Michigan Pools and Spas

DOES A FIBERGLASS POOL COST MORE THAN A GUNITE POOL?

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:40:44 +0000

What a great question. Hopefully after reading this there will be no doubt in your mind which is the least expensive to have in your backyard!

There are many reasons why a Fiberglass Pool cost is far less overtime than a gunite pool so I will break them down into sections.

1. Chemical Usage- A Fiberglass Pool’s smooth surface does not allow algae to attach itself to it like the rough surface of a gunite pool. So in a fiberglass pool you can maintain a lower chlorine residual than a gunite pool. This being the case, a gunite pool owner has to run their pump longer, maintain a higher chlorine residual and shock the pool more often to keep algae from growing.

Subsequently, the more chlorine you add to your pool the more you affect the PH of the pool and the more you affect the PH the more chemicals it takes to adjust the PH. The additional chemical costs and time to maintain could add up to as much as $100-$150 per month.

2. If for some reason your pool develops an algae bloom, to a fiberglass pool owner it’s not that big of a deal. Usually one bag of shock and a quick broom of the walls and floor and the next day the algae is dead and can be vacuumed out.

If this happens to a gunite pool the results can be drastic. The plaster surface of a gunite pool is porous and rough so algae can get deep into it. Once the algae is imbedded into the plaster it can be extremely hard or impossible to get out. Hopefully several shock treatments and vigorous brushing of the walls will get rid of it. If not the last option is acid washing.

Acid washing a pool is no small task. It requires draining all of the water out of the pool and manually brushing a toxic mixture of muratic acid and water. Gunite pools usually require an acid washing every two to four years to maintain that new look and remove all of the imbedded algae. Acid washings can cost anywhere from $1,500-$4,000 or more depending on the square footage of your swimming pool.

3. The gel coat surface on Fiberglass Pools are designed to last many years and never need to be acid washed as does a gunite pool.

The plaster on a gunite pool has to be refinished overtime. Several factors dictate how long a plaster finish will last such as acid washing, water chemistry, etc. Every time you acid wash a gunite pool you etch away some of the plaster to remove the algae and grime. This is basically taking the finish off of the pool. At some point the finish needs to be re plastered. Typically re-plastering needs to be done somewhere between 7-10 years or sooner. Re plastering a pool is not cheap and can cost anywhere from $3,000-$7,000 dollars or more.

So using the figures from above let’s take a look at the cost of ownership over a 10 year period between a Fiberglass Pool and a gunite pool.

Wow! That’s almost a $22,000 difference in just the first 10 years alone! So the question of can I afford the cost of a new Fiberglass Pool should be as clear as your new swimmg pool’s water.

Please feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience for a no obligation in home estimate, (586) 871-2586

WHAT’S BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY?

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:49:10 +0000

So your thinking of making an investment for your family? How about making a sensible investment in your family? Below is a comparison of the most popular large ticket items purchased, what’s really best for you and your family?


