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Rooftop Pools – A Higher Degree of Difficulty

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Rooftop pools and spas are a frequently requested amenity for discerning commercial clientele. While notoriously difficult to design, fabricate and install; the demand for rooftop water features has only increased over the past few decades. Consequently, there are few companies taking on projects of the level of scale and complexity as Diamond Spas.

Owners Stephanie & Tom Bennett started the company back in 1996 with an initial focus on custom baths. Quickly they began to attract attention with their product line. By 1999 they began manufacturing swimming pools, spas, and custom water features. Fast forward to today and Diamond Spas have become one of the elite manufacturers in the industry.

Rooftop Pools & Spa Projects

Known for their stunning rooftop pools, their products can be found in the most affluent hotels, commercial buildings, high-end homes, and yes; even mega-yachts. To get a better understanding of why Diamond Spas has become a preferred choice for rooftop pools, we met with Design Manager – Mitch Martinek.

Quite often, Martinek is the point person on the project working with customers, as well as builders, architects, and engineers. Consequently, he has personally been involved in the design and execution of numerous rooftop pool and spa projects over the course of his career.

“Some of the rooftop pool installations of note that we’ve collaborated in include the Yellow Stone Club in Big Sky, Montana, the Atlantic Residence for Post Brothers, and Woodward Lofts in St. Louis, just to name a few,” said Martinek.

In the course of our discussion, Martinek let us know the reasons why consumers might opt for a stainless steel vessel when planning a rooftop pool project.

Factors To Consider With a Rooftop Pool Installation

“When you’re dealing with rooftop installations, weight is definitely a factor,” said Martinek, “you’re able to get a larger water surface area using a lightweight shell like a stainless steel vessel as opposed to a heavier concrete gunite vessel.”

Design Credit: Sparta Spa Architect: Daniel Hasson | Photo Credit: Diamond Spas

Weight and stress factors are crucial issues in rooftop swimming pools. There are risks to placing water above any structure. The framework must support the weight of the water as well as the pool itself. Martinek, let us know that this is one of the primary reasons many consumers opt for a stainless steel vessel when building a rooftop pool.

“A stainless steel vessel allows for a larger body of water with more features and more capacity than you’d get with your typical concrete gunite rooftop pool installation,” said Martinek.

Movement in the ground and depreciation of building fabrication are the most common causes of building and substructure movement. Concrete pools are vulnerable due to their rigidity and propensity to crack. When compared to concrete, stainless steel provides a higher degree of durability and enables for watertight welded manufacturing.

Martinek explained that rooftop pool installations can be tricky due to access issues. When planning a pool installation project, obviously time is of the issue. Many consumers opt for a prefabricated pool that can be installed in one piece thereby reducing the amount of time and money spent on-site during construction.

Architect: TBD Architecture + Design Studio Builder: Structure NYC Landscaper: Amber Freda Landscape Design
Photo Credit: Tom Sibley Photography

“One of the benefits of our process is we build everything here. We can be working in parallel with the on-site construction avoiding delays while the pool is being fabricated at our facility,” said Martinek.

A key reason that commercial consumers might opt for an off-site pool manufacturing process is the ease of integration and an abbreviated installation time. “We crane it right into position right on the rooftop,” said Martinek.

Given that rooftops create a higher degree of difficulty, it serves to reason that even though the process is easier in terms of time and installation, just getting the product onto the roof can be 90% of the job. The logistic problem of craning the vessel into place is one that Martinek is all too familiar with. Particularly on projects that have custom and unique requirements.

“I’m working on a current project right now in Sandpoint, ID. It’s a high-end condo, new build. One of the complexities there is that the pool was an afterthought. It’s a rooftop combination pool and spa. They already had set design parameters as far as the foundational slab that it could go on but they wanted to expand on that. We had to find a new way to do our framing to work with their current on-site rooftop conditions. There were degrees of complexity as far as point loading on top of their existing structure, and to get the size of the vessel they wanted.”

The Future is Here: Working With Acrylic

Despite the difficulties, that condo project is slated for completion this summer will have tenants living in the building by next year. While primarily known for their stainless steel vessels, Diamond Spas has quickly been building a reputation for acrylic vessels as well.

“Acrylic is becoming the new fad,” said Martinek, “it’s a new way of showcasing the vessel at the residence; whether it’s a high rise with a bottom acrylic viewing window or side viewing window. We can even do infinity edge acrylics, really the sky’s the limit.”

Architect – Berglund Architects LLC Builder- Shaeffer Hyde Photographer – Stovall Studio | Photo Credit: Diamond Spas

“We’ve come up with our own proprietary way of mechanically fastening these acrylic windows so we can install them at our facility on-site so that no extra installation is needed once the vessel is set. This provides the customer with the peace of mind that the vessel is leakproof and done right,” said Martinek.

“One large acrylic project we worked on was the GuestHouse at the Dream Hotel in New York City,” said Martinek, “definitely an extensive design phase and coordination with their team as far as the bottom viewing acrylic and then all of the surrounding finishes with a spiral staircase, acrylic window on the top with the wood surround. That was definitely a unique project.”

