Pool FAQs Archives - Page 2 of 2

The Best Thursday Pools Designs for Exercising in Your Pool

Posted on July 2, 2019May 15, 2024 by krista

Enjoy every aspect of your new fiberglass pool–including the health benefits of swimming!

The fiberglass pool lifestyle is … what’s the word we’re looking for? Oh yes. Spectacular.

With a fiberglass inground pool, there are marvelous parties to be thrown, plenty of reasons to unplug and spend time with the family and loads of excuses to drop that to-do list and just chillax in the sun. In addition to the joy of backyard summer living by your low-maintenance fiberglass pool, you’re sure to profit from all the health benefits of swimming. Water exercises and swimming have been proven to improve strength and flexibility, lower stress levels and blood pressure, aid in weight loss and increase energy levels. Plus, swimming is a good low impact exercise for those with certain injuries and conditions. If you’re ready to enjoy all the benefits of the fiberglass pool lifestyle, and get fit and fabulous at the same time, let’s check out the top Thursday Pools fiberglass pool designs for swimming and exercise!

Monolith. At 40 feet long, Monolith gives you the maximum possible space for both lap swimming and game-playing. There’s a wide-open swim lane for those who are on a mission to get their strokes in, and the 3’4” uniform-depth shallow-end is ideal for water games like basketball and volleyball. There’s ample room for everyone in the family to have fun and get fit at the same time.
Goliath. Goliath is available in three sizes: 16’ x 33’, 16’ x 37’ and 16’ x 41’. Get the biggest one your yard will accommodate to create the maximum area for fun and exercise. The wide-open swim space gives everyone plenty of room for lap swimming and playing water games. Dual corner entry steps in the shallow-end and dual deep-end benches with swim-outs make it easy for swimmers of all ages and abilities to get in and out of the pool and relax when the games are done!
Aspen. While Aspen’s huge, built-in tanning ledge might invite you to lounge, there’ll be plenty of time for that after your workout! So before you chill, you can get a great cardio session in your Aspen, whether it’s volleyball, basketball or a good, old-fashioned game of Marco Polo.
Lil Bob LX. Lil Bob LX is built for fun and games. At 13.5’ x 35.5’, with a uniform, 4’6” sport-bottom depth, Lil Bob LX is the ideal pool for the family that plays together. Whether you’re into water aerobics, or something more competitive, this fiberglass pool design will get everyone moving … even the youngest of swimmers! The 12” deep tanning ledge leads into an 18” deep wading area that’s perfect for toddlers just learning to safely enjoy the water.
Spirit. Our Spirit fiberglass pool design is 40’ long with a 4’6” uniform sport pool depth throughout. So, true to its name, the Spirit pool design encourages spirited games that will bring the whole family together. And the wrap-around bench seating throughout provides the perfect place for the cheering section on the sidelines!

Exercising in your new inground fiberglass pool can make your whole family happier and healthier while bringing everyone together. Whether you’re swimming laps and building up your strength, or teaching your kids how to land a dunk shot, your fiberglass pool will bring hours of fitness and fun.

6 Secrets to Creating Family Time with Your New Fiberglass Pool

Posted on June 27, 2019March 28, 2024 by krista

Family Time Swimming Pool | Creating Memories with your New Fiberglass Pool

Amidst a sea of obligations, families often struggle to find ways to spend more time together. And we all know that finding something that the whole family enjoys can be tough. Why not gather the family in the backyard around your new fiberglass pool? In this post, we will share some secrets that we have learned along the way that will help you create a fiberglass pool experience that’s perfect for each and every family member.

