Expertise: Pools

A personal pool near the Shore can allow for even greater entertainment, accessibility and privacy options than a trip to the beach while still providing that signature getaway feel. It not only improves property value, but also acts as a retreat from the crowds and noise of the busy tourism season. The sand terrain, however, brings along its own unique set of challenges.

House & Home spoke with Bryan Hull, co-owner of Del Val Pools and Spas, about the recent uptick in demand and unique challenges in building a pool down the Shore, the best practices when planning a pool project and ways to maximize the space available for both hosting and relaxing.

How has the need for pools at the Jersey Shore evolved over time?
The Jersey Shore seems to reinvent itself every 20 years or so, and I think that began in the post-WWII building era when so many smaller homes were developed and given nautical names to attract buyers. The homes were small and inexpensive because the attraction was the beach, ocean, bay and salt air.

I remember as a child coming to the outer islands, we would roll down the car windows and stick our heads out to get a whiff of the Shore.

Hurricane Sandy came barreling in October 2012 and changed everything from building codes to real estate usage.

Land's best use now is residential with homes maxing out the lots [and] a strong demand for pools. The ocean and beach attractions are now secondary to the use of one's home. Homes are an oasis in the middle of an island. Most new construction demands pools, and realtors will tell you that houses with pools sell faster and for higher prices. At Del Val Pools and Spas, we are seeing an ever-increasing demand for pools at the Jersey Shore with no sign of letting up.

Is there a difference between building at the Shore versus another part of the state?
Absolutely, at the Shore we are building on sand with a water table that fluctuates with tides and storms. In the center part of the state… we are building pools on stable ground, sometimes even bedrock, with water tables that have been consistent for centuries. At the Shore, constructing a pool is all about how the structure is anchored in multiple points through the use of pilings and strong keels interlaced with rebar steel.

Hurricane Sandy 'popped' a lot of pools out of the sand which were older forms held in place by the weight of the pool water. Many of those prefabricated pools disappeared and are at the bottom of the bay somewhere. New codes, now deemed 'Sandy-proof', require a more extensively engineered pool to prevent that from ever happening again. At Del Val Pools and Spas, we specialize in this type of construction.

How does a homeowner build a pool at the Shore on time and on budget?
Ideally, pool planning begins when new home construction planning begins because pilings can be driven at the same time, saving on costs. Many times, the home pilings become an integral part of the pool construction. That's not the reality most of the time; we are usually constructing pools after the house is built.

To bring in a project on time and on budget requires planning with your Del Val Pools and Spas representative in advance – and the earlier the better as we do not control Mother Nature. What we do control is labor, costs, and schedule because we do ALL our own work. We do not subcontract any aspect of the job, and that is the best way to bring in a project on time and budget.

The third generation of the Hull family is active in the business now, and one thing we've learned is to exceed customer's expectations.

What are some of the more unique features associated with Shore home pools?
Features that promote socialization drive pool construction at the Shore. This includes lighting inside and around the pool, sundecks and swim-up bar counters that are shared space with people outside the pool.

Beaches can be crowded, and many are enjoying the Shore by staying in the privacy of their backyard.

Del Val Pools and Spas custom builds features that facilitate mingling and spending time together. Sun decks are perfect for lounging away in Adirondack chairs in several inches of water. Swim-up bar counters allow those in and out of the pool to hang out. That's what it's really all about – spending time together and making memories.

Del Val Pools and Spas
4431 Route 42
Blackwood, NJ
(856) 629-2999
DelValPoolsAndSpas.com

Published (and copyrighted) in Luxury Living Special Edition,
published by House & Home, Volume 24, Issue 10 (August 2024)
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