Design
Our design staff will sit down with you and discuss your pool options.  We will help formulate and solidify your creative ambitions into a complete design for your pool environment.  We use state of the art pool design software (PoolDraw 2000) to map out how your pool will look.  We also have extensive engineering experience and knowledge.  We are also certified by the prestigious Genesis 3 organization.

A typical wall section includes a 6" gravel base, a 8" to 10" concrete floor and a 8" to 10" gunite/shotcrete wall. The gravel base is used to protect against settling and to protect the plumbing underneath the pool. After the gravel base is installed a matrix of ½” steel reinforcement is installed 10" to 12" on center in the floor and up the walls. First the concrete floor is poured (3500 psi) and then gunite/shotcrete walls are poured (4500+ psi). After the concrete shell is finished, the waterline ceramic tile and coping is installed. Then the decking, fencing and landscaping should be done around the pool by other subcontractors. The pool is then cleaned, plastered and immediately filled with water.

The dimension layout includes the dimensions of the pool and locations of fittings within the pool. Each pool is equipped with skimmers, main drains and returns. Items such as ladders, handrails and lights are typical, but not required. The dimension layout will also include the placement of steps, seats and any other features of the pool.

Engineering
Our engineers are on site daily for your pool construction.

Pool Frame
Pool frame and.steel rebar construction is performed by master technicians with twenty years of experience.  we form the entire pool to create our design to perfection, then we install #6, 1/2" rebar 8" o.c. throughout the entire framework of the pool and all details of the pool design.

Excavating
In-house equipment to perform any function of below-ground excavating at our convenience--not others.  Our competitors subcontract out to other companies at their convenience.

Plumbing
Layouts are well below frost line and pool deck perimeters.  We utilize only schedule 40 pressure PVC in all applications.  Our standard is 2" schedule 40 on all skimmers and returns, 3" schedule 40 on all main drains and suction lines to and from pool equipment.  We use flexible underground rated spa hose where we feel there will be added stress points to the pool for added flexibility and elimination of fittings.  We use this process at our discretion.  All main drain and returns are in the floor for maximum efficiency.  Remember that heat rises, so the further down we can re-circulate the heat into your pool the more efficient it will be.  Our competitors install their plumbing in the walls of their pools, ending up costing you money.

Equipment is located within 55' of the pool design and set up with every valve needed to winterize and control water efficiently.  We use only state of the art equipment manufactured by Jandy & Pentair.  Our competitors have limitations to where the pool is located, thus adding to the expense of equipment placement.

Controls are computerized at the customer's request, capable of controlling every feature of your pool, and backyard poolscape.

Concrete
American Pools and Fountains employs 20-25 full time concrete craftsmen specializing in gunite/shotcrete and are ACI certified.  Our competitors subcontract their concrete specialists, sometimes out of state!

Curing
American Pools and Fountains spends a significant amount of time and effort to cure the concrete pool shell using an engineered process and specialized materials.  Our competitors tell the craftsmen to use a hose or sprinkler.

Tiling
We use a 6" tile as a standard around the waterline and perimeter.  We customize each staircase, bench, and other pool feature with a 2" or 1" square custom tile, depending on the radius.  We allow our customers to select from any tile category from the National Tile Group.  Our competitors upcharge for custom tile installations, whereas our standard is custom tile.

Pool Decking
We include 500 square feet of standard concrete in every pool project awarded to American Pools and Fountains. We offer an added value of architectural concrete performed by Color-Crete, Inc of Ohio, a sister company of American Pools and Fountains at the same cost. Our competitors often sub contract this service leaving the homeowner with another contractor’s schedule to deal with, and added time away from their pool project. The added value that is with our standard. Other competitors charge this as an upgrade, this is our standard.

Materials
We use only the best equipment available in the industry: Pentair and Jandy pool products.  We use the Caretaker In-floor cleaning system, computer mixed shotcrete/concrete mixture, high quality aggregate interior finishes, and the strongest plaster available to us.  The materials used for your pool are guaranteed to be the best.