What sort of Written Guarantee do they offer?

A few pool companies seem to be giving misleading indications of how durable their product is likely to be - like telling you they have a "Lifetime Guarantee".

OXFORD ENGISH DICTIONARY:
"The duration of a person (or Animal's) Life; the period of time over which a person's life extends"

Unfortunately, a lifetime expectation of a product by the Purchaser is often completely different from the intentions of the Seller!

Unless the length of the term "lifetime" is specifically explained, or telling you that some items are "guaranteed by the Manufacturer" is simply incorrect and misleading. In New Zealand, the "Guarantee" must be provided by the person who sold you the product. NOT the Manufacturer.

Fortunately, New Zealanders are protected by the Consumer Guarantees Act.
This Act of Parliament says goods or product must have a lifetime "Fit for purpose". Often that is considered to be relative to the price paid: A swimming pool is on the "high side" of costs - often exceeding $50,000 or more. So the lifetime expectation would be in the higher numbers. Cheap items carry a "less cost - less warranty".

As "Lifetime" is a non-specific term unless combined with a known item or creature, it is otherwise meaningless in terms of their "Fit for purpose" expectation.

To many Kiwis, the word "lifetime" naively means "forever" or at least as long as a "normal human lifetime".
Be absolutely clear what the Seller's intention of "Lifetime" actually is and what is included. And get it in writing, preferrably signed by the owner of the pool company or other qualified person (should a Law Suit follow)

Cascade’s more than 50 year history affords us "Fit for Purpose" confidence in our 50 YEAR LIFETIME "expectation" for the concrete shell, and 30 YEAR LIFETIME "expectation" for the pool Liner providing the Statement of Complience implied by our POOL OWNERS MANUAL'S WARRANTY FORM and instructions of correct maintenance for these products are FAITHFULLY followed..

Are they a Member of a Pool Industry Association?


Dealing with pool people who are NOT MEMBERS of a Trade Association, leaves you with no-one to talk to if things go pear-shaped. Association Members must be Experienced, meet a Strict Standard of Workmanship, and Financial responsibility.

Pool Builders who belong to their specific Trade Association indicates responsibility to both their Clients and Swimming Pool Industry. Check out the NZ Pool Industry Association Inc. by clicking their Logo (above)..

Cascade staff and installers are Builder Members of the NZ Pool Industry Association.

What kinds of after-sales services do they offer?

This is important: Unless you are familiar with operating a home swimming pool, you need someone to help you when things "go wrong". Many Pool Companies do not offer a free "after-sale" service.

Cascade's commitment to its Customers is a prompt Client response by telephone or email, and assistance with any issues or questions that may arise with the pool, including unlimited on-site training sessions for new pool owners and education about how much easier a FRESHWATER pool is to operate than all the others, as Freshwater pools require less mainenance than Chlorine pools.

 

Are they Specialist or Certified pool installers?

Trade Certification is quite important in this Industry, as maintaining a swimming pool can be quite complex. Knowing how to treat a pool that has "gone all green" is vital, unless you are prepared for the extra cost of your local Pool Shop service.
If your Builder is Certified, they will take care of all these initial issues - at no cost. Many CASCADE employee pool builders have completed the NZPIA Diploma in Pool Technology Course plus all of our Franchisee installers are Certified Builder Members of the NZPIA as well as being comprehensively trained and Certified by Cascade

 

What kind of water sterilisation do they recommend - many say that SALT is good?
Many confuse a "SALT" pool as being different to a "CHLORINE" pool.
THEY ARE THE SAME !
SALT (Sodium Chloride) MAKES CHLORINE!

 

Saline (Salt) systems, WHILE VERY POPULAR are Hard Work!
Be prepared to drag heavy bags of salt into the pool throughout Summer!
Every time it rains, or you need to "top up" your pool, the saline level is reduced.
Electrolosis of Salt creates HIGH pH (pH10 - 12) HYPOCHOLORITE (BLEACH pH 14) and HIGH (pH14) NASTY SODIUM HYDROXIDES in the pool WHICH REQUIRE ADDITIONAL POOL CHEMICALS TO LOWER THE pH.

pH is KING!
Chlorine has NO DISINFECTIVE VALUE in pool water over pH 8.0

SALINE DEVICES - while common - are outdated by more than 50 years progress in the field of home swimming pool sanitisation, and only account for 65% sterilisation, and do NOT kill Cryptosporidium, Giardia or other CoronaVirus common air-born bacteria types.
Look here: http://www.cascade.co.nz/SaltWater2023.htm

We strongly recommend ozone!

 

What iS ozone, and how does it work?

ozone is SOMETHING BETTER:

iF YOU LIVE IN A CITY OR LARGE TOWN, YOUR WATER SUPPLY WILL BE STERILISED WITH OZONE - ALSO KNOWN AS O3 or "ACTIVATED OXYGEN" BECAUSE IT KILLS ALL KNOWN PATHOGENS AND BACTERIA - SOME OF WHICH EMANATE FROM THE REAR END OF BIRDS

Cascade's EXCLUSIVE Aquagenie/Prozone water sterilisation system is streets ahead of all the others in terms of keeping your pool clean and safe.