Family Pool Night. Mark one evening a week on your calendar as family pool night. Make this evening a priority all summer long. If you have to, consider limiting your kids or your own activities. When you make family pool time a priority, your kids will too. And what better way to demonstrate family first than to actually start putting family time first? Family pool night is spent by the pool, grilling out, swimming and enjoying a relaxing evening outdoors.
Tech-Free Pool Zone. Consider making the pool area an electronic free zone. Tech-free zones encourage conversations and interactions. With the rise in the use of technology among younger children, studies have shown that having tech-free zones in the home can improve relationships, increase reading and conversations, improve moods and allow time for self-reflection. We could all benefit from those! Be sure to keep one phone near the pool in case of an emergency.
Pool Chores. Make taking care of the pool a fun family routine. Working alongside each other helps establish teamwork among siblings, builds trust and teaches accountability. Allow children to take part in the effort by giving them chores that best suit their abilities and interests. Perhaps you have a daughter who is into science—she would be the ideal person to test the pool water. Another could skim off any floating debris or bugs (some kids love this job). Here are some other chores that could be part of the chore list: empty the skimmer basket(s), vacuum the pool, wipe down the scum line, etc. Together, you can power through your pool maintenance checklist while bonding over the experience. Remember, children should be supervised at all times and only age appropriate chores should be given.
Play Pool Games. Lose the board games, and play some pool games. Taking time to play together in the pool is about taking the time to laugh and splash together. These are the memories that will be cherished by all for a lifetime.
Host An Event. This little secret brings can really bring out the teamwork. Make it an event that everyone can be excited about by hosting the baseball team, youth group, a family reunion or the neighborhood block party. Give everyone an important role in preparing for the event. And make sure to plan ahead so you can all sit back, relax and enjoy your company on the day of the event.
Swim Together. It is amazing what you will learn about your kids when they don’t have their phones or video games in front of them. And despite whether or not you have decided to make the pool a tech-free zone, it is pretty difficult to be on the phone and in the water at the same time. Pick a perfect spot in the pool to chillax and take advantage of this time with your loved ones. You might be surprised about what you learn from each other’s day when distractions like mobile phones aren’t within arm’s reach.

We hope you try these six secrets to creating family time with your new fiberglass pool. Come back to our blog often for more ways you can enjoy the pool life.

Five Fun and (Almost) Free Swimming Pool Games for Kids and Families

Posted on June 4, 2019March 28, 2024 by krista

Summer swim season is almost here! Are you ready to have a blast in your inground pool? Yeah you are. You enjoy soaking up rays on your awesome fiberglass pool tanning ledge, swimming laps to get fit and strong, and throwing epic beach-themed parties. Pools are made for games and fun. And, you can buy lots of pool accessories and toys. But, you don’t always have to spend money to have fun. Sometimes you can use what you already have, make up your own rules and play all day. However, you must always keep the rules of pool safety in mind! So, make sure all the games you’re dreaming up encourage safe play. Here are five ideas to get you started.

Duck races

Get some bathtub rubber duckies at the store. Divide your swimmers into teams and have them each choose a name for their team. Get out one duck per team, and write a team name on the bottom of each one. All players start at the same end of the pool. Drop the ducks in the water and yell “Go Duck Go!” The teams must move their duck to the other end of the pool without using their hands or touching the ducks in any way. They can splash or blow the ducks, or make waves in the water by swimming alongside them. The first team that makes it to the other end of the pool wins. (And, if the ducks get criss-crossed in the water from splashing and a team moves their opponents’ duck across the finish line, their opponents win!)

Water hunt

Remove the label from a clear, two-liter water or soda bottle that has a white, clear or blue cap. Fill it with pool water. Divide your swimmers into two teams and have them line up along opposite ends of the pool, facing away from the water. Throw the bottle into the center of the pool and yell, “Water hunt!” Both teams swim as quickly as they can to find the bottle, which is nearly invisible in the water. The first team to find the bottle wins.

Beach ball soccer

Divide your swimmers into two teams and have them face off in two lines in the center of the pool. Designate which end of the pool is each team’s goal line. Toss a beach ball into the center of the pool. Each team must move the ball towards their goal line without using their hands. So, they can use their noses, elbows, legs and feet. The first team to reach their goal wins.

Music video

Divide your swimmers into two teams. Have each of them choose their favorite song, and then have them water-choreograph it. Encourage your swimmers to use props and create impromptu costumes. Give a prize for the most creative music video. (And don’t forget to film it for posterity!)

Atomic whirlpool

This game is not a competition—it’s just fun! Line all your swimmers up along the edges of the pool, evenly spaced and facing the same direction. On your command, have them all start walking as fast as they can around the edge. Then, have them jog for another few minutes. When you yell, “Atomic whirlpool!” everyone should stop running. The current will carry them along. Then yell, “Reverse whirlpool!” Everyone should turn around and try to run against the current. They probably won’t be able to!

Get social!

Swimming pools bring families and friends together. So, no matter what games you play, you’re bound to have a summer of fun in the sun in your inground fiberglass pool. Have your kids created a fun pool game? Share it with other families on our Facebook page!

Ask the General: New Pool Owner FAQs

Posted on November 6, 2018March 28, 2024 by riley

Dear General-

I think our family is finally ready to take the plunge and get an inground fiberglass pool. We’re excited! But we have so many questions. When should we buy? How should we finance? What should we be thinking about when we’re choosing the features for our pool? What do we need to learn in terms of pool safety and maintenance? Help us be a new pool owner, dear General!

