Pool & Spa News articles from December 2001

Pool & Spa News archives from December 2001

Commercial building up in 2001.
December 5, 2001... Commercial pool builders say 2001 has been one of their best years ever, but they're not too sure about what may happen in 2002. Unlike residential pool builders, who watched the housing construction market cool significantly in recent...

Holiday forecast mixed for retailers.
December 5, 2001... Shoppers will likely cut back on spending this holiday season, but perhaps not as drastically as many retailers and economists fear, according to two recent surveys. A survey conducted jointly by the Consumer Federation of America and the...

Hidden treasures. (reflections).
December 5, 2001... We often forget to search for the bright spots in the midst of a gloomy forecast. It s human nature. But there usually are hidden treasures waiting to be found--if you just look. In this case, the economy's downturn may not have touched...

Suction entrapment controversy. (letters).
December 5, 2001... I have read Joe Cohen's letter to the editor in Pool & Spa News (9/5/01), "Suction Safety on Pools: Where Do You Stand?" He states that California Assembly Bill 359, which is now dead until at least 2002, is designed to protect people who use...

A call to action. (letters).
December 5, 2001... In my open letter to the pool and spa industry, which appeared In Pool & Spa News (Oct. 17), I urged each of you to reach out to your potential customers and share your vision of transforming a backyard into a refuge from the trials of today's...

Correction.
December 5, 2001... In the Oct. 17, 2001, issue of Pool & Spa News, a photo was incorrectly credited in the AquaScapes section. The photo, which appeared on pages 47 and 51, came courtesy of Creative Environments in Tempe, Ariz., rather than Tumber & Associates in...

NESPA design awards.
December 5, 2001... * The Northeast Spa & Pool Association/ NSPI-Northeast, presented 130 design awards last month. Honorees included three winners in a new, separate competition for the Outstanding Achievement in Building and Design. In its first year, the...

Quint takes NSPI's top chair. (news).
December 5, 2001... When Brian Quint takes over as chairman of the National Spa & Pool Institute this week, it will be the natural culmination for a man who has spent much of his life in the pool and spa industry. "I think maybe I was 4 when I started," joked...

CSLB allows new license materials. (news).
December 5, 2001... The California Contractors State License Board will list pool-related materials developed by the National Spa & Pool Institute and the American National Standards Institute as a reference for those preparing to receive a pool builder's license....

New digs for manufacturer.
December 5, 2001... * Blue-White Industries recently celebrated the grand opening of its corporate/manufacturing facility. The 48,799-square-foot building in Huntington Beach, Calif., contains corporate offices and a separate CNC shop.

Prescription hot tub.
December 5, 2001... * On Oct. 25, the Colorado Court of Appeals over-turned previous decisions denying a patient Medicaid coverage for a doctor-prescribed hot tub. The court said the state must evaluate each request for durable medical equipment on the basis of...

New-home sales dip; pool building may slow. (business currents).
December 5, 2001... A recent housing activity study reveals that sales of new homes dropped by 20 percent nationwide during 2001's third quarter, a sign that slower times could be ahead for many pool builders in 2002. Several key swimming pool construction...

"Triad" market among N.C.'s most affordable. (Regional Economic Roundup).
December 5, 2001... [check] The Greensboro/High Point/Winston Salem area--referred to locally as the Triad--is one of North Carolina's most affordable housing markets, according to a report from the National Association of Home Builders. The association's latest...

California jobless rate at three-year high. (Regional Economic Roundup).
December 5, 2001... [check] Unemployment in California soared to its highest level since late 1998, reaching 5.7 percent in October, according to the state labor department. The 0.3-percent increase was the result of continued weakness in the state's technology...

Nationwide housing starts. (business currents).
December 5, 2001... Soft construction activity in the West dropped the nation's overall housing starts total from 1.57 million units in September to 1.55 million units in October, according to the Commerce Department. Housing starts in the West totaled 340,000...

Pool and spa permits. (business currents).
December 5, 2001... Pool and Spa Permits Tabulations of permits issued for new pool and spa construction in selected U.S. cities and unincorporated parts of counties. Valuations are in millions. City/County Permit Issued Permit...

Pool and spa industry stock market transactions quotations are for Nov. 14, 2001. (business currents).
December 5, 2001... Pool and Spa Industry Stock Market Transactions Quotations are for Nov. 14, 2001 NYSE: New York Stock Exchange NASD: NASDAQ Exchange AMEX: American Stock Exchange TOR: Toronto Stock Exchange OTC: Over-the-Counter Trading ...

