The State of the Pool Industry
08/06/2021 | Categories: Pool Builder, Pool Design
The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have played out in many unexpected ways, leaving a trail of winners and losers in its wake. It was an economist’s dream to see how the various markets responded and fared. All industries experienced some fallout, including the pool industry. The state of the pool industry is far different than it used to be, and keeping clients informed throughout the pool building process is imperative.
Pivoting with the Times
Interestingly, the pandemic fueled an uptick in sales and revenue in the pool market. While the economy stalled, the housing industry and, thus, the pool trade flourished. The latter makes sense in light of lockdowns and social distancing. While the communities closed nationwide, families rediscovered their backyards for recreation as their home oasis.
That was evident even before the pandemic. A 2018 survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) revealed that nearly 40 percent of respondents included pools and spas as their most wanted landscape elements. That factor played out in spades these past few years as families stopped traveling and enjoyed a welcome staycation instead.
Unfortunately, the changing market led to a backlog in fulfillment because of a myriad of problems, including supply chain issues. The industry was overwhelmed with orders and struggled to deliver the products, including a chemical shortage. Global outsourcing also stalled, contributing to the bottleneck.
While this backlog will continue into the foreseeable future, it doesn’t mean the worst. When you’re dealing with a reputable pool builder, they have developed established relationships with suppliers and manufacturers throughout their tenure that allows them to bypass some of the delays.
Finding Solutions
People have learned to be smarter about keeping their pools clean thanks to the chemical shortages. There are alternatives to using chlorine as the sole sanitizing agent that some may prefer over the traditional methods. At Sunshine Fun Pools, we recommend incorporating an ozone system. Ozonators allow for the use of less chlorine, which means less monthly maintenance and less money spent in the long run.
When it comes to delayed build times, builders are asking clients to just be patient and understand they are doing everything they can to get you the pool of your dreams within a reasonable time frame. Currently, Sunshine Fun Pools is experiencing a 4 to 6 month lead time from when the contract is signed to the start of excavation.
Some factors that play into the delayed build times aren’t just pandemic-related. This past February, Texas experienced an unprecedented freeze that affected thousands of pool owners. Nearly 10 to 15 percent of the 750,000 residential pools throughout the state suffered damage, which stretched an already stressed supply chain even further.
Texas has also been experiencing an unseasonably excessive amount of rain this season, which unfortunately affects building timelines, as well. While weather-related delays are outside of our control, we ask our clients to be understanding of Mother Nature’s influence on the pool building process.
It’s important to note that if you decide to shop around you may find a newer pool builder who says they can get the job done faster and for less money. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a good thing. Beware of deals that seem too good to be true.
Well-established pool builders care about their reputation and take pride in the quality of their work and the superior customer service they provide, therefore they know their worth and value. New pool companies who are taking advantage of this pool building boom don’t have the experience or resources to follow through with what it takes to withstand the long haul ahead.
What the Future Holds
Industry experts expect the pool industry to continue to ride the tide of strong sales as the economy recovers and disposable income rises. The concept of the total backyard will likely evolve, too, bringing with it an enriched home experience that will benefit other industries riding the same wave.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that there’s no place like home. Give the pool building experts at Sunshine Fun Pools a call today to learn more about why we are a nationally recognized Top 50 pool builder for four consecutive years and our long-standing history as a leading pool builder throughout Bryan-College Station area.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
As the leading pool builder in Brazos Valley, Sunshine Fun Pools builds more than 100 pools each year while maintaining a 98 percent customer satisfaction rating. Founded in 2005, Sunshine Fun Pools specializes in custom pool design and quality construction, pool remodeling and pool maintenance services.
Call Sunshine Fun Pools today if you are looking for a professional, qualified customer pool builder in Bryan-College Station, Conroe, Navasota, Katy, Fulshear, The Woodlands, Franklin or Montgomery Country. For more Bryan College Station pool design tips, subscribe to their blog and YouTube Channel or ‘Like’ them on Facebook. You can also read their customer reviews to learn more about the exceptional services they provide.
Ready to get started on your own backyard oasis? Contact the Bryan College Station pool experts at Sunshine Fun Pools today!
