Does your pool service provider or contractor care enough to join their professional organization?.
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Does your pool service provider or contractor care enough to join their professional organization?
Is it just me? When a business is supposedly doing everything it can to be professional, to stay on the forefront of industry trends and developments, and to be engaged in the development of these trends, wouldn’t it want to be a member of the relevant professional trade organizations? The answer seems to be obvious, yet when I look at the ‘locate a member’ page for the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (formerly the NSPI if you are one of the contractors still living in the 1950′s–where you started as a contractor–and which is supposed to translate into you being a great contractor), our ‘competitors’ are missing!
This kills me. I’ve spent hundreds of hours, and thousands upon thousands of dollars giving back to the trade organizations that help our industry. I can hear the contractors that are not there: “Why would I want to spend money on that? What have they done for me?” Shortsighted. Let me tell you why.
Research: The National Plasterer’s Council brought together industry members–as a Professional Trade Organization–to conceive and build the a first-class, third-party research facility at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo–one of the Nation’s top top engineering schools–the National Pool Industry Research Center. The findings that have come from the research protocols have saved contractors and consumers immeasurable grief and costs through improved materials and understanding of water chemistry.
Training and Certifications: Continual improvement should be at the core of everything you do.We have two Certified Building Professionals on our staff. We have a Certified Service Professional, and three Certified Stain Specialists on our staff. These programs add value to our finished product and services because the people that hold those certifications–Anderson Poolworks has more certifications than any other pool company in the Northwest and beyond–are up to date with the latest industry technology, and we apply it. Every time. We’ll go up against anyone.
Government Relations: When the Virginia Graham-Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was passed, requiring all commercial pools and spas to become compliant to the new safety standards, we were confindent, knowledgalbe, and proactive. We held training seminars for public inspectors and professional consultants. Why? Because we were part of an industry organization and there to learn about it. When the ‘competition’ told public pool operators they wouldn’t do anything because “nobody know what the rules are”, we would come in, make their facility safe for children, and keep them compliant. The same thing is happening now with the ADA pool safety law. If you can read, and you have the information that is easily available through membership in your professional trade organization, you know what is going on and you can help public pool operators provide a safe, compliant swimming environment for everyone.
These are the highlights of taking part in you industry. If you are hiring a contractor or service provider for you pool, or spa, or water feature, ask the companies you call whether they stay engaged in their industry, or wait for it to come slap them–and therefor their customers too–in the face. Ask them if their employees and technicians are up to date with the latest products and industry developments. Because if they are not at least members of the professional organizations, they are way behind.
Dana Anderson
APSP Certified Building Professional
Swimming pool surface options
Ahhh, Spring is here (I know because my wife is sneezing at the flowers). This also means that you are probably pulling back the winter cover of your swimming pool or spa and finding that the surface may not look so good. Green, splotchy, grey, blue/grey, stained brown; it may be time for a resurface.
But what surface material should we use? Glad you asked. If your pool has been in the ground for any length of time, chances are you have traditional white plaster. As a company, Anderson Poolworks will plaster a pool or spa maybe one time per year (only because the owner really wants it). We highly recommend the harder aggregate surface options that have been in use for over twenty years.
- Pebble aggregate pool surfaces-Pebbletec, Sunstone Select, WetEdge, Universal, National Pool Tile Group; each brand offers the pebble aggregate to help make your pool surface last for decades! Not years. The finish feels like the texture of an orange peel, not perfectly smooth, yet not rough by any means. With proper pool chemistry, a pebble aggregate surface can last as long as 25-30 years!
- Quartz aggregate pool surface-there are several options for this material; some are a pre-blend or bagged mix and some are add-mix options. Several colors are available. With proper pool chemistry, a quartz pool surface can last as long as 15-20 years.
- Hydrazzo-a mixture of marble (plaster) and quartz that the applicator polishes the day after installation to ensure a smooth uniform surface.
When I am invited in to the back yard to evaluate a pool surface, I do my best to listen to the wants and needs of the owner in order to determine the best surface option for their particular pool or spa. Questions that I often ask go something like this: how long are you planning on being in the home? Who uses the pool or spa primarily? Are you requesting a resurface because of the look or the feel of the current surface? What type of chemistry to sanitize are you currently using?
Each one the questions and answers given will determine the new surface direction for the pool owner. Each surface option will also fit within differing budgets: Pebble aggregate surfaces will generally be the most expensive finish to apply, followed by the Hydrazzo (or polished aggregate surfaces) and then the quartz surface material.