GuestHouse at Dream Downtown from Dream Hotels on Vimeo.

“Each project presents its own unique set of challenges and its own way of viewing,” said Martinek, “acrylic presents a different way of enjoying your spa, your pool and your water features. It gives you insight into the water, and then at night time, it becomes another great feature with the lighting interior and exterior of your pool really shines through that acrylic and brings out the finish of the stainless steel or copper.”

Rooftop Pool Trends

Many rooftop pools we see these days are part of an overall design plan that incorporates the pool as well as other outdoor living amenities such as a sauna and spa. A trend that Martinek acknowledged has been developing with many clients. “A lot of the higher-end builds are adding a sauna, spa and cold plunge in their gym or master bathroom suites.”

Bringing the outdoors indoors is another popular trend Diamond Spas has incorporated into many new projects. Consequently, there has also been a shift towards incorporating elements of hot and cold therapy. “We’re seeing a lot of indoor spas, cold plunges for commercial and residential use,” said Martinek.

Final Thoughts

With a bevy of material options to choose from these days, the look and stylized aesthetic for rooftop pools can be as unique as the design itself. The fact that Diamond Spas provides all of these selections and the expertise and support to ensure a flawless installation makes it clear why they are consistently recognized as a leading manufacturer of rooftop pools and spas.

Listen to our entire discussion with Mitch Martinek of Diamond Spas on the Pool Magazine podcast.

Featured Photo Credit: Diamond Spas – Post Brothers / The Atlantic Building, Philadelphia, PA. Photographer – Basel Almisshal

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Joe Trusty

Editor in Chief of Pool Magazine - Joe Trusty is also CEO of PoolMarketing.com, the leading digital agency for the pool industry. An internet entrepreneur, software developer, author, and marketing professional with a long history in the pool industry. Joe oversees the writing and creative staff at Pool Magazine.

To contact Joe Trusty email [email protected] or call (916) 467-9118 during normal business hours. For submissions, please send your message to [email protected]

Manufacturers

Pentair Names Bob Fishman Interim CFO Following Executive Leadership Change

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Pentair Names Bob Fishman Interim CFO Following Executive Leadership Change

Pentair has appointed former Chief Financial Officer Bob Fishman as Interim Executive Vice President and CFO following the departure of Nicholas Brazis, who left the company on July 10 to pursue an opportunity with a private company. The company has launched a search for a permanent successor while Fishman assumes the role effective immediately.

Fishman previously served as Pentair’s Executive Vice President and CFO for six years before stepping away from the position earlier this year. His return comes as the company works through a challenging period for its pool segment, which has experienced significantly weaker-than-anticipated demand resulting from continued inventory reductions throughout the distribution channel.

“Our Board and leadership team are pleased to have Bob Fishman rejoin Pentair on an interim basis as we conduct a search for his successor. During Bob’s six year tenure at Pentair, he helped to strengthen our financial foundation and enhance our operating discipline. Given his deep financial expertise, clear understanding of our business and strong relationships across Pentair and the financial community, I am confident he will step back in seamlessly as we execute on our key strategic and financial priorities to build long-term value,” said John L. Stauch, Pentair President and Chief Executive Officer.

Fishman also commented on his return.

“I’m excited to return to Pentair and support the company during this transition. Pentair has a strong portfolio, talented team and clear strategy for long-term success. I’m optimistic about the opportunities ahead and look forward to working alongside John and the team to support disciplined execution and create value for our customers, shareholders and employees.”

Pool Business Drives Revised Outlook

Alongside the executive announcement, Pentair released preliminary second-quarter financial expectations and lowered its full-year outlook, citing more aggressive inventory reductions across the pool distribution channel than previously anticipated. The company now expects full-year sales to decline between 4% and 7%, compared to its earlier forecast calling for 2% to 4% growth.

According to Pentair, channel destocking is expected to reduce pool segment sales by approximately $250 million during 2026, with an estimated $155 million impact on pool segment income. The company also noted that second-quarter pool sales were significantly affected by inventory adjustments made by major channel partners amid softer market conditions.

Despite the near-term slowdown, Pentair said it is taking steps to strengthen the pool business by working more closely with dealers, distributors and service professionals while accelerating new product development and expanding technical support resources. The company maintained that it continues to hold a leading position in energy-efficient and connected pool technologies and expects market conditions to normalize heading into the 2027 pool season.

Stauch emphasized the company’s confidence in the long-term outlook despite current market conditions.

“We believe these headwinds are temporary and we are taking decisive actions to adapt the business to current demand levels while positioning it to return to normalized performance in 2027. We are confident that these actions will bring us closer to our dealers, accelerate innovation and drive long-term growth. Our pool business is an industry leader with a premier brand, strong customer base, and a large install base, with leading positions in energy-efficient and smart connected pool technologies. Importantly, our flow and water solutions segments performed generally in line with expectations as we continue to successfully execute our growth agenda, demonstrating the strength and balance of our portfolio.”

Fishman expressed confidence that the company remains well positioned as it works through current market conditions.

