Selecting a pool contractor is the single most important step in creating your backyard paradise. Because every ASP pool is built by their own professional crews, your project can flow smoothly from drawings to your first dip in the pool, without unnecessary delays. Gordy Pease and his experienced team at ASP Pools can help you choose the style, size and colors that will enhance your backyard environment.

When you install a swimming pool it isn’t just an addition to your home. It’s your backyard vacation getaway; a chance to relax, sit back, leave your stresses behind and enjoy life. At ASP Pools, they take the ideas you have for your dream pool and turn them into a reality. SVM spoke to Gordy Pease, owner of America's Swimming Pool Company of Columbus about the services they offer, the impact has the pandemic had on the swimming pool industry, and what are the most important things to consider when choosing to build a pool.

What sparked your interest in the swimming pool industry? I cannot believe it has been 12 years now since I was first approached about the ASP Swimming Pool franchise model. The concept of bringing a true professional approach to an industry that historically has been very fragmented and unpolished provided the opportunity to leverage my 20 years of banking experience and incorporate it into the swimming pool business. I am blessed to be surrounded by a team with decades of pool experience to truly create a model that provides swimming pool solutions to our customers in a different way.

What type of services do you offer? We are a full service swimming pool company providing swimming pool solutions to pool owners throughout the Valley area. Our team of experienced technicians offers various weekly pool cleaning programs, equipment repair and installation, and liner replacements. We also specialize in all types of pool renovations as well as new gunite pool construction. We have a specialty retail store on Hamilton Road where pool owners can get their water tested and can find all the necessary chemicals and specialty products to maintain the pool themselves.

What impact has the pandemic had on the swimming pool industry? Incredible. The onset of COVID in early 2020 forced many people across the country to stay at home. Consumer habits shifted from family vacations and camps for their kids to stay at home alternatives. As a result, they began to focus their attention to making improvements to their homes…..specifically their backyards. The desire to build a new pool or refurbish an existing pool exploded across the country. The historical demand for products and materials became too much for the manufacturer's to keep up with as they faced varying plant shutdowns across the county. Our industry also experienced a chlorine shortage in 2021 as the largest triclor plant in the US was demolished by Hurricane Laura in late 2020. We are hopeful that the supply side of our industry will normalize as 2022 progresses. The last two years have provided incredible opportunities as well as unique challenges for all of us in this industry.

What are some of the latest trends in the swimming pool industry? While pool/ spa combos are not a new concept from a design perspective, they continue to be popular from both an aesthetic and functionality standpoint. Spillover spas can offer great waterfall effects while the internal spa offers the same spa amenity but with a low profile. The addition of tanning shelves to existing pools or new construction offers relaxing opportunities for adults and an entertainment platform for small children.

We are seeing traditional deep end diving pool designs being replaced with a shallower footprint design throughout. Pool/spa controls through automation continue to improve as technology allows the homeowner to control all pool functions with a touch of a finger-tip. So, if you and your spouse are at dinner and want to turn the spa on you can with your iPhone and it will be heated up and ready by the time you get home!

High efficiency variable speed pumps are becoming the standard in backyards now. This trend will continue as the Department of Energy regulated this past year that manufacturers are not be allowed to manufacture single speed pumps at certain horsepower unless they meet new efficiency standards. The utility savings with the variable speed pumps is truly a game changer.

What are the most important things to consider when choosing to build a pool? There are obviously many factors that come into play when designing and building your pool. The layout of your backyard and your budget will dictate considerations like size and type. One of the most important considerations is to first determine what you want out of your pool. How do you envision you and your family utilizing it the most? Do you want the pool to be a family destination point for recreation, exercise or a place to just hang out? These decisions will determine shape, depth, and other internal features. The options to meet your design needs with gunite pools are endless. SVM

AMERIC'S SWIMMING POOL COMPANY