Economic outlook improves slightly. (Leading Economic Indicators Index).
December 5, 2001... Rising stock prices and the Federal Reserve Board's recent interest rate cut helped push the Conference Board's Index of Leading Economic Indicators up 0.3 percent in October, to 109.4. The increase ends a two-month skid for the index, which is...

House2Home declaring bankruptcy. (Business Briefcase).
December 5, 2001... Three months after a major corporate overhaul, Irvine, Calif.-based home and backyard products retailer House2Home announced in November that it is closing its 42 outlets in California, Arizona and Nevada and declaring bankruptcy. In a company...

National City unveils ShareBuilder. (Business Briefcase).
December 5, 2001... In an effort to encourage consumers to invest in stocks, National City Corp. (NYSE: NCC) in Cleveland said it has partnered with ShareBuilder, an online service that allows people to invest in more than 4,000 stocks and 60 index securities,...

PPG repeats on Sustainability Index. (Business Briefcase).
December 5, 2001... For the second consecutive year, PPG Industries Inc. (NYSE: PPG) in Pittsburgh has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. The index rates companies on their economic, environmental and social performance, according to a PPG...

Emerson earnings streak ends. (Business Briefcase).
December 5, 2001... Emerson Electric Co.'s 43-year string of rising income came to an end with its fiscal 2001 fourth quarter results. Emerson (NYSE: EMR), the St. Louis-based parent of Emerson Motor Co., reported a net loss of 3 cents per share, its first such...

Seaboard Industries. (Progressions).
December 5, 2001... * Seaboard Industries hired Bill Poszonyi to manage its Lakewood, N.J., facility and supervise the inground pool division. Poszonyi began his career in the pool and spa industry in 1982 and has held a number of top sales positions. Most...

S.R. Smith, LLC. (Progressions).
December 5, 2001... * S.R. Smith, LLC, manufacturer of diving boards, slides, handrails and platforms in Canby, Ore., announced the hiring of Michael Speck as commercial sales manager. He was formerly national sales manager at Spectrum Aquatics.

Petaluma. (Progressions).
December 5, 2001... * Kevin Hooker and Michael McVan have joined Petaluma, Calif.-based Water Pik Technologies' pool products service team as territory service managers. Hooker will cover southern Texas and southern Louisiana. McVan will handle the Northeast.

Pentair Pool Products. (Progressions).
December 5, 2001... * Pentair Pool Products, based in Sanford, N.C., recently tapped Bob Kloenne to be sales manager for Pennsylvania. Kloenne Kloenne brings nearly 20 years' pool construction, service and sales experience to the post. For 10 years, he owned Bucks...

Fiberstars. (Progressions).
December 5, 2001... * Fiberstars, a Fremont, Calif., manufacturer of fiberoptic lighting, has promoted Steve Gasperson to national sales manager. Gasperson, who was previously West Coast regional sales manager, has been with the company two years. In other...

Author! Author! With four aquatics textbooks to his credit, Tom Griffiths has become a nationally known pool safety advocate. (profile).
December 5, 2001... Tom Griffiths was 12 years old when he got his first job in the aquatics industry, if you want to call it that. His assignment: Pick up debris to keep the beachfront of Laurel Lake looking good for the patrons. Griffiths has come a long...

Mission: possible: a year later, the rework isn't over at Gary Cosden's Penguin Pools. Now it's time for the hard part: improving operations. (management).
December 5, 2001... What a difference a year makes. In early 2000, Penguin Pools Inc. President Gary Cosden had a troubled look. Despite annual sales of nearly $4.4 million, the pool construction firm was posting an annual net operating loss of nearly $45,000. ...

Making fun: an expanded new store allows o pool firm to show its true colors--and have some fun. (retailing).
December 5, 2001... If Debbi Leclerc had to describe her new, larger store in one word it would probably be "fun." Fun, as in cobalt blue walls mounted with neon waves. Fun, as in a kids' corner. Fun, as in Formica countertops the color of "a crystal-clear,...

A complex relationship: perfect water balance is the ultimate goal of any service technician. Understanding the close affiliation between pH and total alkalinity will go along way toward helping you achieve it. (service).
December 5, 2001... Many variables come into play when a service technician attempts to balance water in a swimming pool. However, the relation ship between pH and total alkalinity (TA) is the most instrumental. "If the total alkalinity is in the right range,...

Hot water chemistry: service technicians should be aware that treating spa water is much different than treating swimming pools. Here are the fundamental differences. (chemistry clinic).
December 5, 2001... Pool water and spa water must be cared for in different ways. Spas operate at a higher temperature and are much smaller. These two facts change everything. That is why the National Spa & Pool Institute has established separate standards for...

