Hernando pool builder celebrates 10 years in business that's still growing
By Beth N. Gray
Tampa Bay Times
Published: Nov 5, 2018

BROOKSVILLE - While many jobs associated with the outdoors are slowing down this time of year, at Backyard Ventures, owner David Amundsen and his crew are gearing up for the busiest season for pool and spa construction.

"Give it another couple of weeks and it really starts kicking in,” he said on Friday.

Backyard Ventures is marking its 10th anniversary this fall, no small feat for a limited, independent business. His secret?

"I've been doing this for 30 years,” said Amundsen, 56.

After working in a similar family enterprise, he broke away for a period, then battled two bouts of cancer before "returning to what I knew,” he said. He credits remaining "very small” - two employees, plus himself - for the firm's reputation for jobs well done. "The key is doing it yourself.”

"I've aligned myself with companies of name-brand, quality products and with service ability,” he said, mentioning Blue Hawaiian of Zephyrhills for fiberglass pools, AquaCal of St. Petersburg for pool heaters and Suncoast Pavers of Brooksville for pool surrounds.

Backyard Ventures builds custom concrete pools and installs and services vinyl and fiberglass pools.

"I could probably write a book on the pros and cons of all three pools,” Amundsen said. Cost and longevity are the basic differences. Concrete is the costliest, longest-lasting and, by a notch, his No. 1 choice. Costs can range from $25,000 to $50,000.

"Your value of the pool is going to last longer than the value of your car,” he added. "If you want to sell your house, people who move to Florida, most of the time they're looking for a house with a pool.”Of Northeasterners and those from the chilly Midwest, Realtor Gail Spada agrees.

"Somebody moving to Florida for the first time, having that pool and diving into it in the backyard is heaven,” she said.

Yet, Spada also agreed with Edward Hirst, president of the Hernando County Association of Realtors, who said it's "kind of a toss-up,” depending on the customer.

"Some people don't want the aggravation of keeping it up and the expense,” he said. "Families always want them.”

"The average pool, 12 by 24 (feet) is the thing of the past,” Amundsen said. "We've stepped up to 14 by 28 or bigger, a lot more custom work this year with waterfalls and rock features.”More pool owners are considering a pool heater, which costs $4,000 to $6,000. depending on pool capacity. While Amundsen gives a nod to ecological solar heaters, he prefers to install heat pumps as more economic and efficient.

"One other thing that's very popular: salt units,” Amundsen said, at $1,200 to $1,500. "It should cut your annual chemical cost in half, and you never have to put another chlorine jug in your car.”

At a time when unlicensed and shoddy contractors are in the news, Amundsen said he is state licensed, covered by Workers Compensation, fully insured and certified by Home Advisor.Amundsen and his crew are geared up for plenty of off-season construction, booked into next March, but with time built-in for service calls each month.

"Our sales doubled this year," Amundsen said. "People are more secure-feeling with the economy to make that investment. We have demand for what we're selling. We build for the (customer's) budget.”

Contact Beth Gray at graybethn@earthlink.net.