Don’t get in over your head

© Terry J Alcorn | iStockphoto

A pool is the focal point of an outdoor living space.

It’s the foundation from which the rest of the landscape design evolves. For many contractors, that’s why they’ve chosen to add the service to their business rather than subbing it out.

“Pools are a component of the overall picture,” says Mike Mainland, project manager at Steven Dubner Landscaping in Long Island, New York. “The ability to design and execute the construction of the pool completes the ability to handle the entire exterior; that’s why we’ve always done it.”

If a landscape revolves around the pool, a landscaping business should also center on perfecting pool installation and maintenance. Before a contractor dives head first into this line of work, here are five dos and don’ts we’ve gathered from some of the pros.

Read the full story from our August issue here.