Meet The Pool Builders – Issue 16
Aquastone Pools & Landscapes
Aquastone Pools & Landscapes was established in 1996 by brothers Gavin and Scott Bazley, who learned the trade of pool building from their accomplished father. The two are now qualified pool builders who share more than 55 years of combined industry experience.
“We have achieved many awards over the years, which we are very proud of,” says Gavin. “But [the] most satisfying [achievement] of all is when we get to build a second or third pool for a client. It speaks volumes when we have repeat business from happy customers.”
Since its beginning, Aquastone Pools & Landscapes has built approximately 300–400 pools in the Sydney metropolitan area, and the number of projects it completes annually continues to grow.
“We have also grown in terms of staff,” says Gavin. As directors of the company, Gavin and Scott deeply value the tremendous contribution of longstanding employees Steve Kennedy-O’Brien and Alan Lawson, who are qualified in landscaping and greenkeeping.
“Steve Kennedy-O’Brien started with us 17 years ago, fresh out of school,” says Gavin. “He has completed his trade with us and is now overseeing and managing jobs.” With a qualification in greenkeeping, Lawson has been with the company for almost 15 years, and is
also responsible for overseeing and managing jobs.
In addition to a young apprentice and an office manager, Aquastone Pools & Landscapes also relies on the strong working relationships it has formed with its contractors, most of which have worked with the company for 15–20 years. “It’s great to have reputable contractors that we see as being part of our team,” says Gavin. “It’s important to have contractors that you can trust and have confidence in the quality of their work.”
Aquastone Pools & Landscapes is a member of the Swimming Pool & Spa Association (SPASA) and the Master Builders Association (MBA), and has cultivated a standout reputation due to its personalised, hands-on approach. “We [oversee] every job, and the customer has a direct line of contact to us at all times,” says Gavin. “We keep our clients up to date at every stage of the job and pride ourselves on the personable aspect of our business.
“We custom design every pool we build to suit the owner’s backyard, and to maximise their space and living area.”
One of Aquastone Pools & Landscapes’ most impressive projects (pictured below) involved a suspended pool that extended directly from the clients’ balcony. “It was built completely out of
the ground, but when looking at it from the balcony it looks as though it’s an in-ground pool,” explains Gavin. The design preserves the level backyard area so the owners’ children have somewhere to play and kick a ball.
“This is the service we offer our clients – we visit their homes and suggest what can be done, instead of just doing what is the easiest option,” says Gavin. “We are in a unique position to be able to offer a complete package, which customers seem to appreciate as there is only one set of trades to deal with on-site.”
The staff members at Aquastone Pools & Landscapes frequently receive positive feedback from clients, which they find incredibly rewarding. “We are adding value to their lives by making their home one to enjoy!” says Gavin.
For Aquastone Pools & Landscapes, the future of the pool construction industry appears bright. “[With] the amount of construction going on in and around Sydney, it seems that people understand and appreciate the value of their home so much at the moment,” says Gavin.
“By adding a beautiful pool and outdoor entertaining area to [your] home, it’s something that [you] will enjoy now, and continue to enjoy for years to come!”
Artesian Pools
Based in Peakhurst, Artesian Pools completes most of its projects in Sydney and occasionally extends its service reach to regional areas.
Artesian Pools was established in April 1994 by company director Zeb (Eusebio) Rodrigues, who worked from home at the time. The company has since grown into an expert team of specialist engineers, plumbers, tilers, renderers, pool technicians, tradespeople and an apprentice.
“Our foreman Manuel has been with us for more than five years and recently his son Daniel also joined the company,” says Lisa George, the administrator of Artesian Pools.
“We also work with contractors who do formwork, steel fixing, concrete spraying, timber decking and pergolas,” she says. “We have been working with most of these specialist contractors for 10–20 years.”
Artesian Pools has built more than 300 pools over the years and completed countless renovation projects. The team continues to grow in size, skill and scope. “We like to employ apprentices to [assist with training] new people for the pool building industry,” says George.
“We also like to keep up to date with new equipment and products [so that we continue] to evolve and can offer our clients the best options available.”
Rodrigues oversees every project in its entirety, and George says the team is flourishing in its current size and structure. “We don’t employ salespeople and [we] limit the number of pools we build each year,” she says. “Our focus is on quality, not quantity.”
As society grows more environmentally conscious, Artesian Pools has responded to a significant rise in the popularity of energysaving features. “[We] are installing more Remco Australia pool covers, solar heating and energysaving pool equipment,” says George.
In addition to its long list of prestigious accolades, Artesian Pools won the Lap Pools and Residential Spas categories at the 2016 MBA Excellence in Pool awards. In 2013 and 2014, the company won the Water Features Open Price and Traditional Or Geometric Concrete Pools $50,001–$100,000 categories respectively.
As a member of the MBA of New South Wales,
Artesian Pools is kept up to date with the latest building legislation.
When asked how the team would use unlimited budget and resources to create something that’s never been seen before, George says “it would be great to be able to combine all the best ideas from the pools we have built over the years and build a pool in the perfect location to look like an amazing water feature, but be fully automated.”
