POOL REMODELING

Remodeling your swimming pool is no longer a simple matter of selecting a new tile and white or blue plaster.

In Southern California, a pool is admired from two vantage points – your poolside lounge or framed by the kitchen or family room picture window. The days of your swimming pool just being a water-filled hole in the ground are long gone. A pool is really a work of art that becomes the focal point for many backyards. It is as much a part of the home décor as is a painting on the wall.

“That is why the typical salesperson is as extinct as the Dodo bird,” says Jeff Kerber of Jeff Kerber Pool Plastering in Montclair, CA. “Now, our pool consultants must have knowledge of a wide spectrum of options for the average homeowner.”

These options can include solar heating, two-toned colored decking, energy-efficient equipment, and a range of pool surface types and colors. “Pool consultants must also know how all of it works together as well as what new laws and regulations require,” Kerber added.

“When I begin the process of working with a homeowner, the first half-hour is spent simply to explore how the pool is going to be enjoyed,” explains Bobby Malins, one of the company’s leading pool consultants. “Some of my customers only want to refresh the look of the plaster, while others have a vision for the social center of their home for nine to 10 months of the year. It is not uncommon for me to spend four to six hours with my customers developing their dreams.”

These days, with the rising cost of energy, homeowners are also faced with decisions that could affect their pocketbooks in the future. A small investment today in solar panels that can heat a spa to 105 degrees can, depending on usage, pay for themselves in less than three years. “From then on, free heat never feels so good,” Kerber said.

With the growth of many backyard remodeling and home improvement TV shows, homeowners are more and more inspired to turn their ordinary backyards into their own vision of paradise. Without the aid of a professional, it can be a bit overwhelming. But with a little help, the possibilities are enormous.

“Even when I am not using my pool or backyard, I am enjoying it,” says Tony Perry, Jr., a customer of Jeff Kerber Pool Plastering. “I can see my pool and deck from most rooms of my home, and it catches my eye every time. The pool looks different depending on the time of day or at night. I think my favorite time is in the evening when my color-changing lights in the pool revolve from green to aqua to hot pink. When I sit by my pool, I can easily imagine that I’m in Hawaii or Tahiti.”

Jeff Kerber wants this reaction from each and every customer – regardless of their budget. Having a beautiful pool means having a mini-vacation each time you dangle your feet over the edge. Can you imagine the possibilities?