Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland Owner Named as one of 5 Viking Pool Experts Nationwide

It's not often that we "toot our own horn" but Splash Pools is very proud of one of their own - Frank Bowman - who was just named as one of the 5 fiberglass pool experts nationwide for Viking Pools. You can check out the section on the Viking Website under the Ask the Experts tab. Frank has spent his career helping to elevate the swimming pool industry to new levels of quality, expertise and design. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions you would like us (or Frank) to answer about you new or existing pool.

Submitted By: Splash Pools

Splash Pools installs Viking Fiberglass in ground swimming pools in Maryland, Baltimore, Washington DC, Frederick and Northern Virginia. Additionally, we provide turn key installations including outdoor kitchens & fireplaces, paver & natural stone patios, landscaping, lighting, pool houses and cabanas. Contact us at www.SplashPoolsMD.com or Info@SplashPoolsMD.com or 443.766.9663

Splash Fiberglass Pools to Begin Maryland Spring Home Show Schedule

It's about that time again for us to gear up for the Maryland Home Show Season. Splash Pools of maryland has a full schedule this year and hopes to see all of our followers there. This year we have the following events firmly in our spring schedule:

Maryland Home & Garden Show

March 6-7 & March 12 - 14

At the Maryland State Fair Grounds

Timonium, MD

www.MDhomeandgarden.com

We will have a Cape Coral on display so you can see up close the quality of a Viking Pool. We will have our knowledgeable staff there to answer any questions you have and show you all the new options we have to offer in 2010. We have a limited number of complimentary tickets so contact us for your free tickets by e-mail James@splashpoolsmd.com or by phone 410-766-9663.

Carroll County Home Show

April 10 - 11th

Carroll County Fair Grounds

Westminster, MD

www.carrollcountytimes.com

Splash Into Spring Event

April 24 - 25th

Kendalls Hardware Store

Clarksville, MD

Submitted By: Splash Pools

Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland serves all of Maryland, Baltimore, Washington DC and Northern Virginia. We specialize in the installation of Viking Fiberglass Swimming Pools and Complete Concrete Swimming Pool Installations and Renovations including Maryland Fiberglass Pools, Tile and Coping, Natural Stone and Paver Decking, Pool Resurfacing with Pebble Tec. Visit Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland at www.SplashPoolsMD.com or Contact us at Info@SplashPoolsMD.com or (443) 766-9663.

Splash Pools presents New Viking Fiberglass Pool Colors for 2010

Take a look at the New Viking Fiberglass Pool Colors for 2010. These colors can be added to any of the pool or spa models. Diamond Series Pool Colors

The new Diamond Series adds deep, rich color to the pool's finish. Choose from Azure, Maya and Persian to enhance the
sparkle of your pool.

DIAMOND SERIES

Submitted By: Splash Pools

Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland serves all of Maryland, Baltimore, Washington DC and Northern Virginia. We specialize in the installation of Viking Fiberglass Swimming Pools and Complete Concrete Swimming Pool Installations and Renovations including Tile and Coping, Natural Stone and Paver Decking, Pool Resurfacing with Pebble Tec. Visit Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland at www.SplashPoolsMD.com or Contact us at Info@SplashPoolsMD.com or (443) 766-9663.

Concrete Swimming Pool Renovations

Is your concrete swimming pool starting to show it's age? Does your once stunning backyard oasis no longer receive compliments from your friends and family? Then it's probably time for a swimming pool renovation.

Let's break down the most common items addressed during a swimming pool renovation:

1. Interior Surface: The interior surface of your concrete swimming pool is either coated with plaster / marcite or paint. Plaster and Marcite are interchangeable terms for the same product. If the surface is rough, discolored, pitted, chipping, delaminating or just outdated it's time to replace it. The process involves removing the existing surface by manually chipping it off down to the concrete or if it's still structurally sound they can just cut out around all the fittings and tiles. Next the surface is acid washed to make the surface as rough as possible for the new surface to adhere to. Finally the new surface is installed. Your choices are practically endless and include: White Plaster, Colored Plaster, Quartz Aggregate, Pebble Tec, Beadecrete or an all tile pool. Basically the White and colored plaster are the most economical but carry the shortest warranty (usually 1 year) and are the most affected by poor water chemistry. Quartz aggregate finishes are more durable and fall in the mid-range price matrix and usually carry a 1-5 year warranty depending on the product. Pebble Tec, Beadcrete and all pebble finishes are by far the most durable most carrying a 5 - 15 warranty but are typically twice as expensive as a standard white plaster. If you are looking for the Rolls Royce of pool finishes then you are in the market for an all glass tile swimming pool. These are highly custom finishes and start around $50,000 for the finish alone and we have installed some in excess of $300,000. You must be able to appreciate your pool as a piece of artwork and no longer a utilitarian object.