	In Ground Fiberglass Pool	Sports Car	Luxury Boat	Camper Motor Home	Cabin	Time Share
Purchase Price	$25,000 and up	$35,000 and up	$30,000 and up	$25,000 and up	$75,000 and up	$15,000 and up
Usage	Use every day and/or night, from Spring thru Fall or year-round in some locations.	Anytime	Weekend use and vacations.	Weekend use and vacations.	Weekend use and vacations. Yearly use if surrounding activities can support it.	Limited time and length of usage.
Entertaining	Great gathering place for a nearly unlimited amount of friends and family. Home already stocked with food and drinks.	Only seats two	Limited amount of people. Shop to stock food and drinks.	Limited amount of people. Shop to stock food and drinks.	Shop to stock food and drinks.	Shop to stock food and drinks.
Storage Costs	None if indoors, Winterize if outdoors.	Winter Storage	Winter Storage	Winter Storage	Winter maintenance	None
Maintenance Issues	Low maintenance	Regular Maintenance and unexpected repairs.	Regular maintenance and unexpected repairs.	Regular maintenance and unexpected repairs.	Heavy maintenance inside and outside.	None
Maintenance Time	Minimal	Minimal to extensive	Minimal to extensive	Time spent preparing to go and cleaning after returning home.	Minimal to extensive	None
Maintenance Cost	Minimal	Expensive	Expensive	Expensive	Expensive	Yearly dues of $400 to $5,000
Additional Insurances	None	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	None
Theft Problems	None	Exposed to theft and break-ins.	Exposed to theft and break-ins.	Exposed to theft and break-ins.	Exposed to break-ins.	None
Travel Issues	None	Premium gas only. High gas prices.	Early return home due to bad weather. High Docking fees. High gas prices.	Early return home due to bad weather. Campsite fees. Low mileage per gallon. High gas prices.	Stuck inside during bad weather.	Rental car fees. Airport hassles, high ticket prices. High gas prices.
Traffic Issues	None	Heavy traffic on weekends. Road construction delays.	Heavy traffic on weekends. Road construction delays.	Heavy traffic on weekends. Road construction delays.	Heavy traffic on weekends. Road construction delays.	Heavy traffic on weekends. Road construction delays.
Public Exposure	How many friends do you have?	Exposed to the public. Crowded roads.	Exposed to the public. Crowded water.	Exposed to the public. Crowded roads.	Varies by location.	May have high tourist population.
Other Items of Interest	A inground fiberglass pool can be relocated to your new home. Qualifies for a home improvement loan.	Great if you are a bachelor/bachelorette.	Fiberglass never deteriorates, but other components do.	A way to see the entire country

Chlorine free pools, do they really exist?

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:26:00 +0000

Chlorine Free Fiberglass Pools and Spas

CL Free Water Systems Fiberglass Pool/Spa System sanitizes and protects your in ground fiberglass pool water and gives you a chlorine and salt free swimming experience. The system eliminates chlorine, chemicals and other impurities from your fiberglass pool water. As it freshens and sanitizes your swimming pool water, the system also kills and protects your swimming pool water from bacteria and algae by adding copper ions and oxidizing carbon based impurities in the water with titanium created OH. The CL Free Water Systems Fiberglass Pool/Spa System significantly reduces the calcium buildup in the fiberglass swimming pool equipment and along the pool and spa water lines.

1. The power settings for the Oxidation and Ionization functions are independent. This provides flexibility and total control. Other units tie both sets of functions to each other providing no flexibility or independent control.

2. Oxidation and Ionization functions can be energized at the same time. Other units make you manually select and switch between which functions/plates are energized.

3. LEDs flash at different frequencies to indicate that the corresponding functions have been activated and at what power level. Faster flashing means higher power.

4. LEDs alternate color (red and green) indicate that the polarity of the functions/plates have been switched. This swap balances the copper plate usage and helps keep the plates clean.

5. Copper Ionization has a built-in startup setting (to quickly bring your fiberglass pool/spa up to the desired copper level) and 8 different maintenance settings (to maintain the desired copper level). If the swimming pool system is run non stop, after 24 hours it resets itself and begins its daily cycle again.

6. Based on the Controller pH setting, the pH sensor determines if pH adjustment should be made or not. As pH reduction is needed,co2 is injected in metered ,controlled regular intervals.

7. Your pool/spa’s pH is displayed every 30 seconds on the controller’s readout.

8. pH calibration is a snap. Push the calibrate button for 2 seconds, enter the pool’s actual pH, press the button again, you’re done.

9. The system consists of a CL Free Systems Oxidation Chamber with titanium and copper plates, Pool/Spa controller, pH sensor, flow meter controlled co2 regulator, UL approved power supply and wiring harness.


co2 Injector	Fiberglass Pool/Spa Controller	In ground Pool System Installation

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US FOR A NO OBLIGATION IN-HOME ESTIMATE

http://www.michiganpoolsandspas.com

http://www.clfree.com

Financing my new fiberglass pool

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:59:57 +0000

Financing, not meant to be a word we try avoiding in our vocabulary. I receive so many calls regarding financing and for a lot of people it can be such a confusing topic. Believe me, secured, unsecured, lines of credit, home loans, they can all make your head swim!

