cheaper in Florida, the process may not be as unencumbered as one may think. “If you’ve ever taken a Brian Van Bower GENESIS Class, you’d know one of the things we joke about are the Florida building codes,” explained Eikevik, “we have some of the strictest building codes in the country.”

“Owning a pool will forever remain a status symbol for families in South Florida,” said Eikevik.

People get down here and they realize we go off the Florida Building Code, not the International Building Code. There are very strict things you have to do to build a pool down in Florida. I tell people what’s involved and they’re like ‘are you serious’, with all the barrier codes and main drains and things like that. That’s why when you get to the luxury pools it becomes harder to do everything,” explained Eikevik.

The features and amenities that South Florida homeowners are requesting have certainly changed as well over the years. These days Eikevik says a major feature that homeowners are looking for is an oversized tanning ledge which has become near ubiquitous in Florida.

“Every pool, big or small is going to have that Baja Shelf, as they call it on the west coast, or Sun Shelf as we call it out here. I tell people you are literally losing value on your home if you opt not to build one. Anyone that buys your home will be expecting to see one in the pool because they’re that common now, they’re everywhere,” explained Eikevik.

“I knew from a business perspective, but I didn’t realize how important they were until I started seeing my own

kids who are five and two in the pool.

I was just like, wow, this is such a big, pivotal thing,” said Eikevik.

“The biggest thing is just making sure you have the right size,” explained Eikevik, “there are these companies that will build a shelf that’s 9x9. You need to have something that’s like 12x6 or 12x9 so you can have a section for your ledge loungers or your pool chairs and a section for the kids to get in and out of the pool.”

The needs and wants of South Florida homeowners may have changed over time, but one thing is for certain; given that Florida has the highest percentage of pool owners by population, owning a swimming pool will forever remain a goal for most, regardless of what type they ultimately wind up building.

Builder: Ike’s Carter Pools Photos: Jimi Smith Photography

“If I’m drawing a pool, even if it’s a small pool, we have to have something on it that’s different and cool. I won’t have that special feeling inside unless it’s got something unique going on that’s a little different for me. What kind of really keeps me going and makes me love what I do, is that I want to try to do things that are different. That’s the crazy side of me that wants to do the custom stuff which is not easy and can have all the headaches,” said Eikevik.

Read the entire article...

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ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY PAOLO BENEDETTI

Proper Tile Installation Starts With

PROPER MATERIALS

P

roper pool tile installation on vanishing edge walls will prevent clients from thinking that the pool wall is leaking.

It all starts with using the proper pool tile material. Once water begins to infiltrate behind the tiles of the swimming pool, a whole bunch of problems can arise.

Efflorescence is carried to the surface from the shotcrete, thin-set or grouts. Even epoxy setting materials can promote efflorescence.

Epoxy setting materials are not 100% epoxy. Many still contain cement-based components. The technical sheets for most epoxy thin sets and grouts contain a disclaimer about efflorescence.

After the vanishing edge is turned off, areas on the wall may continue to be wet for hours

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– simply from water trapped behind the tiles. This is where many pool tile failures occur.

Water streaming out of cracks in the grout when the vanishing edge system is on, is another indication of voids behind the tiles.

But when a customer sees any sign of water on the “dry side” of the wall, they immediately think the wall is leaking. While this may sometimes be the case sometimes, in most instances, it is merely an improper tile installation.

Efflorescence in pool tile can occur even when using epoxy setting materials.

The TCNA specifies that 95% of the tile must be in contact with thin-set. This can be achieved by back buttering and knocking down the comb/gauge marks.

Failing to provide movement joints causes the corners to split Pool tiles can chip, crack and pop off and crack as well. when using the wrong setting materials.

Read the entire article...

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An Open Letter To

HOME DEPOT

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BY JOE VASSALLO

or decades, my associates and I have tirelessly worked to enhance the knowledge and image of pool builders as highly skilled professionals through educational seminars, technical publications, hands-on demonstrations, certifications, and licensing in many states.

Yet, in your recent commercial, those efforts were thwarted by your organization’s portrayal of a pool builder.

The commercial, “Meet the kind of people who are in our parking lot at 5:45 a.m.” portrays pool builders with an old stereotype – a guy with an old beat-up truck and notepad drawing.

The video pans in on each of the “people” in their vehicles as the voiceover describes their profiles and why they are coming to The Home Depot. The last profile is Ed… “Ed’s putting in a pool for a friend… we all need an Ed!” The visual is of Ed making notes on a pad. As the commercial continues, the store opens and each of the “People” climb out of the vehicles to go inside. “Ed” with a window sticker “my other truck is a boat”, walks away from his vehicle, an old beat-up truck.

The original 1-minute commercial produced by BBDO Atlanta/BBDO New York was released in March 2022. A shortened 30-sec version was also released.

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As a licensed pool contractor in Las Vegas, Nevada, a Certified Building Professional, and former director on the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance national board, I take offense to how your commercial depicts my industry.

Not only is this commercial insulting to the many highly educated pool professionals across the US and internationally, but it also encourages the viewpoint that pool builders are simply a guy with old trucks and notepads. Furthermore, “friends” don’t know everything there is to know about building a safe and efficient pool.

There are many states that require licensing for pool construction. Most have specific guidelines such as building standards and regulations, ANSI and ISPSC codes and in some states- water use restrictions just to name a few. Nevada homeowners do have the option to build their own pool. However, the Nevada State Contractors Board has outlined in strict detail the guidelines for such activity including registering the project, permitting, insurance responsibilities and mandatory use of licensed sub-contractors to do the work.

It is a crime for an unlicensed person to perform construction work even on an owner-builder pool project and that includes one’s “friend”. While it seems that your creative team at BBDO wanted to capture a variety of individuals, needs and projects, they did not take time to consider the negative and dangerous implications of the “Ed” character.”

The Home Depot commercial could sway an unlikely consumer to seek a “friend”, an unlicensed and untrained individual to install their pool, jeopardizing the wellbeing of the family both physically and financially.

Ed might be better off “Putting in a garden for his wife!”

Read the entire article...

Hidden Waterfall Pool

GOES VIRAL ON SOCIAL

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BY ALISE EVERTON

ravel enthusiasts are trekking out in search of a hidden waterfall pool that recently went viral on social media.

Local officials, however, warn against the dangers of the perilous terrain associated with the picturesque location. They advise caution for those seeking it out.

Woy Woy Waterfall Pool is a (not-so) secret hidden man-made pool that lies within the heart of the Brisbane Water National Park, located approximately 85km north of Sydney, Australia.

While travelers from all over enjoy swimming in the man-made pool, some locals have cautioned visitors that the water may not be as safe as they think.

“The water is from a nearby waste management facility, definitely be careful putting your head underwater,” one person responded.

“When you realize that it’s a sewage outlet,” another commented.

On social media, you’ll find hundreds if not thousands of videos and photos of people enjoying the scenic man-made pool.

“Nice spot, but don’t swim in it after rains as (the pool is) linked to runoff and has lots of fecal coliforms,” a third person said.

“I’ve lived in Woy Woy for years and never knew this place even existed,” said one local in response to an online post.

According to Daily Mail, a waste management facility that uses the same waterway as Woy Woy Falls is located a short distance away.

Travelers thinking about visiting the local attraction have been warned to be especially careful near the pool’s narrow ledge.

For those truly adventurous souls that are still determined to check the place out, WalkMyWorld has a step-by-step guide on how to find this hidden Aussie waterfall pool. Scan the article below to view pictures and videos of this hidden waterfall pool that has been going viral on social media.

