Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May you always have...
Walls for the winds
A roof for the rain
Tea beside the fire
Laughter to cheer you
Those you love near you
And all your heart might desire.

"8 Irish Blessings - Irish Blessings for Luck." - Beliefnet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013.

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day from your friends at Hilltop Pools & Spas

 

Swimming Pools: The Importance of Having a Plat or Survey

WHY DO I NEED A COPY OF A PLAT OR SURVEY BEFORE A SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION CONSULTATION?

 

 

This blog post will be very informative to those considering the purchase of a home with the idea of installing a swimming pool in the future. Many potential customers ask for our assistance before purchasing a home to make certain their new home will accommodate a pool. We are here to help, but in order for us to do so, this is what you will need and the questions you should ask before purchasing a home:

  

• Is the home on sewer or septic tank? If the home is on septic tank, where are the lines and tank located? A copy of the septic drawing can be obtained from your local environmental health office. If the lines run through the backyard, there will be an expense to move the system. Ask LOTS of questions and if possible, hire professionals to assess the situation before purchasing the home. Most jurisdictions require no construction to be within 20 feet of the septic tank and lines. Also, you must have a reserve area if the system were to fail in its current location. We have seen instances where a system cannot be relocated even though the home buyer was told this was an option!

  

• You must obtain a copy of the survey or plat before purchasing the home. Your realtor should be able to obtain these documents for you. If for some reason the current homeowner does not have a copy of the plat or survey, a copy can be obtained from the tax assessor’s office in your county. Never buy a house without looking at the plat or survey and the septic drawing.

  

• Once you have a copy of the plat or survey, please be on the lookout for notations like drainage easements, build lines, flood zones, river corridors, wetlands, etc., especially in the back yard. All of these items could possibly prevent you from being able to build a pool. We can look at these professional documents as well and can advise you about building a pool.

  

• As mentioned in the opening paragraph, we are frequently asked to evaluate homes and home sites for potential purchasers. We cannot "guarantee" you can construct a pool without first seeing a copy of the plat or survey! We can look at a yard and believe that it is satisfactory for a pool, when in fact, there is an easement running through the center of the back yard that is not visible to the eye. We have seen this happen MANY times. Please do your due diligence and obtain these documents first to make your purchase as positive and accurate as possible.

  

• The items above can also apply to potential Hilltop customers looking to build a pool in their current home. We ask each customer if they can provide a plat or survey as this is essential for your initial visit.

 

Also, many of our current customers have learned this the hard way, so feel free to comment and provide your input. :-)

  

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

 

Sincerely,

 

Your Friends at

Hilltop Pools and Spas, Inc.
www.hilltoppools.com
770-471-3889


www.kudzu.com

Hilltop Pools Concrete and Vinyl Specials

Here are our March specials for St. Patrick's Day. 

Contact us today for these exclusive deals.  770-471-3889.

What Pool Builder Should I Use?

Many think that choosing a pool builder is the hardest part of the process of building a swimming pool, but if you do a bit of research you can become an informed consumer and find just the right contractor for your project.

One of the first things you should check is if the builder holds a business license in your area.  This always makes me think of the TV commercial showing the doctor using a jack hammer.  This is not good!  In this difficult economy there are those that throw a shovel in the back of their pick-up and call themselves pool builders.  You should be very aware of this.   Also, confirm that your builder has the proper liability and worker’s compensation insurances to cover you and his workers. 

A builder not only needs to know how to dig a hole and fill it with cement, but they need to know about permitting.  Every county has different criteria to obtain a permit for building a pool.   They need to know about pool design, the actual construction and the all important inspections. 

Be sure to check how long the company has been in business.  You will want to find a builder who has been around for a while, one who has a proven track record and customer references to back up their work.  Look for a builder who has a physical location.  Some where you can go to see photos of their work and to pick out your selections of tile, coping, interior finishes, etc.  You don’t want a company that only exists on the Internet.  As they say, brick and mortar stores are solid companies that will stand behind their work.  Not disappear into thin air or cyberspace.  Does the owner have strong ties to the area or can they take your money and run? 

You want a company that is both morally and fiscally responsible.  Check with your local Better Business Bureau to make sure that they haven’t started jobs to then disappear and start up under another name in another locale. 

Check out the warranties that the company offers.  Do they back them in writing?  Long gone are the days of handshake contracts, get it in writing!  When reading over the proposal, look at the proposed progress payments.  Many companies require vast amounts up front and run out of money toward the end of a job to pay their sub-contractors and material vendors.  Making them delay the finish till they get another contract.  This is like robbing Paul to pay Peter.  In the long run, the consumer loses. 

