Deciding to add a pool to your home is a big decision and finding the right company to build your backyard pool can feel overwhelming at first. However, we are here to provide you with some simple steps to ensure you are choosing the right company.

Start with a Local Pool Search


Search online for local pool builders and review their websites. Read about the various companies and review their portfolios and images. Study which style of pool you like best and create a wish list. Pick a few pool builders and contact them for an estimate.

Find a certified pool builder 


Make sure that the company you choose is a certified pool building/building professional. This shows that a staff member has gone through extensive training and testing on pool building.

Check the Reviews

Check out the Google, Yelp and/or Facebook Reviews on the company. The real client reviews are the most honest reviews and feedback you can get on a company. 

Ask for Referrals

ask the pool company for a list of customer referrals and see if you can see some of the pools they have built. Contact the people on the list and ask them about the pool building process.

Get it in Writing


If you had an estimate provided to you by a company, get your estimate in writing. If anything is discussed like warranty, or any promises are made affecting the purchasing, be sure you getting in writing. They should be comfortable providing this for you.

Take your Time
There is no need to rush into making this large decision. Do your research, take your time, ask questions and decide when the time is right for you. Some places will rush and put the pressure on to make a decision. Be sure to not give into the pressure. When it feels right, you will know.

Read everything they give you

A reputable pool builder will provide you with a decent amount of reading material to provide you with information and knowledge about the process. Be sure to read all the material given to you so you are aware of everything. Then don’t sign anything until all your questions are answered and you feel fully comfortable with what you have been told, provided and given.

Know your Rights
According to the Better Business Bureau, a contract which has been signed by the customer is not binding on the pool company until signed by an officer of the firm, and its terms are subject to change. The BBB further advises that, “potential customers should be aware that, if they sign a contract at the builder’s place of business but do not finance the pool, there may be no rescission or three-day cooling off period. The finance contract has a 3 day rescission clause, but this does not affect the pool contract.”

Is the company insured?
Ask to see a copy of their Liability Insurance, Worker’s Comp Insurance, and their state Contractor’s license.  This is important to know you are dealing with professionals.

Challenger Pools is always here and ready to answer any question you may have. We are happy to provide you with a free estimate and schedule a time to review your property. Please call us today at 813.454.0582 or fill out the form here or to the right of this copy.
 We look forward to hearing from you and helping ease your pool building process.

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A saltwater pool is a great place to take a swim and enjoy the sun. However, saltwater pools also offer additional health benefits that range from soothing your skin to decreasing your stress levels. They are perfect for those who are looking for something different than the average swimming pool. Saltwater provides numerous benefits, but there are also a few disadvantages you may want to consider before taking the leap. Below we layout the advantages AND disadvantages for you to help you decide what is right for you and your family.

The biggest advantages of a saltwater pool are:

Less Maintenance
With a saltwater system, pool maintenance is much simpler. Saltwater pools still require some chlorine, but it’s minimal. With these pools, the salt cells will produce any chlorine as needed, but you will still want to monitor chlorine levels periodically to ensure everything is working properly. Additionally, cleaning your saltwater pool is only required about once a year, where you drain the pool, change the filter, and scrub.

Easier on the Eyes and Skin
Because they have lower chlorine levels, salt-water pools are much gentler on the eyes and skin. With lower chlorine levels, people that are sensitive to chlorine will have fewer irritations.

Softer Water
Like rainwater or water softeners, saltwater pools make water feel smooth and silky as opposed to the abrasive feel of chlorinated water. This many find desirable.

More Cost Effective
Though expensive upfront because of the purchase of a saltwater generator, saltwater pools are actually more cost effective in the long run. With saltwater pools, homeowners can forgo buying pool chemicals on a regular basis as well as regular maintenance fees compared to the regular chlorinated pool.

Disadvantages of Saltwater Pools:

Costs More
Salt-water pools require a larger initial investment up front, making them more expensive to build than traditional chlorine pools. Though it’s likely that with the money you save on chlorine, the saltwater system will pay for itself. A starting fee of a few thousand dollars can steer some people away from choosing it. The initial expenses to set up a saltwater pool can cost between $1,000 and $5,000, not including the cost of construction for the actual pool. This price can vary depending on the size of your pool, i.e., the bigger the pool, the more water you have and the more salt needed to add to the water. However, once the pool is set up and running, you’ll spend less money on it than a chlorinated pool. During the summer you can expect to spend $20 to $30 for the whole season. Upkeep of a chlorinated pool is much more expensive, and will cost about $50 to $60 a month depending on the size of your pool and the amount of time it’s used.

More Complex
Salt-water pools are more complex than traditional pools.  With modern electric saltwater systems, any problems that occur are likely to require the assistance of a technician.

Salt Can be Very Damaging
Salt can cause damage to certain materials, so you may have to avoid using specific types of heaters, fixtures, underwater lighting, liners and even some types of masonry work.

Making a Final Decision
If you can afford the extra cost up front, a salt-water pool can offer significant benefits you don’t get from traditional chlorinated pools. When it comes to making a choice, however, you should consider how often you and your family will actually use your pool, especially if you live in a region that enjoys fewer warm weather days. This should help you determine if a salt-water pool is right for you and your family.