“This is a dangerous area, so please take precautions. We’ve already had one visitor recently fall and require medical evacuation by helicopter ” one person responded.

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Read the entire article...

Design: J. Brownlee Design Builder: Watermark Pool & Spa Photos: Jimi Smith Photography

For Those Seeking Inspiration

NOT JUST EDUCATION

BY JASON BROWNLEE Photos: Jimi Smith

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Look at where you are in your company and in your career path.

If you feel stuck or trapped, inspiration may be what you need.

here are moments in your life that alter your course or define who you will become -- for the better or for the worse. How you respond to these wonderful and difficult moments becomes a window into your soul and test the character and fortitude of the person that you are inside.

Other moments are not as obvious or jarring in nature but can be equally as impactful to the course of your life or the direction of your professional career. You can make all the pros vs. cons lists you need (which is always a good step), but decisions are often a ‘gut feeling’ and can be a scary venture when you step out of a comfort zone and into a new unknown. Which college

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or University should I attend, or what should I choose to study?

Should we move to another city or take a different job position?

What if I feel absolutely “stuck” in the role that I am presently in and cannot see a way out? These less than obvious decisions happen all throughout your life as well and can lead to sleepless nights and anxious decisions that may affect the course of your career.

During these times, we look to others who have taken these similar steps before us. We seek those that will inspire us with confidence.

If you cannot tell by now, the words above are the script of my professional story. As a designer at heart, I earned my degree in Landscape Architecture,

then spent five years in the professional practice firm world, and soon became disillusioned with the corporate structure, office politics, and “soul-sucking” cubicle environment of what I was “supposed” to do with my career.

I became a landscape contractor, then added hardscapes, and within two years, we were a full-scale pool and outdoor living design-build construction company. I was stuck as a designer that had become a contractor that consumed every minute of my day and left me only the exhausted remaining minutes to do the part of the job that I truly enjoyed -- the design.

I didn’t have a mentor -- a leader -- a guide to show me the way.

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The irony is that the answer was right in front of my face, literally every month, and for eight years. I would get the monthly industry magazines -- PSN, Aqua, Watershapes, etc. -- and would see and read about this group who called themselves Genesis. They were designers and contractors and leaders from across the country and, WOW! -- I couldn’t believe the work and level of detail and scale of what they produced. They would travel the country and design and build these incredible watershape masterpieces and win National Awards, all while wining and dining with millionaire clients like they were living an episode of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. Then they would go and hold two or three educational ‘events’ each year where they would share their knowledge with whoever signed up to attend -- and they would have FUN doing it! I read the accounts of the intense classes, then followed by great dinners with food, and wine, and parties where they called themselves pigs, dressed in togas, and cut loose to all have fun together.

For eight years I kept watching this group grow and evolve, wishing I was a part, but for eight years I did not join. Why? (Honest moment here). I was intimidated. My wife and I would go to the National Pool Show and circle the booth, not feeling worthy of joining in. We would pick our moment, jump in to introduce and say how much I admired their work, talk for about two minutes, then jump back out and catch my breath. Who was I, this designer from Tennessee who was struggling to make it as a contractor, that they should give me the time of day? The mystique was a barrier keeping me from the potential that could be unlocked.

Over the next years, I became Inspired. I was inspired by the people that were and are the true leaders in our industry. Brian Van Bower (the

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Rodney Dangerfield of the pool industry) and Skip Phillips, who together were the visionaries that started the entire advanced industry education revolution. I was inspired by Paolo Benedetti (the walking Bible of pool construction detail knowledge) and Bill Drakeley (who emphatically set the bar for shotcrete construction standards 20x higher than industry standard and implores you to think way above the minimum required).

I learned everything I know about pool system hydraulics from Dave Peterson through mindnumbing engineering classes, which are not the easiest for a right-brained designer, but handsdown the best overall class experiences I have had.

I was blown away that Rick Chaffey and Dave Penton, two of the master builders behind the most amazing projects, could also be so personable, easy-going, and open to new people who want to improve. I was inspired by Feras Irikat and his ability to make hardened, seasoned contractors talk enthusiastically about colors, and design! And by Kirk Bianchi, whose mildmannered style and cerebral design-brain is one that I will always strive to understand and emulate.

I was inspired by Grant Smith and his detailed, methodical approach to construction that followed his regimented Marine Corp background -- and his close friendship before his passing as we rose through the ranks of the industry together.

And, of course, I have been inspired by the three ladies -- Lisa Ryckeley, Katie Junkers, and Lauren Stack -- that, across multiple organizations and decades, have managed to be the hearts of their organizations and keep all the people and personalities in line (well, for the most part), and events moving forward as the baton gets passed to the next group of leaders who will rise ahead.

Read the entire article...

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One On One With

DANNY WANG Danny Wang is changing the game and homeowners perceptions about what a luxury outdoor living environment should be.

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Jimi Smith Photography

W

hen it comes to the world of pool and outdoor living design, there are few who have come close to the success and recognition that Danny Wang has achieved.

Based in Orange County, CA, his firm DW Design & Build has established a reputation as one of the leading design firms. Racking up award after award for his over-the-top luxury pool and backyard designs, Wang’s ability to help homeowners conceptualize their ideal outdoor living environment is unprecedented.

With an uncanny ability to envision complete outdoor living design concepts on-the-fly, Danny Wang is almost a household name in the pool design world. He seems to possess a rare ability that gives him near-instant insight to look at a home and see the potential for a complete redesign in his head before ever putting pen to paper.

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Danny Wang is widely regarded as one of the leading outdoor living designers working today.

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“I’m not freestyling it but it’s almost like when I go walking into someone’s backyard an image of a project literally pops up in my head and I see it,” said Wang, “I don’t know how else to describe it. Usually, by the time I’ve walked through the yard and talked to the homeowner, the designs are done within 5 to 15 minutes.”

“It’s probably based on all my experience. You build so many pools, that you kind of know what goes where and what can and can’t go on in the design,” said Wang.

“Lately, when I’m approached for a design the homeowner just lets me do my thing,” said Wang, who admits he’s looking to work with clients who allow him free reign to create them an over-the-top design for their backyard.

“That’s kind of how we screen our clients to know if they’re going to be very involved in the process. I mean, that’s okay, but more and more what we like are folks who know they are hiring me to build them an award-winning pool and know that I’ll get it done right,” he explained.

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“I don’t think every designer could say that confidently.

We’re building a very complex pool, so there are only a few people that can execute at that level. This is why a lot of times we build our own projects,” said Wang. “Of course, it’s not my house, so what we have to do is still take into account what they want and need. We take those elements from discovery and incorporate those into a design around that,” said Wang.

Wang says he draws inspiration from what other folks like Paul McClean are doing in the field of architecture.

“I think pushing that boundary is important, seeing what’s possible both technologically and artistically.

What have people not seen before? I think that part really motivates me to be creative and innovative in the design and build aspect. That, makes it more fulfilling and kind of drives me,” said Wang.

“I get a lot of inspiration from just looking at different places. I would look up resorts in Bali, Mexico, and other various parts of the world and try to understand their different design language,” explained Wang, “looking at things globally and saying ‘well what are these people doing in different parts of the world?’ and then taking inspiration from that and combining elments into what we’re designing for our clients.”

Things didn’t always come so easy for Wang, who let us know that the moment he started to become known, he made a typical mistake many design firms make.

