signature pools

Top 10 Reasons a Fiberglass Swimming Pool is the Right Choice for You

SignaturePools · Nov 2, 2010 ·

It’s easy for a swimming pool builder to say that their product or type of pool is the best in the market, but rare to hear definitive and concrete reasons why. We at Signature Pools strive to back up our statements with facts and the below list represents just a few of the great reasons a fiberglass swimming pool is the right choice for you, your family and your backyard. Take a look at some of the reasons our customers choose to install a fiberglass pool over any other type of swimming pool for their backyard.

1. Latest Technology- The fiberglass swimming pool industry has an established and competitive manufacturing base that strives to bring the best materials and manufacturing techniques to customers. This competitive environment pushes manufacturers to be the most innovative and bring the highest quality to the swimming pool market. With over a dozen fiberglass pool manufacturers in the United States, the best products and manufacturers naturally rise to the top.

2. Innovative Designs- With hundreds of shapes, sizes and colors to choose from, fiberglass pools offer an astounding array of stylish designs for homeowners at many price points. Whether you are looking for a simple place to cool off in the summer, a backyard oasis or a family fun pool, there is a fiberglass pool for you.

3. Warranty- Fiberglass pool manufacturers offer some of the best structural warranties in the industry. As we all know by now, the liner of a vinyl pool needs to be replaced over time and concrete pools have to be re-plastered and will eventually crack. In ground fiberglass pool manufacturers can offer such a great warranty because they know their product never needs resurfacing or replacing.

4. Low Maintenance- The last thing a pool owner wants to do is spend their weekends cleaning and balancing the water chemistry of their new pool. Spend more time enjoying your in ground pool when you choose a fiberglass swimming pool. The non-porous surface of the pool does not allow algae to stick to the walls and floor, and chemical balancing is a breeze with an inert surface that does not affect water chemistry.

5. Faster Installation- Fiberglass pools are a fantastic choice if you are concerned about construction time in your backyard. Because the pool shell is pre-manufactured in an environmentally controlled setting, you not only get a quality product but spend less time looking at a construction mess and more time enjoying your beautiful backyard. Typical fiberglass pool installation takes between 2-4 weeks compared to vinyl and concrete pool construction that can last months!

6. Pool Surface- No more skinned knees, torn or stained bathing suits when you choose a fiberglass pool. The surface of the pool is smooth to the touch and won’t scuff your feet or hands as you swim. Additionally, you will never have to deal with a wrinkled pool liner.

7. Beautiful Finishes– Not only is the pool surface smooth, but the color finishes are fantastic! Gone are the days of plain white pool finishes. With a fiberglass pool finish you can choose a color that fits the overall design of your yard. From a refreshing bright blue to a deep, calming aqua color, there is a pool finish for you.

8. Lowest Maintenance Cost– As we have mentioned, maintaining a fiberglass pool is the easiest option available today, and chemical costs are significantly less than a vinyl or concrete pool. But the most significant savings is the long-term renovation costs associated with replacing a vinyl liner, or re-plastering a concrete pool surface. Choosing a fiberglass pool eliminates the need for any of this work and gives you the best cost savings over time.

9. Water Features- Fiberglass pools are compatible with a countless number of water features including slides, jets, fountains, and waterfalls. These options can be added to almost any fiberglass pool, allowing you to truly customize the look, design and feel of your backyard.

10. Longevity- Since fiberglass pools don’t need to be re-surfaced, you can be assured that the finish of your pool will look the same in 5, 10, or 20 years as it does today. The finish of the pool is stain and fade resistant from the sun and will look beautiful for years to come. Vinyl and concrete pools are susceptible to staining, fading, wrinkles in vinyl and etching in concrete. These materials will fade over time and start to deteriorate as right away. Fiberglass pools have a proven record of maintaining their look and feel for years.

Do I Need A Building Permit For My Fiberglass Pool?

SignaturePools · Oct 22, 2010 ·

Yes!

We get this question a lot, and there are a few reasons that a building permit is not only required, but a benefit to homeowners:

1. Liability- Having a building permit in place protects you as the homeowner from a number of liabilities throughout the project. What happens if someone gets hurt while working on your property? A building permit requires contractors to be licenced, insured, and bonded in many cases. If an injury or property damage were to occur, your pool builder’s insurance will cover the costs.

2. Inspections- Most municipal building departments have an inspector visit your home during the construction of your pool project. The inspector’s role is to examine and verify that your pool is being built to national and local safety standards. Some of the inspections include: underground plumbing, electric, and gas line, electrical bonding, and final pool/barrier.

3. Piece of Mind- Working with a reputable pool installer who is licenced, insured, and bonded can be a great step towards knowing you are getting the best possible installation of your new swimming pool. Stay away from contractors who insist that you don’t need a permit, or ask you to apply for the permit yourself. Many times these companies are not willing to comply with industry standards of construction or do not have proper liability insurance.

If you have questions about building permits for your new fiberglass pool project feel free to contact us or give Signature Pools a call at 630.845.1145

Pool Closing Letters Have Been Sent Out

SignaturePools · Sep 16, 2010 ·

Signature Pools has mailed out the 2010 Pool Closing Letter to our existing and previous clients. You will be receiving your letter within a few days, and can schedule a pool closing on the form provided.

To be sure that your pool is closed correctly, and in a timely manner, please follow these pool closing guidelines:

1) Have all water pumped off of your pool cover
2) Have power turned on to your pool equipment
3) Have water temperature of pool set at a minimum of 65 degrees
4) Have winter cover on your pool deck or nearby so our technicians have it available for installation (only applicable if you have a winter cover)
5) Please unlock gates to pool area for easy access of our technicians

Many customer ask us: “When should I close my pool?”

