The Langdons Get a Lil Bob | Thursday Pools

Meet the Langdons: Steve and Maya Langdon live in, Oak Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. Steve is a brand manager for a well-known online outdoor clothing retailer, and Maya is a yoga instructor. Steve and Maya both adore outdoor adventure, and fitness is very important to them. Their daughter Ellie is almost two years old. Ellie also loves adventure–she’s always up for a jaunt in her stroller, and there’s nothing she loves more than being out in the sunshine. It’s really important to Steve and Maya to teach Ellie about the joys of being playful and feeling healthy and strong. The Langdons have decided to get a pool. Steve and Maya are both big on research. When they first started thinking about getting a pool, they were worried that their backyard wasn’t big enough to accommodate a pool while leaving enough room for some grass for Ellie to play in. However, they soon discovered that there are several great pool designs for smaller yards that will allow them to have a fabulous inground pool and still have ample space for a patio and yard. And because they want a low maintenance pool that will give them the best resale value […]

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The Millers Get a Thursday Pools Monolith

Meet the Millers: Todd, Susan, their kids Lauren (age 7), Camryn (age 5), Susan’s parents, and Stanley, their 10-year-old yellow lab. They live near Indianapolis, Indiana, in Carmel. Todd is an attorney, and Susan is a part-time realtor and full-time mom. She works around 25 hours per week and spends much of her free time chauffeuring the kids to and from swim meets, soccer practice and dance rehearsals. They have active social lives and especially enjoy spending time with Susan’s parents during the summer. The Millers want a pool. Getting a pool makes a lot of sense for them because Lauren is on the swim team and Camryn wants to join the swim team (as soon as he’s old enough). This wasn’t immediately a unanimous decision. Susan had to convince Todd just a little bit because he had some concerns about the swimming pool cost. Fortunately, Susan had done tons of research on inground swimming pool financing, and a pool will easily fit within their budget. She also made the point that an inground pool would increase the resale value of their home. (After all, she is a realtor, so she would know…) Worried that pool maintenance was going to […]

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December Fiberglass Pool Dealer Spotlight: Raft to Rafters Pool and Spa, Columbus, Indiana

Every month, we chat with Thursday Pools dealers to learn more about their business and what’s trending in their area. This month, we talked to Matt Miller, owner of Raft to Rafters in Columbus, Indiana. Tell us a little about yourself and your business. Our business goes back a very long way! Here’s the story: In the 1960s, my grandfather, Lorin Johnson, who was a delivery man for Wonder Bread, was trying to convince my grandmother to move from town out into the country. She refused, because the kids loved to swim in the town pool, and they wouldn’t be able to get themselves to the pool if they moved to the country. He made her a deal by saying, “If I build us a house with a pool in the country, will you go?” She said “yes”. And so my grandfather built the house and set about the task of finding a kit to build a pool. But everyone he talked to would only sell to him if he bought more than one kit. He finally found a place called Imperial Pools in New York state that agreed to sell him a single pool kit, so he bought it […]

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What’s the Lowdown on Tanning Ledges

The Lowdown on Tanning Ledges   It’s easy to get excited about the variety of available features as you explore  inground pools. Built-ins add to the pool’s luxurious feeling, from wrap-around benches to swim-outs to tanning ledges. Because  inground pool costs vary depending on the pool type and features, you may choose one pool type over another based on the price and availability of a particular feature. If a tanning ledge tops your priority list, compare the different pool types.     Why People Love Tanning Ledges   If you like the concept of “the best of both worlds,” an inground pool with a tanning ledge may be just what the doctor ordered. They allow you to enjoy the cool water while still soaking up the sun’s rays. They’re also a  perfect spot for the kids to play in just enough water to cool off and still stay well within your sight. Additionally, they’re great for getting in and out of the water without the need to navigate steps. Tanning ledges are available for all inground pool types.    Based on conversations with homeowners, installers, and manufacturers, along with our own experience, choosing a company skilled in installing pool features […]

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The Top Five Things People Love About Tanning Ledges

In today’s frazzled world, moments of true relaxation are hard to find. We all need time to unwind, chill and find inner peace. For some, the ideal oasis may be a sunny spot on a chaise lounge in a windowsill or a cozy chair by the fire in wintertime. However, for those of us who own (or are considering) an inground fiberglass pool, a tanning ledge can be the ultimate oasis for relaxation throughout the swim season. They can also be a wonderful feature for every member of the family (both two and four-legged) as well as help make your pool unique. Let’s take a look at the top five reasons why you’ll love your tanning ledge. You can: Get sun and be chill. If you love soaking up rays but soon find yourself getting overheated and seeking shade, a built-in tanning ledge is the ideal solution for you. Cooling your heels (and your bottom!) in just a few inches of water while you revel in luxurious feeling of the warm sun on your face is absolute heaven. Add in a ledge lounger, complete with a sun shade equipped with a mobile device viewer, throw in an ice bin side […]

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Five Reasons You and Your Family Will Love a Beach Entry Fiberglass Pool

