Creating a pool environment that is safe for patrons is not limited to balancing water chemistry and equipment repair. Because of ongoing wet conditions, pool decks and surrounds in commercial pool environments must provide adequate traction to prevent a slip or fall. Products for pool professionals to create slip-resistant surfaces range from clear-coat applications to…
Many municipalities across the country fail to enforce code compliance for water shape projects, but that doesn’t mean pool builders can ignore code requirements. “Just because you didn’t get caught doesn’t mean you didn’t break the law,” says Rick Chafey, co-owner of Red Rock Contractors and Red Rock Pools and Spas in Chandler, Arizona. “Liability…
Commercial and residential pools have multiple, clear differences. Among those differences is the bidding process, which on the commercial side involves several noteworthy factors. Rick Woemmel, president of Bi-State Pool & Spa in O’Fallon, Missouri, bids his projects by estimating time they’ll be there and putting that into software, which takes into consideration overhead, profit,…
Zero-depth aquatic play areas — known as splash pads — have become enormously popular in recent years for their entertainment value, risk reduction, water savings and staff savings. That said, service technicians know well the hurdles involved in servicing splash pads. “A lot of splash pads require daily, if not more frequent visits,” says Daniel…
Teaching health department–required certification classes for commercial pools is part of what I do. These are necessary certifications for anyone who has anything to do with cleanliness, maintenance and chemical treatment of a public pool. However, over the last six or seven years, I have been offering these courses to pool pros who do not…
In a digitized world, pool companies have found value in digital billboards. Cavanaugh Pool, Spa & Patio in Madisonville, Kentucky, has been using two digital billboards in its newest market — Owensboro, Kentucky — for about three years, owner Chris Cavanaugh says. Traditional billboard advertising still makes up a key piece of the company’s marketing…
Pool professionals are in the business of taking care of customers, making it easy to focus on customer happiness and well-being. But how often do you think about the mental well-being of your employees? Mental health may be out of sight, but it shouldn’t be out of mind for pool company leadership, says Jules Johnson,…
Dr. Susan Richardson has always had an interest in reducing the risk of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in swimming pools. Richardson, who works in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of South Carolina, has been a private pool owner for more than 25 years and, as a mom, is concerned about her children’s…
By Mark Ligon, marketing manager, Commercial Industrial Supply For homeowners, pool construction is a big investment that they expect will last for years to come. That’s why it is so important to select the best materials for the job. Because much of the pool piping is buried underground, it’s especially important to choose the right…
When I re-read my last column, I can’t help but laugh. If I’d only known what was ahead. We were gearing up for a crazy busy season, but never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned this. The way COVID has affected business differs for each company, city and state, but fortunately for our…
Several in the pool industry believe that EPA-registered borates deserve more attention from dealers, technicians and owners. “This is the most underutilized and overlooked product in our entire product line,” says Alicia Stephens, manager of training and education at BioLab Incorporated in Lawrenceville, Georgia. “And I hate that because it’s a wonderful product that can…
Sometimes we pick up a few tricks along the way; things that can save time, money or even perform the impossible.