3 Top Fiberglass Pool Manufacturers in Florida

2017-08-28 Kristina Peck

Each month we feature a different set of manufacturers in Florida. This month’s features are about Florida’s fiberglass pool manufacturers. Here are the top ones you should know about. But first, read a bit about fiberglass pools and why they are so popular in Florida.

The Sunshine State

The Sunshine State, as Florida is aptly known, is home to over 20 million residents making it the third most populous state in the United States. It also offers one of the best business environments in the US given its lenient regulatory requirements, strong workforce, trade infrastructure, low business taxes not to mention the zero-rated personal income tax.

These among other factors have made it rank among the top 10 states for manufacturing in the US. The over 19,000 manufacturers in this state produce a wide array of products ranging from communications equipment, aerospace products, boat semiconductors, batteries, plastics, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages and so much more.

In fact, in 2010 alone $14 billion worth of manufactured goods was exported from the Sunshine State to Free Trade Agreement partners. With an economy worth $839billion, Florida would be the 18th largest global economy beating UAE ($348B), Ireland ($241B) and even Switzerland ($693B).

The Brevard, Pinellas, Broward, Duval, Orange and Miami Wade counties have an especially strong manufacturing presence. Fiberglass Pools are one of the many interesting products that come from this state.

Fiberglass Pools

Florida is the warmest state in the US, with daily temperatures averaging at 70.7 degrees Fahrenheit. This warm climate, the overall rise in popularity of swimming pools be it In-ground, above ground or commercial pools plus the enabling business environment has led to Florida being the home to top pool manufacturers in the US. Some of the different types of pools include fiberglass pools, concrete pools and vinyl liner pools with the first being the most popular.

Fiberglass is simply a type of fiber-reinforced plastic, in this case, the fiber being glass fiber.

The glass fiber may contain magnesium, oxides of calcium, silica/silicate and rarely boron depending on the intended use. The glass fiber may be flattened into a sheet or woven into a fabric. Fiberglass pools are usually factory-molded making them easier to install in case of in-ground pools.

Fiberglass pools continue to be a favorite for many people due to their easy installation plus their easy short/long term maintenance. Swimming pools are fairly expensive and thus the more reason for them to be durable, fiberglass pools outlive vinyl liners’ 8-12 years and concrete’s 10-15 years life.

Fiberglass has limited areas to leak plus no headaches about plastering or liner replacing. Another underrated fact is that fiberglass pools offer the best aesthetics as compared to concrete ones and thus giving your backyard the essential image lift. Potential buyers also get to choose from a wide range of shapes and sizes with some manufacturing boasting of over 40 shapes.

However, fiberglass pools do have a few downsides, for instance, the installation costs may be more than concrete ones, experienced contractors are also hard to come by and lastly maintain the appropriate water quality can be a daunting task as poor pH levels or calcium imbalances can damage the gel coat.

Pool Cleaning

Maintenance and general cleaning go a long way in improving the pools longevity thus proper practices should be established.

The fiberglass material is not porous thus stains become a constant challenge. The stains are mostly due to imbalanced minerals, sun block, foreign objects and suntan oils. The stains are also indicative of improper pH levels, alkalinity levels, calcium hardness and chlorine levels.

Maintaining a good water balance (pH 7.2 to 7.4, alkalinity 80 to 100ppm, calcium hardness 200 to 400ppm, chlorine 1ppm) on a daily basis will ensure a stain-free pool. To clean the stains you can rub vitamin C directly on the stain until it’s gone, a brush with soft bristles can be used to remove the excess rust if any.

Rub with commercial pool tile cleaners to remove mild bathroom ring stains, a sponge, soap or liquid detergent and warm water may also be helpful.

A mixture of oxalic acid and water should be used to remove heavy bathroom stains, after which chlorine is poured. It is recommended that the mild stains should be cleaned as first as they appear and also make sure to maintain the water pH balance at all times. There are also several pool cleaners that will do the job for this kind of pool.

San Juan Pools

This manufacturer utilizes two types of fiberglass namely a 24-ounce heavy woven roving and a 1.5-ounce mat, which are placed alternate layers.

While most manufacturers use fillers in pools which restrict the fiberglass’s flexural strength, San Juan Pools doesn’t.

San Juan pools spot a satin smooth gel coat from NPGIsophthalic that is applied about 32ml thick, which is 30% more than most manufacturers use.

Potential customers get to choose from over 90 different shapes, styles, and sizes for their fiberglass pools.

