Fibreglass is taking over

Press, 22 October 1980, Page 13

Fibreglass is taking over

Graeme McCaw, Ltd, a company specialising in fibreglass construction, has moved in the last fortnight to the new industrial estate off Wairakei Road.

At its old address in Waterloo Road, the company’s main line, until four years ago, was custom-built yachts and launches. This included an 8m trailer-sailer and a sail-powered fishing boat now working successfully out of Kaikoura. Then, in 1976, the company was approached by Bermuda Pools and diversified into swimming pool production. When Bermuda pulled out of Christchurch, McCaw’s bought the pool moulds and continued production under the established Bermuda name.

This year is McCaw’s second season building free-form fibreglass pools, a type of construction that has cost advantages over concrete in both installation and maintenance.

There is comparatively, little disruption of family life by the installation of either type of fibreglasss pool. A moulded pool can be in and operating in three days and a free-form pool is ready in about a week.

Mr McCaw .says that both freerform and moulded pools in fibreglass are cheaper than concrete pools of .the same size, and the company installed nine moulded pools in January, alone last year. With the short time required for on-site installation, these are competitive even for distant localities. They have been installed in North Canterbury, the West Coast at Greymouth,

Hokitika and Haast, and south as far as Omakau and 831 clut h a .

Because the fibreglass finish resists algae and is so smooth and easy to keep, McCaw’s also line existing pools with fibreglass.

All that is then needed to remove the scum line is a rag and a liquid detergent. By contrast, unless a concrete pool is tiled at the top, it needs repainting to cover the mark at the water line. Mr McCaw says chemical balance and sanitation of fibreglass pools is particularly easy, and cheap to maintain.

He says the larger Bermuda moulded pool with 35 cu m of water costs not more than $5O in chemicals for a six months season — that is the cost using recommended quantities of H.T.H. dry chlorine and Olin pool stabiliser, with super-chlorina-tion every two weeks. The price of a new pool from McCaw’s includes submitting site plans, obtaining a council permit, excavating and removing excess earth, delivery, installing the pool itself and the filtration system and supplying a vacuum cleaner, hose and leaf skimmer.

It also includes an engineer’s design certificate and instruction on how to use the filter and treat the pool with chemicals. The back-up includes the supply of chemicals, filtration equipment and pool accessories, and the servicing of equipment. McCaw’s has agencies foa Filtration and Pumping Industries’ spa systems, for filters and accessories and all pool chemicals. Because of the company’s long association with

finance houses, part or, in many cases, total finance can be arranged for the would-be pool owner. The larger of the two moulded pools costs under $5OOO if bought in kitset form and under $6OOO if fully equipped and installed by the company. Variations in the price can occur where the site involves difficulty of access or installation or delivery further than 30 km from the factory. A free-form fibreglass pool can be of any shape, size or colour. One of about 8m by 4m would cost a little over $6OOO,

which includes a sand filter, vacuum equipment, a test kit and chemicals. A 7m by 4m free-form pool in kitset costs as little as $2500 from "McCaw’s as there is more required in the way of onsite materials for the freeform installation. Apart from pool construction and boat repair. McCaw’s. also do industrial fibreglassing — a side of the business which Mr McCaw says is growing. These products include building panels, tubs for freezing works and tanks for agricultural spray chemicals.