104 | Making a splash NZ wide Distinction Pools builds concrete pools, with 90% of these built using Shotcrete, a method of applying concrete by spraying. Distinction Pools T T Sue Russell POOL INDUSTRY Josh Dalton has been in and around building since the age a young age, developing his skills to the point where, for the last 20 years, he exclusively built high-end residences. “As we were producing detail oriented houses, we found a real gap in the market for a pool builder that had the same attention to detail that we applied to our builds so we started building our own pools as part of the builds we were doing,” Josh explains. Another direct benefit of shifting to building their own pools was control of the build-sequencing. It didn’t take long before, after a couple of pools built for clients, more work came, by word-of-mouth. “While we have been building pools for over 15 years It’s actually only been in the past 18 months that we have stopped doing residential work completely instead concentrating solely on pools.” While based in Auckland, projects can extend over the country, with pools completed in Queenstown, they are about to start projects in the Hawke’s Bay, Waipu and Millbrook. “Right now we have five people working with us, but industry-wide there is a definite shortage of reliable, skilled workers.” Because Josh has come from a building background, having trained apprentices, he’s in the perfect position to train those new to the industry, that show a genuine interest and a good work ethic, however finding young people carrying this is not always easy. “I get a great deal of satisfaction from working alongside someone who is keen to learn and see them evolve into skilled tradesman.” Technologies and systems that maintain a pool in pristine condition have become more sophisticated, resulting in products that are now far more effective, requiring less maintenance. And while acknowledging that he is not an architect, all the years Josh has had working in the high-end space has resulted in a very good eye for detail and the capability of offering clients design-like services. Clients tend to fall into two categories, Josh says. First, there are those who have gone to a an architect or pool designer and knock on his door with a complete set of drawings and the site all worked out. The second group are those who want a pool but have absolutely no idea where to start. “They don’t know, what they don’t know, so I ask them to show me images of pools they like and to explain why. This helps ground the beginning of what they are looking for and then we can assess whether its feasible for the site and budget.” Distinction Pools builds concrete pools, with 90% of these built using Shotcrete, a method of applying concrete by spraying into place with a specialised Pneumatic pump. Shotcrete is very different to regular concrete in that it is considerably “stiffer” allowing only the need for a single side of shuttering to be used with the interior of the pool to be “hand” shaped to the desired contours. “Shotcrete can be difficult to work with but luckily we work with some of the best Shotcrete guys around.” Josh recalls some wonderful pools he’s built, including one in Remuera, designed by Fearon Hay Architects, Auckland which had a gorgeous knife-edge stone detail slope at the top of the pool and spa, with an automated pool cover that retracts into the floor of the deep end and out of site. A project Josh is excited about starting he describes as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’. At 28m long and 4.5m wide, the pool will be home to nearly 400m2 of beautiful mosaic tiles, an integrated infinity edge design, spa pool, fire pit and a 7.5m wide tanning shelf. “This is a Studio John Irving design and will be absolutely stunning when completed.” Asked about how 2024 will play out Josh says they have consistent work enough for the foreseeable future. “Most of our work is personal recommendation or building for past clients, so its very satisfying to experience this demand. We know our standard of work and attention to detail speaks for itself.” 021 123 86 72 mario@artisanstoneandtile.co.nz www.artisanstoneandtile.co.nz • Interior / Exterior Tiling • Swimming Pools • Stone Cladding SERVICES: Proudly Supporting Distinction Pools Swimming pool & landscape construction materials Proudly supporting Distinction Pools www.ssld.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=