Work in progress: with some projects, getting it just right requires designing throughout construction. (construction).
December 5, 2001... When the gate to this estate opens, all visitors know is that it reveals, like a theater curtain, a spectacular water show on the other slide of the lake. The multilevel waterscape seems to sprawl almost as much as the contemporary,...

Portable aboveground pools. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Advantage Manufacturing * Features: available in 16-by-4-ft.-deep or 20-by-4-ft.-deep round designs; pools come with pump, motor, ladders and fittings * Offerings: lifetime liner warranty * Contact: Advantage Manufacturing Inc.,...

Glass collage pool liners. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Canadian General-Tower Ltd. * Features: mosaic of sparkling glass pieces makes water shimmer * Offerings: brochures; Web site with virtual pool program * Contact: Canadian General-Tower Ltd., Cambridge, Ontario, Canada (800)...

SummerFun aboveground pool. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Cantar/Polyair Corp. * Features: constructed of tough, top-of-the-line components; designed for trouble-free performance; three models * Contact: Cantar/Polyair Corp., Youngstown, Ohio (800) 448-2343 Circle 141 on Postage Free...

The Catalina tuff pool. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Catalina Aboveground Pools * Features: 100 percent cash-and-carry; installs in one hour without tools; large selection of round and rectangular styles * Offerings: lifetime warranty * Contact: Catalina Aboveground Pools,...

Step enclosure system. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Confer Plastics * Features: product is designed to allow user to step inside and outside pool with ease; self-closing, self-latching gate * Contact: Confer Plastics, North Tonawanda, N.Y. (800) 635-3213 Circle 143 on Postage...

Solaris aboveground pool. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Cornelius Pools. * Features: designed for small backyard spaces; integrated side and floor bracing system produces a straight-sided oval made to be strong and compact; vinyl-coated frame; integrated resin-cap system; designer wall...

Wood wall onground pool. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Crestwood Pools * Features: real wood construction; 1-1/2-inch-thick wooden walls provide strength; PVC coping with beaded liner and winter cover receptor * Offerings: warranty; protected territory; advertising program *...

Desert spring aboveground pool. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Doughboy Recreational * Features: eight resin top rail system; eight vertical supports; Tuscany, soft-sided Pearl Wave models also available * Contact: Doughboy Recreational, div., Hoffinger Industries, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif....

Summit aboveground pool. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Esther Williams Swimming Pools * Features: exclusive Delta 2000 Support System; straight-sided; one-piece coping, bottom rail; all-aluminum construction; stainless steel fasteners; 52-inch wall height * Offerings: 40-year warranty...

Aboveground pools by Intex Recreation Corp. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... * Features: easy setup; ready for water in 10 to 45 minutes; no tools or sand required; sizes 12 ft., 15 ft., 18 ft. and 24 ft. * Contact: Intex Recreation Corp., Long Beach, Calif. (310) 549-5400 Circle 148 on Postage Free Card ...

Pool designs. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Kayak Pool Corp. * Features: company offers eight pool designs with thousands of add-on possibilities * Offerings: comprehensive warranty; professional marketing and installation program; sales training videos and aids; protected...

Portable pools and accessories. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By KD Portable Pools * Features: durable; polyester-reinforced trilaminate liner material; easy to assemble; can be set up on many surfaces * Offerings: marketing kit; POP materials; co-op advertising; samples * Contact: KD...

Summer serenade pool model. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Lomart * Features: includes seven top rails and verticals for maximum durability; 52-inch pool wall * Contact: Lomart, div., Hoffinger Industries, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (732) 786-1990 Circle 151 on Postage Free Card ...

Highland aboveground pools. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By McEwen Industries * Features: 54-inch wall; resin frame and top seat; tile border line; traditional steel construction; easy installation; Scotsman aboveground pool also available * Offerings: brochures; posters * Contact:...

Ultra 2000 pool ladder from dotline. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Mengo Industries * Features: adjustable; quick-release detachable side; injection-molded resin with UV inhibitor in white or gray; aluminum handrails * Contact: Mengo Industries Inc., Kenosha, Wis. (262) 652-3070 Circle 153 on...

Aboveground pools and accessories. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Muskin Leisure Products * Features: company offers package and portable pools, filters, ladders, pool-care and maintenance products and accessories * Offerings: POP materials; co-op advertising; banners, samples * Contact:...

Performance AG ladders. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Pacific Industries * Features: all-resin construction; easy to assemble; maintenance-free; easy-grip handles; UV-treated; chemical-resistant; meets ANSI and NSPI-4 standards * Offerings: literature * Contact: Pacific...

