Pool Stains and Scaling- The Importance of Water Balance

Stains and scaling can be caused by not keeping your swimming pool water balanced, which means keeping calcium, pH, and total alkalinity at the proper levels. Tile and water line cleaners as well as enzymes help remove scale, grime, oils and other materials that can float on top of your swimming pool water. They help clean those unsightly lines that can form on your swimming pool tile, vinyl liner or even your swimming pool steps.
Rust and scale remover also helps in preventing stains and scaling. We have products called Stain Free and Scale Free. It is especially important to use in areas that have high levels of minerals and metals in the water and areas where consumers are filling their swimming pools with well water. It is very important that you have your pH levels in the proper range when using this product for it to work effectively.
Hardness increaser helps to prevent staining of swimming pool surfaces caused by low hardness (which is calcium) levels. It is important to use hardness increaser to prevent your pool water from becoming corrosive, which can cause damage to your swimming pool heaters and pumps. Parrot Bay Pools & Spas is here to help you with your water balancing concerns.

www.ParrotBayPoolsNC.com

When Do I Start My Inground Pool?

Running through the backyard sprinkler may have worked when you were a kid, but now that you’ve got your own house there are considerably more luxurious ways to beat the heat.
Planning and building a swimming pool isn’t something you should do on a whim. It’s a big-time investment that can both dramatically alter your landscape and lifestyle.
Every year we have people who call us in April, and they want pools built so they can be swimming in them by Memorial Day. Pool building is really more complicated than that. If someone wants a pool by Memorial Day, they’d be smart to start the process now.

Getting Started

That process must start with prioritizing your needs and wants, starting with these questions:

• Is my yard suited to a pool?
• What zoning restrictions do I face?
• What’s my pool budget?
• Am I prepared to care for a pool, or am I in the position to hire help?
• Will this pool be used primarily for exercise, entertaining, kid play or lounging?
• What should I know about safety and insurance?

 inspired by Zillow post 8/21/13

Always here to help at: 

Parrot Bay Pools & Spas

3011 Town Center Drive, Suite 130 Fayetteville, NC 28306

www.ParrotBayPoolsNC.com

910-429-0086

Pool Differences and Pricing- How to Choose

When deciding to add a pool to your backyard, the first question is most likely going to be, how much will an inground swimming pool or an above ground swimming pool cost? Pool prices can vary depending on the type of pool you want (vinyl liner swimming pool, fiberglass swimming pools, above ground swimming pool or gunite swimming pool), so we thought we'd help provide you with a quick overview of what to expect with the cost of your swimming pool.

Above Ground Pools:

There are two pricing components in purchasing an above ground pool, and that is the ‘kit' and the ‘installation'. Many swimming pool companies only sell above ground pool kits, and do not actually do the installation. The average above ground swimming pool kit will cost between $1500 and $4500, depending on the quality of the pool. Typically, the more resin and less metal the pool has, the higher the price will be and the longer it will last. It will also have a longer warranty period. The installation costs of above ground pools usually run $1500-$3000, depending on the size and type of pool. Keep in mind that oval pools normally cost more to install than round pools, and the kits are also more expensive. Also, be sure to ask what comes with your above ground pool. Most good swimming pool companies will include your ladder, winter cover, pump and filter system, and a maintenance kit.

In recent years, big box stores like Wal-Mart and others have started selling aboveground pools also. The main manufacturer of these pools is Intex. Such ‘set and fill' pools are very inexpensive, usually costing $100-$800 and in most cases last 1-2 summers before they need to be replaced. If you expect your investment to last longer you will definitely need to purchase it from a pool company such as Parrot Bay.

Vinyl Liner Inground Pools:

Vinyl Liner pools are the least expensive inground pool option. This is mainly due to the fact that the cost of materials for a vinyl liner are cheap. For a very basic, medium sized vinyl liner pool with a patio one can expect to spend between $20,000-$30,000, although other options such as heaters, covers, decking, water features, etc will certainly escalate this price.

Fiberglass Pools:

Fiberglass Pools cost more than vinyl liner pools to install because a fiberglass shell and shipping cost so much more than the cost of a vinyl liner pool kit in terms of raw materials. If a consumer were to buy just a fiberglass pool shell w/shipping, they will likely spend $12,000-$20,000 depending on the size of the pool. To have a pool contractor install the pool, one can expect to spend in the neighborhood of $25,000-$40,000 with the pool and installation. Again, options such as heater, lights, water features, type of patio, and other accessories will escalate this price.

Concrete/Gunite Pools:

In most cases, but not always, concrete pools will have the highest initial cost, and will vary greatly depending on the size of the pool and the material used for the pool's surface (ie white plaster, quartz, pebbletec, etc). The reason why concrete pools tend to cost more is due to the labor involved with their installation. In the majority of cases, a normal sized concrete pool will cost between $30,000-$60,000.

To find out more visit us at: www.parrotbaypoolsnc.com