Our Blog

Purchasing Your Inground Pool In 2014

The purchase of a swimming pool is a huge investment. Buying a pool is not like buying a car; it is more like adding on an addition to your home. Very seldom will you find an article in our blog that is about Rintoul Pools and Hot tubs; the reason is because we are more interested in educating you about swimming pools in general. But last year and the year before we ran into a couple of problems and hopefully this article will help alleviate that this year. Due to our growth as a swimming pool company we are starting to fill the months of May and June much quicker and therefore those who are hoping to have their pool installed by Canada Day will call us in March or April and want to get on our schedule. The problem was that the last couple of years we were booked into the end of June and early July at that point. This meant that they would not be swimming until the middle of July or early August.

This year we are exceptionally busy and we are now filling our May, June schedule. This means that for those of you who are wanting to swim in June may want to consider contacting us now. By the end of February if we keep the pace we are on now we will booked into the end of June or even July. We are working on ways to install more pools this year but we will not compromise quality of work for volume so please bear with us. Keep in mind if we start your pool in June or early to mid July you should be swimming in July if all things go right. But to make that schedule you will probably need to set something up in January to meet with us.

Last year Rintoul Pools and Hot Tubs had a customer who waited and was not happy that we could not put in his pool in the time frame that he hoped for. He decided to go with another company and they gave him all the promises and then did not come through. He cancelled his contract and called me back and I told him I was now into August which again was unacceptable, but lucky for him he had a smart wife who told him her instincts said we were worth the wait. They had a beautiful pool installed in August of 2013. We do not over promise; we just want you to be aware of what you need to do if you wish to swim early this season. The early bird gets the worm.

Thank you for taking the time to read our articles and have a safe fun summer in 2014.

How Do I Find A Reputable Pool Contractor?

This is a good question. Why? The contractor you entrust your backyard with to install a swimming pool will make or break this whole process. Many people think that the manufacturer of their pool (i.e. - Barrier Reef, Viking, CPC, San Juan, Trilogy, Leisure, Blue Hawaiian, Dolphin etc, etc.) is the biggest factor in the longevity of the pool. But after consulting with literally dozens of fiberglass pool customers from all around the world over the past decade I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of the inground pool industry. All of my experience regarding contractors can be summed up in these two statements:

A great contractor can install a bad pool, and he will often stand behind it if it fails.

A poor contractor can royally screw up a perfect pool, and will leave you abandoned to fend for yourself.

Frankly speaking, there is little difference between many of the manufactured pools on the market today, but this is not the case when it comes to contractors. You don’t have to look hard on the internet to find horror story after horror story about shady pool contractors. This is a smudge on the face of our industry, and why this is clearly your biggest decision as a consumer. This is also why it’s critical to have at least a base understanding of the installation process before your project begins…so you can know what a quality installation looks like and what questions to ask.

Before going into how to find the right contractor, I wanted to discuss two reasons people often choose the wrong contractor: Price and Installation time

I’m not sure what makes some folks lose their mind when the temperature gets up to the 80's, but regardless of how hot it is, or how loud the kids are screaming, please do your due diligence when choosing your pool contractor. Don’t simply go with the cheapest price or quickest installation time because despite what you may be thinking right now, you probably will be tempted to do so at some point. Yes, of course these two factors should be considered. You don’t want to be gouged from a price standpoint, and you certainly don’t want to wait 9 months for your pool, but hasty decisions lead to regret and personally, I wouldn’t want to spend $35,000 to $80,000 in my backyard only to end up with regret. A few short tasks can help insure you’ve found the perfect contractor plus protect you against buyer’s remorse.

Thank you,

Phil Rintoul

You never took chances with your children's safety when they are growing up, teaching them all the ways in which to stay safe and street smart. Now that they are a little older, why would you take chances when they are home alone?

Knowing with certainty that your children are safe when your not home is what Smart parenting and safety secure covers for your pool is all about. With reliability you'll never have to worry about! See for your self!

Simply put, people are traveling less and spending more time at home. And as we all know, the more we find enjoyment through staying home, the more money we save on the natural expenses that come with any type of travel.

That being said, I've come up with a list here of the top ways swimming pool ownership can improve one's happiness, health, and family. Although many pool shoppers may be aware of most of these benefits, I think it's important that each is considered and recognized as an incredible benefit to such a worthy investment. So here goes:

Family Time: I can personally attest to this benefit of pool ownership maybe more than any other. With all the new technology of the information age, families are being constantly pulled apart by a mountain of activities and ‘distractions'. Whether it's TV, computers, cell phones, etc.; it can be tough for a family to truly share quality time. Such is the beauty of swimming pool ownership-no distractions. Only smiles, games, and the sound of laughter. I can definitively say that my family has a stronger relationship because our swimming pool brings us together.

 Fitness: Although many adults buy swimming pools for the fitness component, most don't realize that their children will likely benefit much, much more in this area. Every summer, the children undergo a physical transformation from the end of spring to the end of summer. This is because they've usually gained a little bit of extra weight due to being inside so much during the winter and then they find themselves playing in the pool 3-5 hours a day once the summer is in full effect. Instead of being bored and looking for a snack in the pantry, they instead turn their focus to creating new and exciting games and activities in the pool. And the beauty is that EVERY activity they do in the pool involves exercise of some shape or form.

Stress relief: When customers debate over whether or not a pool will be a good investment, they need look no further than the fact that being in and around a pool is easily one of the most natural stress relievers in the world. There have been many times when people been under pressure from the typical stresses of daily life has shed away as I relax and enjoy the family as they splash into the water.

