They say the only thing constant is change, and that certainly is true for the pool- building industry. Before COVID, there were above-ground pools, inground pools with liners, and then custom gunite pools, which were considered the high end of the industry. And while DelVal Pools & Spas builds all three types of pools, its niche as a third-generation business is in the custom-designed gunite construction.

COVID kept the world at home; vacations simply did not happen. No one wanted to go on an airplane. No one wanted to go on a cruise ship. We looked to our backyards for the new family vacation spot and the word "staycation" became mainstream vocabulary. During COVID, Del Val Pools & Spas was very busy transforming one backyard after another into a personal oasis. An interesting thing happened during this time, which affected prices on above-ground and inground pools with liners—prices on plastics and anything that used ingredients in the formation of plastics skyrocketed. As happens when things increase in cost, they rarely go back down. The price gap between a custom gunite pool and other types of pools closed.

Things are stabilizing in the markets with COVID and product shortages in the rearview mirror, but now there is a new question being asked: "How do we build a custom gunite pool on a budget?"

It's become a new favorite question because Del Val has the best solutions. Yes, building a pool costs money; that's no secret. It's an investment, but one of the secrets to any business is how to control costs so you can stay ahead of the competition. Here's how that's accomplished at Del Val, allowing the company to grow and to excel year after year, all while keeping costs down.

Buy materials in bulk and in quantities to last for several years. Rarely do things go down in price. Each year Del Val projects what materials it will need in the coming 12 to 36 months. This ranges from chemicals to maintain pools, to pumps, heaters, piping, rebar steel, tile, coping – anything needed for pool construction. By purchasing in volume and projecting needs out over several years, the company protects itself and its customers from market gyrations, which were quick and abundant during COVID. Who remembers the microchip shortage?

They do all the work. Del Val does not subcontract out any part of the pool construction. From initial excavation to programming your Pentair control panel after the first fill, it's all done by Del Val employees using Del Val equipment. It's always employees who construct award-winning pools day in and day out, bringing your vision to life. As a result, labor costs are not subject to the gyrations a subcontractor can bring to the mix. After all, nearly all of us have had a project started in our homes that ended up costing more than originally projected. At Del Val, pools are completed on budget.

Controlling the schedule. Del Val controls its pool-building process with allocation of labor and equipment. They are not dependent on anyone else to do the work, and while Mother Nature can slow things down for a day or two, Del Val has the ability to make that time up because of its dedicated employees and adherence to the schedule. In the pool-construction business, there is nothing more important than completing a project on time – and on budget.

Relationships with local banks for financing. Not everyone is able to write a check for pool construction. The folks at Del Val recognize that, and therefore they offer a variety of financing options to help you complete your pool vision now, and pay for it over time affordably and at your pace.

So how do we build a pool on a budget? Del Val controls the cost of materials, the cost of labor and the amount of time on site. It sounds simple, but it's only because of the company's experience that they can apply that business model. The third generation of this family business is active now, and perhaps in another decade they will be writing about how they do it better than their parents. Let's hope!

Del Val Pools & Spas
Elmer, Mantua and Turnersville, N.J.
(856) 629-2999
DelValPoolsAndSpas.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 24, Issue 4 (March 2024)
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