Pool News
Pool Prices Are Going Up… Again
![Pool Prices Going Up, Cost for Swimming Pools Has Increased 30-40%](https://www.poolmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/pool-prices-going-up.jpg)
If you’ve been holding out and waiting for pool prices to drop, you may have to continue waiting. Analysts are predicting pool prices to increase this year due to rising costs for labor, materials, and equipment. The Federal Reserve approved the first rate increase in three years back in March in an effort to combat inflation, and a 50 basis point hike may be looming on the horizon.
Consumers who plan on buying a swimming pool this year can expect to pay a premium according to analysts. Builders across the nation are feeling the pinch of rising costs. Across the board; increased costs for labor and equipment are driving a need to recalibrate pricing structures yet again this season. Construction materials used to build swimming pools rose 31.3% percent from early 2020 to early 2022.
Construction Material Price Increases
As pool builders and swimming pool contractors attempt to maneuver a vastly different landscape of pricing, year over year increases can immediately be seen on the following materials:
- Concrete – Up 11.6% since the start of 2021
- Lumber – Up 79.5% in cost from September 2021 to April 2022.
- Steel – Up 74.4% in price since start of 2021
- PVC Pipe – Up 36.9% since start of 2021
(Statistics provided by the Associated General Contractors of America)
Manufacturers & Distributors Raising Prices
A round of price increase letters began circulating early this spring from some of the nation’s largest manufacturers and distributors. Consequently, builders are looking at big jumps in cost for pool pumps, filters, heaters, and a variety of other related equipment and components. Builders aren’t the only ones struggling, however. Pool service companies are also looking at sharp price increases from last year on chlorine as well as other chemicals.
To get a better understanding of how rising costs are impacting pool companies day to day operations, we asked several pool builders how they are navigating an environment of continuous price increases and what they are telling customers.
Consumers Have The Wrong Information About Pool Prices
“Honestly, there is a disconnect with consumers over how much pools really cost these days,” said Southern California pool designer James White of Dream To Design. “Homeowners are reading outdated or just completely inaccurate information when price shopping for a swimming pool.”
How Much Have Pool Prices Increased?
The majority of pool builders we surveyed in a recent poll say they have had to increase prices by 40-50% in order to keep up with inflation. “Unfortunately the base price of a swimming pool has gone up over the last two years,” said pool builder, JC Rodriguez who builds concrete in-ground pools, “for a basic pool without all the bells and whistles, we’re starting at around the $60,000 range and go up from there. Most of the time if we’re talking about a pool and spa with decking your average swimming pool is going to wind up at the $120,000-$130,000 price range.”
The prices that Rodriguez is estimating are consistent with what pool builders across the nation are charging for a complete in-ground swimming pool package. Pool Magazine surveyed a sample of 1,000 pool builders to see how their prices had increased since 2020.
![Pool Price Increases From 2020 to 2022](https://www.poolmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/pool-price-increases-2-1024x566.jpg)
Out of 1,000 pool professionals surveyed on April 1, 2022, 72.7% said they raised prices by over 30% since the pandemic began. 28.2% of builders surveyed reported they increased prices by over 50% since the start of 2020. Out of 1,000 builders surveyed, only 49 respondents indicated that they had raised prices less than 10% or not at all. While not indicative of price increases for the entire industry, this survey of builders provides a good cross sampling of increases across the country based off individual responses.
Homeowners Face Sharp Price Increases on Building a Swimming Pool in 2022
“We decided to build a pool at the absolute wrong time. I just paid $65,000 for our pool and it’s nothing extravagant,” said homeowner Mike Sovenski. “Not only was the same pool $40,000 before Covid, but our pool took 8 months to build. If I knew then what I know now, we would have waited but hindsight is 20/20.”
While some are struggling to rationalize the jump in prices, many homeowners have their minds fixed on building a pool this year and are ready to absorb the increases. “For us, it makes a lot of sense to build a swimming pool, this is a spec home and we will see our return on the back-end when we sell the house,” said Stepan Federov of Carmichael, CA.
Others have been waiting for so long just to get onto their builder’s dig schedule, that they are happy just to be able to say they are finally building a pool. “We wanted a pool and have just been playing the waiting game,” said Justin Brennan of Staten Island, NY, “It was our bad luck that we were unable to build exactly when we wanted to. Our builder was backlogged but we decided to wait,” explained Brennan, “we just broke ground last week and our pool will cost around 30% more than we were originally quoted. Quite frankly, I’m just happy that it’s finally underway.”