This manufacturer is also one of the oldest pioneers of fiberglass pools dating back to 1958 in Seattle, Washington where the company started.

Latham Pool Products Inc.

Latham Pools undergo a 10-stage manufacturing process to ensure each fiberglass pool is built to the highest attainable industry standards.

The pool has a gel coat called Crystite that is available in over 86 million colors.

Additional features of a Latham Pool include an added vinyl ester resin for maximum impact resistance, hand laid multi-layers of vinyl ester resin and fiberglass for improved durability and strength, a ceramic core for better protection and performance and finally customized detailing as per client specifications.

Latham Pool Products has over 60 years of experience in making pools and other swimming pool and spa accessories and parts.

Premium Fiberglass Swimming Pools

This manufacturer is one of the few factory-direct fiberglass pool manufacturers present in the state.

It provides a wide range of over 20 different types of pools.

The company also produces top of the range pool and spa parts like pool heaters, pool pumps, salt systems, LED lighting among others.

Premium Fiberglass Swimming Pools has also been “A” rated by the Better Business Bureau assuring its clients of the premium pool and spa products.

Categories: Local Businesss, Made in Florida Pools

Insights into the Fibre Glass Pool Manufacturers in Florida

2017-08-28 Kristina Peck

If you wonder why Florida has some of the top pool manufacturers, not just in the US but in the world too, the answer is simple. For a start, pools are immensely popular among the residents of this state. Manufacturers have taken the cue and over the years, an ever-increasing number of them have invested heavily in more and more in the pool-manufacturing industry. But why re swimming pools so popular in this part of the world?

This brings us to the next reason why pool manufacturers are so attracted to Florida; this has to do with the climate.

In Florida, summer is almost endless; in much of this state, the climate is sub-tropical meaning this part of the US enjoys relatively warmer conditions compared to many other parts of the country.

For this reason, many people cherish having their own in-ground Florida pools; they find this to be one of the best ways to relax with friends and family. This need for private swimming pools has in turn driven up the demand for swimming pools. Of course, this ready market has attracted competing swimming pool manufacturers.

What is a fiberglass pool?

This is a one-piece composite based unit that is fabricated at the manufacturer’s controlled environment; essentially this pool produced (usually in bulk) according to the manufacturer’s pre-cast mold. A fiberglass’ 3 to 4 composite layers include woven fiberglass cloth, polyester resin, gel-coat and vinyl ester among other ingredients. This kind of pool delivered to the buyer in ready-to-be-installed condition.

Pros and cons of a fiberglass pool

Pros

· Installing this pool is faster than with other types of swimming pools.

• They are available in many designs and styles which offer buyers a wider range of selection to suit their tastes and preferences.

• Reduced maintenance -These pools are expertly finished with a smooth gel coat that offers greater resistance to algae growth; this means fewer repairs and faster cleaning times.

Cons

• Risk of poor installation -This pool is delivered as a pre-manufactured shell so the contractor has to be extra keen to backfill the space around the swimming pool. If this is not done properly it might lead to improper water circulation or walls collapsing if the contractor doesn’t understand the conditions of the soil around.

• Depending on how you look at it, the design and color of the pool can be a big drawback. Since this is a factory-made product, you might not get the exact specifications you had in minds.

How to clean a fiberglass pool

This pool is rather easy to clean as long as you maintain a pH balance lower than 7.2 which keeps water from staining. In case stains develop, you remove them from the waterline using a non-abrasive household tile cleaner.

Use a sponge or soft cloth to apply the cleaner. For brown rings caused by iron, scrub the affected area with a chlorine tablet but don’t run too hard; doing so can damage the pool’s surface. For turquoise-colored stains, scrub the pool with a tile cleaner or invest in a good pool cleaner like these.

What are Florida fiberglass pool manufacturers producing?

These companies are producing a wide range of fiberglass pool products including:

• Fibreglass pools and spas

• Fibreglass pool accessories such as Pool Pumps, Pool Heat pumps, Pool Led Lights, Pool Salt Systems and Pool filters among others.

However, bear in mind that these companies differ from one another in the nature of additional products and services they offer as well as in the terms of service. While Dream Pools, for instance, offers research services, it does not specialize in fiberglass pool accessories for Florida pools like Premium. It is therefore important to do some background research to identify a manufacturer that offers the Florida pool product, accessory or service that you need.

Categories: Made in Florida Pools