“We have assessed our full year forecast and feel confident that we can execute successfully in 2026 and position ourselves for significant growth in 2027. With a solid balance sheet, strong cash flow, a balanced capital deployment strategy and a resilient business model, we remain well positioned to deliver long-term shareholder value.”

Pentair is scheduled to release its complete second-quarter financial results and provide additional commentary on its outlook during its earnings call on July 28.

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Manufacturer

Fluidra Acquires Datapool to Lead Digitalization and Efficiency in the Pool Sector

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Fluidra Acquires Datapool to Lead Digitalization and Efficiency in the Pool Sector

Fluidra, the global leader in pool and wellness equipment and connected solutions, has announced the acquisition of Datapool, the digital twin platform developed by Ecotropy. With this transaction, the company reinforces its strategic commitment to sustainability, operational efficiency and the digitalization of the sector.

The transaction represents the evolution of a collaboration that began in 2024, when Fluidra invested in Ecotropy through Fluidra Ventures, its Corporate Venture Capital fund focused on startups with the potential to transform the pool and wellness sector through technological innovation.

With this acquisition, Datapool becomes fully integrated into Fluidra’s digital ecosystem for commercial pools, consolidating its role as a key part of the company’s value proposition. The platform incorporates advanced analytics capabilities, IoT solutions and real-time data within an open and scalable architecture, in line with the company’s strategy to offer connected and sustainable solutions that maximize the efficiency of aquatic facilities and accelerate the transition towards smarter management models.

Datapool outfits aquatic facilities with digital twins, enabling pools to be managed using reliable, real-time data and replacing management models based on estimates or manual supervision.

In this way, the platform simulates the optimal operation of each facility and continuously compares it with variables such as energy consumption, occupancy, weather conditions and water quality, providing a comprehensive view that helps anticipate incidents, optimize resources and improve operational performance.

Thanks to this technology, operators can reduce operating costs by 10% to 25% by optimizing water and energy consumption without the need for construction works or invasive interventions; monitor and adjust key parameters such as temperature, water quality and occupancy in real time; automate management through predictive models that adapt climate control and operations to real demand; generate automatic reports with traceable data for audits, tenders or grant applications; and plan investments and improvements based on objective data.

“This acquisition marks a milestone in our digitalization strategy. Datapool allows us to accelerate the transition towards an intelligent pool management model, improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact and offering our customers data-driven tools to make better decisions,” said Thorsten Muck, Commercial Pool Director at Fluidra.

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Pentair Announces Leadership Transition for Pentair Pool

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Pentair Announces Leadership Transition for Pentair Pool

Pentair plc (NYSE: PNR), a leader in helping the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water life’s most essential resource, today announced that Jerome Pedretti, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Pentair Pool, will depart the Company effective July 1, 2026. Pedretti concludes a distinguished career with Pentair spanning more than 20 years.

In connection with Pedretti’s departure, Pentair is eliminating the Chief Executive Officer of Pentair Pool role. De’Mon Wiggins, current EVP and President, Pentair Flow and Pentair Water Solutions, will assume responsibility for the Pool segment as EVP and President, Pentair Flow, Water Solutions and Pool, effective April 28, 2026. Pedretti will remain with Pentair through his departure date to support an orderly transition.

“Over more than two decades with Pentair, Jerome has made a significant and lasting impact on our Pool and Flow businesses through his leadership, deep expertise, and unwavering commitment to our customers and our culture,” said John Stauch, Pentair President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are truly grateful for Jerome’s many contributions and for his thoughtful partnership in supporting a smooth transition. With De’Mon’s strong track record of execution and strategic leadership, I am confident in the continued momentum of our Pool business and excited about the opportunities ahead.”

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains statements that we believe to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words “targets,” “plans,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “likely,” “may,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “positioned,” “strategy,” or “future” or words, phrases, or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the overall global economic and business conditions impacting our business, including the strength of housing and related markets and conditions relating to international hostilities; supply, demand, logistics, competition and pricing pressures related to and in the markets we serve; the ability to achieve the benefits of our restructuring plans, cost reduction initiatives and Transformation Program; the impact of raw material, logistics and labor costs and other inflation; volatility in currency exchange rates and interest rates; failure of markets to accept new product introductions and enhancements; the ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions; risks associated with operating foreign businesses; the impact of seasonality of sales and weather conditions; our ability to comply with laws and regulations; the impact of changes in laws, regulations and administrative policy, including those that limit U.S. tax benefits or impact trade agreements and tariffs; the outcome of litigation and governmental proceedings; and the ability to achieve our long-term strategic operating and sustainability goals and targets. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. All forward-looking statements, including all financial forecasts, speak only as of the date of this release. Pentair assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update the information contained in this release.

ABOUT PENTAIR PLC

At Pentair, we help the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From our residential and commercial water solutions, to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is a core large cap value S&P 500 equity stock focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.

Pentair had revenue in 2025 of approximately $4.2 billion, and trades under the ticker symbol PNR. With approximately 9,000 global employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, we work to help improve lives and the environment around the world. To learn more, visit www.pentair.com.

Contacts

Media Contact:

Shelly Hubbard
Vice President, Investor Relations
Direct: 612-812-0148
Email: [email protected]

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