Read our Frequently Asked Questions
We are often asked the following questions by prospective customers about our company:
How do I choose a reputable company?
You want to work with a company that is licensed, insured and has a long track record in the industry. Creative Master Pools carries the appropriate state, municipal and Industry licenses and insurances for workers compensation and general liability, and has for 30 years.
How many pools have you installed last year and can you give us references? How many pools have you built?
Creative Master Pools limits the pools built each year to ensure that each customer receives the personal attention their custom project deserves. We have built hundreds of pools this way. References are available, of course, on request.
What industry organizations do you belong to?
We are members of APSP, NESPA and the Master Pools Guild®. And our staff have certifications for service and construction, CPO, CSP, Tech I, Tech II and CBP. We conform to all APSP and ANSI standards for pool design and construction as well as the most recent government codes. Our employees are required to attend annual continuing education courses to keep their certifications up to date and our designers are Genesis Trained.
Will I receive a written estimate for my work? Will there be hidden costs added as the project develops?
Creative Master Pools provides a general estimate for budgeting purposes before a design has been approved. Upon final design, a detailed proposal is generated from which a contract is created. We do not like open items, so we explore all parts of the construction project for budgeting, from engineering to final landscape lighting and irrigation. However, sometimes there are undisclosed site conditions that can affect the price of a project.
What type of warranties do I receive?
There are multiple warranties involved with a pool construction project, from a warranty on the shell itself, to warranties on other materials, warranties on workmanship and warranties on equipment from the manufacturer. These may vary depending on the use of the pool project. Your warranties will be clearly written in your construction contract.
Who will provide service and support after my construction is finished?
Creative Master Pools offers full service and maintenance to both its residential and commercial customers. This can entail opening and closing the pool each season, daily, weekly or contracted maintenance and on-call repair services. We offer warranty service for many of the manufacturers’ products in the industry. We have many service customers that have been with us for over 30 years!
Do I have to use chlorine in my pool?
All pools need a sanitizer and a filter to maintain clear healthy water. In addition, it is necessary to monitor the total alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness. We may also need to test for and correct copper, iron, manganese, phosphates, nitrates, CYA (cyanuric acid or stabilizer), and TDS (total dissolved solids) levels. Some customers want to create their chlorine using a salt/chlorine generator. There are pros and cons to this method that need to be explored with the customer before a sanitation path is chosen. There are also alternative mechanical sanitizers such as UV and Ozone that can be used to augment your chemical sanitizer.
What is gunite?
Let’s start with concrete, which is a mix of water, cement, sand, and a coarse aggregate, which is usually stone or gravel. How this is mixed and applied determines how we refer to it. The term shotcrete technically refers to either wet- or dry-mix concrete as long as it’s shot out of a hose, thus the name. In both cases, a framework of steel rebar is installed as the structural framework prior to the concrete installation. But when discussing pools, we use this terminology:
For our purposes, shotcrete is the wet mix concrete. The whole cement-sand-aggregate blend is already mixed with water when it arrives at your home in a cement truck.
Gunite is concrete applied with the dry-mix process, since it is water-free up until the builder actually applies it, when water is mixed at the nozzle.
Why do you use gunite?
With guniting, we can stop and start again without creating a “cold joint” or plane of weakness. Because of the velocity at which the material is applied, it will still bond together. Our installers have more work time since they mix the cement on-site and can stop and start as needed, which is important in custom work.
How do I know what size pump and filter I need?
Your pump and filter will be sized based gallons of water in your pool, the number of skimmers and returns and the distance from those elements to the filtration equipment. The main objective of any filtration system is the ability to turn over all the water in your pool at least once within a period of 8 hours for a residential pool. Every pool project is analyzed and engineered individually, as these factors can vary.
Can I see some of your pools?
Absolutely! We love to show off our work, whether new or old…we can find a pool for you to see with features that will make you smile.