“I think in 2017, at that time, I had a lot of business. I made a mistake, as a lot of people do, and took on way more than I could chew. I think at that time, I had about 50 projects backlogged, and I was doing about 30 projects at once. It was brutal, and we were losing money left and right,” said Wang.

In order to regain some sanity, Wang said that he was forced to take a break to complete the projects he had in backlog. “I couldn’t build for like two years because we just had such a backlog,” explained Wang.

“I did have time to do design so what I ended up doing was, I was doing my projects during the day, and at night, I would go home and design for other people. That was roughly the same time that I started doing social media.

People see would see our designs on social media and it just kind of took off from there,” said Wang.

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Wang’s visionary designs are clearly not only appreciated by the pool industry but by the general public as well. Having amassed an enormous social media following, he has plans to leverage his brand in new and exciting ways.

“Our content is entertaining and also educating people. There’s a lot of stuff we can learn now through social media, where we have a worldwide audience. I didn’t know that there were so many different types of building techniques and different elements used throughout the rest of the world. So that’s really eyeopening, and I learned a lot. I also see other people learning a lot from the content that I’m producing and that’s very interesting to me,” said Wang.

Often eager to show off the latest design trends, we asked Wang what’s trending with his social media audience. “I think bigger and crazier water features. We’re using a lot more lighting versus just the traditional on-and-off people are used to. We’re doing smart lighting where we can control the water feature lighting and that creates a whole new element

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of the design. DMX lighting where the water features change color with the music. LED’s can have patterns and the pool almost becomes like a musical stage.”

By the millions of likes and shares his content is getting, it’s clear that folks are excited about what Wang is doing in the backyard. “You just don’t see these types of things happening in your ordinary backyard,” said Wang.

It’s clear Wang’s portfolio of overthe-top luxury resort-style swimming pools continues to grow almost as quickly as his social media following.

Wang said he has every intention of turning the brand into a household name.

“We’re kind of getting into product development. Right now we’re talking with tile and fire pit manufacturers.

We’re also going to start developing our own indoor and outdoor product lines. So lots of exciting things going on,” said Wang.

Read the entire article...

TRAVEL MAGAZINE

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A Look at Swim Stadium With BRADFORD PRODUCTS Bradford Products takes us on a guided tour of the

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Ryan Gobuty

B

massive rooftop resort pool Stadium Swim at the Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

radford Products has long been a manufacturer of stainless steel vessels.

With a pedigree for producing world-class resort-style swimming pools and water features, the firm has long been the go-to source when it comes to high-end projects. The fact that Bradford Products was the firm behind the worldfamous Stadium Swim, a massive swimming pool sports book located at the Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, should come as no surprise.

“The backbone of our company, and certainly the largest part of our business, is the Aquatic vertical,” said Sage, “that is what encompasses primarily all of the custom and commercial elevated stainless steel pool and spas. I think that’s probably what we’re most well-known for. That goes for anything that goes on top of an apartment building or a Las Vegas pool deck or any number of our other custom applications for swimming pools and spas around the world.”

Recently, we had the opportunity to discuss the pool at greater length with Mike Sage, VP of Sales & Marketing for Bradford Products who gave us some insight into why they were the firm tapped for this particular swimming pool project.

With over 10,000 pool and spa installations worldwide, Sage said the project planners behind Circa didn’t have to look far to find Bradford Products. The firm has been responsible for many well-known resort swimming pools all over the world. In fact, they were involved in the

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collaboration of another high-end pool project in London that made headlines across the globe, (Sky Pool), which was previously featured in Pool Magazine.

“We’ve got a lot of experience in Las Vegas working with most of the major resorts and casinos there having installed just a tremendous number of pools and decks,” said Sage. “For most of the major players out there, Circa was unique for a couple of different reasons. It’s located in the old downtown part of Las Vegas. It’s a much tighter environment down there, which in and of itself created some unique challenges in constructing that particular casino. Certainly, the pool presented some unique challenges.”

“When it came down to it, there really was no other choice in their mind but to work with us,” said Sage. For project planners, it made sense to choose Bradford Products. The Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Golden Nugget, Wynn, Encore, and Palms Casino are only a few of the commercial clients they have had the fortune to work with. Consequently, the 40-year-old firm’s reputation proceeds them in the market when it comes to resort swimming pools in Las Vegas.

“Ultimately why Bradford was chosen as the pool supplier there; I would say first and foremost, by far the primary reason was because of the actual orientation of the pool deck. Stadium Swim sits directly above the gaming floor of the casino, and that is the heart and soul and money generator for that casino,” explained Sage, “there had to be an absolute highest level and sense of security that these pools were not going to leak or eventually leak over time. So Bradford was chosen because of our ability to deliver a fully welded, fully guaranteed watertight, stainless steel pool that would be placed directly over the most critical part of the casino.”

“They needed the ability to get these pools up to the pool deck in some pretty tight environments,” said Sage, “they also needed an organization that had the ability to maximize the full section sizes for transportation including craning and rigging, but still doing it in a manner that was conducive to staying on construction schedules and fitting into some pretty tight spaces.”

While the project was a monumental undertaking, it’s all in a day’s work said Sage, who claims Brandford is eager to tackle the next huge Las Vegas project that comes along. This project is just another feather in the cap for the firm as they continue to dominate when it comes to Las Vegas commercial work. The end results of the Stadium Swim project clearly speak for themselves.

“It truly was a really unique design. There are six pools and they are tiered. So the closer pools are set at the lower elevation, and then the further away that you get from the television screens, the higher up the pools go.

So it is truly a stadium seating experience and layout,” explained Sage.

“It’s also the first of its kind in that the pool deck also doubles as a sports book,” explained Sage, “there’s a massive wall of TVs that are broadcasting any number of sporting events. The pools and spas on the pool deck basically act as the seating for watching the action. I can tell you, it’s quite comfortable having been on the deck in the middle of August in Las Vegas. There’s no better place to sit than Stadium Swim to enjoy the big game.

That’s certainly what captures everybody’s attention, are the massive screens and luxurious pool environment.”

Read the entire article...

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BY JOE TRUSTY

Have We Hit a Crisis Point In

CHILDHOOD DROWNINGS?

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he issue of drowning prevention and mitigating pool-related fatalities go hand-in-hand. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) annual drowning report, fatal child drownings and nonfatal drowning injuries in children under the age of 15 remain high and nonfatal drownings spiked by 17% in 2021.

The World Health Organization says that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional deaths worldwide, with over 372,000 deaths reported each year. 140,000 of those deaths were children.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 4,000 people die in the United States yearly from drowning. Drowning is the second

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leading cause of death for children after birth defects. An average of three children die each day from drowning, and it is the second leading cause of accidental deaths in children aged 1-14, right behind motor vehicle-related deaths.

An average of 379 children under age 15 die in reported drownings linked to pools or spas each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and has been climbing in the United States.

During 2018–2019, unintentional drowning deaths totaled 73 for those under age 1 year, 821 for ages 1–4, 390 for ages 5–13, and 270 for ages 14–17, (CDC).

Most drownings in residential swimming pools happen among

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children ages 1–4. 74% of fatal pool accidents occurred at residential locations.

Texas leads the nation in childhood drownings. 67% of swimming pool drowning deaths involved children younger than 3 years old.

In swimming pools, black children ages 10-14 years drown at rates 7.6 times higher than white children.

Acccording to the CDC report, black children and youth are more likely to drown in public pools, and white children and youth are more likely to drown in residential pools.

In 2015, a study conducted by the National Safety Council showed most states were significantly behind in their grading scale.

The NSC study made specific recommendations on what states needed to do. They provided recommendations to make the grade: States update public pools and water facility regulations to conform with Model Aquatic Health Code.

High school students be required to know CPR in order to graduate.

Regulations require barriers be installed around all residential swimming pools.

The media in 2015 called on states to reduce the number of drowning fatalities.

To date, most of the country still has not adopted the recommended guidelines set forth by the NSC. Experts like Dr. Katchmarchi, Executor Director of the NDPA (National Drowning Prevention Alliance), believe we’ve hit a crisis point.

“Starting in 2020 we saw a very significant increase. The scary part is when we just look at the numbers, it’s hard to say if that’s a new trend we’re seeing because of the pandemic.”

Katchmarchi is sounding the alarm because a spike in drownings may have a direct provable correlation with current events. “In 2020 we saw drowning rates increase significantly for the first time in a very long time,” said Katchmarchi, “Some of the initial data we’re getting for 2021, has me even more scared.”

Public health experts say water safety should be a priority since nearly all drowning deaths are preventable. “These deaths do not have to occur. It really is something we should be ashamed of and be energized to address,” said Shannon Frattaroli, Director of Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy.

“Most state and local health departments are chronically underfunded for accident prevention in general and many have no expertise in drowning prevention,” said Richard Hamburg, Executive Director of Safe States Alliance.

As it pertains to drowning prevention, laws are slowly being passed to help establish better standards. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA) is law of the land in the United States. This was a major achievement for federal intervention.

It’s a fact that drowning remains a leading killer in children and young adults.

In most cases, states lack the laws and regulations that experts in the field of drowning prevention say are necessary.

Experts say more effort from states is required to effectively reduce the rate of fatalities.

Existing laws on the books tend to be inconsistent even within neighboring jurisdictions.

More than two hundred national and local groups and state agencies, including the American Red Cross, the YMCA, and the California Highway Patrol, wrote to Congress in March. They called the increase in drownings a “silent crisis”

which needs government leadership and funding.

Katchmarchi says more focus is needed on developing the National Water Safety Action Plan. “This is designed to impact the community, county, state, and federal level when it comes to water safety. This was in response to a call from the World Health Organization for nations to have a national plan addressing drowning, “ said Katchmarchi.

“I was part of the U.S. delegation in 2017, what was quite embarrassing was that the United States was the only developed nation that did not have a water safety action plan,” explained Dr. Katchmarchi, “We hadn’t even started developing it at that point. When you look at other developed nations, we’re compared to Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and Canada but the biggest difference is their federal governments take a much more active role in water safety.”

Read the entire article...

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BY ALISE EVERTON Photo: Johannes Schmitt-Tegge Picture-Alliance/DPA/AP Images

David Hockney Pool Painting MOST EXPENSIVE EVER SOLD

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he current record for most expensive painting ever sold by a living artist belongs to David Hockney. His Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) recently sold for $90,312,500 at an auction conducted by Christie’s.

The record-breaking painting is the single most expensive piece of artwork ever sold; that is by an artist that’s still breathing.

Hockney described himself once as “cooler than Warhol, more enduring than Lucien Freud.”

The British native made a name for himself in the 1960’s after relocating to Los Angeles.

It was in L.A. that he created some of his best known work, paintings featuring realistic

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depictions of swimming pools and Hollywood architecture. Hockney first visited California in January 1964, following a successful first solo exhibition at the John Kasmin gallery. The United States captivated him, particularly Los Angeles, owing to the impact of its modern buildings and Hollywood in general.

The swimming pool was a constant topic in Hockney’s paintings after he created California Art Collector in 1964, including Peter Getting Out of Nick’s Pool (1966, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), and most memorably A Bigger Splash (1967, Tate Gallery). Between 1968 and 1977, he created a number of double portraits, such as American Collectors (Fred

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and Marcia Weisman) (1968, Art Institute of Chicago), Mr. and Mrs. Clark, and Percy (1971, Tate Gallery). The swimming pool and the double portrait, two of Hockney’s subjects from his paintings from the late 1960s and early 1970s, are combined in the piece ‘Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)’. It shows a man swimming breaststroke underwater while wearing white trunks, while another is shown standing at the pool’s edge wearing full clothing and gazing down at the swimmer. The scene of the artwork is southern France, close to Saint-Tropez. With a view of hills covered in trees in the backdrop, the foreground is flattened and simplified in typical Hockney fashion.

A chance meeting of two photographs—one of a man swimming underwater, shot in California in 1966, and the other of a man standing and staring at the ground—that Hockney saw on his studio floor served as the inspiration for the composition. When compared, it seemed as though the person standing was staring at the swimmer.

Hockney said of the painting, “I must admit I loved working on that picture, working with such intensity; it was marvelous doing it, really thrilling”

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The sale history of that particular painting is interesting in itself. In 1972, James Astor and his wife purchased the picture for $18,000, which would be worth $117,000 in 2022.

The painting was sold through Hockney’s New York art dealer. With a gut feeling that he was ripped off, he told news sources, “I thought it was a lot of money at the time, but within six months, it was sold again for $50,000.”

Having seller’s remorse after the sale, Hockney’s dealer Andre Emmerich said “I realized the pictures (in the show) were underpriced. A lot had been underpriced.”

By then, of course, it was much too late to do anything about it and as often happens in the art world, a buyer made a swift profit on an undervalued painting.

American billionaire David Geffen bought the painting in 1983, then in 1995, he sold it to British billionaire Joe Lewis for an undisclosed sum.

We can only imagine how Hockney feels knowing his painting has sold at auction for 5,000 times his original asking price. The current seller and auction house being the only ones who will reap any profit. A spokeperson for Christie’s confirmed “the artist will not benefit financially from the sale.”

When asked by CBC Radio, why Hockney started painting swimming pools, he replied: ‘In England, a swimming pool would have been seen as a sign of luxury, because the climate in England is not very good for outdoor pools. But in Southern California, it’s not — they’re simply everywhere because you can enjoy them year-round.’

‘The first place I lived, I rented a small apartment with an outdoor swimming pool. I mean, I didn’t own the pool, but nevertheless it was there.’

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POOLCONTRACTORS. CONTRACTORS. POOL POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 4

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Introducing The OnDeck

BY JOE TRUSTY

WATERPROOFING SYSTEM

W

hen it comes to the waterproofing of residential and commercial pool vessels, Basecrete Technologies has long been a leader in waterproof bondcoatings for the pool and spa industry.

Recently, Pool Magazine had the opportunity to catch up with Vito Mariano and Christopher Gates to discuss the newest innovation to hit the pool trade, OnDeck, a new system they claim will revolutionize waterproofing.

“The actual application process is super simple. It can go horizontal and vertical and can be textured as the installer sees fit. Heavy

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and light textures can be rolled on, shot on, or troweled on but it’s based on the same science as Basecrete,” said Gates, who will be managing the OnDeck product.

One of the primary reasons the new system is predicted to be a surefire hit with pool contractors is due to its versatility, which Gates says will be a game-changer.

“You can take a new project and marry it to an old project. Our material allows you to build up an old existing deck that’s chipped and broken. You can clean it out and build up to two-inch lifts using the material to build that up so that it’s seamlessly

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the same elevation as the new concrete. Then you coat the whole thing with OnDeck and it all is just beautiful and elegant. That all happens out of one bag and bucket of polymer.,” explained Gates.

OnDeck is sure to appeal to contractors who have experienced frustration with other products in the past said Gates. As an industry veteran, he knows those frustrations first-hand, “you have to buy a bag of this for horizontal, and a bag of that for vertical, and a bag of that for waterproofing.