Signed-

Excited in East Chicago

Dear Excited-

Yes, getting a pool IS a very exciting time and yes, there is a lot to think about. I could go on for hours about all the fun you’ll have as a new pool owner. I could also go on about the responsibilities of owning a pool, like assigning pool maintenance chores, pool safety and common pool maintenance mistakes to avoid. But let’s just dip our toes in the water for now… I’ll try to tackle some new pool owner FAQs. You should definitely tune in to my regular posts to learn as much as you can about pool ownership.

When is the best time to buy a pool? Well, I was a pool salesman for years, so I’m tempted to answer “RIGHT NOW AND I’LL BE RIGHT OVER.” But since I’m retired I’ll just give you a little advice. If you live in the Midwest, pool builders near you are already booking (or booked!) for spring installs, so you need to get on the list now for next season. An early start will enable you to finish your landscaping so you have the most time to enjoy the pool. Most reputable pool builders will have a pretty full schedule come spring, but once the season starts, you might get lucky and squeeze onto their schedule for an early summer installation. If the weather gets nice really early and installs run ahead, pool companies may even offer discounts to help fill in gaps in their schedules, but that’s a gamble. My best advice, if you want to be in the swim by summer, is BUY NOW. Fall and winter are the best times to make your decisions and get your pool installation scheduled for the spring.
How should we finance our new inground swimming pool? There are lots of financing options for your new pool project. Just like any other major purchase, you need to do some research and get the best possible deal on your investment. Check out home equity lines of credit (HELOCs.) They allow you to borrow only as much money as you need for your pool project against the equity in your house.
What should we be thinking about when choosing the features for our new pool? Inground pools offer a lot of great benefits: quality family time, exercise, increased social activity with fun pool parties and relaxation, to name a few. Think about which of those add-on features are most important to your family. If it’s exercise, choose a large and deep pool with wide-open swim lanes. If it’s relaxation, think about a pool with a tanning ledge that allows you to lounge in the water while soaking up some rays. If your kids are just learning to swim, consider one of the fiberglass pool industry’s newest innovations– beach entry fiberglass pools (Patent US 10,358,837 and 10,472,839). It’s just a like a day at the beach! Your kids can play on the “shore” and ease their way into gradually deeper water while the big kids swim farther out. Think of all the money you’ll save on vacations when you bring the beach to your own backyard! And don’t forget to add in some add-on features– extras like a slide and water features will make your new pool truly your own.
What about swimming pool safety? While we’re on the subject of kids and pools, seize the window between the time you order your pool and the time your pool is installed to teach your kids the rules of pool safety. Spend some time over the winter helping them learn the rules. You might even come up with some fun games or quizzes to make sure they’re sinking in. Then, by the time summer swim season comes around, the kids will be well-versed in the do’s and don’ts of safe swimming.
What do we need to know about swimming pool maintenance? Your pool builder will give you some great information about maintaining your new pool after it’s installed and you should look for a reliable pool maintenance pro near you. In the meantime, read up on water chemistry and decide if you want a salt or chlorine-based system. There are some misconceptions about pool ownership and pool maintenance that need to be debunked and some common mistakes you can avoid. The biggest trick is to stay on top of daily maintenance from Day One. Split up the tasks amongst all the family members to keep everyone engaged.

Every family has different needs, wants and reasons for getting a pool. For my family, being a new pool owner was all about togetherness. My wife worked for the school corporation, and had summers off. We wanted the kids to have a place to bring their friends so we could keep an eye on them and know who they were hanging out with. We had a place for family cookouts, little league teams, church groups, a wedding reception, many pool parties and a fun, safe place for our children and their friends to hang out.

Your family will find a million ways to enjoy your pool too. Don’t get too bogged down in worrying about maintenance. You’ll figure it out. And your local pool maintenance pro will help you as well. Remember how you felt when you took your first kid home from the hospital? If you can raise kids, you can take care of a pool. It will be wonderful and you’ll have experiences that your kids will remember forever. I know mine do.

Well, these leaves aren’t going to rake themselves. I’d better get to it.

Until next time-

The General

Who is The General?

The man, the myth, the legend….we just call him The General. His organized, systematic approach to pool installations over the years had his crew members calling him “The General” and it stuck. The General has over 30 years’ experience in the pool and spa industry, working for one of Pool and Spa News’ “Top 50 Pool Builders.”

Over that time, he designed, sold, project-managed and installed over a thousand inground swimming pools. As a pool owner himself, he’s the perfect authority to give you the inside scoop, with amazing tips and tricks to make pool ownership a breeze!

