S PR IN G 2 0 1 3 CL INDUSTRIES E - N E W S L E T T E R
Newsletter Foreword With an exciting new year upon us, we are thrilled to give perspective to the progression and innovation taking place in our industry. In a new era of instantaneous and interactive communication through advances in technology, we are striving to bring all aspects of the exposed aggregate finish industry to life. We are pleased to bring you the first edition of the CL Industries quarterly digital newsletter! Our goal is to bring you unique and inspiring content, our company s news, happenings from our partners, and design trends all related to the exposed aggregate pool finish industry. CL Industries takes pride in creating the most dynamic pool finishes on the market. We truly believe that we have a finish for every pool. In this edition we highlight our newest sales team member, look at an innovative pool-scape with our Hydrazzo Oceana Laguna finish, show you some behind the scenes photos from our very first A Finish for Every Pool campaign shoot, and much more. For more information about our company and products please go to our new and improved website www.clindustries.com. You can also stay in touch with us on facebook, Twitter (@CL_Industries), Youtube, and Flickr. Thank you for checking us out! Attention Distributors, Plasterers, and Builders: we are always seeking your feedback and knowledge Please send submissions for newsletter content, news, and trends/ innovations in your area to newsletter@clindustries.com. To get updates from our team, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Flickr.
Pool of Innovation with Coastal Luxury Outdoors Innovation is a word that is tossed around quite often in the pool industry. From a business perspective, many companies yearn for better ways to satisfy their customer base with improved quality, durability, service and price which are achieved though innovation in technology advancement and better organizational strategies. At CL Industries, we strive to be at the forefront of innovation in the exposed aggregate market. Considering that our finishes aren t sold directly to the end user or consumer, we look to form innovative partnerships with our distributors, builders, and applicators. We see our products as an integral part of that process. We look for builders and applicators who will utilize our finishes in innovative ways. This has lead us to create a quarterly feature titled Pools of Innovation. Our finishes create the largest impact on water color, and the goal here is to find swimming pools that utilize a finish to complement the overall backyard experience. Our first installment comes from Coastal Luxury Outdoors of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Owner Kevin Carroll designed an entirely new custom backyard for his clients that included a beautiful infinity edge pool and a host of other design elements that make this a truly innovative project. Kevin Carroll Coastal Luxury Outdoors After a successful career in marketing with Lexus Motor sales, Kevin started dabbling with home remodels. He spent 8 years in Southern California and saw some amazing outdoor living spaces. In 2009, he decided to make the leap full time into building pools and transforming backyards for homeowners.
Q&A We sat down with Kevin to dive into his design approach and to capture some imagery of his latest backyard project in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. What do you like most about designing/building pools? It has a fun aspect to it. I am creating enjoyment for families and that makes it fun. Where do you get your inspiration from in the design process? Inspiration comes from ideas I have seen in different parts of the country. Each home is different and each family is unique so the backyards we create are all one-of-a-kind. Where does the interior finish of the pool come into the equation? Interior finishes have come a long way over the last 5-10 years. The interior finish can be selected to coordinate with the other materials used and/or elements of nature in the customer s backyard. It s definitely at the forefront of the design process. How important are water color and texture in the design process? Very important. There are clients that come to me with an idea of what they want their interior finish to be and we choose other materials to coordinate. Others choose their decking, tile and other features first and we choose a finish to compliment their other selections. How long have you been using CL Industries finishes? I have been using CL Industries products since I started building pools in 2009. What do you like about the CL Industries product lines? I like the fact that there are different levels and colors to meet every taste/budget. They really do have a finish for every pool.
Was this particular pool a remodel or new construction? New construction for a home that was 20 + years old. We transformed their entire backyard with idea of creating a custom classic look to fit with the look of the existing house. In terms of water color, what did the homeowner want and why? The home overlooks a lagoon and they wanted to choose a finish that complimented the lagoon color. Since it is an infinity pool, it was important that the colors matched. What finish did they select? Hydrazzo Oceana Laguna. What design elements did you incorporate to tie everything together in regard to water color? The homeowner selected a beautiful bluestone decking. We actually flew to Pennsylvania to hand pick the deck stones. That combined with a unique glass tile that brings in many colors seen in their surroundings and the Hydrazzo finish give the backyard a polished, natural look. For night time, what kind of lighting did you use? We installed two fire/water bowls near the infinity spillover. Those coupled with newly installed landscape lighting and a custom built bluestone fireplace makes for a cozy space in the evening. Are the homeowners satisfied with the final outcome? The homeowners are basically living in their backyard. They love to entertain and now have an amazing place to do so. We d like to thank Kevin for his contribution to our first installment for Pools of Innovation and for being an outstanding customer and building partner.
Pool Finish Industry Trends In the last 10 years, exposed aggregate pool finishes have replaced traditional white or colored plaster, commonly known as marcite, as the number one finish for swimming pools. Today, popular aggregates such as quartz, pebble, and polished marble have become the norm. Durability, longevity, and resistance to chemical abuse are cited as reasons for the change. Homeowner s are looking for beauty, and applicators are looking for workability. A finish needs to have both, and at CL Industries we strive to make products with both the applicator and homeowner in mind. Lately we have seen a rise in specialty accents being combined with the more popular aggregates to create an even more dynamic finish. One of the accents gaining steam is abalone shell. Abalone shells add reflective brilliance to our pool finishes. When applied properly they shimmer and sparkle in the sunlight. Proper application is key to getting the longest life out of this incredible accent. Improper chemical management and bad application techniques can reduce the life of both the finish and the luster of the abalone. Abalone shell is made up of microscopic calcium carbonate. Some applicators add the shell in the mixing process, and that can lead to weak spots and scaling in the finish. Also there is no real need for the abalone to be in the finish below 18 inches. The deeper the water of the pool the less visible the shimmer of the abalone becomes. The abalone really comes to life on steps, sun benches, and walls above 18 inches of water depth. The way to get the longest life out of the abalone shell is for the applicator to broadcast the shell over wet plaster prior to exposure. If the abalone shell is added to the mixer, less of the shell is likely to make it to the surface as well as possibly causing scaling problems in the future. Abalone shell can really enhance the look of your exposed aggregate pool finish. We always recommend to use a licensed authorized applicator to get the longevity you deserve out of any finish.