Ours is just real simple,” explained Gates.

Color options and customization are a big factor when it comes to decking materials. OnDeck promises to alleviate many of those concerns as well. “The last coating is a pigmented stain and sealer which comes in seven different colors. We operate in a light base and a dark base so you can tint a custom color,” said Gates, “if you have a big project, say you were doing a stadium, for example, and you wanted to have the colors of the team, you can get your own color mixed with a lighter or darker base.”

The OnDeck system is all the brainchild of Vito Mariano who has a history of producing award-winning products of this nature.

His strategy for propelling the system into the market is to win

contractors with a better product they can have at a smarter price point than what they’ve already been accustomed to using.

product of this nature.

“Price per square foot is number one,” said Mariano, “OnDeck is not expensive and it’s a fast waterproofing decking system at the same time. Now you get all these new benefits that the industry isn’t used to; instead of just your typical low-end cementitious spray, roll on, epoxy or latex-based material. We’re staying focused on simplicity, our waterproofing capability, and price. That’s very important out there.”

Gates, who has a long history in the pool industry, previously with California Pools and San Juan Pools; says the timing is ripe for a

“On many pool and deck projects we started doing polymer overlays and acrylic top coats. Every one of them kind of marched to the beat of their own drummer, and you had to figure each system out. You’d try to stick with one that you could use if you knew the idiosyncrasies of a given system,” explained Gates, “when Vito started telling me that it’s the same bag to make the material that goes on the flat deck, that goes up the walls, that waterproofs the corners; it’s just different mixing styles - that’s got me excited. That coupled with the training we’ll be doing for our team members that are coming on board makes it a no-brainer,” explained Gates.

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The Power Of

PEOPLE

J

BY PHTA

ennifer Clements is the first to admit she loves to talk.

“The gift of gab can be very powerful,” says the co-owner of Pla-Mor Pools, a family-owned retail business with two locations in the Mechanicsville, Virginia-area.

For 40 years, Clements and her husband Kenny have been running the business her in-laws began in 1968 by focusing on the relationships they build with their employees, customers, and industry partners.

But Clements never expected her role to become so critical as it did in the last two years as COVID and supply chain shortages combined to make business more challenging.

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The pool and hot tub retail business was the hardest hit segment in the industry, Clements surmises.

“We had to put a lot of rules, guidelines, and new practices in place. On the administrative side, I spent more time making sure that our retail store was compliant than helping customers, and that’s sad,” she says.

Looking back, she recalls the early pandemic days as “horrific” and the time since as a wild ride.

“In all my decades in the industry, I’ve never experienced demand like that,” she says, yet “[suppliers] limited how many tubs we could buy, and we could have sold probably five times as many.”

Pla-Mor weathered the storm, ensuring the next generation of Clements family owners, Jennifer’s four sons, can carry on the tradition. “I know now that where there’s a will there’s a way,” she reflects. “I think our most valuable commodity is just human willpower.”

Clements likes to tease her staff that she has “adopted” them.

She says a big part of Pla-Mor’s success through challenging times is in how they recruit and retain employees.

It hasn’t been easy.

“It was the most exhausting feat trying to bring in folks (during the pandemic). I’ve been stunned by how few candidates apply

for positions,” she says, citing stimulus checks, safety concerns, and family care responsibilities as culprits. Now she runs continuous hiring campaigns through Indeed, posts fliers, and uses local organizations to educate prospective employees on career opportunities. Her main message: “Your safety is front and center for us, and we value you.”

Other tactics they’ve used the past two years include: Aggressively adjusting pay rates to national trends and adding short-term sales inducements to products to help create excitement and establish goals. She’s also allowing employees to help set safety standards and including all employees in ongoing training, including leading training sessions once they’ve hit a year of service.

Overall, Clements doesn’t try to get fancy with her employee incentives – she focuses on paying employees well and treating them even better.

“Most of our staff has been with us for a long time, so they know they’re part of the family,” she says.

“You have to actively work with new staff to establish that sense of belonging.”

Ask Clements what her job title is, and you’ll get a few answers.

She finally settles on “director of business development,” but that doesn’t quite capture the whole picture. She’s used to being behindthe-scenes wearing many hats.

Today she reaches out to other women in this business who feel the same, to help them see the value in talking about their roles.

“Women are networkers by nature,” she says. “I love to network, whether it’s with other people in the pool business or if it’s with sales reps to find out what the trends are and forecast ahead of time which direction our business needs to go.”

Regardless of gender, Clements says that networking can help anyone’s business grow. She suggests a few key places to make an impact: Attending trade shows gives you time to pick the brains of other business owners, get key contacts, and reach out to people with a strong industry presence.

Interacting with political leaders pre-pandemic allowed Clements to contact the Virginia governor’s office in the earliest days of COVID so that Pla-Mor could have a plan in place before restrictions began and keep their doors open Joining industry associations like the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance has given Clements the “Batphone” – there’s always someone to call for help, which has especially helped in sourcing hard-to-get products.

Clements actively monitors all of her business’s online reviews. Last year, she had a tough one. The customer was lamenting that they had purchased an aboveground pool from someone else, and they couldn’t get a ladder from Pla-Mor. Clements did what she always does – respond with the facts.

“I had to explain the interaction we had in the store that, yes, we did have them on the floor, but they were sold and nobody can source them,” she recalls.

As someone who can talk to

Read the entire article...

anyone, Clements does not shy from customer interactions. Quite the opposite, she’s picked up those communications in the past two years and recommends: Getting to know your customer base – Pla-Mor has a large percentage who are older, so they expected elevated safety and cleanliness standards.

Serving customers where and when they want, which for Pla-Mor has meant increasingly moving to online retail and continuing contactless curbside pickup.

Re-evaluating your show floor setup or warehouse storage footage to meet current demands – at PlaMor that has meant utilizing space left open by carrying fewer spas to instead store and display pumps and filters that they stocked up on to fulfill customer needs when others couldn’t.

Providing full transparency into your pricing and sourcing strategies, even going as far as creating a book that shows manufacturer and distributor letters/information on rate increases and product shortages.

Clements has learned customers can be fickle. “We were so short on some products and then other products were so far ahead that it would have been nice if we’d had explosive growth on everything.”

While not experiencing the growth some builders and service businesses saw, Clements applauds the hard-won 27% growth rate PlaMor achieved these past two years, in large part thanks to the people who power their business – their employees, customers, and allies.

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France Using A.I. to Find Untaxed

SWIMMING POOLS

F

BY JOE TRUSTY rance is experiencing its worst drought on record, and the country’s tax authorities are using artificial intelligence to find thousands of undeclared swimming pools.

Officials have used software created by Google and a consulting firm, Capgemini, to find 20,356 previously undisclosed pools since last October. Aerial images are analyzed by the system’s AI software to determine the boundaries of swimming pools, which are compared to publicly accessible property records.

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The software appears to have been incredibly successful. Tax officials announced on Monday that the program, which has brought in an extra $10 million for nine French regions, will now be rolled out across the country.

Due to the potential increase in property value, swimming pools in France are subject to taxation. Within ninety days of any swimming pool’s completion, the homeowner must file a tax report declaring the pool’s existence. According to reports, the government projects that implementing the AI software

nationwide will generate $40 million in additional taxes in 2023 Taxes on pools vary by region and by size, with the average European pool owner forking over around 200 Euros per year.

The demand for pools skyrocketed during the pandemic and has persisted through the summer, while Europe experienced some of its hottest temperatures on record.