A Change In The Wind
While many homeowners are still waiting for the opportunity to build a pool, still more may decide to put off building a pool altogether right now. Indicators from some of the largest publicly held companies in the pool industry demonstrate that the pandemic craze for pools may be ending. Year-to-date, stock movements paint a less than rosy forecast for the rest of 2022. As of the time of this article – PoolCorp is down -24.31%, Fluidra is down -20.09%, and Latham’s stock is sharply down -50.06% since the start of the year. Watching how some of the top performers are struggling is a fair indication of what is going on in the rest of the industry.
In light of numerous global events, some of the largest pool builders are waiting to see exactly how the market will react before making any radical changes. “The geopolitical climate may certainly impact how our industry performs and how we’re able to enjoy the surge in demand, post-pandemic,” said Bonnie Chong, CEO of Anthony & Sylvan Pools who is actively monitoring developments in the industry. (Listen to our entire conversation on the Pool Magazine podcast).
“Not every market may experience the same factors that drive demand at the same time,” said Chong, who says that she plans to leverage Anthony & Sylvan’s footprint in a changing environment. Her outlook, however, remains optimistic that the demand will remain strong with consumers well into 2023. “Hopefully now folks have really started to find value in the home and value in spending time with family and friends in the backyard.”
The spike in demand we saw over the last two years does add some credence to that assumption. The pandemic probably did more to reinforce the value of a pool in the minds of consumers than possibly anything else in recent decades. One thing is clear, how consumers react to buying a pool in this rapidly changing environment is something the entire industry is watching closely this season.
Pool News
French Diver Makes Splash After Flop At Opening of Olympic Pool
![French Diver Makes Splash After Flop At Opening of Olympic Pool](https://www.poolmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/french-diver-flops-at-olympics-pool.jpg)
French Olympic diver, Alexis Jandard, created a memorable moment at the grand opening of Paris’s new Olympic pool, though not quite in the manner he had envisioned.
A startling video captured during the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Paris Aquatics Center on Thursday showcased the 26-year-old Olympian’s unfortunate landing on his right foot while gearing up to dive alongside two fellow athletes. Adorned in a Speedo reflecting the hues of the French flag, Jandard’s discomforting descent saw him landing on his back, ricocheting off the nearly 10-foot-high dive board, and somersaulting into the pool in a rather ungraceful manner.
The incident unfolded in front of a sizable crowd of onlookers, including French President Emmanuel Macron and various dignitaries. Jandard later displayed his scraped back on his Instagram account, maintaining a light-hearted approach to his embarrassing mishap by quipping, “For your information, my back is fine, but my ego…”
Sharing a photo of his reddened back, courtesy of the encounter with the diving board, on Instagram Stories, Jandard assured followers of his well-being. Speaking to RMC Sport, he recounted the unexpected turn of events, stating, “I’m fine. I didn’t hurt myself; unfortunately, these things happen. It happened at a time when I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
![Alexis Jandard injured his back at the inauguration of the new Olympic Pool in Paris. Photo Credit: @alexis_jandard - Instagram](https://www.poolmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/alexis-jandard-back-1024x576.jpg)
Reflecting on the incident, Jandard humorously noted, “I’ve broken boards before, but the board had never broken me before. Now it has.” Despite the hiccup, he maintained an optimistic outlook, remarking, “I would have preferred this ceremony to have gone well from A to Z. There was that little hitch. If it made people smile a little, so much the better.”
Explaining the mishap, Jandard clarified that his leg gave way upon landing but denied any slippage, emphasizing, “It’s a non-slip [board], and what’s more, the board was new, beautiful, and I think there’s still [some of] my back on the board there.”
With a silver and bronze under his belt at the 2022 and 2023 World Aquatics Championships, respectively, Jandard took the incident in stride, admitting, “It’s a shame, but it’s funny. When you take a step back, it’s funny.”
Looking ahead to the 2024 Paris Games this summer, where he is set to compete, Jandard acknowledged the inevitability of such occurrences in his sport, jesting, “These things happen,” while playfully lamenting, “It had to happen in front of the president and the whole of France. I think we chose the right moment.”
Despite being inundated with supportive messages and playful jabs, Jandard maintained a good-natured stance, urging his followers on Instagram, “Enjoy yourselves, make fun of me. I seriously deserve it!”
Pool News
Earthquake in Taiwan Causes Waterfall From Rooftop Pool
A massive earthquake in Taiwan transforms a rooftop pool into a waterfall. View viral footage.
