Outdoor Living

A swimming pool often provides the “wow” factor in a backyard landscape. It’s an attractive element that provides aesthetic and functional values for its owners. But if the once-proud showpiece is now an eye sore, a renovation can restore it to its proper status and enhance the value of the home.

 

Similar to renovations inside a kitchen, bathroom or other areas of the home, the refurbishing of a swimming pool offers homeowners the opportunity to correct existing problems, upgrade equipment that may be out of date, integrate new architectural features and add equity to their property, just for starters.  

 

Aqua Pools & Spas has completed hundreds of renovations across the Eastern Shore and is widely considered one of the industry’s best regionally. The Easton-based company, celebrating its 35th anniversary, is a pool renovation specialist – a process that begins with a comprehensive conversation between their experts and the customer.

 

“Typically the client will contact us to either improve the aesthetics or to solve an issue. Depending on the scope and nature of the renovation, we initially translate their ideas and thoughts into a plan,” said Daniel Bridges, Aqua Pools & Spas President and owner. “Sometimes it is very simple. Other times we creatively suggest, edit, and guide the client to show them what is possible.”

 

The latest advances in technology now allow for cool features such as dramatic vanishing edges, fiber optic lighting systems and energy-efficient filters and pumps, among many others, and have provided a host of benefits for pool owners. Technology has also made 

advancements for industry professionals as well – and one of these improvements can bring the renovation to life before any onsite work begins.

 

“We now have the ability to use 3D design so customers can actually see all of the possibilities of the design plan,” Bridges said. “Design choices that are hard to imagine such as Pebble Tec pool interior colors, coping selection and deck types come to life in full color 3D making it easy to choose. This gives our customers the confidence that even the smallest detail of their investment is perfect before construction even starts.”

 

The renovation of a swimming pool can be completed in one day or take several weeks – depending on the magnitude of the project. The cost of the job follows a similar pattern with vinyl liner replacements traditionally in the $2,000-$4,000 range and comprehensive overhauls sometimes exceeding $100,000. Each instance is unique and owners should be diligent in their search for the right company to refurbish their pool, according to Bridges.

 

“Check references and qualifications, because especially in renovations, you get what you pay for,” he said. “A renovation that is improperly done can be catastrophically expensive to correct. Often, homeowners may not know all the details about the infrastructure of their pools. Once the renovation is started, there may be unknown situations in plumbing and so on. However, because of our team’s experience, we have seen it all before and know how to approach these surprises.”

 

There were no surprises when it came to what Gerald Cassidy’s pool needed at first glance. “My old pool was a disaster. It was unacceptable,” said Cassidy, an Aqua customer for 20 years who purchased a home with an existing pool in desperate need of repair. “They had to come in and pull out the pool and the deck.”

 

“Mr. Cassidy’s renovation was a vinyl to custom concrete conversion,” Bridges said. “We maintained the pool’s size and shape and added a new step treatment.”

 

The process involved Aqua professionals removing all elements of the existing pool and deck. A new pool was formed with steel while all of the system’s plumbing, lights and equipment were installed. A new shell was formed with pneumatically applied concrete. 

New tiles and traditional brick bull nose coping were installed, followed by a new paver deck. A white plaster interior finish was applied inside the pool, and it was filled, started and ready for Mr. Cassidy and his family to enjoy.

 

“It is beautiful. They were able to make things look very nice in a small amount of space,” Cassidy said. “I really enjoy how great it looks now. I am very pleased with their work. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a new pool or to renovate a current pool. Aqua is able to handle every aspect from start to finish, along with servicing the pool.”

 

These have been staples of the company for more than 35 years – providing innovative concepts and designs, state-of-the-art technologies, professionally trained, courteous team members and exceptional customer service. And when it comes to renovations, their work showcases the team’s talents and creativity.

 

“We have a dedicated team of renovation specialists that have seen most situations.

This experience allows us to handle all jobs, large and small, without the intimidation of the unknown,” Bridges said. “Our coordination of projects is unequalled. We have full-time coordinators on staff who focus on the daily pulse of our projects, from notifying our customers of changes in schedule due to weather to scheduling crews for specific tasks. We stay on top of our projects, thanks to our qualified quality control specialists.”