Most of the calls that I receive are one simple question, how do I know if I qualify? How much can I get? I want my fiberglass swimming pool now!

There are so many contributing factors that sometimes we all just want someone to break it down into easy steps.

The following items are things that are quick and easy to get an idea of where to start;

First, know your credit scores. All of us have seen the commercials, but you really should have a look at your credit report to see what is there. Many times you can receive free copies of these from the agencies or lending institutions. This way you will know whether you fall into the 620+ secured category, the 675+ unsecured category or there mat be items that need to be addressed before you even apply.

Secondly, do you know your debt to income ratio? This is very simple to discover. Simply write down all of your monthly reoccurring expenses (I.e.mortgage, car payment, etc. excluding utility bills) in one column then in the other column take your income after taxes and divide by 12. Divide your monthly income by your monthly expenses. Lenders will want you to be under about 40-45%.

Third, make sure you know your overall credit history. All lending institutions will look at this as well. For example, someone can have a great score but if there was a recent bankruptcy this could effect the lender’s decision.

Adversely someone could have a lower credit score that could have been the result of medical bills, job loss, etc. and this will be just as influential.

Fourth, know the equity in your home. You know what you owe, do you know what your home is worth? If you are considering this type of secured financing then go ahead and get an appraisal. They are normally good for five years in most areas, so even if you are considering for future improvements, it is good to know now.

Finally, pick up the phone and call if you are still not sure whether you will qualify or not. Several lenders can determine this for you for free. For more information feel free to contact me and I will happy to refer you to a local lender.

Please note that Michigan Pools and Spas is not a financing company. Rates, qualifying standards, loan amounts and ratios can vary per area and institution. We hope that this information is helpful and can offer some insight.

Most importantly we want to hear from you. Are there topics that you want to know more about? We are happy to assist or provide you with anything that we can. Thank you again for your time and interest. We look forward to speaking with you soon!

The Many Health Benefits of Swmming

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:59:28 +0000

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HEALTH SYSTEM

Water exercise compared to other forms of exercise like biking, jogging and lifting weights places less stress on your joints. When chest deep in water, you are 70% lighter than on land so there is significantly less weight on your back, hips, knees and ankles. Water exercise also improves your cardiovascular fitness, lowers your blood pressure, lowers you cholesterol, raises your energy level and helps you lose body fat. It can also decrease your anxiety, help with depression and improve your self-esteem. These physical effects decrease the risk of stroke, heart disease and diabetes. Finally, exercise increases the body’s metabolic rate. Regular exercise raises the number of calories your body uses during activity and for several hours afterward.

CALORIES BURNED PER MINUTE

Water exercise is a gentle way to exercise joints and muscles. Water supports joints to encourage free movement and may also act as resistance to help build muscle strength. Regular exercise helps to keep joints moving, restores and preserves flexibility and strength and protects joints against further damage. It improves your coordination, endurance and your ability to perform daily tasks (such as writing or walking). Additionally, if your doctor or other health professional advises you to follow a regular program of water exercises, part or the entire purchase price may qualify for an income tax deduction as a medical expense.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE

Regular swimming is particularly beneficial to women’s health, possibly even reducing the risk of breast cancer, osteoporosis and miscarriage. Swimming helps pregnant women exercise further into their terms due to the near weightless environment, making them better conditioned for both delivery and recovery. Swimming can also increase bone mass in older women and strengthen bone in younger women even after the bones no longer are going through the lengthening process.

Do you swim for the health benefits, to be with your family and friends or just to cool off and relax? Regardless of your reason, you are now informed what the many health benefits are, so why not make swimming a part of your regular exercise routine? Dive into your morning with some laps to start the day off feeling renewed or go for a dip at night, what a great way to release all that built up stress while spending quality time with your loved ones. Whatever your reason is, Michigan Pools and Spas are here to help!

Thanks again for reading and happy swimming!