In today’s fast-paced world of pool construction, finding a comprehensive and efficient solution is key for both builders and homeowners who desire a faster turnaround time. Only Alpha Pool Products, a family-owned and operated business, has emerged as a frontrunner, offering turn-key pool kits that are gaining swift traction among pool builders seeking a high-quality, streamlined, and versatile system.

Who is Only Alpha Pool Products?

Founded in the early 2000s by business partners Tim Saxer and Tom Epple, Only Alpha Pool Products has had a rich history in manufacturing swimming pool components. With a diverse team representing hundreds of years of experience, the company has become a powerhouse in the industry, introducing innovative products and systems tailored to meet the evolving demands of the market.

One of Only Alpha’s standout offerings is the composite wall system, available in both vinyl liner (Fusion) and linerless (Evolution) configurations. Evolution which was inspired by materials used in the automotive industry, provides a hardy and temperature-resistant alternative to traditional polymer-based pool systems. This innovative approach has allowed the company to make a splash in the market, starting with the installation of the first Evolution pool in a Pennsylvania hospital back in 2009.

Composite Wall Pool Systems

Tim Saxer, Executive Vice President, explained why their composite wall system has become a mainstay product for Only Alpha Pool Products. “The reason why we went to composites rather than polymer, which is what everybody else does, is composites have a much broader temperature range. Heat and cold don’t affect it during the installation or transportation process. It’s a very hardy product that can handle heat well, and really builds like steel on a non-corrosive platform.”

Steel Wall Pool Systems

In addition to composite wall systems, Only Alpha manufactures steel wall pools in various heights, offering a versatile solution suitable for fully buried or semi-inground installations. The company also produces fiberglass, acrylic, and thermoplastic steps, bending its own coping and, as of last year, has begun manufacturing vinyl liners for swimming pools.

Builders Gravitating To Only Alpha Evolution

The Evolution, a standout product in Only Alpha’s lineup, has garnered high praise from pool installers, who emphasized its suitability for commercial and higher-end residential projects. Saxer, a seasoned expert with decades of experience in the industry, offered insights into the fast installation time that has become an appealing selling point with pool builders.

“It’s precision made. The product has 10,000th of an inch variation in its dimensions on it. So it’s a very exacting product,” explained Saxer, “internally, we have the ability to manipulate the product. We can cut it, we can glue it together so we can be able to make an interior that’s unique to anything precisely requested by a dealer. we’ve also worked with 3M on various adhesives to help build the pool, to make it a watertight shell without any coating on it.”

Speedy Build Time & Ships Ready For Assembly

“The wall structure, assembly of the wall structure, or in the case if you look at a concrete pool, would be called a bond beam. The assembly is very quick. We have a special adhesive that you would use between the wall systems to make it watertight, but it builds very quickly,” explained Saxer.

“It’s a prepackaged product, so it comes on pallets. It comes virtually preassembled. Once they pull it off the truck they can go right to work assembling it. Unlike a gunite pool, where you’re playing around with rebar and everything else. With this system, it’s all preset,” said Saxer.

“The concrete bottom has got to be poured correctly,” said Saxer, indicating one of the similarities in respect to traditional gunite pools. “You need to pour it fairly dry so you don’t have shrinkage in it.”

On Site Training & Support Allows Builders To Take On Larger Projects

Although a turn-key system, Saxer explained that builders still need proper installation training. Saxer conveyed that Only Alpha provides extensive training for dealers, ensuring that a trainer is present on the job site for each installation. The insistence on having a trainer present on the job site during the construction speaks to the company’s emphasis on hands-on learning and guidance, ensuring that builders have the necessary skills and knowledge to execute the building process with precision.

Only Alpha’s pool systems offer a variety of design options, from quick installs suitable for various shapes to replicating specific designs requested by customers. Saxer explained how their pool system has enabled builders to take on larger jobs. “We did a 30 foot vanishing edge pool for an apartment complex right near Purdue University,” said Saxer, who explained their system provided one of their vinyl liner dealer the opportunity to sell an apartment pool.

Only Alpha Pool Products Expedited Build Process Is Appealing

“Another interesting project was someone who came to us that was a one piece fiberglass builder. The consumer wanted a much larger pool, but they loved the interior design of the fiberglass pool,” explained Saxer, “we were able to replicate that pool on a larger scale for the customer,” who was looking for an expedited build process.

“The customer preferred this over gunite. Gunite is very expensive, and frankly, it’s a project. It’s going to take 30 to 45 days to complete a gunite or shotcrete pool shell. Two installers could assemble the 20 x 40 wall system in our evolution pool in less than 2 hours,” explained Saxer.

Manufactured With Sustainability in Mind

In an era where environmental consciousness has become paramount, Saxer says that Only Alpha Pool Products is commited to environmental responsibility and sustainability in the production process.

“On the production floor, everything we build is 100% recyclable. The vinyl liner could be any scraps get sent back and get reground into a 3D binder book cover for a kid at school. Steel is reprocessed. The composite panel can be reground, and it has the ability to be used as a filler for roads. Everything’s able to be reprocessed and recycled into another product. We’re very big on that in our industry.”

Want to take a deeper dive and learn more about Only Alpha Pool Products? Listen to our interview with Tim Saxer on the Pool Magazine podcast.

