“That’s one of the greatest advantages of a quality fiberglass pool,” Willitts said. “When it’s manufactured properly, installed correctly, and maintained properly, the shell can provide decades of service.”

Pools Plus has grown to become one of the Grand Strand’s most established fiberglass pool builders, serving homeowners throughout the Myrtle Beach area and surrounding communities. The company offers more than 110 pool and spa designs and specializes exclusively in fiberglass swimming pools.

To maintain consistent quality, Pools Plus installs San Juan fiberglass pools, a manufacturer that has been building fiberglass pools since 1958.

San Juan pools are manufactured using hand-laid fiberglass combined with 100 percent vinyl ester resin. Unlike lower-cost manufacturing methods that may rely heavily on chopped fiberglass, hand-laid construction allows layers of reinforcement to be carefully placed throughout the pool shell.

“Vinyl ester resin has been used extensively in marine applications because of its excellent resistance to moisture absorption,” Willitts said. “In a swimming pool, that helps protect the shell and greatly reduces the potential for water-related deterioration and osmotic blistering.”

Originally from Toronto, Willitts moved to the Myrtle Beach area in the 1970s and has watched both the Grand Strand and the swimming pool industry change dramatically.

He said many homeowners who relocate from northern states remember vinyl-liner pools lasting many years. Conditions along the Grand Strand, however, can be considerably different.

“Our pools are used almost year-round, and the UV exposure here is much more intense,” Willitts said. “We also deal with fluctuating groundwater conditions throughout the coastal area. Those factors make choosing the right type of pool and installing it properly especially important.”

In addition to new fiberglass pool and spa construction, Pools Plus provides renovation and restoration services. The company can restore aging fiberglass pools and also offers fiberglass resurfacing systems for existing concrete pools, giving homeowners another option when a traditional concrete surface has deteriorated.

Today’s fiberglass pools also offer far more design flexibility than many homeowners realize. Features can include tanning ledges, bench seating, integrated spas, spillover spas, water features, lighting, and automated pool controls — allowing homeowners to create a complete outdoor living environment rather than simply adding a swimming pool.

Pools Plus maintains a 3,000-square-foot Myrtle Beach showroom where customers can view pool displays, equipment, and water-treatment options; speak with knowledgeable staff; and have their pool water professionally tested. The company is also preparing for expansion into a new facility as it continues to grow.

For Willitts, however, longevity remains one of the company’s greatest selling points.

“Anybody can sell you a pool,” he said. “What matters is who is going to be there before the project starts, while it’s being built and years after it’s finished. We’ve been here since 1999, and we’re not going anywhere.”

For further information call (843) 293-9515, visit www.PoolsPlus.biz, or visit us on Facebook.