LATICRETE Launches 254 PLATINUM Plus

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This lightweight formula offers greater workability and a long 60-minute open time allowing for greater flexibility during the installation process

August 22, 2023, Bethany, Conn. — LATICRETE, a leading manufacturer of globally proven construction solutions for the building industry, has introduced 254 PLATINUMTM Plus, a high-performance, lightweight thin-set adhesive mortar that builds on the strengths of the original 254 PLATINUM. This new formula features a lighter, creamier consistency for greater workability and an impressive 60-minute open time to allow greater flexibility for installers on the job site. Additionally, a 25lb (11.3kg) bag of 254 PLATINUM™ Plus offers the same coverage as a standard 50lb (22.6kg) bag of adhesive mortar.

“We understand that whether you’re a professional contractor, architect or a DIY enthusiast, productivity and performance are paramount. 254 PLATINUM Plus not only delivers on both fronts, but its smooth, creamy consistency and lightweight formula ensures it’s easy to work with,” said Jonathan Scott, LATICRETE Senior Product Manager.

The new formula exceeds ANSI A118.15 requirements, the industry’s highest performance standard for cement-based adhesive mortars, making it ideal for any interior, exterior or submerged installations in commercial and residential projects. 254 PLATINUM Plus is UL Greenguard-certified for low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formulated without silica sand to ensure safer and healthier environments for contractors and end-users.

For greater peace of mind, the formula incorporates Microban® antimicrobial product protection to help prevent odor- and stain-causing bacteria and is backed by the LATICRETE best-in-class lifetime system warranty.

For more information, visit laticrete.com/254-platinum-plus.

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Alise Everton has been working in the pool industry for the past decade and is an experienced press correspondent and contributor for numerous trade publications and web portals including PoolMagazine.com and PoolContractor.com among others. Contact her for guest posting opportunities, press releases, and pool equipment related news.

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Renovating a pool is an essential aspect of pool maintenance, ensuring longevity and safety for swimmers. However, the conventional method of draining the pool during renovations can be a cumbersome and expensive process. Enter the Pool Bladder™ from Kayden Manufacturing, a premium manufacturer of vinyl pool liners and safety covers, who say this cost-effective solution is transforming the way pool contractors approach pool renovations. To get a better idea of how the Pool Bladder™ is changing the industry, we spoke with Jim Dorsey Director of Sales for Kayden Manufacturing who gave us some insight as to how this product is enabling pool contractors to save valuable time and money.

“Quite simply, the Pool Bladder™ is a temporary water storage solution,” said Dorsey, who says the product is ideal for use when performing renovations.”Often times the water is crystal clear and fully chlorinated and the pool just needs a new liner or repairs. Whatever the case might be, the homeowner does not want to lose that water,” explained Dorsey, “water isn’t cheap to have delivered, and neither are the chemicals. So what do you do with 30,000 gallons of water? Where are you going to put that?”

Traditional pool renovations often require draining the pool completely, which can be a time-consuming and costly endeavor. Contractors need to pump out thousands of gallons of water, leading to increased utility bills and significant downtime for the pool. Not only does this inconvenience the pool owner and disrupt regular pool usage, but it also hampers the contractor’s ability to efficiently complete the project. The need for refilling and balancing the pool chemicals further extends the time and effort involved in the renovation process.

“I live in the mountains of northern New Jersey where everybody is on well water. I have a well and just replaced the pump a few months ago. My well can’t fill a 20,000-gallon pool. There’s just no way. The pool bladder could definitely be a viable option in situations like that,” said Dorsey.

For those pool owners using a well as their water supply, draining a pool to perform renovations and refilling it can seriously deplete their water supply. The process could leave a homeowner with inadequate water for essential needs. Using a Pool Bladder™ would certainly make sense in this instance as it conserves well water and save the additional costs of hiring a water truck to refill the pool.

