David Johnston definitely has been looking forward to pool season.
As the owner of DJ’s Pool and Spa in Hiawatha, you could say he’s been looking forward to this time of year for the past 25 years.
Johnston started his pool building business out of his home back in 1993. He ran it from there and out of warehouse space in Robins for more than two decades until the company recently opened a retail showroom off Boyson Road in Hiawatha.
“Things had been going well for our business, so we decided to open a showroom but it took us a year to find this location,” Johnston said. He then worked with employees — his wife, Sheri, plus seven others — to gut the space and renovate it.
The showroom has a tiki hut design that Johnston said was inspired by many trips to Florida to visit his mother, who worked for Disney.
“We are excited to have this space so that customers can stop in and see a few models of spas we offer,” he said. “... Already quite a few people have driven by and just stopped in to check it out.”
DJ’s Pool carries a line of spas called Tuff Spas, which Johnston said are the world’s only lifetime warranty spa.
Johnston’s business is the designated dealer for Eastern Iowa.
He said his company installs pools that are constructed of four-inch thick webbed polymer plastic that are highly durable and long-lasting.
“They are rock-solid tough and non-corrosive,” he said.
Customers can then select a pool liner, which Johnston said typically are changed every 10 to 12 years.
In terms of building new pools, that really varies from year to year.
“In any given year, we’ll construct four to 10 in-ground pools and five to 10 on-ground pools. Some years we sell more and some years we sell less,” he said.
“It’s hard to figure out what the factors that affect that are. But regardless, I so enjoy this because we are giving people family time together.
“Everything we carry is nearly indestructible,” he added.
Beyond doing service calls — such as replacing liners or heaters — and opening pools up for the coming season — they prep about 200 pools. DJ’s Pool also sells pool chemicals and offers pool cleaning services even makes deliveries.
They are entering into their busiest time of year, Johnston noted, saying his team is especially busy from mid-April through the end of September.
Come winter?
“We plan to be a part of a lot of home shows,” he said.
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At a glance
• Owner: David Johnston
• Business: DJ’s Pool and Spa
• Address: 1005 Hawkeye Dr., Hiawatha
• Phone: (319) 395-7665
• Website: djspoolandspa.com