You could really use a getaway. Your days are a jumble of soccer games, dance lessons, lunch-packing and chauffeuring. A break sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? Where would you go? Picture your whole family at a magnificent resort. Palm trees are swaying gently in the breeze and you’re hangin’ with the rich and famous next to a magnificent fiberglass beach entry pool (Patent US 10,472,839). The kids are splashing in water–just deep enough to play, but not so deep that you have to worry– so you’re at the water’s edge, soaking up some rays, with pool boys waiting on you hand and foot. Sounds pretty great, right? If only you had your own private jet… Well, guess what? Fiberglass Beach entry pools aren’t just for the rich and famous anymore and you don’t have to get away to a high-end resort to experience one. You can have the luxury of a resort getaway every day in your own backyard. Thursday Pools offers inground fiberglass pools, two of which are beach entry designs– a fun and flirty freeform or a stately and classic rectangle with gracefully curved edges. Either way, you can enjoy the extravagance of a fiberglass beach entry pool […]

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Ask the General; Can You Fix This?

Dear General-   We’re relatively new inground pool owners. We’ve enjoyed reading your articles about common pool maintenance problems to avoid, new pool owner FAQs, tips and tricks to save money and keep our pool running at its best, like the importance of backwashing and how to care for our pool over the winter. There’s quite a lot to learn! We’ve still managed to make some rookie mistakes though. Your post about overflowing your own pool made us feel much better, so thanks for that! However, we are curious what the Thursday Pools warranty policy is. Also, do you have any other stories to share that will help us feel better about being swimming pool novices? We could use a chuckle today. Signed- Embarrassed in Elmore   Dear Embarrassed– Believe me, you have absolutely no reason to feel badly. We all do the best we can, and some lessons are just learned the hard way.  However, since you’ve asked for a chuckle today, I’m happy to oblige. I do have a few stories up my sleeve from my years in the fiberglass pool biz. We all have been told at one time or another by friends, teachers, and parents that […]

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Host a Backyard Beach Party at Your Home’s Pool

The beach is a special place—it’s a “shore” thing! There’s nothing quite like a day at the beach to ease away stress, recharge your batteries, and soothe your soul. Beach living is easy living. Meals are grab and go, schedules are merely a suggestion, and make-up is definitely optional. Read on to discover tasty inspirations for your next backyard beach party around your beach entry pool. Have you ever wished you could live right at the beach? Now you can thanks to Thursday Pools’ patented (US Patent 10,472,839) fiberglass beach entry pools. With the Sandal or the Grace in your backyard, you’ll have the freedom to enjoy a day at the beach with the conveniences of a full kitchen and private bathroom just on the other side of the door. Landscapes and hardscapes can help create a sense of place at the beach, too. And once you’re living on the beach, there’s no limit to how many different beach-themed parties you can host. Easy beach party menus help you bring the shore to your door, whether it’s just a casual weeknight dinner or a celebration full of family and friends. Where would you like to party this week? Bring on […]

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DIY or Pool Maintenance Pro? Caring for Your Pool Takes a Little of Both

Whether you’re a do-it-yourself type or a big believer in delegation, you are ultimately responsible for your pool. And no one will care more about your investment than you. Factors such as your inground pool shape and type can affect pool maintenance and your decision to take on certain tasks. You can handle several routine tasks, but some require pool professionals. Let’s explore what you need to know about maintaining your inground pool. Regularly Caring for Surfaces Consistently cleaning the walls and floor are relatively easy tasks that should be completed as needed. You should plan on doing some of this yourself, even if you hire a weekly pool service. Brushing the walls and surface prevents algae and bacteria from adhering to the surface and forming biofilms. The swimming experience is more enjoyable and safer, reducing the risk of slipping or stepping on debris. Dirt and debris may settle in areas that have less circulation. Brushing surfaces allows it to get to the skimmer. By removing debris and preventing clogging, vacuuming helps maintain the efficiency of the pool filter and pump system, prolonging their lifespan. A skimmer net can get any leaves or other debris that may fall into your […]

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The Best Robotic Cleaners for Inground Fiberglass Pools

Every pool owner should have a good working knowledge of pool maintenance. To avoid pool maintenance issues, it’s important to stay on top of pool maintenance from the time you open your pool in the spring until you’re preparing to close it for the winter. Robotic pool cleaners can be a great help when it comes to keeping your pool clean on a regular basis. Choosing a robotic pool cleaner can be a bit overwhelming as there are hundreds of automatic pool cleaners on the market, each with different benefits. Above-ground pools need a different type of robotic cleaner than inground pools, and some robotic pool cleaners will have features that you don’t need. So make sure you’re searching for the automatic pool cleaner that’s right for your needs and specific pool type. Let’s take a look at some of the best robotic pool cleaners on the market that offer great value for the price. Hayward TigerShark   The Hayward TigerShark can easily scour a 20 x 40 foot pool floor, walls and water line in just three hours. It’s available in three models: the standard TigerShark, the TigerShark Plus Robotic Cleaner with Remote Control and the TigerShark QC with […]

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