Aquatic Therapy: Similar to fitness, aquatic therapy can be a major benefit of pool ownership. In fact, swimming pools have blessed the lives of many with such issues as fibromyalgia, cerebral palsy, as well as other illnesses to mention only a few.

Home Improvement Value: The National Association of Realtors recently came out with an article discussing the fact that inground fiberglass and concrete pools increase the value of homes on average 5%. In other words, on a $500,000 home, a swimming pool will typically add about $25,000 worth of value. I mention this because some people think that pools will deter from the value of a home. Although this can be true in some cases, it is generally not the case.

POOL RETROFIT

Each year as spring approaches we are inundated with advertisements and flyers that entice us to explore the latest trends in home improvement and interior design. But don't forget about your outdoor living space.There are many things you can do to upgrade your swimming pool area to create your own backyard retreat that won't break the bank.

A NEW LINER

In-ground pools offer many benefits, but if they're poorly maintained they may not last as long as you'd expect. You can retrofit your pool with a new liner or cover the existing steel steps to look like new without having to sink an enormous amount of money into the project.

SWITCH TO SALT WATER

Perhaps you want to change your traditional water to salt water. This can be achieved with the installation of a specially-designed converter connected to the control unit by simple plug-in cord, and plumbed into the filter pump's return line to the pool. As water is pushed through the cell, an extremely safe low-voltage electrical charge turns the salt previously added to the water into fresh, sanitizing chlorine which is then dispersed evenly throughout the pool via the return jets.

TURN UP THE HEAT

Many poolowners allow the sun to heat their pool, but if you are interested in extending your swim time then perhaps a heating system is something to consider. There are many options such as heat pumps or solar heating set ups that are very effective for the energy conscious consumer.

VARIABLE SPEED PUMPS

These are the most important energy-saving innovations in the last few years.With a variable speed pump you are now able to customize your pool to turn over the amount of water necessary yet still have your heater and chlorine generator activate. The end result is not using any more energy than is absolutely necessary. For most pools a variable speed pump will cut operating costs by 80% !

WATER AND LIGHTING FEATURES

Water features can be a show stopper and add a focal point to any backyard. And don't forget about lighting. With proper balance of lighting, both in and out of the pool, you can transform your wide open space into a tranquil relaxing nighttime retreat.

BACKYARD AUTOMATION

It's amazing what a little automation can do to enhance your backyard experience!

With today's technology we have automated virtually everything from building cars and packaging food, to having our morning coffee ready to start the day. Why not bring the luxury of automation to your backyard retreat?

If you are a proud swimming pool or hot tub owner, or have owned one in the past, you know that it's a great place to have fun and enjoy time with family or friends. However, owning one is not a task to be taken lightly.

From scooping out leaves and vacuuming, to water tests, chemical balancing, and keeping the equipment in good shape, your LeisureScapes dealer can automate these features in your backyard. They will reduce the time you spend looking after your pool and increase the time you spend enjoying it.

Create the perfect backyard environment with the simple touch of a button. As your LeisureScapes dealer will tell you, there are all sorts of tasks that can be automated. You can control the temperature, water level, lighting and filtering of your pool and spa as well as turn on or off of your automatic sprinklers and decorative fountains.

Before you head home from work, turn up the heat and fire up the jets on your hot tub for a relaxing evening. Warm up your pool for a last minute pool party after soccer practice or set the mood and dim the lighting for a romantic evening with your spouse. You can control these features from inside your home, from any web- enabled device. Simply program your desired settings and watch the magic happen.

Automating tasks like adding an energy-efficient variable speed pump can save you up to 75% on energy costs every year. It will also reduce your chemical usage and can even be timed to operate on off-peak hydro hours.

Properly sanitized and balanced water is important for swimmer comfort and safety. It also dramatically extends the life of your pool its materials and your equipment. Controlling your chlorinating system with an automatic sanitizer can keep your water perfectly balanced at all times and bring you softer, silkier and sparkling water.

Evaporation can be one of the largest sources of energy loss in any pool or hot tub. Adding an automatic cover will help reduce evaporation and loss of heat and will keep debris to a minimum when your pool is not in use. As well as controlling heat loss, your automatic cover will save you the hassle of winterizing your pool and keep it clean for spring.

Whether you opt for a single remote control unit or even that operate independently of one another, your LeisureScapes dealer can walk you through the benefits, set up and installation. You can also get an app for your smart phone, which gives you complete control of your backyard with the touch of a button.

How do you know which automation package is right for you? Your best bet is to visit your local LeisureScapes dealer. They will help determine which types of automation will best suit your lifestyle and your needs.

Rintoul's LeisureScapes want to give you more time to enjoy what matters most - your backyard retreat, and spending time with your family.

Design and custom installation of an in ground pool.

I am asked this question time and time again and there is no real answer.

The size of the project, the expertise needed for each step within the project, and of course

the weather all play a role in the  timeframe to complete your new pool.

Most professional pool builders will have a starting package which includes the basics needed

with a list of options that can fulfill your needs.

On small to midsize residential backyards most timelines would be aprox. 2 weeks for

installation then allow time for sodding or landscaping to green things up.

Larger projects can include designs from landscape architects with great detail on elevations

drainage, deck space, gazebos, pool cabanas, fencing and retaining walls.  This really helps 

the homeowner see how the finished product will look in there back yard.  These projects are 

usually 4 - 8 weeks depending on product availability and good old mother nature.

Take the time to find a reputable builder that has experience and lots of pictures and referrals

to help guide and educate you on this process.  The lowest price might make you feel good off

the start but the price is soon forgotten when things dont go as you planned.  Remember life 

is not perfect and when things go wrong you want a contractor that will recognize the issues 

 and make it right.