Resurface quotes are a complimentary service provided by Anderson Poolworks. If you would like to have one of our team members evaluate your pool or spa, please contact us for an appointment. 
The Time Is Now…
The Time Is Now…
I love January because each time you see or speak to someone for the first time since last year, you get to wish them Happy New Year. It’s a great way to start off a conversation and it sets the tone for upbeat, positive communication. The start of a new year is of course an opportunity—albeit symbolic—to set new goals and begin on a path to achieve them. I know I’m three weeks into getting back into top shape physically, and I feel great.
What does this have to do with Anderson Poolworks’ blog? Well, 2012 has started out as a great business year, with many new exciting projects and our backlog growing, and we expect that to continue. As we build out our schedule, we look to each project as a new beginning of sorts. You see, we look at every new project as an opportunity to put our learning from the last one to use. Usually minor, sometimes fairly large, and occasionally paradigm shifts, the things we learn and apply are what makes us progress down the path toward our goal of being the best we can be. More on that later…
Being in the construction contracting business, we see and feel the effects of the current state of the economy. Contractors are falling left and right. Project starts are few and far between. You know the story. Guess what? We are going full steam ahead. We are sharpening our swords, polishing our armor, and training the troops!
This has been our attitude all along, but while the sky is grey and some contractors are “hunkered down”, we are taking every opportunity to improve. Two of our key people have earned advanced certifications, which, added to what we already had, makes us the most highly trained and certified swimming pool construction company in the Northwest! Next week we attend the National Plasterer’s Council Conference in San Diego to make sure we stay current with industry developments, and to catch up with our colleagues nationwide. More advanced certification training is scheduled for our people. Internally, I am leaving no stone unturned to make sure our systems, policies, and procedures are as good as they can be, and that nothing is taken for granted.
In short, we believe that unless you are growing, improving, and adapting, you are going to get left behind. We are not letting up, and our success is proof that it is working. Here’s to a great year for all of you, and for the work and effort that is going to bring you to your goals…the time is now.
Happy New Year!
Dana
The importance of signed contracts
Good morning everyone!
During our current holiday season, an important message was sent to me from out in the universe: get a signed contract before the work is scheduled!!!!
Yes, it’s true, I scheduled work for the service department during the summer swim season on a verbal approval. The client was a referral from a good friend and I had nothing to dread. Or so I thought. My service tech went about his job, completed the work (not a large amount, mind you) and submitted the paperwork for billing. Here it is now December, and the client has balked at paying the bill. And, as the upstanding contractor, I do have to concede that there was no signed contract for the work that was performed, only a verbal go ahead. Whoops. Since the amount was under $150.00 I will consider that a cheap school fee.
So what is the lesson here? Don’t work for friends? Don’t trust people? No. Most people we work with are outstanding and they often become our friends. Our contracts and service agreements clearly state the work to be done and the billing terms. Everything is black and white. No, the lesson is to complete the finite details. This means not only finishing the job per the contract, but also, get all of the proper paperwork signed before work begins! As a consumer, you trust that the contractor that you have hired is licensed, bonded, and insured and has the ability to complete the work in a timely, professional manner. You wouldn’t buy the latest TV from some guy in a back alley and expect some type of warranty or return policy, would you? The same goes for your contractor.
Over the years, our contracts have gotten much “thicker” and the necessary release forms have multiplied. Some clients have questioned the necessity of these forms, but believe me, they protect everyone: client and contractor.
Now, back to my previous client. I could initiate a verbal battle with these people, but to what end? At this point, there is no ‘win’. The facts are simple and plain. As an owner, did I mess up? You bet. Will I make the same mistake. Not likely.
The whole point of this rant is simple: if a contractor is willing to complete the work without the proper paperwork, find another guy. If that super cool new item is priced at ‘too good to be true’ and the warranty paperwork is somewhere around here…walk away.
Have a great holiday season everyone and enjoy your new toys!
Thank you and happy swimming.
Brody
Choosing your swimming pool installer in Oregon
Anderson Poolworks, Oregon’s best pool builder.
How do you know that the pool builder or installer that you, the consumer, have chosen is the right one for your project? Simple, you research. You ask questions. You contact the references. You…what? You did contact the references, right?
