PSM: What makes your company unique?
MB: What makes our company unique is the people who make up our team. The majority of our department leaders come from entrepreneurial backgrounds, which gives them the knowledge to complete all aspects of our projects with the utmost care, quality, thought, and respect.
We’ve always strived to push the limits in vinyl pool construction, whether that be the latest technology, pool features, or construction practices. For example, we built a vinyl pool in 1989 with a tiled concrete stair and bench. We’ve also built concrete spill-over spas within a vinyl pool.
Due to our quality workmanship, we’ve found our customers to be extremely loyal to us, with the majority of our projects being generated by referrals. In some cases, we’ve built three or four pools for the same family over the past 35 years. We’re now building pools for the children of our earlier customers.
The combination of our staff, their backgrounds, and their commitment to quality creates a company culture and product our employees take pride in, and our customers are able to enjoy and be 100 per cent confident they made the right decision when contacting Forest City Pool & Patio to complete their dream property, repair their pool, or keep their waterscapes clean, clear, and safe.
PSM: How large is your shop?
MB: Our facility in London, Ont., is approximately 743 m2 (8000 sf), which houses our offices, showroom/retail, and storage for all three of our divisions. In the last 20 years, we have averaged 20 to 35 full-time and part-time employees.
PSM: What type of pools and hot tubs do you primarily install?
MB: We primarily build custom polymer wall vinyl liner pools, as well as steel wall vinyl liner pools and concrete pools. We also build custom concrete spas, stainless steel spas, and offer conventional spas. We pride ourselves on building a quality, long-lasting, and well-functioning space for our clients to enjoy for years to come.
PSM: Do you perform renovation work?
MB: Our company does perform renovation work. This can range from a simple liner replacement all the way to a complete backyard restoration. We take immense pride in seeing the satisfaction of our customers when they see the transformation of their backyard from a dated, tired space to a fresh, new, and up-to-date oasis.
We also complete commercial pool renovations, both for concrete pools with tile or marbelite and 60 mil membrane pools.
PSM: What type of projects have you been working on recently?
MB: Recently, our focus consists of complete backyard transformations of various size and complexity, including pool installation, fences, decks, and cabanas. We’re also completing various commercial pool renovations, including a therapy pool for horses.
Over the last few years, we’re seeing more of a trend that people are wanting to make their spaces unique to their family. To achieve our customers’ visions, our projects incorporate vinyl over steps and benches, as well as various water features, patios, and retaining walls, depending on our customers’ specific wants and backyard needs.
On top of our construction projects, we have a full-service department which handles pool openings and closings, weekly maintenance, equipment upgrades, and any other general service our customers may need.
PSM: How much of the pool installation process is handled in-house?
MB: We handle the complete pool installation process in-house. We handle everything from initial concepts and designs, right to the finished hardscaping on each project. We have close relationships with qualified landscapers we work with to complete the softscaping on our projects.