2. Tile and Coping: This is the portion of the pool along the edge and where the waterline meets the wall. Tile and coping is generally replaced every 8-10 years due either to maintenance requirements or aesthetic purposes. The days of "pool blue" water line tile and brick coping are gone. Pool owners are now looking for a more dynamic look with mosaic and glass tile waterlines with natural stone coping. Generally pool owners complete the tile and coping at the same time as the pool resurfacing. This minimizes redundant costs associated with both items.

3. Deck and Patio: After time your deck or patio will start to show the signs of age. Due to freeze / thaw conditions your deck can start to heave, crack, discolor and spall. Or maybe you just have additional space needs. The easiest and least expensive way is to have an overlay system applied to the existing concrete. This could involve an acid stain, Kool Deck, acrylic deck stain, etc. These topical coatings can refresh the look of you pool but will not fix structural issues or cracks. Realistically, it doesn't cost that much to have your existing deck removed and a new one installed. Once the deck is removed you can choose any material you want. Plain Concrete, Colored Concrete, Stamped Concrete, Pavers and Natural Stone are a few of the options to choose from.

4. Equipment Upgrades: If your equipment is more than 5 years old than most of the components are outdated and energy hogs. I recommend that EVERYONE replace their current pump with a Variable Frequency Drive Pump. We recommend the Pentair Intelliflow Pump. This pump will save you about 60% on energy consumption and they run about 80% quieter than a standard pump. Heaters are another energy hog that have had large efficiency upgrades in the past 5 years.

5. Outdoor Kitchens & Fireplaces: These are the two items that we are installing with almost almost every renovation we complete. Complete outdoor living is the goal of most of our clients. By installing an outdoor kitchen and fireplace you have extended your outdoor living season by at least four months. There's nothing better than cooking out and then sitting around a fire in your backyard with friends when the temperature starts to fall to the Lower 50's at night.

6. Landscaping: Most new pool owners spend their entire budget on the pool and hardscaping but generally neglect the landscaping portion of the project. Get a professional landscape plan and stick to it. Don't let the landscaper fool you...a one gallon plant will not grow 5 feet in one year. Spend a little more up front and get larger plants so you won't have to spend 5 years nurturing your landscape to get the look you were hoping for.

Submitted By: Splash Pools

Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland serves all of Maryland, Baltimore, Washington DC and Northern Virginia. We specialize in the installation of Viking Fiberglass Swimming Pools and Complete Concrete Swimming Pool Installations and Renovations including Tile and Coping, Natural Stone and Paver Decking, Pool Resurfacing with Pebble Tec. Visit Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland at www.SplashPoolsMD.com or Contact us at Info@SplashPoolsMD.com or (443) 766-9663.

Turning Your Swimming Pool "Green"

Everywhere you look more and more people are going green when it comes to their household purchases. Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland is taking the green movement by storm with the introduction of "Green" products for your swimming pool.

The old standard residential swimming pool uses an alarmingly high amount of energy to run. With the cost of pools going down and more and more people jumping on board the swimming pool bandwagon, going Green is really the only way to go.

According to Green Living Online, "With just over eight million Pools in the U.S. and more than 600,000 in Canada, there is a growing awareness that residential pools may not be the most environmentally friendly form of recreation." They use a lot of electricity and gas with pumps to circulate the water through filters and heaters, typically running 24 hours a day. This is unnecessary when the average pool owner only spends about an hour a day swimming.

Splash Pools is aware of this and is in full swing with a variety of Alternative and Low Energy Efficient products for pool owners looking to "Go Green". According to their website this, "Maryland based swimming pool design and construction company encourages the use of environmentally responsible swimming pool products by incorporating healthy, resourceful, energy-efficient products, materials, and methods in the design and construction of swimming pools"

Going Green with your swimming pool is not just a hot trend, it will save you money. They offer products such as the Pentair Intelliflow Variable Frequency Swimming Pool Pump that will reduce energy costs by at least 60% utilizing its internal electrical design system and self-adjusting pool filter run-times year-round. Pool Owners' can become less dependent on high output products using outdated technologies. They can upgrade to more environmentally friendly, cost saving, "Green" products.