The product has been a hit primarily with pool contractors who often purchase several bladders to use while performing liner installations. “Installers can double their workload quite manageably with a Pool Bladder™. Whether you’re pumping the water out and saving it, or you’re staging the water ahead of time when you go to cut out that liner and measure the pool with the homeowner’s garden hose, either way, that water is going in faster. The liner is getting stretched. The vacs are coming out. You’re getting a check in your hand and you’re on your way to the next job,” said Dorsey.

“A savvy homeowner who is looking at the bottom line thinking, ‘How much is it going to cost me to get new water delivered and rebalance the water as opposed to what might I pay to rent a bladder?’. There’s definitely a cost savings there contractors can pass along to the customer if they have this in their toolkit,” explained Dorsey.

Ultimately the Kayden Pool Bladder™ is an innovative solution that not only benefits pool professionals but also promotes environmental consciousness. For pool professionals, the cost-saving advantages are evident. Refilling a pool with water delivery trucks or using the city’s water supply can be expensive for both the professional and their clients. By utilizing the Pool Bladder™ to store and reuse pool water during liner replacements, pool professionals can provide a value-added service while being resourceful and environmentally responsible.

Learn more about the Kayden Pool Bladder™ on the Pool Magazine podcast or visit https://www.poolbladder.com/ for more product information.

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Basecrete Technologies, a leading provider of waterproofing solutions, has announced that it has now become a master distributor for Litokol, a renowned manufacturer of high-performance construction materials. This partnership is expected to leverage the market penetration of Basecrete’s products while providing Litokol with greater market access and exposure.

With over 25 years in the industry, Basecrete Technologies has established a strong reputation in the construction industry as a provider of innovative, high-quality waterproofing solutions. Its flagship product, Basecrete, is a unique waterproofing membrane that has gained widespread adoption among pool contractors worldwide and accounts for roughly 70% of all pools being waterproofed in the industry, according to Vito Mariano, President of Basecrete Technologies.

“We’ve been experimenting with Litokol in Europe for a couple of years now, and we’re excited to announce that we’re now officially a distributor for their products. We believe that by distributing Litokol, we can provide our contractors and builders with a distinct advantage in the industry,” said Vito Mariano.

Litokol, based in Rubiera, Italy, has been developing and producing high-quality products for over 55 years. Their product line includes adhesives, grouts, sealants, and waterproofing materials that are renowned for their durability and performance. With a strong focus on research and development, Litokol is constantly innovating and improving its products to meet the changing needs of the pool construction industry.

“This is an extremely exciting deal for Basecrete,” says owner Vito Mariano. “Litokol is world renowned as the finest and most innovative producer of tile and grout products. Being able to offer our distributors and customers these add-on necessities allows us to provide a complete system for the tile industry.”

Mariano believes that Litokol’s product line is a perfect fit for Basecrete. “Litokol’s materials are known for their high performance and durability, which aligns perfectly with our philosophy of providing our customers with the best possible products on the market. We’re confident that this will help us take both our brands to the next level.”

This new distribution partnership between Basecrete and Litokol is expected to benefit both companies by expanding their market reach and offering customers a wider range of high-quality construction chemicals. As Mariano put it, “We’re excited to be working with Litokol, and we’re looking forward to the opportunities this will bring and are thrilled that we can provide our customers with the best possible solutions for their construction needs.”

Listen to our entire conversation with Vito Mariano on the Pool Magazine podcast.

Polaris celebrates 50 years of pool cleaner innovation.

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Polaris is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The brand has been a pioneer in the pool cleaner industry since its inception. Over its 50 years of existence, Polaris has established itself as a household name, providing reliable and efficient cleaning solutions to pool owners worldwide.

To mark this milestone, we spoke with Greg Howard, the former CEO and President of Polaris Pool Systems (1986-2004), and Skye Svenningsen Director of Product Marketing for Fluidra North America. Both shared some insights about the brand’s history and discussed the key factors that have contributed to its success. During our discussion, we delved into the history behind Polaris and talked about some of the key milestones that have helped make Polaris a trusted name in pool cleaners.