The team takes great satisfaction in building amazing pools from plans on paper. “A great part of the job is meeting or exceeding the customer’s expectations and [receiving] their feedback when the project is finished,” says George. “The industry is continuing to grow and pool design is changing to suit the different way we live.”
Artesian Pools is excited to be part of a flourishing industry that has evolved to focus on integrating pool design with the modern-day lifestyle. “We are building a lot more pools in smaller spaces or incorporating them into the house design,” says George.
Crystal Pools
Based in Thornleigh, Crystal Pools has cultivated a stellar reputation for building quality in-ground concrete swimming pools.
In its early days, the company introduced sprayed-concrete pool construction to Australia. Since its inception in 1957, the company has built more than 20,000 residential pools and expanded into the commercial sector, with more than 1000 commercial pools to its name.
The sales and marketing manager at Crystal Pools, Andrew Rothery, says the company’s unparalleled expertise is what sets it apart from the rest. “Having a commercial pools division provides a much greater range of expertise than
other companies,” he says. “From plunge pools to Olympic pools… any style or design you can imagine, chances are we’ve built it!”
Most members of the Crystal Pools staff possess extensive experience in the construction industry. “We have staff members that have been with Crystal Pools for up to 20 years and some of our subcontractors have been here for more than 40 years,” says Rothery.
With 220 major awards to its name, the company has been continually recognised at the MBA awards, Hills Building & Design awards and SPASA awards at a state, national and international level.
Crystal Pools has observed a trend among homeowners towards environmentally friendly features and automation. “The [rising] interest in smart technologies – [which] allow you to completely control pool-management remotely – has increased tenfold in the past five years,” says Rothery.
The company anticipates a bright future for the industry and will continue to build pools of superior quality throughout the greater Sydney Basin in the years to come. “[Increasingly], people are building pools in their backyards to keep the children entertained,” observes Rothery.
Narellan Pools Northern Sydney & Sydney City
Narellan Pools Northern Sydney & Sydney City is synonymous with professionalism, quality results, excellent communication and value for money. The company’s manufacturer has been an industry powerhouse for nearly 50 years.
Narellan Pools Northern Sydney & Sydney City was established nine years ago by brothers Matt and Tim Ranieri. “Prior to that, Tim [had] installed nearly 400 pools for the Narellan Pools manufacturer as an employee, and I owned and ran a labour-hire business,” says Matt, who is the director of the franchise. In its first year, the two-man team built 28 pools while working from their home in Curl Curl.
With a reputation for innovation, Narellan Pools Northern Sydney & Sydney City installs state-of-the-art retractable hardcovers, freestanding pools for sloping sites, in-floor cleaning systems and MagnaPool mineral filtration systems. The company performs personalised site evaluations and consultations, and will manage the approval process, installation and construction of your pool. The team also provides post-construction services and assistance.
Ranieri believes the company’s wealth of experience sets it apart from the rest; with a staff of 17 highly skilled professionals,
Narellan Pools Northern Sydney & Sydney City “installs 200 pools per year and [that number is] growing”. In total, the team has built more than 1200 pools. Both owners have been in the industry for more than 18 years each. “[We have] received SPASA awards and have been state finalists at the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) Excellence in Franchising Awards twice,” says Ranieri. The team has received many additional awards within its network, including Franchise Of The Year, which Matt considers “a real honour, considering how many pool builders are in our network and the quality of those builders”.
The local business has an intrinsic knowledge of the council parameters for house construction, which enables it to integrate indoor and outdoor living areas with pool areas seamlessly. “We often win jobs where other builders have said [pool construction] is not possible,” says Matt.
The Narellan Pools Northern Sydney & Sydney City office and warehouse space is located in Balgowlah in the Northern Beaches, where the business originated. The expert team of builders, pool plumbers, pool installers, consultants, draftspeople and landscapers services the Northern Beaches, North Shore, Inner West and Eastern Suburbs.
For ultimate peace of mind, the family-owned and -run company offers a 25-year warranty.
It is ISO-certified, and a member of SPASA, the FCA and HIA. “[These industry bodies] are authorities in the swimming pool industry, franchising industry and housing industry, and can help effect positive change through the power of lobbying and association,” explains Matt. In addition to the reassurance these organisations afford homeowners, “they are a good resource of information and support”.
Matt finds great fulfillment in working with families to navigate budget, approvals and time constraints for a final product that exceeds expectations. “The industry has a strong future [because pool construction] ties in with family enjoyment, home renovation, lifestyle, health and well-being,” he says. “Further innovations will include greater automation, and reduced running and heating costs.”
With the aim to become the first-choice pool builder for Sydneysiders, Narellan Pools Northern Sydney & Sydney City plans to expand its services and grow as a business in the coming years.
“There is no job too difficult [for Narellan Pools Sydney & Sydney City] and we welcome all enquiries,” says Matt. “Whether the project is at the early planning stages or already approved, we provide friendly and reliable advice, and professional building services. For an obligation free site assessment, call us on 1300 GO POOL.”