According to recent statistics, there are 3.2 million residential pools in France with 240,000 built during 2021 alone, according to France’s Federation of Pool and Spa Professionals.

France is using the A.I. to locate untaxed swimming pools in order to generate revenue.

Backyard swimming pools have long been a target for tax officials. Nearly 17,000 private pools were discovered

by Athens tax authorities using satellite imagery during the Greek debt crisis a decade ago, but only 324 of them were declared by their owners.

The tax office says it is now looking at using the system to spot undeclared annexes, extensions and verandas including permanent pergolas.

The French AI system isn’t perfect – but close to it. The AI apparently sometimes confused solar panels for swimming pools and missed some vessels because of dense foliage.

Eventually, tax officials hope to use the system to discover undeclared home extensions like verandas and pergolas, according to officials.

The French tax agency claims that the algorithm was improved through machine learning as it was tested, so it now has a very small margin of error. Ninety-four percent of taxpayers contacted by authorities after being flagged by the tool confirmed they had a taxable swimming pool.

As might be expected in a country like France, the integration of A.I. and aerial photography has sparked considerable political debate. Unions

The public finance authority DGFiP said the AI program would now be rolled out nationwide, potentially leading to $40m in new taxes on private pools in 2023. The crackdown comes as French environmentalists have calling for banning private pools after the summer heatwave sparked drought and water restrictions.

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representing French tax collectors are opposed to the effort, fearing that it will “replace field work by tax collectors and surveyors”. They question the reliability of the system and are concerned that tax collectors and surveyors, who have deep roots in their communities, will be phased out in favor of desk workers reviewing the output of algorithms.

The announcement by the French government comes on the heels of ongoing concerns about the drought in France. Water restrictions have become more common and increased calls for energy conservation have already led to increased calls to regulate the use of swimming pools, despite scorching temperatures.

Read the entire article...

Out With The Old &

IN WITH THE NEW BY: CHUCK BAUMANN | PHOTOS: CREATIVE ENVIRONMENTS

I

have seen a lot of ‘great new ideas’ come into our industry and I have been on the ground floor to help work on them. I’ve helped in the field development as I was trying to incorporate these great new ideas into my own projects.

The fact is, I have seen and been part of what is next and cutting edge in of our industry almost from day one when I decided this was what I wanted to do for a craft for the rest of my life. I have seen some great new ideas come into our industry and I am forever keeping my eye out for what is just around the bend.

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With that being said, I recall a conversation that my son, Nicco, asked me about 5 years ago. He asked, “just how sustainable is the pool industry?”. I said that there always seems to be the next great idea around the bend that rejuvenates our industry.

Innovations that takes us to the next level, come along every so many years.

I want to tell any of you that are reading this article what I’ve noticed as the next big trend in our industry.

About 15-20 years ago I started to hear about companies that were specializing in pulling out pools instead of building new ones. It became such a big market that it

POOL MAGAZINE - VOL 2, ISSUE 4

was not uncommon for excavation companies to remove over 100 pools a year.

I started to worry that maybe the lifestyle of owning a swimming pool in your backyard was changing. Was our society was no longer interested in the lifestyle of owning your own pool?

As the momentum grew for pool removal I started to notice that it wasn’t because of lack of interest in having a pool in their backyard.

What was happening is that they were doing some major remodeling to their home and the pool didn’t fit their needs in its current location, however they still wanted a pool.

I thought our market was getting saturated and that all the good pool sites were built on already.

Were all the good pool sites gone? With fewer and fewer lots to build a pool on, is this how the poolbuilding market ends in my corner of the country?

Instead, along comes this great new opportunity.

If you don’t like your pool or if the cost to repair it is too expensive, then invest your money in the new backyard of your dreams.

At first, I thought how wild a concept this was. I remember when my father was building pools back in the ’50s and ’60s that his average pool was $2,000. As we continued to get calls to remove a homeowner’s old pool, I didn’t want others to know that I was actually throwing away an old pool to replace it with another “state of the art” new well engineered, and hydraulicdesigned pool with the latest innovations.

What I have come to realize is that we aren’t the only ones across the country that have seen this change coming.

I am a member of Carecraft and as I talked to other top professionals in our group, they too have noticed the trend.

Most of the pools we remove are typically from the previous generation of the ’60s and ’70s. The photos in this article are one of seven projects we have completed this year where the focus was removing an old outdated pool and installing a whole new entertainment area in our clients backyard.

Along with the idea of building a new pool came the need to redesign the entire backyard. That led to scrapping the backyard so that everything was gone and we had a fresh new canvas to design on. The idea caught on like wildfire and led to building higher priced projects.

Almost every client that I showed the possibilities to seemed to share the vision. Now the opportunity to personalize their backyard with a new swimming pool was possible. All you need is a creative mind and a willing client that believes in your ability to help make that transformation.

They also need a budget big enough to fund their dreams. It no longer became a conversation about what could be done once the old pool was remove. Suddenly there were more possibilities.

My son and I are part of a team of artisans that have all figured out that together we can create some beautiful artwork in the backyard. It used to be that I would look in magazines for pool ideas. I would be in awe of the designs I was seeing. Now Nicco and I are the ones that are building these elaborate backyards.

On three of our “Extreme Backyard Make Overs” we found a buried, half-removed pool that was full of broken concrete and capped with dirt. Fortunately, we own all of our own equipment and have our own in-house crew that were well aware of how to remove the old buried pool and prepare the site for a new vessel. I highly recommend that if you do take on removal projects like this that you always consult with a soil expert and structural engineer. There is little room for error and you have to prepare the bottom of the pool properly before you put a new, state-of-the-art pool.

Building custom swimming pools has been a passion of our family for the past three generations. As I slow down to reflect on my career, I could not be prouder of the advances and direction my son Nicco, has already taken our company, since he became part owner. I attribute a lot of the advances to his attending many of the higher level education courses that are now being taught on pool construction by Watershape University and GENESIS. CREATIVE ENVIRONMENTS creativenvironments.com P.O. Box, 586, Alamo, CA 94507 Email: chuck.baumann@gmail.com Phone: (925) 837-2715

Read the entire article...

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Budget Pool Cleaners

MAKE A SPLASH Aiper’s line of budget friendly pool cleaners are a big hit on Amazon and may soon be at a big box retail store near you.

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: AIPER

T

hese days, consumers are looking for budget-friendly pool cleaners.

With the price of keeping a pool clean going up, convenient and costeffective pool cleaners are in high demand.

Aiper is meeting that demand with its line of inexpensive robotic cleaners. A relative newcomer to the U.S. market, their new line of cleaners has been a big hit in the direct-toconsumer market.

One of the best-selling robotic pool cleaners on Amazon, Aiper has been rapidly gaining traction with its line of corded and cordless options. To get a better understanding of what their product line is all about, we spoke with Jason Floyd, a representative for Aiper.

“We want to clean smarter,” said Floyd, “we’ve really been pushing this line of cordless pool cleaners that are eco-friendly and take care of the pool completely on their own. A lot of the other models that had come before, they’re corded, they’re bulky, and they take up storage space. This kind of solves a lot of those problems. We’ve become a leader in the cordless sector. In the last couple of years, we’ve been picking up more steam with more products and new features.”

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So far, the line of budget-friendly robotic pool cleaners have been selling like hotcakes online.

Consequently, Aiper has made tremendous traction in a very short time. A fact that is not lost on Floyd, who is excited by the reception the product line is receiving from consumers.

