Fibreglass pools to the rescue post COVID-19
by Dave Flaherty | June 13, 2020 12:08 pm
By William Khamis
Pool professionals are adjusting business operations just as others have adjusted to stay-at-home and quarantine measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the situation has been tough, pool professionals are experts at adjusting, and the industry continuously looks for ways to service and install more pools in less time, using the least amount of labour.
As a result of the pandemic, some homeowners have been stuck indoors looking to do more in their backyards and, perhaps, realizing how much they now want a pool.
As restrictions ease and stay-at-home-measures are lifted, those in the pool industry have an opportunity to capitalize on some ‘pent-up’ consumer demand. Although some homeowners have been hit financially, others find themselves in a situation where they have extra cash they can invest in their home for a summer ‘staycation’—not only for this summer, but perhaps even next year as well.
As calls come in from consumers asking how fast they can get a pool installed, builders are looking at fibreglass models as a way to maximize the number they can install in this shortened season. That said, here are five ways builders can benefit by offering these pools:
Benefit #1: More installations in less time
More and more builders have added fibreglass pools to their offerings because they take less time to install compared to other pool types. They also offer all the features that are in demand by consumers—including large tanning ledges, beach entry designs, and sunken living areas. Unlike fibreglass pools of the past, today’s models have improved construction features that give builders an easy-to-install product for maximum profit.
Jason Branco, owner of Aqua Med Pools in Massachusetts is one builder who started offering fibreglass models because he needed to install more pools to be profitable.
“Getting a vinyl liner pool finished can take up to two to
four weeks for site preparation, liner installation, and dealing with timing and weather issues, and gunite pools can take up
to eight weeks with a lot of labour involved,” said Branco. “In comparison, a fibreglass pool takes a week or two—including the deck and fencing.”
Benefit #2: Install with smaller crews
Due to the risk of spread, the COVID-19 pandemic could negatively affect the availability of installation crews this summer. But from an installer’s perspective, fibreglass pools can be finished with fewer workers compared to other construction methods.
“Fibreglass jobs last one to three days which makes it easy for my crew to stay organized and efficient,” said Branco. “Being able to install more pools in a year has added to my company’s ability to do more service work as well.”
In addition to smaller teams, fibreglass installations do
not require the skilled labour needed for other pool types, Branco adds.
In fact, some service professionals looking to get into building pools will find fibreglass models to be the best option when getting started.
Michael Berggren of Berggren’s Oasis in Wenatchee, Wash., said his business had previously only serviced pools until he recently decided to start building as well.
“We already knew about pool equipment, plumbing, and hydraulics, and we were tired of having to clean up and fix other’s mistakes, so we decided to do it ourselves,” said Berggen. “We did our homework and decided we should start building fibreglass pools.”
In terms of placement, most builders installing fibreglass pools are using the same excavator to dig the hole, and move and place the pool in the ground. Using an excavator eliminates the need to rent expensive cranes.
“We work to combine a fibreglass order into a multi-pool shipment so we can complete all of the excavations, and then drop all of the pools in the same day. It’s very time efficient,” said Branco.
Benefit #3: Install in virtually any temperature with ease
While colder temperatures, rain delays, high water tables, and freeze/thaw conditions affect how quickly vinyl liner and gunite pools can be constructed, as long as the ground can be excavated, a fibreglass pool can be installed in virtually any temperature.
“These factors are not installation variables for fibreglass pools,” said Branco.
These pools have the longest season, allowing installations to continue late into the fall and early winter as well as earlier in the following spring.
Benefit #4: Easy to sell designs and maintenance
Fibreglass designs have come a long way and now includes various options that consumers are looking for in a pool.
“These pools are easy to sell because the features consumers want are already designed into the pool and there are not any additional charges to include them—it is all a part of the price,” said Branco. “Typically, features such as large steps and tanning ledges are all extra. In many cases, these projects require custom work and, as a result, adds more time to the job and ultimately to the installation.”
Often, promoting fibreglass models comes down to reminding customers of the maintenance costs that come along with other pool types.
“I remind the customer of the investment in the pool—both initial upfront cost and long-term maintenance expenses—over a 20-year period,” said Branco. “When you factor in at least one to two liner changes, the possibility of tears from bad winters, and the amount of time you will have to wait to get the liner repaired or replaced, the cost of the fibreglass pool is not all that expensive, relatively.”
In addition to the many resort-style configurations that are pre-designed, fibreglass pools also have a coping system that is particularly well-suited for the installation of automatic pool covers.
Benefit #5: Pool builders can set themselves apart from their competitors
Many pool professionals say they are adding fibreglass pools to their product line up not only to give homeowners more choices, but also offer something different.
“I really started to get serious about selling fibreglass pools once I realized they would give my business a unique product that my competitors weren’t selling,” said Branco. “Fibreglass pools are more expensive than vinyl liner models, especially because of the large number of builders doing vinyl liner installations in my area. That said, the price has never really been an issue because of all the other benefits I’m able to offer my clients.”
Burton Pools in Arkansas has been in the industry for more than 40 years, offering gunite, vinyl liner, and fibreglass pools.
“We have found our customers are choosing fibreglass pools at a rapid rate, and our sales of these pools are growing steadily,” said the company’s owner, David Burton. “I believe resort-style, beach-entry fibreglass pools and new sunken-living room features are unique options that help our business stand out from our competitors.”
Competition will be fierce this summer after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, so it will be important to provide customers different options to maximize profits and avoid competing on price.
Jonathan Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Pool & Lawn in Indiana has been building pools for more than 35 years and also installs vinyl liner and fibreglass models.
“Consumers always want to have something different than their neighbours,” he said. “Fibreglass pools have these high-end, resort-style features built into their designs. The surface is quite resilient, too, so homeowners don’t need to worry about their dog hopping into the pool or what furniture is being used inside the pool.”
Making up for lost time
Many pool professionals agree being lean, mean, and efficient this summer is one of the best ways the industry will be able to adjust their scheduling to make up for any lost time and profits as a result of the pandemic. Those builders offering their customers a fibreglass pool option can make the most of this year’s shorter, post-COVID-19 installation season.
William Khamis is co-owner and chief financial officer of Thursday Pools LLC, a manufacturer that that specializes in one-piece fibreglass pools. He has held this position since 2010. Khamis earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in 1985, certified public accountant (CPA) in 1985, and a master of business administration (MBA) from the University of Notre Dame in 2001. He can be reached via email at b.khamis@thursdaypools.com.
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