CASCADE POOLS have been fitted with OZONE sterilisation for nearly twentyfive years!
With spectacular results!

Why would you want an obsolete product when OZONE has been available for 2 decades?

MANY pool companies still use FIFTY-YEAR OLD TECHNOLOGY i.e. Chlorine and/or other Salt Water systems that only account for 65% sterilisation, and do NOT kill Cryptosporidium, Giardia or others including the CoronaVirus (Covid-19) and other common air-born bacteria types that can affect your family of swimmers.

With OZONE, there are no more "Chlorine Smells", bleached swimming suits, green hair, having to shower after each swimming session,
or constant checking the pH and purchasing corrective chemical costs!
Simply Swim in Chlorine-Free Water! OZONE!

 

Are their pool designs up-to-date and produced by a Reputable Structural Engineer?

 

 

CASCADE'S STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Mehmed Hasanbegovic - and his company MH Design Limited has worked with Cascade for more than twenty years. They have Designed AND Engineered more than a THOUSAND 21ST CENTURY "ULTIMATE RANGE" Cascade SOLAR HEATED FRESHWATER pools - ADDING TO OUR PREVIOUS FOURTEEN THOUSAND CLASSIC MODEL POOLS and TEN THOUSAND REFURBS MAKING A TOTAL OF NEARLY TWENTY-IVE THOUSAND CASCADE SWIMMING POOLS!

 

Do their pool designs take advantage of New Zealand's unique weather conditions?

 

Yes, in conjunction with MH Design Limited Cascade's advanced SOLAR HEATED FRESHWATER pools are the only ones that take advange of our long sunny periods by fully insulating the pool to trap the sun's heat for the warmest pools on the block - which means the longest swimming season of all the others,

And the massive Groundwater Circular Drainage installation every CASCADE pool includes, which diverts water into the Aquafer when the rains come!

 

Do they have an itemised and clear English Sale & Purchased Agreement?

 

Cascade has a comprehensive Approved Agreement that spells out everything that we (you and us) agree on, and what will be performed by each of us. Not much Legal Jumbo - just straight-forward Terms and Conditions

 

Do their Payment Terms include a LARGE Deposit - LIKE $15,000 or MORE!

Cascade does not agree with pool companies taking large deposits when no work has been, or will not be, done immediately: We have a NO DEPOSIT system, where nothing is paid on the pool construction UNTIL THE WORK START STARTS, and our Progress Payment schedule is equitable to both sides (i.e. neither side has the advantage over the other).
Some costs (i.e. Engineering Design and Council Fees) are due "up front" but these are minimal.

 

 

Where can I see Customer References or Testimonials?
Click this link:

http//www.cascade.co.nz/TestimonialsR1.html

Are they able to you show their past client's pools?

Cascade will find a client's pool close to you that matches your desires, and in most cases, our pool owners are fine with us bringing a prospective client to talk to them and discuss their "pool experience" with Cascade

Have they mentioned the "Hidden Costs" that might not be budgeted for?

All reputable pool companies will inform you of all the potential pool project costs at the initial quotation stage - not just the pool.
There are many items that are not "EXTRAS" but "REQUIREMENTS" that could be extra 'hidden cost' cost items.
Here are a few:

Excavation & Soil removal, and possibly delivery and crane costs for fibreglass pools may not be included on the quote.
Compliant Pool Fencing is essential before filling the pool, and the Council will not sign off the Building Approval
until the pool fence and backwash drainage are inspected and are Compliant.

A concrete slab for the pool filtration and associated equipment is needed - and of course sufficient available water to fill the pool.
Separate to the backwash line (where fitted) adequate site drainage is essential to guard against hydrostatic flooding ...
- which could catastrophically damage some pools.

The written swimming pool quotation should typically include standard swimming pool features such as a water Skimmer/Filter recirculation system, some form of water sterilisation, a pool cover, several LED pool lights, and a pool Water Heater of some sort.
Some pool companies may include an Automatic Pool Cleaner at no extra cost.

Then there are the Council Compliance Costs:
A Site Survey may be requested to locate Boundary Pegs, a Current Certificate of Title, Drafting of Site Plans,
Engineering design and structural calculations, then Producer's Statements (PS1, PS2, PS3 & PS4) required by most Councils
- as well as their own Fees for processing the Applications and providing the Building Approval.
In complex pool installations and landscaping, a Project Manager is required, but not commonly.

Underground issues, like unstable ground, uncompacted fill, hitting rock, ground-water ingress,
inconveniently located sewer and storm-water pipes, and other underground obstacles
will require budgetary consideration. Usually, separate quotations will be required.

These all add up!

Make sure that EVERY COST is disclosed and up front!
If possible Quotations or Estimates are provided so you can include them in you budget.
Nevertheless, there may be times that unexpected costs are incurred that either your or the pool builder anticipated

Will the pool builder handle the others involved in having a pool built, like the Council?

Cascade will take care of these requirements:

Arranging and negotiating excavation and soil removal quotes, fencing and decking or concrete paving quotes will be organised by Cascade on your behalf. A Project Manager is sometimes required, but most people are capable enough to make a few follow-up telephone calls, once the agreement over responsibilities are in place.

Cascade designs include a number of unique features and innovations that no other pool company can match .....