Most of the swimming pools that Anderson Poolworks builds or installs or renovates come from word of mouth advertising; which is not advertising at all. We have been renovating and building pools since the late 1990’s, when we saw the need in our local area for a new approach to an old problem. An old school approach to construction methodology, materials choices, and professionalism and finish products was the standard operating procedure amongst the local companies. I know, because I used to do the preparation work for almost all of them.
To start on our path of how to do it right, we went in search of standardization within our own industry. What we found was the first iteration of the National Plasterers Council: a group dedicated with setting the standard for pool and spa surfaces across the country.
The acknowledged leaders in the pool industry were asked to be a part of the group and to share the knowledge that they possessed. We listened intently and brought the higher learning home to our business. And slowly, we changed how the game was played in our local pool industry.
Starting with better surface materials, like Pebble Tec or quartz aggregate surfaces form CLI Aquavations, like KrystalKrete and Hydrazzo we forced the collective consciousness to change what was offered to the local clientele. Then moving in the direction of poured concrete coping material or natural stone (bluestone, quartz, marble) and glass waterline tile, we were able to set pools apart from the ‘red brick, blue tile, white plaster’ monotony. We embraced individualism and promoted wide color pallets and transformed the look of the mundane backyard. Then, it was on to building our first pool and spa. We had all of the tools necessary but lacked the step by step process. Not to be deterred, we plunged forth and I can say with happy confidence, the pool and spa still look and function beautifully to this day (I know, we still maintain the pool on a service account!).
From that first pool and spa installation, pool after pool came our way due to word of mouth. Small pools became bigger pools and then on to resort pools. All the way up to receiving the recent Gold Awards of Excellence from APSP for our latest water park project, Wings and Waves. (Who knew we would someday build pools under a 747!).
Even with our high achievements, we still find it necessary occasionally to ‘sell’ what we do to a potential client. If it comes down to price, well, we probably aren’t the company for you. If you want the best possible construction with the best materials and the accredited best technicians, then by all means, we are your pool builders. This also goes for renovations of any size as well. From a simple facelift of your existing pool or spa to reshaping of the vessels, new water features, piping, equipment, decking or outdoor living space, we allow your backyard dreams to come true.
So when it comes time to chose your pool company, ask around and you’ll probably hear our name come up. And yes, we will proudly hand out a list of references and we proudly display on our website www.andersonpoolworks.com quotes from previous clients who we now consider to be our friends. Care to be one of them?
The Importance of the APSP Certified Building Professional Program.
I am very proud to announce that I have completed the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals CBP program. The APSP, (formerly called the National Pool & Spa Institute), NSPI was founded in 1956 as a nonprofit organization to elevate the standards of the swimming pool industry and to promote the use of both public and private pools and spas. Under its leadership, pool & spa technology and training continue to grow. The CBP program solidifies ones knowledge in the (American National Standards Institute), ANSI/APSP standards for pool and spa construction, maintenance, safety, as well as general workplace safety, OSHA regulations and ethical business practices.
The education material and courses provided by the APSP were eye-opening to say the least. The pool & spa industry is full of people who do not have the education that they should. I have been working in the industry for almost 15 years and had a great knowledge base about pool & spa construction and service. But it was not nearly equivalent to the knowledge that I have now that I have completed the CBP program. When I started the course, I learned that there were only just over 300 CBPs in the country. That is surprising considering that there are over 17,000 swimming pool installers, dealers, and service companies in the U.S. In most states, all one needs to have to build a swimming pool or spa is a General Contractors License. In my opinion, this is not enough education to install something with so many variables, the first being safety. You wouldn’t let a contractor claiming to be a good Electrician or Plumber work on your home without a license in the field. If you would, then you are looking for trouble. I feel the APSP and the CBP Program are the equivalent of a license to build pools & spas.
Anderson Poolworks is an active member in the APSP. Dana Anderson is a CBP and member of the APSP Builders Council. I would like to thank Dana & Brody Anderson, owners of Anderson Poolworks, for supporting me and pushing me to better myself by becoming a CBP. They not only push their employees, they push other pool builders & service personnel to strive for a higher level of education. Their commitment to the industry and producing a quality product is unsurpassed.
Thanks Guys!
In an always progressing industry it feels good to be ahead of the curve.
Jason Schallock CBP
Main drain safety
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act or VGB 2008.
