We are providing this guide as a reference to ensure that you receive the best swimming pool finish for your personal water feature, be it a pool, spa or fountain when you decide to build or renovate. The person supplying you with this information has also found it relevant that you receive this guide as you make your decision to grant him or her the project, and finds it important to offer a quality product such as Diamond Brite®. So, how do you ensure that you are getting genuine Diamond Brite® exposed aggregate pool finish? Following these simple steps can ensure your project receives the proper care and attention to detail necessary for a long lasting product:
Selecting a water and finish color
Whether you prefer the sparkling waves of the tropics, the cool, still waters of a mountain lake, or a storm front over the depths of the ocean, SGM, Inc. has a water color to suit your design. Make your pool, spa, or water feature true to the environment you envision with the variety of water shades available. Choose a tone and a mood to find the perfect color for your swimming pool, spa, or water feature. Visit our
Water Color Gallery to find your perfect shade among the Light Blue, Teal/Green, Medium Blue, Gray, Dark Blue and Black water colors from our new
Diamond Brite® Jewels series
, Diamond Brite® Watercolor series, our
Diamond Brite® line of pool finishes, the natural pebble finishes from
River Rok®, Durazzo™ polished marble finishes, and
Ultra Pearl Brite™ high performance finishes.
The depth of your pool will also factor into your color selection. The water on a sun shelf, beach entry or steps will have a much lighter color than the deep end of your pool. Blue toned water will be achieved by using pool finishes with a base color of white, blue or gray. Blue-green toned water can be achieved with green, tan, black or brown bases. One other item to remember is that light finishes will keep the pool water cooler, while darker finishes absorb and hold the heat keeping the pool water warmer.
Choosing an applicator for your pool
An important decision to make when building a new pool or renovating an existing poolscape, is who to choose for the project. Builders, contractors, designers and other industry professionals would be able to make recommendations on people they have worked with and trust to do a great job. Checking with your neighbors, friends and relatives for their input on builders/applicators could be beneficial too, or use our on-line locator to find a
factory trained applicator in your area. In addition, ask for photos of finished poolscapes the applicators have done, visit their social pages and contact references so you can make sure they are the right applicator for your project.
Factory Trained Certificate
Always request a manufacturer’s Factory Training Certificate, which will verify their familiarity with SGM pool finishes. It is also recommended to ask for the builder and/or applicator’s insurance and other state backed license information prior to hiring a contractor for any home improvement job. Check with the appropriate consumer agencies to make sure their license and insurance is up to date and valid.
Obtain a written contract
Request bids from at least two builders/applicators for your upcoming pool, spa or deck project. This will allow you to compare pricing and what is included in the cost. Make sure your bid does not include open ended statements such as, “Diamond Brite® or other exposed aggregate finish” or “exposed aggregate finish”. This can and does lead to substitution of other (sometimes inferior) products. Avoid product substitutions by asking specifically for the SGM brand finish and color of your choice by name, for example: “Diamond Brite® Cool Blue”. Ask the bidding companies how many bags of the finish will be applied. Proper Diamond Brite® coverage is 22 square feet of surface per 80lb. bag needed, it could be a sign they do not plan to use enough material for the job or that an inferior brand will be applied. Always have a written contract outlining the scope of your project, pricing for material and labor, number of people assigned, what services are included, pool finish batch numbers, work schedule and payment terms prior to any work being started.
Be on-site for installation
Visually confirm that genuine Diamond Brite® is on your job site. Many competitors have attempted to copy Diamond Brite® colors and even names, but none can match our unequaled quality and superior proprietary formulation. Look for our distinctly branded SGM bags. SGM labels all products during the manufacturing process and test all products before they are shipped to distributors. Take photos of the bag labels with the finish color showing, this label will include the finish batch number for your records. The batch number will be located under the bar code in the lower right corner of the label.
Demand your warranty
The pool finish warranty is held with SGM, not the applicator. So if there is an issue with the product and not the application and/or maintenance, you will be covered. It is important to note all batch numbers used on the project and list them on the warranty. This may include Bond Kote® product if the application is a renovation/refinish. Please note the batch number for Bond Kote® will be different from the pool finish batch number. Registering your SGM pool, spa or deck finish is simple – it protects your investment and also ensures efficient warranty service. Your Builder/Applicator will be able to provide you with the information needed to complete the online warranty. If you have a finish color that is not listed in the online warranty choices, contact your Builder or Applicator to ensure that you received a SGM pool, spa or deck finish and not an alternative. Please fill out the
on-line warranty form within 30 days of installation and you will receive a copy of your extended warranty to download and/or print for your files.
Why does the water look different than expected?
There are many factors that influence the final pool water color including: your point of view, pool depth, time of day or night, sun exposure, lighting placement, trees and landscaping, decking material and water features such fountains, bubblers, waterfalls, deck jets, etc. Water chemistry and filtration can also affect the water color. These variations in color are considered a normal enhancement to your pool water.
Using your new or newly renovated pool
We recommend that you wait until the pool is completely finished, filled and that the water is chemically balanced to start enjoying it, typically three days. Click here for
complete water chemistry and initial fill information
.
Following some, if not all of these tips, will not only ensure that you get Diamond Brite®, but that you get the quality, performance, and value that have made Diamond Brite® the industry standard. Answers to additional pool maintenance questions will be found on our FAQs page. Please feel free to learn more about Diamond Brite® on our website, and to learn about the many other quality products that SGM manufactures. These tips can be also applied when purchasing SGM’s other pool finish brands – River Rok®, Durazzo™ and Ultra Pearl Brite™.