Will an Inground Swimming Pool Add to my Home’s Resale Value?

Posted on September 7, 2018August 17, 2022 by Karen

When considering buying a pool, a popular question people ask is, “Does a pool add value to a home?” The short answer is “yes, it can.” However, it’s essential to acknowledge that while some home buyers see a pool as a huge asset, some buyers would never consider purchasing a home with a pool. In this post, we’ll consider some factors that help determine whether a pool (including a fiberglass pool) increases home value.

THE POOL TYPE

Above-ground pools will likely not increase your home value, so we will only consider inground pools. Remember that not all inground pools are created equal. A durable, shimmering blue fiberglass pool that is maintained and cared for will help resale more than a faded-out vinyl-lined pool with an obvious need for repair. Also, a lower maintenance pool will be more attractive to home buyers.

Gunite pool maintenance includes steel brushing the surface every week, acid washing every three to five years, and resurfacing every 10 to 15 years. For vinyl liner pools, you will need to replace the liner every five to nine years. Both gunite and vinyl require more chemicals and maintenance time. With fiberglass pools, there is no need to resurface and they require fewer chemicals, so a fiberglass pool provides less maintenance and longest-lasting finish.

YOUR LOCATION

Climate is essential when considering the value-added relative to resale value. Generally speaking, homes with a longer swim season will garner a higher selling price from adding a pool versus a home in a colder, northern climate.

Your neighborhood is also a factor. If many homes have pools in the neighborhood, homebuyers may expect you also to have a pool. Even in neighborhoods that don’t have a lot of houses with pools, home value can increase because it’s considered a unique selling proposition. A home with a pool is attractive in neighborhoods with a lot of school-aged children.

YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE

Choose a pool size that’s in balance with the rest of your yard. While you might want as much pool as possible, future buyers may not. Plus, a large pool in a small yard won’t be as aesthetically pleasing. Fortunately, modern inground pools come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and designs, so you can be sure to choose the right-sized pool.

More and more home buyers are looking for outdoor multi-purpose spaces. It’s important that your pool complements the other activities that people want to enjoy outside. Choose a pool that will also give your backyard the feeling of an outdoor living room by adding lounging, cooking, dining and entertainment areas.

HOW MUCH VALUE DOES A POOL ADD TO AN APPRAISAL?

While above-ground pools will likely not add value to your home, inground pools can add 5% to 8% in value to a home on average. That said, how much value does adding a pool add? With a five to eight percent increase in home value, a $400,000 home might see an improved valuation of around $420,000 to $432,000.

BENEFITS OF A FIBERGLASS POOL

We believe that a fiberglass pool can add to your home value, but aside from that, there are other perks to owning a fiberglass pool by Thursday Pools.

Quick to install – Fiberglass pools usually take days or a few weeks to install versus other pool types, which can take up to 6 months to install. This choice can mean the difference between capturing a swim season or being forced to wait until next year. Busy seasons may increase this install time, but a conversation with your dealer can let you know what your pool’s timeline will look like.
Attractive – The gel coat finish of fiberglass pools combined with clean, balanced water and sunlight makes for a stunning view. They look pretty great when paired with accent lighting at night, too.
Feel – Some inground pool types can have a gritty surface that might scratch you. Others will have a much smoother surface and might cause you to slip and slide. Modern fiberglass pools feel solid and look slick but are neither slippery nor prone to snag your swimsuit.
Beautiful shapes, sizes, and colors – For pairing a pool with your backyard, climate, and location, Thursday Pools offers pools in shapes, sizes, and colors that match practically every need.
Durability – The durability of fiberglass pools is unparalleled. With vinyl, you will have to be careful to avoid rips or tears, and you’ll need to replace the liner about every 8 to 10 years. Gunite requires a heavier chemical regimen and periodic resurfacing. A fiberglass pool can last years without resurfacing or replacement.

Built-in features – Fiberglass pools now have built-in features you might have only found in costly custom resort-style pools. Tanning ledges, beach entries, and wrap-around benches are among the features you can find in the Thursday Pools designs.

Ask the General- How Much Water Fits in my Inground Fiberglass Pool?

Posted on September 4, 2018March 28, 2024 by Karen

Dear General-

Our pool is fairly new. One of our neighbors recently asked me how much water fits in my inground fiberglass pool and my answer was, “Um… a lot.” I realize that’s probably not the level of detail I should know about my own pool. But math is really not my strong suit. Can you help?