“Starting out as a newcomer, we particularly wanted to focus on that brand identity and brand loyalty,” said Floyd, “we wanted to really hone in on the quality of what we offer. We’re working with our initial consumer base to make those improvements. You can internalize research and development all day long, but once it gets out into the public, you hear about features you may have never thought of or a different set of priorities.”

Aiper has been getting tremendous attention with mainstream media.

Their products have appeared everywhere from Forbes to Better Homes & Gardens to CNN. After appearing at IFA, Aiper is poised to break out further with retailers.

Floyd says Aiper worked hard to build an AI-based product that could compete against other products in the market. “We’ve looked at sonar, we’ve looked at camera technology, but all of these things, they all increase the price of the device to a non-competitive point. The technology really wasn’t paying off in the sense that it offered enough.

What we developed is systematic path planning. We have the artificial intelligence that’s built in there that is pool mapping. All of these things together cover about 90% or more of your pool.”

The gyroscopic technology inside the Aiper cleaners allow them to automatically detect the pool size before they ever start a cleaning routine. This tech means the device can deliver “complete cleaning of the pool floor with 15° angle adjustment after each pass.”

The choice to go direct-to-consumer was a calculated decision said Floyd. “Going small scale or direct

consumer to begin with was kind of just an important measuring stick for us. That being said, we are going to be bigger. We have deals with both Walmart and Lowe’s coming up with our new line of products that are going to be out in the next year or so.”

The fact that Aiper is attracting big box retailers this early in the game is making industry analysts take note of their meteoric progress in such a short time span.

Aiper plans on making an appearance at the International Pool Spa Patio Expo in Las Vegas this November and will be at Booth 7944.

Pool Magazine will be in attendance at the PSP Deck Expo to check out their new line of pool cleaners. We’ll make sure to keep you updated.

Continue Reading...

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Health Benefits of a Backyard STEAM SAUNA

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Bathing Brands

W

hen it comes to health and fitness, backyard steam saunas are one of the best-kept secrets around.

Not only do they provide a host of health benefits, but they also offer a level of comfort and luxury that is hard to beat.

Homeowners looking for a way to improve their health and add extra comfort to the pool area, may find adding a steam sauna is be the perfect solution.

In this article, we will discuss the many benefits of adding a steam

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sauna to your pool area and talk about some of the different options available.

It’s true, there are many benefits to swimming for one’s health.

Swimming is a great cardio workout, it’s low-impact so it’s easy on the joints, and a great way to stay cool in the summer heat. Did you know that taking a sauna after swimming can enhance those health benefits?

When you swim, your body temperature rises and your heart rate increases. This all happens because water conducts heat away from your body faster than air does.

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That’s why when you get out of the pool, you feel cooler than when you first got in. Having a relaxing sauna after swimming takes advantage of this effect and can help your body recover from strenuous exercise more quickly.

One of the main benefits of a steam sauna is that it can help you detoxify your body. When you sweat, your body releases toxins. However, when you sweat in a steam sauna, these toxins and impurities are quickly removed from your body through the pores in your skin. This helps to cleanse and detoxify your body, leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Another great benefit of a steam sauna is that it can help improve circulation.

The heat from the steam dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow throughout the body.

This increased circulation can help to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as improve overall cardiovascular health. In addition, the increased blood flow can also help to reduce cellulite and give your skin a healthy glow.

Most homeowners are looking for a way to relax and unwind, adding a steam sauna is a great option to reduce stress and anxiety. The heat from the steam helps to loosen tight muscles and relieve tension headaches. The humid air can also help to clear congestion and ease respiratory problems. In addition, the calming atmosphere of a steam sauna has been shown to help reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Adding on a 9kw electric sauna heater provides plenty of heat for an outdoor sauna room. The HUUM DROP 9 heater which is compact and designed for sauna rooms up to 530 cubic feet, is the perfect add-on for the Thermory No. 61 Barrel Sauna. An add-on digital controller means that heat can be easily adjusted inside the sauna without going outside. Convenient WiFi temperature controls allow heat adjustments from an Android or iOS device.

For those looking for a more contemporary backyard steam sauna design, the Auroom Cala Glass Cabin Sauna Kit certainly will not disappoint. The 3-person Glass DIY Sauna Cabin Kit is easy to use and economical to operate.

Perhaps the single thing homeowners most enjoy about the Cala’s compact sauna design is the exquisite attention to detail, featuring a sophisticated glass front wall and door.

Whether you are thinking of a DIY Sauna Kit or a Modular Sauna Room, the Auroom Cala and the Thermory Barrel Sauna are priced competitively to start at around the $8,000 range making them one of the more affordable outdoor amenities to add to the backyard.

There are many different types of steam saunas on the market today, so it is important find one that fits lifestyle needs and budget. If you’re thinking about adding a sauna for the health benefits, you may be wondering if an outdoor sauna makes more sense than an indoor one.

One of the main advantages of a backyard steam sauna is that it’s typically easier to install than an indoor model. This means homeowners can enjoy their new sauna much sooner. And, since most outdoor saunas are made from high-quality materials, they’re built to last.

One of the best barrel saunas available is the Thermory No. 61 Barrel Sauna. This premium barrel sauna kit is ideal for relaxing with guests. It seats 4 people and even comes with a front porch.

The innovative design means that with a 7’3″ inside diameter, it’s tall enough to comfortably stand in; making it a popular option with those looking for a larger outdoor steam room.

Ultimately, adding a sauna to the home is an investment in your health. If you’re looking for backyard amenities that add value and a way to improve health and well-being, adding a sauna is a great option. The initial investment may seem like a lot, but the ROI is worth it when you consider the numerous benefits.

There’s no doubt that saunas have a plethora of health benefits, from improved circulation to better skin. But did you know that adding a sauna can also add value to the home?

That’s right – not only are there plenty of benefits to regular sauna use, but the home will also be worth more whenever it comes time to sell. So if you’re on the fence about whether or not a backyard steam sauna is worth the investment, consider all the ways that adding one can pay off in the long run.

Read the entire article...

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Going Above & Beyond

SCOTT PAYNE It’s easy to do the right thing when it’s convenient. Payne says true integrity comes into play when the situation with the customer goes awry.

BY JOE TRUSTY Photos: Scott Payne Custom Pools

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S

cott Payne knows a few things about making brand ambassadors out of his customers. As one of the leading pool builders in Pennsylvania, he says he considers it his personal priority to make sure that his customers are happy with the end product.

Word-of-mouth referrals are important to the builder who says that when it comes to the backyard, his clients are looking for a firm that does it all.

“Over my career, I saw the disconnect with some of the companies I worked for in the industry. We set up the model of Scott Payne Custom Pools to be different. When you’re expecting a client who is spending a lot of money with you to GC their own project, that never ends well.

So we vertically aligned with carpenters, landscapers, and hardscapers. We created a very good sub-base,” said Payne.

“Now, most of that work is inhouse for us. We employ Scott Payne Outdoors and have four full-time carpenters, landscaping, hardscaping and fencing inhouse. There’s a benefit to it, that customers appreciate. They want to write one check to one person,” explained Payne.

Being that all-in-one solution for the homeowner means that quite often, Payne is handling every aspect of the backyard renovation. This goes for everything from the swimming pool, to the hardscaping, to the landscaping, to all of the carpentry that goes into building the various outdoor amenities.

Payne said that getting that education was key for him simply because building pools in Pennsylvania can be difficult at times. That education often comes into play when it comes time to talk to the customer about what is involved with building a pool. “I think the consistency of state, county, and township regulations do not exist in Pennsylvania. It’s a state where every township has its own set of rules.”

