Erik Eikevik was just a young man when he started in the pool business. The pool market was changing rapidly from what he had seen as a child. Eikevik was a part of the family business and building a swimming pool for South Florida had changed dramatically from the projects that his grandfather started Ike’s Carter Pools in 1949.
“I wanted to build pools and work for my dad. When I was a child, my mom showed me a drawing she had made in crayon. Eikevik said that it was me drawing a swimming-pool and it read, “Daddy, I’m going build this one day.”
He was already a gopher by the time he reached fifth grade. Eikevik said, “That summer I did the first pool prep.” He added that he used to leave school early to go work on pools with his friends while he was still in school. I have worked in all phases of pool construction my whole life.
An End to the Cookie-Cutter Mentality
Eikevik said that his father designed and built pools. He was also a well-respected designer in South Florida. Pools were extremely templated back in those days. To draw swimming pools by hand, you had to have a set of templates. Many pools looked very similar, especially in Florida. I was a bit mad that the production pools were all so similar.
“It doesn’t matter how small the pool is, I want it to be unique and interesting. If the pool has something that is unique and different, I won’t feel that special feeling. It’s the desire to try new things that keeps me motivated and loves what I do that makes me happy. Eikevik said that this is my crazy side, which wants to do custom stuff. It can be difficult and can cause me all kinds of headaches.”
Eikevik claims that the days of cutting-cutter swimming pools are over in South Florida. Eikevik has also seen a shift in the perception of what outdoor living space should look. I’m building these pools in these communities. Nowadays, I hear that “I can do my pool better than my neighbor.” This is a huge statement with young families. Because the pool is so cool, their kids go to the neighbor’s home.
The Baby Boomers set a new standard for swimming pools
“That was the first major shift we witnessed in South Florida. Things like this were seen coming out of World War II. Eikevik explained that some of the first awards we won in 1960s pool magazines were because the pool had a curve which was unusual back then.
“When we started out, the pools were built where they would pour a floor and then build it from concrete blocks. The pool was small and rectangular. He started doing gunite in the late fifties and into his sixties. He began making kidney-shaped pools and radius pools. Eikevik said that they would win awards and the pool would be elevated to the level of a seawater canal. This is a huge feature in South Florida.
While much has changed in the way swimming pools are constructed since Eikevik’s grandfather built them many things remain the same. Eikevik explained that a pool was once a status symbol. “Now it is even more important.” Although you don’t need to be a member of the elite to have a pool it is still a significant symbol, especially in South Florida.
Eikevik stated that he believes that the goal to keep up with Joneses has been a constant throughout South Florida’s history. Eikevik said, “Every customer these day is like, ‘Well, they’ve got that on their pool. We’ve got to do it.’ I have literally had people go to another customer’s house and say, ‘I want ours better than theirs.’ So there’s definitely that feeling that everyone’s trying to outdo each other in their backyard.”
“The pandemic just blew it up and gave it steroids. We had a fire for years and Covid came in and poured gasoline on top of it, causing an explosion. Eikevik stated that everyone suddenly had to have the best backyard and the best pool.
The majority of people in the northeast will have a vinyl liner pool. You have to be very wealthy to have one in your yard. It’s an expensive luxury in areas like New York or Boston. You feel like you are doing better than everyone else once you move to Florida. This is why so many people come here to have a large, beautiful backyard with a swimming-pool.
“People used to believe that they only came down to Florida to retire. But that is no longer true. It is possible to live in South Florida and work remotely from anywhere. This is probably why South Florida has seen more young families than ever before. Eikevik said that they want the whole experience.
Inground pools are cheaper than in-ground pools in Florida. However, it may not be as simple as you think. Eikevik explained that Florida has some of the most stringent building codes in the nation. When people come down to this place, they find out that we follow the Florida Building Code and not the International Building Code. You must follow strict guidelines to build a pool in Florida. When I explain what it takes to build a pool in Florida, people are often skeptical. It becomes more difficult to do everything when you reach the luxury pool.
Over the years, South Florida homeowners have changed their requirements for amenities and features. Eikevik states that homeowners now want a large tanning ledge, which is almost a standard feature in Florida.
“Every pool, no matter how big or small, will have the Baja Shelf. If you don’t build one, you will be literally losing the value of your home. Eikevik explained that anyone who buys your house will expect to see one in the pool.
“I knew they were important from a business standpoint, but I didn’t realize their importance until I began seeing my children, who are now five and two years old in the pool. Eikevik said, “I was just like, wow! This is such a huge, pivotal thing.”
The most important thing is to make sure that you have the right size. Eikevik explained that there are companies that can build shelves that measure 9×9, or similar, for large pool states such as Texas, California, and Florida. It’s important to have something 12×6 or 9 to allow you to have a section to place your pool chairs or ledge loungers, and another section to allow the children to access the pool.
While the needs and wants of South Florida homeowners have changed over time but one thing is certain: Florida has the highest proportion of pool owners per population. Owning a pool will always be a goal for many, regardless of what type of pool they end up building.
Listen to the entire conversation with Erik Eikevik, Ike’s Carter Pools, on the Pool Magazine Podcast.
Featured photo credit: Jimi Smi Smith Photography
The post Building A Pool in South Florida has Changed originally appeared on PoolMagazine.com. Get the Latest Pool News.
The #PoolOfTheWeek showcases the 2021 #AwardsOfExcellence winners from @ThePHTA. This week won SILVER in the Technical/Engineering Achievement category. Pool by Ike's Carter Pools in Oakland Park, Fla. //
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