Pool liner patterns. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Plastimayd Corp. * Features: four styles; expandable and flat bottom; 48-and 52-inch styles; overlap and beaded styles available * Offerings: dealer program; brochures * Contact: Plastimayd Corp., Clackamas, Ore. (800) 348-2600...

Liners, inground kits, aboveground pools. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Pocono Pool Products * Features: company offers Tropical Tile, a mosaic print liner featuring violet and golden petal design border on violet floor * Offerings: on-site training; extended warranties; co-op advertising *...

Polaris 65 aboveground pool cleaner. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Polaris Pool Systems * Features: vacuums and sweeps sides of pool; patented jet blows water against pool wall, loosening debris in hard-to-reach places; installs in minutes * Contact: Polaris Pool Systems Inc., Vista, Calif. (800)...

Comfort walk. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Polytech Pool Mfg. * Features: walk-in steps recessed into aluminum deck * Offerings: POP materials; brochures, videos * Contact: Polytech Pool Mfg., Brooklyn, N.Y. (800) 447-6598 Circle 160 on Postage Free Card ...

Aboveground pool alarms. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Poolguard/PBM Industries * Features: designed to detect entry into pool; electronic sensor triggers loud, pulsating alarm; snaps onto top rail; battery powered with remote receiver * Contact: Poolguard/PBM Industries Inc., North...

Legacy pools. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Portable Pools * Features: 52 inches in height; 35-mil liner; marbleized liner interior * Offerings: two warranty types--five-year, full; or 10-year, 50-percent * Contact: Portable Pools Inc., Laguna Beach, Calif. (949)...

Aboveground pools and liners. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Sharkline Pools * Features: company offers aluminum, steel and resin frame pools, including the Odyssey; traditional and contemporary wall patterns * Offerings: dealer buying program; POP displays; brochures * Contact: Sharkline...

Aboveground pools. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Splash SuperPools * Features: portable; easy to assemble; no tools necessary; tough, durable, reinforced membrane; variety of shapes and sizes * Contact: Splash SuperPools, North Little Rock, Ark. (800) 92-SPLASH Circle 164 on...

Colosseum aboveground pool. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Strong Pools * Features: 11-inch top ledges and 10-inch vertical posts are forged-cast from granite resin; skid-resistant texture with slight inward slope promotes self-draining * Offerings: limited lifetime warranty on all resin...

Unibead pool liner. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Swimline Corp. * Features: system can be used as a J-continued hook liner or beaded liner; designed to keep decorative tile graphics straight and uniform * Offerings: 25-year year warranty * Contact: Swimline Corp., Edgewood,...

Aboveground pools. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Swim `N Play * Features: company offers pools made of steel, aluminum and resin; decks and accessories also available * Offerings: samples; literature * Contact: Swim `N Play, Rahway, N.J. (732) 574-1500 Circle 166 on...

Pool surround resin fencing. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Talcor * Features: for universal application on aboveground pools; affordable; easy to install; low maintenance * Offerings: brochures, POP displays and training materials, installation video * Contact: Talcor, New Hamburg,...

Wooden aboveground and semi-inground pools. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Techno-Bois * Features: product combines the warm appeal of wood with the resilience and beauty of resin components * Offerings: treated Southern yellow pine is covered by 15-year warranty * Contact: Techno-Bois, La Prairie,...

Aboveground pools. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Trevi Pools * Features: constructed of sturdy, durable materials; liners also available * Offerings: POP materials; brochures; videos; posters * Contact: Trevi Pools, Laval, Quebec (800) 808-7384 Circle 170 on Postage Free...

Aboveground pool ladders. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Vinyl Works Canada * Features: slide-lock entry; adjustable height; pivotal base treads; extended handrails; rigid support frame; accessories, ladders, enclosures and more available * Contact: Vinyl Works Canada, Ridgeway, Ontario,...

Impact pool/blow-molded resin pool. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Vogue Pool Products * Features: constructed with blow-molded technology; smoother, more elegant contours; superior shock absorbency; screwless interlocking design; monocoque construction * Contact: Vogue Pool Products, LaSalle,...

Clearwater cartridge filter and pump pak. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Waterway Plastics * Features: system comes with high-performance Waterway Hi-Flo or 1-Speed Pump; chlorinators, timers and skimmers also available * Contact: Waterway Plastics, Oxnard, Calif. (805) 981-0262 Circle 173 on Postage...

