Fire features have become an increasingly important part of outdoor living design, giving pool builders and designers new ways to create conversation areas, gathering spaces and architectural focal points around the backyard.

In this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, we sit down with Chuck Nitschke, National Director of Sales at The Outdoor Plus, to take a closer look at what’s trending in fire pits and fire tables. We discuss how builders and designers are choosing between linear, round and rustic styles, why proportions and placement matter, and how products are being designed around everything from poolside entertaining to dining and larger gathering spaces.

Nitschke also walks us through some of the products getting attention from builders and designers, including the Del Mar, Unity, Catalina, Mesa, Newport and Alameda. We discuss the growing role of customization, the advantages of different materials, natural gas versus concealed propane, custom sizing and the different burner configurations available to control the presentation of the flame.

We also look at where the category is headed next as manufacturers continue to combine fire with new materials, lighting and increasingly functional outdoor furniture concepts.

If you’re a pool builder, designer or outdoor living professional looking for ideas on incorporating fire into your next project, this episode offers an inside look at the products, applications and design trends shaping the category.

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Automatic pool covers have long been associated with safety, but their role in the modern backyard goes much further. In this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, we sit down with Tom Dankel, Vice President of Aquamatic Cover Systems, to discuss how rising energy costs, water conservation, maintenance and changing pool designs are influencing the conversation around automatic covers.

Dankel shares insights from more than four decades in the industry, including how covers can reduce evaporation and operating costs, the distinction between ASTM safety covers and trackless systems, and the design considerations builders need to address early in a project. We also discuss solutions for freeform and unconventional pool shapes, as well as the growing retrofit opportunity for existing pools.

It’s a practical conversation about how automatic pool covers fit into the way pools are being designed, built and used today.

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Is fall the best time to start planning a pool renovation? In this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, we sit down with Jeff Moore of Precision Pool Restoration to discuss what homeowners should know before remodeling an aging swimming pool.

Moore shares the warning signs that indicate a pool may need more than routine maintenance, why seemingly cosmetic problems can point to larger issues, and how delaying repairs can ultimately make them more expensive. We also discuss renovation trends, equipment upgrades, budgeting priorities, choosing the right contractor, and why more homeowners are investing in the pools they already own.

The conversation also explores why starting the remodeling process in the fall can provide advantages when it comes to scheduling, planning, material selections, and having the pool ready well before the next swim season.

Whether you're a pool professional talking with customers about renovation or a homeowner considering an upgrade, this episode offers practical insight into when to start, what to prioritize, and how to approach a pool remodel the right way.

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