Colorado Custom Covers & Decks Crafts Inspired Deck & Pool Experience

By Michelle Hendricks, Category Marketing Manager at Deckorators

There’s never been a more exciting time for homeowners when it comes to the possibilities of outdoor living. Our entire marketplace is witnessing a shift, and at the forefront of this evolution are the talented contractors and builders who are leading the way. One could say that these outdoor experts are truly ‘guides’: helping homeowners maximize their spaces with a deeply inspired understanding of their needs and expectations.

Homeowners continue to invest more time and capital into their outdoor spaces than ever before, and they’re putting more thought into how they want their outdoor living spaces to function. Our network of Certified Pros reports that their clients are increasingly interested in a collaborative design process, eagerly bringing their ideas and inspiration to the table.

After going through several design ideas for this project, in close competition with another contractor, Colorado Custom Covers & Decks sealed the deal with a multi-level backyard retreat that checked all of the client’s boxes. Built in Conifer, Colorado for a family that fosters children with disabilities, it was crucial for this deck to maximize usability in terms of square footage. Consideration of spatial flow was a top priority, and carefully planned stairs were implemented to smooth the connection between the upper and lower levels.

This project by Deckorators Certified Pro Jonathan Moeller of Colorado Custom Covers & Decks exemplifies the concept of the ‘outdoor room,’ creating an added living space that blends form and function for versatile use throughout the seasons. By dividing the outdoor space into flexible-use ‘zones,’ homeowners can add value to their homes and ensure their outdoor spaces achieve their full potential.

The remodeled upper deck, sheltered by a skylit roof covering, features an outdoor kitchen and a gas fire pit. Initially, there was no lower-level deck. The homeowners requested inclusion of both a swim spa and a hot tub on the lower level, without obstructing the view. To meet that request, Moeller and his team came up with an innovative design solution: To frame the lower deck flush around both water features, using Deckorators Voyage decking in Khaya. To achieve this, they had to remove an excess of soil from the lot, pour new concrete pads to hold the swim spa and hot tub, and elevate the deck to fit around them.  

Local building code required the decking to be fit snug around the lip of the water features, and also required the equipment to be fully accessible for maintenance. Moeller and his team installed removable trap doors to keep the aesthetic clean while allowing mechanical access to the swim spa and hot tub.

“These were great clients. They were really easy to work with, and they ended up loving the space,” says Moeller. “Everything went fairly smooth, aside from just dealing with the winter and the snow in Colorado. Being able to build the deck they really wanted, with a swim spa and a hot tub that the kids can use, was a great joy.”

When it comes to incorporating a deck around pools and spas, material selection is critical. Warranted for installation in the ground or water, Deckorators Voyage line features slip-resistant traction for safety. Powered by Surestone technology, Voyage blends durability with style, eliminating thermal expansion and contraction concerns and providing the industry’s best strength-to-weight ratio. Surestone materials combine distinctly natural wood-grain patterns with rich colors, offering easy personalization and customization. All Deckorators Surestone decking is low-maintenance and backed by a 50-year structural and 25-year stain-and-fade limited warranty.

An additional design highlight on this mountain escape is the cable railing, with x-shapes adorning the spaces between each cedar post. The x-pattern feature is prominent on the stairs inside the house, so the homeowners wanted to reflect that detail in their outdoor space. It was a tricky, meticulous endeavor – string lines and laser levels were crucial – to make sure the railing came out completely straight and level.

Colorado Custom Covers & Decks, 21944 Plateau Circle, Morrison, CO 80465. Instagram: @colorado_covers_decks. Location of project: Conifer, CO.

About the Author —

Michelle Hendricks is the Category Market Manager for Deckorators, a leading brand of UFP Industries, Inc., and offers insights from the brand’s experience innovating new products in the composite decking, railing, and accessories market. Deckorators help homeowners maximize their outdoor living space — and make it their very own. That means offering products with competitive warranties and new and innovative technologies.

Whether homeowners are looking to work with a local deck builder on a deck project or tackle the job themselves, they can visit Deckorators.com to learn more, get started on a project, locate a contractor or find out where to buy these and other Deckorators products.

Photo Credit: Timothy Gormley

In the dynamic world of pool maintenance and equipment, staying ahead of the curve is essential for pool professionals to deliver top-notch services to their clients. Hayward has a clear understanding of the importance of continuous education and has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive training opportunities for pool professionals. Recently they updated the training section of their website, offering an array of hands-on training courses and webinars to enhance the skills of pool professionals.

Hayward Training Courses

Hayward’s hands-on training courses cater to pool professionals seeking expertise across various crucial aspects of pool maintenance. Covering an array of topics, these sessions delve into the intricacies of Hayward’s latest products, ensuring professionals are well-versed in recommending and installing cutting-edge solutions. Specialized training in heaters, automation, salt systems, pumps, infloor systems, and electrical troubleshooting equips participants with the skills needed to address challenges in specific areas. By offering a comprehensive curriculum, Hayward empowers pool professionals to offer knowledgeable expertise to their clients.

Hayward’s dedication to supporting pool professionals is evident in the various programs they offer throughout the country. Here are some of the latest hands-on education opportunities offered by Hayward in the upcoming months. Make sure to visit and bookmark their Training Registration page as an ongoing resource.

Hayward Hands-On Training By Location

• Florida
• Gulf Coast
• Mid-Atlantic
• Mid-West
• North East
• South Central
• Southeast
• Southwest
• West

Florida

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Mid-Atlantic

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Mid-West

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North East

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South Central

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Southeast

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Southwest

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West

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