Today, Greg Howard is the President of Carecraft, a leading buying group for the pool industry. He still has fond memories of his Polaris days and shared the origin of how the brand first got its start.

“There were two people who invented the original Polaris, Mel Henkin and Jordan Laby. One was a dentist and one was an anesthesiologist. For the initial prototype, the two of them took Coke cans and rubber bands and fashioned them into a little car that would walk around on the bottom of a pool and it had a bag on the top that kind of looked like a chef’s hat,” explained Howard.

Polaris made its first initial debut at the 1973 National Swimming Pool Convention in Anaheim, California. The product immediately captured the interest of the pool industry and would quickly find itself in competition with the Arneson Pool Sweep which had a predominant share of that nascent market at the time.

“The initial idea was that it was the first pool cleaner that could vacuum and sweep. The Arneson product was just hoses in a pool. It stirred up the water, and you still had to lift a basket out to empty the debris. Ours was the first product that actually vacuumed and swept, hence the name Polaris Vac-Sweep. It took a team of engineers two years to take those Coke cans and turn it into a working pool cleaner,” said Howard.

Howard said he still remembers the days going head to head with the Arneson Pool Sweep who at the time had golf legend Arnold Palmer as their spokesman. Not to be undone, Polaris would recruit bathing beauty Suzanne Somers, star of the hit sitcom Three’s Company, as their spokesperson.

“She was on all of our packaging, and she was in our ads,” said Howard, “she also came on our incentive trips with us. She would sit by the pool and sign autographs and talk to the customers. Suzanne Somers was a big part of our marketing,” explained Howard.

Back in the 80’s, the Polaris 180 would become the defining product the brand would eventually become known for. “For the first ten or 15 years of the company’s life, it was the only product that we had,” explained Howard, “We literally built an entire company around a single product until there were additional ones brought on later.”

Polaris, was acquired by Zodiac Pool Systems in 2005 which would later merge with Fluidra. “Currently the Polaris brand has dozens of pool cleaners in every category. They have suction cleaners, pressure cleaners, electric cleaners, and now cordless cleaners. They’ve really expanded the line. But yeah, we started with one product, and it took us quite a while to add a second, a third, and a fourth.”

Today, folks like Skye Svenningsen look at the Polaris brand with a mix of nostalgia and optimism for the future that lies ahead. “There’s a whole lot behind us that has really led to Polaris as a brand being known in our industry the way that it is today,” said Svenningsen, “after 50 years, the spirit of our company, the innovation, passion, and drive to make something new and great for our users is still at the core of what we do every day.”

“It all started with the 180, which of course was the main product and then the Polaris 280 Vac-Sweep, which remains as a product that people still rely on today. Technology and things may have changed, but we created a product that truly has stood the test of time. I’m really proud that some of the innovations that we made way back then still are relevant today.”

“In 2017, we introduced the Polaris QUATTRO™ Sport into the industry, which was a new way to look at pressure cleaning with dual filtration canisters. We’re not sitting on our laurels around here waiting. We know that consumers are looking for the next big thing and we’re going to bring it,” said Svenningsen.

“Consumers today expect most of their new products to have an app and give them some information about their cleaner or their product,” explained Svenningsen, “with the iAquaLink® control in some of our robotic products, you’re able to set a cleaning cycle, start it from work or while you’re on the road, and ensure that your pool is clean by the time that you get home. We’re able to do a lot of things that we weren’t able to do historically.”

Today the Polaris brand is synonymous with the latest technological innovations in pool cleaners. “We’ve absolutely evolved and brought new products to the market, “said Svenningsen, “the ALPHA™ iQ platform and our EPIC™ platforms have been very successful for us. We have put a lot of engineering and marketing support behind these products. I hope that we’re here 50 years from now talking about how these products were the start of some truly exciting innovations.”

Listen to our interviews with Greg Howard and Skye Svenningsen on the Pool Magazine podcast.

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