Unlike prefabricated fiberglass pools, where the shapes are decided for you, the options are basically endless for stainless steel pools.
Through Genesis, Gene Brown became the only Platinum-level designer in British Columbia and has continued to expand and elevate the pool industry in the Okanagan Valley and beyond. The company has been designing and building stunning pools for 52 years, and also has a retail store located in Kelowna.
The majority of Valley Pool & Spa's projects were — and continue to be — concrete, but when Brown began a partnership with Chris Neal at Pure Stainless Pools, based in Ontario, he quickly realized the many benefits of working with stainless steel pools.
A stainless steel pool, like this one, goes in faster than concrete and is lighter in weight, making it an advantageous choice in some situations.
BUILD TIME
Where Pure Stainless is based in central Canada, their build season is much shorter. Stainless steel provides a highquality alternative to concrete that also speeds up the building time.
"The actual production of the pool happens off-site," explained Brown, "and then it is delivered on-site and gets finished." The difference in the length of time it takes to build a stainless steel pool versus a concrete pool is clear: "Instead of putting in two to three pools per year as a one-crew concrete pool company, one crew can put in a dozen or so stainless steel pools in a year."
Brown appreciates the shortened build time, even though Valley Pool & Spa builds year-round in their warmer climate. His most common projects are either commercial or high-end residential, which are larger projects with more complex features, therefore requiring a much longer timeframe. Stainless steel has allowed him to take on more projects in the same amount of time.
Stainless steel is a more rigid material than concrete, making perimeter overflows and vanishing edges like these much easier to accomplish.
DESIGN FLEXIBILITY
Part of what intrigued Brown about stainless steel pools was that "we have the opportunity to build exactly what we want," he said. "Valley Pool & Spa likes to do exotic details like overflows and acrylics," and stainless steel allows them to do so. Unlike prefabricated fiberglass pools, where the shapes are decided for you, the options are basically endless for stainless steel pools.
With stainless steel being a more rigid material, "building perimeter overflows and vanishing edges are much easier to do with stainless steel just because it's so perfect," Brown said.
Although Brown still works primarily with concrete, he highly recommends stainless steel pools for customers who are looking for their pool to be a work of art. "It's all about the design," he said. "It's very specific to the customer and the house. I build stainless steel pools for customers in contemporary houses who want a certain look."
When Brown shows potential clients his portfolio, he often hears, "I've never seen something like that before—it's a piece of art."
DURABILITY AND WEIGHT
Another benefit of stainless steel pools is that they weigh much less than concrete pools, making it easier to install an elevated pool. One of Brown's most recently completed projects was a stainless steel pool and hot tub on the roof of a 34-floor high-rise. "There are serious constraints to building a concrete pool up high," he said. "and with stainless steel, you don't have to worry as much about waterproofing."
Brown explained that concrete is less expensive than stainless when you're building in-ground, but he much prefers stainless steel when building in or above a structure. "If we're going up on the second or third floor, let's go stainless," he said. "We do a lot of projects that are either cantilevered or built over the top of the living space. For those, we use stainless."
QUALITY EDUCATION FOR QUALITY POOLS
Over the last 25 years, Brown has completed 20 Genesis courses in construction, design, and engineering. When asked to pick one thing that he learned in a Genesis course that influenced his business, his reply was: all of it.
"You really need to do it all," he said. "Start with the foundation in construction and go from there. Learn about the mechanical side of things. Then get into design and start looking at the effect of colors. You really need to focus on the whole package."
One benefit of Genesis education that isn't talked about very often is the opportunity to see things through the eyes of fellow builders. "It's pretty amazing how two different people can come into one spot and come out with two totally different design concepts," Brown explained. "I've learned a lot from others' perspectives."
Many pool builders stay focused on the construction part of the project (which is important, of course — poor construction leads to problems for everyone), but it is also important to remember that your clients are looking for more than a structure with water in it. They are looking for a backyard oasis, a place to relax, a place to host family and friends, their own personal resort — regardless of their budget or the size of the pool. Brown believes that design is key. His philosophy is, "Even a more affordable pool should be a piece of art."
This article first appeared in the August 2024 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