However, a good builder will be one who has a solid background, working under a constant ownership with all the proper licenses and insurances.  Hilltop Pools and Spas, Inc. is that builder.  They have been in business since 1976 with the same name, owner and location.  Check out what their customers are saying on Kudzu.com.  Then call them for the best pool experience.

 

Hilltop Pools and Spas, Inc.

770-471-3889

www.hilltoppools.com

 

 

Happy Ground Hog Day!

Groundhog Day is approaching and if the cute little guy doesn’t see his shadow, pool weather will soon be here.

The East Coast has two very celebrated forecasters, Punxsutawney Phil who lives in PA and General Beauregard Lee from GA. But just how did these guys get their esteem positions? First of all they are simple mammals from the squirrel family (Marmota Monax).

The groundhog is thought to be an honorable ancestor of the Delaware Indians who settled in Punxsutawney, PA in 1723. In the 1700’s the Germans settled in this ventral area of PA bringing with them their holiday of Candlemas. This was the day the priest would bless the candles. Candlemas Day was celebrated half way between Winter and Spring. The weather was an important part of everyday life back then and various celebrations were held to ensure a good season for growing crops.

Starting in the 1840’s residents noticed the groundhog would emerge from his winter hibernation. If he was scared by his shadow he would scurry back into his burrow and winter would continue. The Northeast has Punxsutawney Phil. Phil lives in the local library in a climate-controlled home dining on dog food and ice cream. During recorded history Phi9l has seen his shadow 100 times, not seen it 16 times and was a no show 9 times.

His Southern cousin General Beauregard Lee has quite a different lifestyle. “Beau”, as he is lovingly referred to, resides in a beautiful white-columned Southern mansion nestled in the Yellow River Game Ranch of Stone Mountain. His home is said to also include a water fountain, granite monument, sundial, doormat and of course a mail box to answer all his fan mail.

Beau’s education is well rounded and he holds two degrees, one from UGA, DWP-Doctor of Weather Prognostication. The other a Doctor of Southern Groundology from Georgia State University.

He has made several appearances on television including the Today Show during the Democratic convention and Animal Planet. Despite all the fame and educational awards, Beau is quite down to earth. He is very sociable and loves to chat with those who speak groundhogese.

If you had the chance to sit and chat with him on Twitter and Facebook he would tell you how important it is to find the right pool builder. Just like many humans, he always gets online and checks out reviews on Kudzu.com and the Better Business Bureau.

Hilltop Pools and Spas, Inc. agrees with Beau in doing your research to insure you receive the best quality and workmanship for your money. Beau knows that not all pools are created equal and “the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price.”

So be sure to do your homework, check out the others then check Hilltop Pools (www.hilltoppools.com).

Call them today to find out about their latest specials. 770-471-3889

Kudzu Best Of 2012 Award - Hilltop Pools

We are very excited and honored to have won Kudzu's Best of 2012 Award!  

Happy New Year!!!!

With the ending of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, our hopes and dreams are renewed.  Once the merry making is over and we get back into our normal daily life, it is time to think of the resolutions we have made.

You may have wondered when the tradition of setting a New Year’s Resolution began.  The tradition began with the Babylonians in pre-Christian years.  During this time the Romans took to making moral resolutions in hopes everyone would be kinder to each other.  However, when Christianity became the official religion in the 4^th century, the resolutions were substituted by fasting and prayers.

During this time on January 1^st, the Christians observed the Feast of the Circumcision and did not partake of the merriment enjoyed by non Christians, who at the time were honoring the pagan god Janus.  (January is in fact named after Janus.)

When the Puritans came on the scene they avoided the overindulgence of the New Year and actually called January “First Month” thus avoiding using the name of the pagan god Janus.  The Puritans further encouraged their children to use the beginning of the New Year to reflect on events of the prior year and consider the year ahead.  This brought back the tradition of making New Year’s Resolutions.

The Hilltop Pools and Spas family also looks back on the past year being thankful for the health and safety of our family and friends.  We look forward to meeting new people and expanding our circle of friends.  Our hope and wish is that everyone finds love and peace in the coming year.

We resolve to give you the best value for your money.  Give us a call today to hear about our current money saving specials.  Why not make your dream of a private backyard oasis a reality this year?

Hilltop Pools and Spas, Inc.

770-471-3889

www.hilltoppools.com