According to the Splash Pools, "Almost every manufacturer has developed enhanced products with low Amperage or Solar pumps to decrease energy bills from homeowners and to increase the value of homes living green," says James Zoller of Splash Pools.

Even if you don't live in Ellicott City, Maryland you can check out their website for updated consumer information and Energy Saving tips for pool owners.

With Americans jumping on the green living Bandwagon they are preparing to see a huge increase in consumer actions searching for Energy related Pool products.

Submitted By: Splash Pools

Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland serves all of Maryland, Baltimore, Washington DC and Northern Virginia. We specialize in the installation of Viking Fiberglass Swimming Pools and Complete Concrete Swimming Pool Installations and Renovations including Tile and Coping, Natural Stone and Paver Decking, Pool Resurfacing with Pebble Tec. Visit Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland at www.SplashPoolsMD.com or Contact us at Info@SplashPoolsMD.com or (443) 766-9663.

Concrete Swimming Pool Resurfacing with Pebble Tec

Is the existing surface of your swimming pool rough, stained, chipping or just plain ugly? Then now is the time to consider renovating your pool. The swimming season is quickly approaching and now is the time to schedule your pool renovation to ensure your pool will be open for the beginning of the season.

Splash Pools of Maryland resurfaces both residential and commercial swimming pools using many different brands of "Plaster or Marcite." Plaster and Marcite are different terms for the same thing. It is the material that coats the concrete shell of the pool and what you walk on when you are in a concrete swimming pool. Today we are going to discuss a product called Pebble Tec which is our most used and in our opinion "hands down" the best product to install in your swimming pool when it comes to longevity, appearance and maintenance. Pebble Tec is available in 18 attractive colors, our original Pebble Tec pool interior is the perfect choice for individuals desiring a more natural look for their pools, spas or water features.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PEBBLE TEC®

What is Pebble Tec?
Pebble Tec is a patented interior surface for swimming pools utilizing finely screened natural river rock worn smooth by years of nature's tumbling. The rock is geologically tested for hardness, angularity, content, and size.

What is the history of Pebble Tec?
Pebble Tec was developed in Australia more than two decades ago. Over 50,000 pools have been installed in Australia and the United States. This means you are considering a time proven, quality product that has gained strong customer acceptance worldwide.

How are the pebbles placed on the surface?
Predetermined ratios of Pebble Tec stone and cement are combined with water and additives, then pneumatically applied with a standard pool plaster pump to a thickness of approximately 1/2". Once the Pebble Tec is applied, it is hand troweled utilizing a special process by trained applicators. At a precise time the material is "exposed" by a method which uncovers the top layer of pebbles. When the finish is thoroughly hardened, the pool is then cleaned with a solution to enhance the brightness and luster of the natural stone.

Is the surface rough?
The surface can be described as "orange peel" smooth with indentions. The stones used in Pebble Tec are finely screened and naturally tumbled resulting in a bumpy non-abrasive surface. The pebble surface is also comfortable for walking in the shallow end.

What if algae grows on the Pebble Tec finish?
Algae can be a problem on any pool surface if pool maintenance has been lacking. However, algae does not bond as readily to Pebble Tec as it does to conventional pool plaster due to the tumbled stone surface. Pebble Tec can also be cleaned more easily than plaster.

Does the Pebble Tec pool vary in color?
A pool done in this finish is intended to duplicate the natural appearance of a lake or stream bed and therefore color variation is a desired result. Water has a tendency to reflect hues and tones depending on sunlight intensity and angle that can vary depending on the time of day.

Will the pebbles fall off?
It is normal to experience a small loss of pebbles for a short period of time after Pebble Tec installation. You may find a handful in your strainer basket after you vacuum for the first few weeks but don't worry...your pool is covered with in excess of 30 million pebbles.

What is the warranty on Pebble Tec?
Splash Pools offers a written 15 year unconditional warranty on all Pebble Tec Installations. That's a piece of mind investment. Please consult with your installer as to their warranty terms and conditions.

Please feel free to contact Splash Pools if you have any additional questions about swimming pool resurfacing.

Submitted By: Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland

Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland serves all of Maryland, Baltimore, Washington DC and Northern Virginia. We specialize in the installation of Viking Fiberglass Swimming Pools and Complete Concrete Swimming Pool Installations and Renovations including Tile and Coping, Natural Stone and Paver Decking, Pool Resurfacing with Pebble Tec. Visit Splash Fiberglass Pools of Maryland at www.SplashPoolsMD.com or Contact us at Info@SplashPoolsMD.com or (443) 766-9663.