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Nic Nichols Photography Nic Nichols 2022
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By Chrysa Smith
I grew up in the city. I don’t swim. Yet I’ve always been intrigued by how the right pool can magically transform a landscape. And while I don’t believe I have enough yard space for one even now, even in the ‘burbs of Bucks, I may in fact be wrong. Because when I spoke to Joe Perchetti, co-owner with wife Carol, of Ted’s Pools in West Chester, PA, he told me the sky’s the limit.
There are several types of pools: vinyl, fiberglass, traditional concrete and gunite pools. Gunite, which is the only kind built by Ted’s Pools, is essentially a transformation of concrete. The process takes the thick material, a mix of sand, water and cement, and converts it into a sprayable form. It is attached to a rebar form, thus giving the pool its unique shape. Not only are the pools more versatile in design, but they also stand the test of time.
Ted’s has a long history. While the original owners of the company, Ted and Bobbie Tretiak retired some time ago, Joe and his wife Carol carried on the legacy, which is now in its 43rd year. The business began after Ted spent years designing custom pools. Fast forward to Carol and Joe who’ve had it for about four years now—a business which Joe says is a proud woman-owned business. Carol’s been at it for 23 years; long before they made it their own.
To me, the company name doesn’t say nearly enough. Because Ted’s doesn’t just build pools. They build dreams. The relaxation, the exercise, the entertainment landscapes offer to those who want to enjoy some pleasure just steps from their door. It’s experiential. And with more families than ever choosing the backyard retreat, Joe says business is good indeed.
“During the pandemic, I was doing five meetings a day, six days a week,” says Joe. “We were in Newtown Square and got so busy, we outgrew a space we were in for over 20 years. We found a much larger facility in West Chester with yard space for vehicles, equipment and supplies.” That enabled them to almost double the warehouse space. When asked how he managed to man and deliver such an increase, Joe credits it to a background in a government agency, doing emergency management. “I’ve always been adept at preparing for the worst—having a backup plan. I’ve always maintained that thought process,” adds Ted, “The business is much bigger than Carol and me. That’s why I always refer to it as a third party.”
Every project begins with a client meeting. The meetings define the client’s wants and dreams—their aspirations. “Our clients usually know what they want,” says Joe, “they’re very knowledgeable. Because of social media and the internet, they’re able to come in with what they want.” Of course, Joe and Carol help with options and guidance, and desires are determined partially by budget; the other by space and township requirements. But he made one thing clear. His clients are generally affluent, which makes Joe’s work much easier—and perhaps a lot more challenging and rewarding. Because it can be a straight pool project. Or one that includes other backyard ‘play’ areas like kitchens, basketball courts, beach entries, grottos and more.
Once Joe and Carol understand what a client wants, a design is drawn up using a 3D rendering of not only what will be done, but how it will actually look in their own yard. Joe is amused by a client who’s wowed by a drawing of their own landscape. He says clients will come back, see the drawings and say ‘Hey, that’s my yard!’ Once review and any changes are made, plans are finalized and it’s off to meet with the various sub-contractors that make the project a reality. Landscape and architectural designers share digital files that allow them to go back-and-forth to each other, without any need for multiple drawings. ‘We help clients figure out the space. Federal stormwater and run-off regulations need to be considered. We’re very conscious of not only following plan/permit stage but maintaining a natural setting. We don’t want to remove trees if unnecessary.” says Joe. And he emphasizes their involvement on the job every step of the way.
From a simple rectangular reflecting pool to a more involved design with irregular shape, caves, waterfalls, hot tubs and fire features, Ted’s has done it all. One of the company’s showcase properties is a 1,460 ft geometric pool, ranging from three to eight feet in depth. With a 64 square foot level spa, surrounded by an 81 square foot sun shelf—essentially a flat platform within the pool for sunbathing and miniscule submersion. Thirty-three feet of infinity vanishing edge (where the edge fades into the background, rather than it being a hard break). This goes into a trough for water recirculation. It’s all surrounded by 7,100 square feet of Travertine stone decking, raised planters, and a full pool house. Naturally, the pool is heated, has LED lighting, and a cleaner all controlled through an app. I’d say it rivals many a resort and represents just how far you can stretch the imagination. As Joe said, the sky really is the limit.
While Joe is the design person, Carol is the go-to for everything else. From the coping to tile selections, edge options to lighting, the options are many, and her long tenure in the pool business helps her figure it all out. They’ve chosen who their long experience has shown them to be the best suppliers. According to Joe, “I’d rather invest more in someone’s pool rather than return for a problem. I never want to have to return to someone’s backyard when I’m done. That is, unless they want me back for service and maintenance. Then I know it’s a great relationship—partnership.” Naturally, with such precision going into the design and installation, Joe wants to make sure the pool is kept in great shape. Regular maintenance includes checking chemistry, emptying filter baskets, removing leaves and brushing the pool, which gives it that smooth feeling.
Still, even after the design stage, a client will come in and say they were just at a home with a certain type of waterfall, slide or island, wanting to know if Joe can incorporate that into the plan. And with the proper design and implementation, it can and will bring enjoyment for decades. With Carol’s long tenure in pool design/aesthetics, and Joe’s management of construction, installation and service, they cover all the bases. They attend annual training sessions to learn the latest practices; not just for construction and renovation, but also office staff and design. “There’s never a pause in learning. Always something new to test,” he says.” The key is if it’s worthwhile for a budgetary item, and will it benefit the client. The clients are the ones that are most important.”
While new installations are perhaps the most interesting and largest part of the business, so is restoration work. The company can take an existing pool, resurface it, replace the coping, tiles and if the layout and space permits, add a new feature, such as a spa or waterfall. Pretty nice redo for an aging pool. Joe has seen it all—even reconstructed a 100-year-old pool. With older technology, a pool may have been built to last, but it also lacked the ability to make it more than just a place to swim. So for neglected, aging or less than attractive existing pools, there is hope.
Joe’s personality inevitably has much to do with their success. Not only is he personable, but Joe says,” I came from a disciplined and military background.” This serves him well in managing the business and in preparing for the unexpected. And as for the team, he continues, “I treat all employees as if they’re the next owners. In fact, I call them ambassadors. We have a good name and reputation, and I won’t let anyone ruin that.” Sounds like a perfectionist to me—exactly what’s needed for such work. With one of Ted’s pools, I might even wade a bit deeper. Well, at least a bit further than the steps.
Ted’s Pools is located at 823 Lincoln Avenue, Building #3, Unit #3, West Chester, PA. Installations can be found throughout most of Southeastern Pennsylvania including Bucks County, New Jersey and Delaware. For more information, call 610-359-1301or visit www.tedspools.net.
Chrysa Smith is a regular contributor who continues to admire beautiful pools from afar—possibly from the top step, and just maybe from the sun shelf.