![Earthquake in Taiwan Causes Waterfall From Rooftop Pool](https://www.poolmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/taiwan-earthquake-pool.jpg)
In a harrowing turn of events, Taiwan was struck by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake, leaving devastation in its wake. The quake, the strongest to hit the island in 25 years, shook the east coast of Taiwan, particularly affecting the city of Hualien and its surrounding areas. With a depth of 34.8 kilometers, the epicenter of the earthquake was located 18 kilometers south of Hualien, according to the US Geological Survey.
As rescue efforts are underway to free those trapped under rubble and debris, the toll of the disaster continues to rise. At least nine individuals have lost their lives, while over 900 others have sustained injuries. The aftermath of the earthquake has left over 100 buildings damaged, with reports of landslides and collapsed structures adding to the chaos.
The force of the quake was so immense that it caused a surreal sight—a rooftop swimming pool overflowing and cascading down the side of a building, creating an impromptu waterfall. Footage captured during the earthquake also shows the sheer force as a man inside a pool struggles to maintain balance, the water swaying violently from side to side.
The region of Hualien County, with a population of approximately 300,000, faces immense challenges in assessing the full extent of the damage. Many inhabitants reside in remote coastal or mountain communities, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach them promptly. The precarious situation is exacerbated by the expectation of aftershocks, with 29 aftershocks greater than a magnitude of 4.0 already recorded near the epicenter.
Compounding the crisis are reports of miners trapped in two mines in Hualien, adding urgency to the rescue operations. Furthermore, over 91,000 households are grappling with power cuts, amplifying the difficulties faced by residents in the aftermath of the disaster.
Despite the widespread destruction, medical facilities in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei City, are functioning, albeit damaged. The Municipal Government has confirmed that hospitals are operating normally, providing critical care to the injured.
The international community has responded swiftly to the catastrophe, with the Biden administration monitoring the situation closely and expressing readiness to offer assistance. In the face of adversity, Taiwan is rallying its resources and resilience, demonstrating solidarity and resolve in confronting this natural disaster.
As the dust settles and the extent of the damage becomes clearer, questions arise about the effectiveness of early warning detection systems in mitigating the impact of natural disasters. Despite Taiwan’s investment in advanced seismic technology, including early warning systems designed to provide crucial seconds of alert before an earthquake strikes, many residents were caught off guard by the sudden and violent tremors. Reports indicate that the early warning detection system, while operational, did not reach a significant portion of the population in time to take preventive action
Pool News
Patent Pending Apple Watch SOS Feature Could Prevent Drownings
![Patent Pending Apple Watch SOS Feature Could Prevent Drownings](https://www.poolmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/apple-watch-sos-drowning-prevention.jpg)
A forthcoming feature potentially destined for the Apple Watch, as detailed in a recent patent application, could serve as a lifesaver for swimmers at risk of drowning.
Outlined in the patent is a capability for the Watch to identify “irregular behavior” and automatically trigger a distress call for assistance.
Apple underscores the alarming statistics surrounding drowning, particularly its prevalence among children, as a leading cause of accidental fatalities.
In the United States alone, drowning claims the lives of over 3,500 individuals annually, ranking as the fifth most common form of accidental death. Tragically, a significant portion of these victims are children.
Emphasizing the critical importance of swift intervention during water emergencies, Apple highlights the dire consequences of prolonged submersion without resuscitation, which can result in brain damage and ultimately, drowning.
A Growing Need For Cost-Effective Wearable Solutions
While acknowledging existing underwater camera systems in some swimming pools aimed at detecting distressed swimmers and alerting lifeguards, Apple notes their costliness and unreliability.
Consequently, there’s a pressing need for a simpler, more cost-effective drowning prevention solution suitable for all types of water bodies, including public and private pools, as well as natural settings like lakes and ponds where installing underwater cameras is impractical.
The patent proposes leveraging wearable devices such as the Apple Watch for broader applicability, increased reliability, and the ability to detect various types of emergencies.
Alerting When Swimmers Are In Distress
For instance, if the Watch detects a wearer who is not proficient in swimming entering deeper water, it can promptly dispatch an alert instead of waiting for signs of distress.
These alerts can be transmitted to nearby devices, including those of friends and family, and seamlessly integrate with existing drowning detection and alarm systems to ensure lifeguards are promptly notified.
Apple Watches already boast capabilities to detect and respond to falls, vehicle accidents, and cardiac irregularities. Heartwarming testimonials featured in Apple’s “Dear Apple” video series show individuals whose lives were saved by these functionalities.
As with many patents from Apple, it’s important to note that not all concepts may materialize into actual products. Nonetheless, this innovation stands as a promising addition for potential integration into future watchOS updates.
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