 

READ MORE >>> How do I know if my pool is safe from the Coronavirus? 

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Art can be viewed in so many ways and below we show just how many different ways we can showcase ‘pool art’ and the amazing artists behind them.

First, we start with “The Swimming Pool”, as a permanent art installation that’s also an optical illusion and an experiential work at the same time. Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich created his art in a courtyard with a limestone deck frame. Submerse yourself in this pool but you won’t get wet in this one!

Next, we feature artist Ania Amador as she transforms an ordinary swimming pool into a stellar basin that is out of this world. Created as a commission, the outer space scene is painted in the base of the sprawling pool and adjacent jacuzzi. The resulting artwork is both massive in scale and impressive in it’s attention to detail.

Moving on we come to a one-of-a-kind pool art. Within a community swimming pool in Los Angeles, non-profit arts and educational organization machine project has put on its first underwater art show. The work of 18 creatives has been shown in a sub-aquatic setting, meters below the surface of the water.

For the exhibition ‘snorkel dreams’, machine project invited 18 creatives to install their work inside the Annenberg Community Beach House pool in LA. While underwater, visitors were able to view paintings, ceramics, photographs, video, blown glass, a sunken mannequin, and an architectural model — among a host of other works in various mediums.

Participating artists included: Andrew Cannon, Jessica Cowley, Bob Dornberger, Emily Joyce, Alice Könitz, Candice Lin, Becca Lofchie, Johnston Marklee, Jennifer Moon & Laub, Paul Pescador, Jennifer Rochlin, Suné Woods, Kim Ye, Patricia Yossen, Mallen & Gray, and Machine Project with Grace Eunchong.

Many call tattoos body art, and it wouldn’t be any different in your pool. Hence, pool art. Now you can get your pool a tattoo or you can simply call it a pool mat. Its removal and adds beautiful dimension and color to your backyard oasis. It comes in many different designs to suit your style.

We finish with a beautiful acrylic painting by Eric Zener capturing an underwater moment.

Eric says, “My work is about psychological turning points and transformations and risk, taking that proverbial leap of faith, balanced with that quest for finding refuge, finding quietness and stillness and escapism, » he said. « Some [paintings] are very, very introspective escapism. Some are just the joy, the pool full of people in this temporary oasis. The 10 minutes when you hit the water for the first time and the smell of sun tan lotion hits your nose. You really don’t think about anything for those first few minutes.”

 

READ >>> Preparing Your Pool for a Hurricane

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Did you know that your swimming pool can lose about a quarter of an inch of water each day? On top of that, wind, humidity and sunlight can drastically increase these water loss rates.

You may wake up one morning and notice that the water level looks lower than usual in your backyard pool. Do you wonder what could be the cause? More than likely it is a result of evaporation. But how can you be so sure?

We’ve compiled a list of water evaporation causes that you might find helpful in determining the cause of your pool water loss–also a few ideas to help decrease evaporation.

Evaporation occurs whenever you expose wind or air to the surface of your pool. So in short, this applies to every pool, all the time. Water molecules rise to the surface, form into a vapor and eventually get released into the air. Heated pools on cool nights experience evaporation more rapidly.

Exposure to Sunlight

Does your pool get direct sunlight daily throughout the day? A fully exposed pool means more water evaporation. Exposure. The more your pool is exposed to the sun and wind, the more evaporation you’ll see. Also unscreened pools will lose more than a screened pool. However, we don’t expect all pool owners to build a pool enclosure as this an expensive add-on, but keep in mind that fences, structures, even trees near the location of a pool helps lower the amount of evaporation that occurs in pools.

Lack of Humidity

If you happen to live in an area where there is little to no humidity, water evaporation would be the main cause of water loss. Here’s how evaporation works. Evaporation can be compared to that of a sponge. The drier the heat, the more water is absorbed. An environment with higher humidity will lose less water. An environment with lower humidity will result in water evaporation.

Temperature

A summer’s intense heat can be a huge contributor to the water loss in your pool. The intense heat during the day mixed with the cooler weather at night is the perfect recipe for evaporation. Here’s an easy explanation on why this water evaporation occurs. The difference in temperature between your pool water and the outside air is what causes evaporation. Imagine your pool as a pot of water on the stove; as the water starts to heat up, contact with air causes steam, which causes evaporation to occur.

Want to help decrease your evaporation?

Now that we know the cause of evaporation, what can we do to decrease it? A few simple and inexpensive ways to help decrease your water evaporation in your swimming pool would be to use a solar cover, reduce your water temperature, and/or add landscaping/windbreaks.

A solar cover is a great way to shield pool water and decrease water evaporation. In fact, a solar cover can reduce water evaporation up to 95% when used regularly. This is why it’s suggested first, it’s the most effective.

Reduce your water temperature and make it a bit on the chilly side. This can be a simple step, especially during the hotter months of summer. Make that jump in the pool refreshing!

Add additional landscape, trees, bushes and the like, to block the wind and help break it. Even outdoor furniture and fencing will help reduce evaporation.

So now that you know water evaporation is caused by exposure, humidity and water temperature you can do your best to minimize it by using a solar cover, reducing your water temperature and adding landscape and/or windbreaks.

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