Rosalind Evans
As summer rolls in, many Americans will enjoy their existing backyard pools, but the trend of investing in new pools has significantly slowed. This change reflects a broader shift in household spending, from home improvements to experiential purchases like vacations and dining out.
Pandemic Pool Boom Ends
During the pandemic, the home improvement boom included a surge in swimming pool installations. According to Cape Analytics, people sought to enhance their home environments while stuck indoors, leading to a 20% increase in pool installations in 2020. Skip Ast III, sales director at Shasta Pools in Phoenix, noted, “People started settling in for, ‘OK, we’re going to be at home for a while; we need to bring the vacations into our backyards.'”
Declining Demand for New Pools
Recent trends indicate a significant slowdown in new pool construction. Pool Corp., a national distributor, expects new pool construction to decrease by 15% to 20% this year. Local contractors like Scott Payne in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, also report fewer calls than the pandemic peak. “As a company, we doubled revenue in five of the first seven years. Two of those years were during Covid,” Payne said.
Shift Toward Experiential Spending
Consumers are now prioritizing experiences over home renovations. Airlines, hotels, and cruise lines anticipate a robust travel season, with record bookings and high prices for concert tickets and sporting events. This shift is partly due to elevated food costs and high interest rates, making nonessential household purchases less attractive.
Adapting to Changing Market Conditions
Despite the slowdown, businesses like Shasta Pools and Payne’s company have adapted by diversifying their offerings. Shasta Pools introduced an online cost estimator and launched a pool care division, while Payne’s company focused on high-end projects. “We’re very busy still,” Payne noted, highlighting their continued success in affluent areas.
Sustained Demand for Maintenance
Pool Corp. finds a silver lining in the maintenance sector, as more households now require upkeep services for their existing pools. The company reported stable sales of maintenance-related products, including chemicals and equipment.
Climate Change and Future Prospects
With climate change causing more frequent and intense heat waves, the appeal of swimming pools might shift from luxury to necessity in hotter regions. In Arizona, Ast mentioned, “The lines get blurred a little bit between luxury and need in the middle of the desert.”
The pandemic-driven pool installation boom has subsided, with Americans now favoring travel and other experiences. However, the pool industry remains resilient, adapting to new market conditions and focusing on maintenance services to sustain revenue. As climate patterns shift, the demand for backyard pools may still be resurgent.
