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The Vermiculite Touch

Editor’s Note: This article was first published by WaterShapes.  Vermiculite is fascinating stuff, at least it is for those of us who have had reason to work with it. It’s a naturally occurring mineral that in its raw form is sometimes described as mica-like because it exists in layered granules. Chemically speaking, it’s made of hydrated magnesium,

Coming Together to Help People Come Together

It’s a beautiful thing when people join forces to help those in need, seeking no reward other than the smiles on their faces. That’s what happened in Eatonville, Fla., this spring. The residents of Eatonville had watched their community pool drift into disrepair and finally close due to lack of funding — a scenario played

Floating NYC Pool Set to Land in East River

Why swim in the river, when you can swim in a pool floating on it? That’s exactly what + POOL, a New York-based organization that advocates for equitable access to its surrounding waters, plans to do. As soon as 2025, New Yorkers near the East River could have a futuristic floating pool in the waters

Swimming in Art: The Benefits of Stainless Steel Pools

Unlike prefabricated fiberglass pools, where the shapes are decided for you, the options are basically endless for stainless steel pools. According to legendary builder and Genesis co-founder Skip Phillips, Gene Brown of Valley Pool & Spa is “in a league by himself,” an accolade which might one day adorn Brown’s plaque in the swimming pool

Rudy Stankowitz: Dangerous Waters?

I recently had an adventure that got me thinking about a challenge many of us in the pool service industry face. My wife and I traveled to Ecuador and ventured to the Galapagos Islands. There, I found myself on an inflatable excursion, sporting a Quint’s Shark Fishing t-shirt, with the JAWS theme ratcheting in my

Hydronics Applied to Aquatics

The pool facilities before the retrofit were in need of an update, both outside and in the mechanical room. The Newton Athletic Club is an elite health and wellness center 30 miles northeast of Philadelphia. It’s known for its premium amenities, pristine facilities and wide variety of fitness programs. “We’re constantly seeking innovative ways to

The Ultimate Pool Building Challenge

So you’re a veteran pool builder; you know your craft. You’ve solved some problems — with pipe runs and equipment, with drainage and soils, with slopes and access and trees and enormous boulders nobody knew were there until you hit them with the bucket of a backhoe. And you’ve got some commercial experience, too. You’ve

Reviewing Vanishing-Edge Design Protocol

Few pool designs evoke the feeling of having a personal resort in your own backyard more than the vanishing edge. The undisrupted sightlines and soothing sounds can immediately transport you to a restful oasis, without actually having to leave your home. For pool builders and designers, however, creating the proper vanishing-edge design can be a

Pool Covers: Tips From the Pros

You think you know all about pool covers. After all, it’s just a vinyl sheet stretched over the water hole to keep things out. But whether it’s automatic, solid or mesh, there’s always a new tip or trick when it comes to installation and maintenance. To pick up a few of these, we talked to

Taking Care of Fiberglass Pool Surfaces

When covering the customer service phone line, Jonathan Davis of Thursday Pools fields a lot of problems. “Every single issue any dealer or homeowner has comes through my office,” says Davis. “And after a while, you come up with some creative solutions to common problems.” Here, we take a look at seven of the most