While the pandemic spurred a tremendous increase in outdoor living improvements, rising costs are also something Payne said he has to frequently contend with. “When it comes to price increases, there’s a sadness to it. I have to be honest, we had a base price pool that we sold all day, every day. Pre-Covid that base pool was $59,000. The base price of that pool today is $84,000.

“There’s a Marriott around the corner. I get them a room, and call my excavator,” said Payne.

“We find the break. Now I have to make a decision, do I fix it or do I move it?”, said Payne, “The pool is parked on top of this pipe. I do the right thing. We dig all the way around the deep end of the pool

It’s at the identical margin and we’re not making a penny more on that pool,” said Payne, who said it’s his unfortunate duty to break the news about what pools cost these days.

It’s also incumbent upon him to educate consumers about the poolbuilding process. “The process is horrible. It’s like a hip replacement,” explained Payne, “the client says, ‘I don’t want to go to PT, I don’t want to be in a hospital, but I want to dance.’ So I’m going to come in, I’m going to tear your yard up for six weeks but you’re going to have that first party and you’re going to remember my name. That’s why I do it,” said Payne.

out on a job for a woman named Rachel.” The project, which was one of Payne’s first, had its inevitable hiccups. One Payne counts as a costly lesson in doing the right thing when it counts.

Making every customer happy is the goal, even when things go awry, said Payne. “I think I was in business about two years and I was called

A few weeks after starting construction of the pool, Payne would hear back from his customer with an urgent concern. “I think it has something to do with the pool she said,” explained Payne, “the toilets are all backed up and I think you hit the sewer line.” I investigate and guess what I find? A sewer line that goes right through the middle of the pool. The sewer line is leaving the basement at about seven feet deep.

It’s under the pool. My excavator more than likely nicked it. Gunite comes in and shoots over it and concrete just seeped into the pipe,” said Payne.

and demo the equipment that was already set. We connect it, if you can imagine, like a question mark to the other side to the lateral going three yards down. We dig the hole, plumb it, put in cleanouts and get it inspected and backfilled. We reset the equipment, which is now junk.

We redo all the plumbing, pay for that twice. We tiled, coped, and

put the deck on the pool while still completing it in 28 days. It cost me $8,500 for that mistake but that story sticks out to me as a win, as setting the expectation at that point that we’re going to do things the right way, because it’s not about money.

It’s about integrity.” Call us crazy, but that sounds like a valuable lesson indeed.

Read the entire article...

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Exit Interview With TROY FRANZEN

PM: Can you talk about your role in the transition from Zodiac to Fluidra?

BY JOE TRUSTY

F

uidra recently announced that Troy Franzen would be retiring and that Lennie Rhoades would be stepping up as the new president of Fluidra North America. We had the opportunity to catch up with Troy to conduct an informal exit interview on the Pool Magazine podcast.

(Pool Magazine) PM: So are congratulations in order Troy, are you officially retired right now?

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TF: It was fantastic. I look back and twelve and a half years seem like it’s flown by. The last three years, as we know, kind of put time into a different kind of context.

(Troy Franzen) TF: I am officially retired right now as we speak.

This is my first week at home where I’m not looking at my phone every five minutes. It’s a different feeling, but yes, it’s kind of official as we speak.

PM: That’s terrific. 12 years with the company was a real achievement. You’ve had a great run and some big milestones with Fluidra. You were with them a long time, can you talk to us a bit about your experience with them?

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TF: In 2010, I would say that we were then owned by Carlyle Private Equity.

The company changed dramatically as the economy kind of took a turn for the worse. A lot of under-investment or no investment or stripping of costs was taking place when I came on board. I would say the company was a little bit rudderless and lacking in direction Bruce Brooks, our current CEO, and I were of like mind having worked together in the past. We set our sights on building a great company and not thinking about the short term and not thinking about flipping the company.

We started thinking about building out a brand. Building out a quality infrastructure.

MAKE WAVES

PM: You’ve had a few big milestones over the last couple of years. Taylor Technologies, SR, Smith, CMP. There are some big acquisitions there.

TF: If you can go back before that, we weren’t doing a ton of acquisition work early on because we were still building out the foundation and fundamentals.

We bought a company called Savi Lights years ago.

Nicheless LED technology had some early quality challenges, but that acquisition kind of put us into the lighting category. We went on to buy a small company called Grand Effects, which kind of got us into that highend decorative fire and water feature space.

When the pandemic kicked in was when a lot of companies kind of went into hiding or thought things were going to turn really bad. Not only did the market start to turn for the good, but Fluidra doubled down.

The board gave us a lot of support not only financially, but gave us the leeway to go get aggressive.

We started with CMP custom molded products out of Atlanta, then we moved on and bought eventually bought S.R. Smith up in Oregon. Wrapping up with Taylor Water Technologies out of Maryland. It’s been a nice little bolt onto the family.

PM: These are some tremendous milestones. Troy, now that we’re getting to the point in our conversation where we’ve got to ask you, what made you decide to take this moment to retire?

TF: Oh, boy, I don’t know that there was one AHA moment. I always said I wanted to retire early, and I was naive enough to say when I was 21 that I’m going to retire when I’m 50. In fact, I missed my goal. I’m a little bit late but I always wanted to take time to do the things that I want to do; while I could do them, on my own schedule. I love sports, so to use a sports analogy, I didn’t want to go out on a low. I didn’t want to get carried out off the field on a stretcher and I wanted to make it my decision.

Fluidra had this incredible run of success. I would lie if I didn’t say the last couple of years have been incredibly rewarding, but they also have been challenging and especially when you throw the acquisition work on top of just the day-to-day heavy lifting that took place to service our customers. It was time to take a break.

I think late last year Bruce and I started talking about succession planning. As a public company, one of our jobs is to be stewards for the future, not just for now.

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PM: Lennie Rhodes is going to be moving into your role. His previous role was CEO for Big Ass Fans. What was the strategy behind that decision to look outside the organization?

TF: Well, some people may call that an unexpected move or unconventional move, but I actually came from outside the industry when I came on. He’s got an incredible background. Working through distribution is in his background. So I think Bruce thought that that was an important aspect. We wanted someone that would bring a new perspective, and diversity of ideas if you will. I think that’s why we landed on Lennie. I’m pretty excited. I spent a lot of time with him and in fact, I think the company is going to be in fantastic hands.

PM: Rhoades is stepping in at a particularly challenging time. What advice as parting president, were you able to offer about what obstacles lie ahead?

TF: I started in 2010 so I kind of started, I don’t want to say a similar time period, but because I don’t think what’s going on now is going to have the same curve or the same kind of decline that occurred in 2008.

Certainly, we are in a period of softening. We can debate whether we’re in or heading toward a recession, but I think the fundamentals are sound. My advice to him has been, don’t overreact. Don’t do anything in the short term that will impact a business that’s really stable.

Of course, he’ll have his own leadership style and he’ll have his own approaches, but I advised not to let the short-term media cycle or what’s going on with the economy affect what’s a pretty good organization with a good strategy. Stay the course. Look for ways to improve. Look for ways to drive more efficiency and unique ways to go to market. But don’t overreact to a short-term economic downturn.

PM: What are your plans now? What involvement, if any, do you plan to maintain with Fluidra as you exit the organization?

TF: On a personal note, I plan on taking a break, traveling with my wife, and spending some time with my children. I’d love to get involved with volunteer charity work in my community. I do intend to help Bruce and the board and the leadership team in any way possible.

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