Our answer depends on two things:

1. The weather- if we experience a mild weather pattern for the fall, many customers don’t mind keeping their pool open until the middle of October. In this case it is important to keep your pool water circulating during the evening hours in the event that it happens to fall below freezing overnight. If it becomes unseasonably cold in the early fall, many customers are likely to have their pool closed right after the Labor Day holiday weekend.

2. Energy Savings- Obviously, the cooler it gets outside the more you have to run your pool heater. Some customers don’t mind paying the extra cost to extend their swimming season into the late fall months. Also keep in mind that you will have to run your pool pump longer to ensure water is constantly circulating through the pool and equipment.

**Keeping you pool or spa open all winter is not recommended. We have seen customers try and keep their equipment running throughout the winter months and the risk is usually too great. Any sort of power failure or tripped circuit breaker will shut down the electric to the equipment- and it only takes a few minutes for water to freeze when exposed to the harshest of Midwest winters.**

Whether you have your pool closed down right after Labor Day or choose to keep swimming until the first signs of snow, the decision is ultimately up to you. Signature Pools is able to accommodate for your swimming season and we are available to close your pool whenever you would like. If you have questions about getting your pool closed for the winter or would like further information, please feel free to Contact Signature Pools or give us a call at 630.845.1145

Do I need to hire a pool service company?

SignaturePools · Jul 23, 2010 ·

Very often customers will ask me if I think it’s necessary for them to hire a pool service company to maintain their fiberglass swimming pool and equipment. As with most things in life, the answer is not always short and easy. Your lifestyle, available free time and how you use your pool are all factors to take into account. Here are a few things to consider before making the decision.

1. How much time are you willing/able to put into your pool?

Some people think that as long as the water is clear, everything is working perfect in their fiberglass swimming pool. Daily chemical checks can get neglected if a homeowner is not aware of the necessary water chemistry balance needed. This process can take just a few minutes a day to test and adjust the chemicals in your pool water.

2. How often do you use your pool?

Are there always family gatherings and parties in your backyard and pool? If so, keeping up with routine maintenance is crucial. As more people get in the pool, so does the demand for sanitation and circulation of your pool water to stay clean and healthy. Conversely, if you are a homeowner who rarely uses their pool, or are not home very often, pool maintenance may be overlooked or ignored. Not only chemical balancing, but vacuuming and filter cleanings need to take place at regular intervals to keep your pool and equipment in perfect running order.

3. Do you have a salt water system?

If you are using a chlorine generation system, it is crucial that the cell be cleaned on a regular basis. Mineral deposits will build up on the cell over time and will eventually prevent the system from producing the chlorine necessary to sanitize your pool water. Manufacturers recommend acid-washing the cell every 3 months. Also, using a chlorine generator tends to make the pH of pool water drift higher, causing calcium buildup on the floor and walls of your pool. It is important to keep the pH within an acceptable range to ensure your equipment runs efficiently and lasts a long time. Check out this article for more information on adjusting the pH of your pool water.

How you answer these questions will determine if you really do need to hire a pool service company. For many customers it’s a matter of time and convenience. Signature Pools and Spas can help get you on the track to a worry free swimming season. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, and one-time ‘check up’ services. Rates vary by location and scope of services performed. Contact Signature Pools if you have any questions about pool service, maintenance, or have questions about caring for your pool.

How do I balance pH in my fiberglass swimming pool?

SignaturePools · Jul 6, 2010 ·

Part of what we do at Signature Pools, along with building fantastic in ground fiberglass swimming pools, is teaching our clients about the importance of maintaining their pool water chemistry. Many people have the impression that fiberglass pools are COMPLETELY maintenance free, and because of a salt water chlorine generating system, they don’t need to test or balance other pool chemicals. Although it is true that fiberglass pools are much easier to maintain than concrete or vinyl in ground pools, there are still a few things to keep an eye on throughout the week.

pH LEVELS ARE CRITICAL TO THE CLAIRTY OF YOUR POOL WATER AND LONGEVITY OF YOUR POOL EQUIPMENT.

By far the most important factor in keeping the overall health of your pool is the pH, or degree of acid or base in the water. pH is measured on a scale from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral.

Pool water pH is best kept in the 7.2 to 7.8 range. When pH remains below 7.2, the water is considered to be corrosive and can damage metals in the equipment such as heat exchangers or lights. It is also more difficult to keep chlorine in the pool because it becomes much less stable and is consumed faster than would be used at normal pH levels.

Keeping the pH higher than 7.8 will increase the tendency to form scale or cloudy water. Calcium is an unstable mineral and when pH is high, the calcium has a hard time dissolving in the water. High pH will also reduce chlorine effectiveness resulting in the need to maintain higher chlorine levels to achieve proper sanitation. Be aware that using a salt water chlorine generator will naturally increase the pH of your pool water and will need to be adjusted more frequently than when using stablized chlorine.

If pH levels are low, sodium carbonate (pH Up) is added to raise the pH. If the pH is high, ph Down is used. pH Down comes in two forms: liquid acid (muriatic acid) or dry acid (sodium bisulfate).

By keeing a close watch on your swimming pool pH levels, you will have a more enjoyable, safer, and easier to maintain environment in your backyard! If you have further questions about the pH of your pool water, or would like any other information about maintaining your pool, please feel free to contact us or call Signature Pools and Spas at 630.845.1145