The previous line struck fear in the hearts of every public pool and spa facilities director or operator the year that it hit the ground. People kicked and screamed. Threw fits and tantrums. Flat out refused to take part. Ignored the law or pleaded ignorance. Armchair experts came out of the woodwork regarding the nuance of the act and how it was to be interpreted. Then it came down to who would enforce the act. Feds? State? County? No one was certain. Fingers were pointed and accusations and misinformation flew in all directions. The few of us that actually read the wording, worked with the state and local authorities and took it upon ourselves to learn the ins and outs, became the experts that people turned to.
Dana Anderson, president of Anderson Poolworks, member or the APSP technical committee, and Certified Building Professional, was at the spear point of the act in Oregon. Working with the State Board of Health in Oregon (serving on the contractors committee), the information was clear and concise from the people who initially brought the act to light and the authorities that would later enforce the rule. However, ‘experts’ came out of the woodwork to dispute the rule and seemingly make their own determination as to how the act should be followed. Some saw the act as an opportunity to rake in quick cash and get down the road. Others simply ignored the rule and behaved as if it were something that would blow over. Not the case.
As Vice President of Anderson Poolworks, I saw this as an opportunity to help the many property management, hotel and motel, and municipalities that I have worked with for years to come in to compliance easily, economically, and definitively. We chose the route of the Aquastar unblockable main drain. With this system, absolutely no mechanical device was necessary, which meant no nuisance tripping, no false shut-downs, no alarms and no unit that will eventually fail. The downside was the pool or spa needed to be drained for the installation (which generally took about 45 minutes).
Here we are a few years later and now we are dealing with a recall of the drain covers that were installed on the single suction outlets (single main drains). We personally have chosen not to take part in the recall effort unless we had installed the original drain ourselves. Being one of the licensed installers for some of the drain cover manufacturers and a commercial diver, I saw first hand the incorrectly placed covers from the first time around! If I touch it, I own it and I was unwilling to put that liability on our company. However, unaffected was the unblockable drain! I felt good that the route we had chosen was the safest, most effective route possible. Was and still is.
Now, we have been splitting main drains for years (another alternative for compliance) and also for some pools, a main drain reversal; instead of pulling water in, we return water through the drain. We have even constructed pools with no main drains. And yes, it does work!
Even though the VGB only affected commercial applications, we took the standard to every residential pool and spa we build or renovate. Swimming pool safety is of the utmost importance to Anderson Poolworks, and main drain safety is top of the list. Please, even if you think this is nothing to be worried about, consider for a moment that as a professional pool person, a certified diver and someone who knows better, I myself have been trapped on a main drain. Scared me to death! This is very real and nothing to joke about.
As an industry we work tirelessly to make the swimming experience more enjoyable and safe every time.
Thanks for reading and happy swimming.
Brody Anderson
VP, Anderson Poolworks
Swimming pool installers in Oregon
When it comes time to install your swimming pool in Oregon, where do you go? If you live in Medford, or Bend, who do you call? You can ask around town or ask friends of friends, but being the savvy shopper that you are, you turn to the internet (which is why you are here).
At Anderson Poolworks, we receive phone calls from around the state of Oregon and around the Northwest for renovation work or new construction and the one question that comes up most often is ‘how far do you travel?’ Answer: anywhere there is a job that requires our attention to detail!
Anderson Poolworks staff has completed projects as far away as Helena, Montana to Klammath Falls, Oregon. No project is too big or too small. As the preferred swimming pool construction company for all of the recent Central Oregon resort aquatic facilities, we are uniquely qualified to handle the various details necessary for a quality pool or spa install in any area of the Northwest region. Also, as the ‘pool guys’ for the recent Evergreen Wings and Waves water park, with our knowledge of extremely large commercial projects and smaller residential pools, we offer the best option for your pool or spa install or renovation. Granted, putting a 747 on top of your pool house may be a challenge, but we may be able to hit the middle ground:)
You say that you only want a simple ‘hot tub’ or spa? No problem. You want a showpiece pool with slides, rock grotto, spa, swim up bar, cool lighting, sun ledge with a water feature, no problem. We take great pride in listening to the clients requests, offering the right materials for the job and allowing your backyard dreams to come true.
Thanks for reading and happy swimming.
Brody Anderson,
VP, Anderson Poolworks
Woodburn, Oregon aquatic facility renovation
Another quartz surface install for the City of Woodburn, Oregon. Great people to work with and lots of fun to show what a true professional pool company can do.
