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​What In The Heck Is Going On With The Pool Industry?

1/19/2022

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If you have or have wanted a new swimming pool, you’ve felt the shockwaves of higher prices and shortages of products over the last two years. A combination of factors have created an imperfect storm that continues to hang over the industry, with no concrete end in sight.

BRIEF TIMELINE OF EVENTS THAT HAVE SWAYED THE SWIMMING POOL  INDUSTRY FOREVER:

LATE 2019. The Covid-19 global pandemic which began to manifest itself in late 2019, forced pool owners to stay home and use their pool!  Or renovate their existing pool. Or build a new pool.  The demand for chemicals, equipment, and services multiplied daily to the point of putting a strain on the availability of these goods and services. 

AUGUST 2020. A critically important chlorine manufacturing plant in Louisiana burned down as a result of Hurricane Laura.  The extremely dangerous chemical fire halted chlorine production, creating further pressure on increasing chlorine demand due to the pandemic. Force majeure from manufacturers went into effect. Immediately, chlorine prices skyrocketed.  Shortages occurred.  Pools began to turn green.  Some service companies struggled to stay afloat. The increases have not slowed, and it’s anyone's guess where prices might stabilize. A new chlorine manufacturing plant is under construction, however not expected to be in production until late 2022 (tentatively). 

2020-OCTOBER 2022.  The demand, shortages, and reduced global workforce created the next “buzzword”: Supply Chain Issues.  Overseas pool goods, parts, and chemicals backed up at our ports of entry, sitting on cargo ships for months.  The manpower necessary to get these goods from the ships to the consumer is nowhere near peak capacity.  The backlog has created MASSIVE supply issues for retailers and homeowners.  All the while, manufacturers have implemented double-digit price increases multiple times per year on all goods and chemicals.

2 MAJOR POOL INDUSTRY SECTORS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED:

DEMAND FOR POOL SERVICES.  The demand for professional service companies that actually have the necessary chemicals to keep pools sanitized and oxidized correctly is at an all-time high. However, supply of chlorine and chlorine alternatives have been perilously low! ALL companies have been forces to raise rates on all phases of service, chemicals, and supplies.  Pools still need proper amounts of chemicals or we’ll have an entirely new disease issue on our hands!

DEMAND FOR NEW BUILDS AND RENOVATION.  Low interest rates combined with peak demand for backyard living has pegged the trades involved with construction to their limits.  Important materials such as steel, concrete, shotcrete, tile, equipment, interior finishes, travertine, and anything else involved with construction has caused ripples in the completion timelines.  Not only are these materials inconsistently available, pricing has pushed the costs of construction higher.  If product becomes available, slots are immediately filled due to the increased demand, pushing some projects multiple months out from a projected initial completion date.

The supply chain challenges have taken an exhausting stranglehold on the goods and services we purchase and provide!

RELIEF IN SIGHT?

There is GOOD NEWS!  Although pricing will likely never drift back down to prices of 2 years ago, the availability of goods and chemicals are showing signs of (small) life.  Manufacturers, distributors, and service providers have been forced to innovate and be better!  

Forecasting, planning, and finding ways to take care of our customers is more important than ever.  The changes Love Pool Company and many other companies have made will make us more efficient, all the while driving home the importance of delivering the best customer service and communication we can possibly provide.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A SMALL BUSINESS

Our daily task is to help our clients navigate through the issues presented to us. To find ways to be more efficient, proactive, and unique ways to offset our dependence on chlorine and other chemicals and goods. 

We’re proud to say that we’ve met the tasks head-on and successfully with the help of caring clients, employees, and representatives in all phases of the pool industry.  

Here’s to a better, smarter, safer 2022 for all of us!

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Evolution Of A Custom New Pool Build

1/17/2022

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We recently completed a challenging project that involved removing an existing pool, then reconstructing into a new pool and backyard hardscape.  Everything involved in-between the lines was an arduous process due to the challenging terrain, access, requirements, and our own quest for "perfection".

Our company treats every project with as much care and preparation as if it was our own pool.  Fortunately, we've been able to work with fabulous clients who exude trust, patience, and understanding that projects can evolve by the minute.  This project included all of the above!  We're very fortunate to be able to have a client say "Yes", all the while knowing that this was going to get MESSY!

The projects involved many layers to get by in order for us to cross the finish line.  The existing pool had structural cracks caused by poor prior construction, Non-existent drainage, unfit soil, and a previous tremor/earthquake that potentially pushed the structural damage over the edge.  The only way to confidently rectify this situation would be to remove the existing pool and get our Soil & Structural Engineers involved to tell us what their recommendations were.  Sure enough, the solutions were to bring in better soil, compact to 95%, add extra steel, waterproof, and provide plenty of drainage!  Easy enough... hardly!!!!

A list of hurdles/challenges along the way...
  • Multiple 3D design revisions. All of our design is in-house, and all of our designs are custom... not templated or without detail.  When we feel a change needs to be made, back to the computer we go!
  • HOA.  Strict governance can alter plans.  Start times set at 8am through the HOA community.
  • ​Tight access.  Removing a pool structure that sits in a narrow backyard requires wall removal, and our demo crew tip-toeing the edges.
  • Rocky terrain.  Anthem is known for rocky soil, full of caliche (sedimentary, hardened rock full of mineral carbonates).  Not just from the pool dig site, but trenching lines for all plumbing, electrical, and gas.  This creates a rocky mess until we can remove the bad stuff and grade and compact.
  • ​Structural & Soil Engineering.  Correct soil and structural construction may be costly, but it's the right thing to do when questions arise.  Since the existing pool structure cracked, we knew right away that proper engineering would help guide us through the process.
  • Preserving Existing Trees & Plants.  Saving some of the beautiful trees and plants was important to us and the homeowner.  We're proud to have made this happen, incorporating and making use of each in our final product.
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Important detail...
  • ​​Drainage!  The previous pool had less than sufficient drainage with multiple unintended elevations.  Large drainage pipes and boxes fed towards the back wall will help keep the soil compacted and away from the pool shell.
  • Fireplace was hand-built, no template or kit.  The tiniest of imperfections in our construction and material give off the unique personality this project deserves.
  • Custom radius pony walls, with natural stone facing to match the fireplace.  We capped it with our custom bullnose Travertine.
  • Functional, dependable equipment with large hydraulic vessels!  Equipment and functionality is more important to us than design.  The pool must function!  This pool has been operational for 3 months and it remains extremely clean, clear, and beautiful.  Fortunately, we have a great relationship with Pentair Pool Products.  Not only do we prefer Pentair over other manufacturers because of their operability, we also choose Pentair because of their warranty.  If there's an issue... we fix it, no questions asked.
  • Basecrete Waterproofing.  To protect our shell and raised walls, we used Basecrete to give us an added layer of protection.  Waterproofing is used on all of our pools with raised walls, negative edges, water features, return/suction lines.  
  • The Oceanside Glass Tile sets the tone on the large, raised water feature wall and waterline.  We used Laticrete Pro Premium Epoxy Translucent Grout (with Glass Tile Adhesive).
  • 3 Custom Cascade Water & Fire Bowls. Opal Glass Fire Rock.  Fire and Ice! Electronic ignition tied in with the Pentair IntelliCenter Wireless Automation.
  • 2 Custom Cascade Spa Spill Edges.  Making sure we have enough clearance away from the raised spa wall helps keep mineral deposits from forming. 

If you're still reading, thank you!  We hope you enjoyed a small peak into what went into this proud project we completed.  You can access our photo album link her: Anthem Custom New Build. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 602-218-5302 (text/voice) or email info@lovepoolcare.com.


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