Genesis onground pool. (Aboveground Pools Marketplace).
December 5, 2001... By Wilkes Pool Corp. * Features: six rectangular sizes; comes equipped with patio deck, complete walkaround, safety fence, filtration system and two ladders; Grecian-shaped on-ground pool and many accessories also available * Contact:...

Online catalog. (business tools).
December 5, 2001... By Crystal Fountains * Features: the Web site www.crystal-fountains.com highlights waterfeatures, an extensive line of fountain components and DEFO brand components for residential or commercial applications; catalog also includes photos...

Pocket brochure. (business tools).
December 5, 2001... By Saratoga Spas * Features: full-color brochure displays Adirondack Spa Series; doubles as presentation folder with pocket for proposals; includes photos and information on product features * Contact: Saratoga Spas, Latham, N.Y. (800)...

Installation videos. (business tools).
December 5, 2001... By SGM * Features: videos feature Diamond Brite, River Rok and Durazzo installations; videos offer knowledge and insight into various installations * Contact: SGM Inc., Pompano Beach. Fla. (800) 641-9247 Circle 187 on Postage Free...

Insta-test sodium chloride test strips. (product pipeline).
December 5, 2001... By LaMotte Co. * Features: designed to measure high-range sodium chloride levels from 2,000 to 6,000 ppm in saltwater pools; simple dip-and-read method provides results in 30 seconds; 10 strips in each waterproof pop-top vial; molded...

Relax pool care products. (product pipeline).
December 5, 2001... By N. Jonas & Co. * Features: uses up to 80 percent less chlorine; easy to use; contains all chemicals needed for one month in one box, including a weekly and monthly sanitizer; available in four sizes * Contact: N. Jonas & Co. Inc.,...

Metropolitan liner patterns. (product pipeline).
December 5, 2001... By Plastimayd Corp. * Features: new pattern is one of four print patterns available for beaded, hung and overlap liners, including an expandable liner that expands to six feet deep; high-quality seams * Offerings: special programs for...

Rock `N' teeter float. (product pipeline).
December 5, 2001... By Poolmaster * Features: made of super-tough, 20-guage vinyl; four permanently bonded handles; deflated size is 51 inches by 19 inches; three air chamber sections, including center chamber, and two bench wings with anti-slide pads *...

Baby rocker. (product pipeline).
December 5, 2001... By Swimline * Features: allows mothers to rock babies to sleep while built-in sun shade keeps infants from getting sunburned; leg-through design allows child to feel the comfort of the pool; multichamber security construction *...

Aroma therapy canister. (product pipeline).
December 5, 2001... By Waterway Plastics * Features: new red apple and kiwi fruit-scented flavors now are available to add to original Ocean Breeze scent; canister complements any spa; various colors, aromas from which to choose * Contact: Waterway...

Big time: what may be the largest automatic cover in the Unit States proves to be big business for an Atlanta-area builder. (backflip).
December 5, 2001... When anyone claims something is the biggest, it's only natural to be a little skeptical. So when Bruce Thompson says he built the biggest automatic pool cover in the United States, he lets the figures speak for themselves: * The cover...

Expo draws mixed reviews.
December 19, 2001... Booth location seemed to be the deciding factor between a hot trade show and a lukewarm event for exhibitors at the 2001 International Pool & Spa Expo, held Nov. 26-30 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza and Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. The expo...

Mohawk Industries acquires Dal-Tile.
December 19, 2001... Dal-Tile International Inc., a Dallas pool tile manufacturer, has been acquired for approximately $1.66 billion by Mohawk Industries Inc., maker of ceramic tile and woven carpets in Calhoun, Ga., according to officials from both companies. ...

911. (reflections).
December 19, 2001... Dealing with customers effectively requires forethought, solid listening skills and good follow-up. Handling customers efficiently and sensitively provides repeat business. I received a direct lesson on this at the International Pool & Spa...

Company helps Salvation Army ...
December 19, 2001... ThermoSpas Inc., a Wallingford, Conn.-based hot tub manufacturer, recently presented the Salvation Army with a $10,000 check to aid relief efforts following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. In the weeks following the attacks, ThermoSpas'...

Spectrum Aquatics is acquired ...
December 19, 2001... The Mendota Group, an investment firm in Madison, Wis., has acquired Spectrum Aquatics, a Missoula, Mont.-based manufacturer/distributor of residential, commercial and institutional products for the aquatics industry. Terms of the deal were not...

Northern alliance ...
December 19, 2001... Covington, La.-based SCP Distributors Inc., a subsidiary of SCP Pool Corp., recently acquired the assets of Capital Pool Industries Ltd. Capital, with two branches in Ontario, Canada, will do business as Capital Pool, a division of SCP...