Product Spotlight PermaKote is a one-part polymer-modified, cement-based coating specially formulated to increase performance and save time during plaster application. Acting as a bonding agent and scratch coat, PermaKote delivers a superb link between properly prepared substrates and new plaster coats. PermaKote eliminates the need for excessive pool substrate preparation such as sand blasting and stripping. More importantly, it provides the even hydration (curing) of plaster applications, which is especially beneficial when applying swimming pool plaster or any cement coating. It is available in both white or gray, and is formulated with state of the art dry admixes that eliminate the use of liquid resins and make application easy, thus saving both time and money. PermaKote is the ideal scratch coat system for commercial and residential swimming pool remodels. Many of our applicators report that with the use of PermaKote they ve eliminated common problems that can occur with remodels such as check cracking. The combination of PermaKote scratch coat and any of CL Industries exposed aggregate finishes will extend the life of your remodeled pool. Jon Temple, CL Industries authorized applicator uses PermaKote on all remodels, and in his training pool in Northeast Florida. Since building our training pool we ve used PermaKote as a scratch coat before applying numerous applications of CL Industries finishes. After exposing the finishes, they re left fully exposed to the harsh Florida climate. From freezes to humid 100 degree days, the finishes have held up great, some for years with no check cracking. We do hundreds of remodels every year, and we use PermaKote on every job during the prep process. I ve never used a better bonding agent or had more success applying exposed aggregate finishes than when we prep a pool with PermaKote.
Employee Spotlight John Zita CL Industries Territory Sales Manger The CL Industries family would like to extend a warm welcome to John Zita, the newest addition to the CL Industries Sales Team. We recently caught up with John at the 2013 NPC show for a little Q&A. 1. What led you to the pool industry? After a career in law enforcement, I was fortunate to start a career in the pool industry. 2. What territory do you cover? I m the Northeast Territory Sales Manager covering Virginia north to Maine. 3. What experience do you bring to the CL Industries sales team? I started my career in 2002 at one of the largest vinyl liner pool builders in New Jersey. I managed the retail operation and gained experience interacting with retail customers. Then I progressed to Customer Service Manager of the largest Global distributor in the swimming pool industry. Within a year I was promoted to Branch Manager then to Zone Manager of a Tile Distribution center 4. What has helped you become so successful in the pool industry? I m a team player, and working together as a team to service customers leads to success. This motto proved successful while I oversaw a full service sales center where I supervised personnel and daily operations of a distribution center. 5. What are some of your goals while working at CL Industries? CL Industries prides themselves on customer service which I feel is my strong suit. I look forward to helping customers find a finish that s right for them because CL Industries has a finish for every pool.
Water Chemistry Tips We want you to get the longest life out of your CL Industries finish. Below are some helpful tips to follow for your new pool finish. Staining Prevention Tips: After your pool is filled, monitor your pools alkalinity, ph, and metals immediately. Do not add any chemical that will raise the ph or alkalinity for the first 48 hours. Brushing the pool 2x a day for 2 weeks will help eliminate blotching, graying, wheel tracks, and streaks. ph bounce can occur through the simple addition of 1/2 inch of rainwater. Safety Tip: Always add chemicals to water never water to chemicals. Consult the comprehensive book Pool Surfaces-Problems and Solutions for more in depth information based on years of field research. Recommended Water Balance Level: Chlorine: 1-3 ppm ph: 7.4-7.6 Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm Calcium Hardness: 200-400 ppm (Exposed aggregates and pigmented plaster under 250ppm) Cyanuric Acid: Under 50 ppm TDs: Under 1200 ppm (no more than 800 over fill)
Behind the Scenes A Finish for Every Pool First Installment, The All-Purpose Pool Our team at CL Industries often has the opportunity to visit some extremely unique and inspiring pools from locations that span the globe. We recently had the chance to work with a pool owner closer to home, that we don t encounter everyday in the midst of our A Finish for Every Pool campaign. The pool owner in reference is none other than Mike Peterson a well known professional skateboarder that resides in Northeast Florida. Mike owns a unique swim/skate combination pool that he had re-surfaced with CL Industries Crystalstones, Majestic Isle natural pebble finish a few years back. One of our Authorized Applicators, Jon Temple recommended the finish to Mike for its durability and longevity. The smooth pebbles also add some extra traction needed for Peterson s lightning fast approach to skateboarding. Since that time, Mike has enjoyed the benefits of the majestic blue water during summer months with his family and training for his professional skateboarding career in the winter with his own backyard facility. If anyone has ever put our finish to the test of durability it has to be Peterson who has logged hundreds of hours of strenuous skateboarding on the finish. This pool application is different than your traditional backyard oasis, but to Mike it is his ultimate haven. As our expedition to this particular pool will show, it is evident that CL Industries has a Finish for Every Pool. See below for a visual behind the scenes tour of the first A Finish for Every Pool shoot, and stay tuned for the video and additional installments.
www.clindustries.com To get updates from our team, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Flickr. Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved.