It’s not uncommon for Steve Braun to talk passionately about frothy dances. And don’t get him started on bubblers, tanning ledges or disco lights. But, rather than whatever you’re currently thinking about Steve Braun, know that he builds swimming pools: High-end in-ground swimming pools with tons of features including disco lights and that other stuff. The frothy dances have something to do with the bubblers but more on that later.
Steve is the owner of the Frederick-based Backyard Creations, which he launched in 1991, after working in construction and then climbing the corporate ladder in the pool industry.
The business, Steve said, has had ups and downs. He survived the 2008 economic crash “because we started as a service company so we did pool openings and closings and service work. Since then, we had been chugging along and doing a comfortable amount of pools.”
When Covid hit, Backyard Creations was considered an essential business. Steve explained that the governor didn’t want existing pools to become neglected and turn into breeding grounds for mosquitos. When society entered quarantine, Steve said the effect on his business was huge.
“A year ago, we might get two or three leads per week. After the pandemic hit, we started getting 10-15 leads a day,” he said. To handle the influx, Steve prioritized the calls from the nearby community. “If they called from far away, we had to put them at the back of the list,” he said.
Steve’s company builds year-round. Although he can’t do the deck, the interior pool coatings or fill the pool with water in the winter, he can still do a lot. “Then in the spring, we’re just a few steps away from having a completed pool,” he said.
To begin the process Steve said, “I want to give them a reality check of the range of prices and the caliber that I build. For a completed project, assuming you need all the elements, it probably starts at $65-$75,000 up to $120-$140,000 and we have built many beyond that. If we get over that hurdle and they still are interested, we set up date for me to visit.”
Usually, by the time Steve visits a potential customer, they have shared photos of their property with Steve and they have some idea of what they want. For instance, Chris and Megan Hussong had an above-ground pool that collapsed. Chris said, “We needed a facelift for the patio and decided to do the whole thing with a pool.”
Early in the process Steve said, he gets a copy of the plat. “Then we do a sketch or two of what we can do in their yard. We give them a two-page breakdown of how we arrive at the price. It’s what they asked for, plus ideas that I’ve added. It’s like a shopping list with line items.”
Chris said his is “an irregularly shaped pool with a waterfall, 1,200 feet of travertine, a stone bar, pavilion, and pergola surrounded by trees.”
To help customers like Chris and Megan make choices, Steve explains what his pools include, and all the available add-ons. All pools from Backyard Creations come with energy-efficient hybrid pumps, a Polaris auto cleaner, two LED lights (instead of the usual one), a four-step entry (instead of the usual three), accent tile on the edges of steps, at least 12 feet of submerged built-in bench seating, a swim-out area in the deep end, instead of a ladder, and more.
Extras include a tanning ledge, which is an area under a few inches of water that can accommodate lounge chairs. Steve’s tanning ledges include umbrella holes and also bubblers which “change colors and create a frothy dance as they synchronize with the lights in the pool,” he said. Seven different computerized light-and-water shows include “California Sunset,” “Patriotic,” and “Dance Party,” which Steve said would be great with disco music. Backyard Creations can also add cascading spillways, or deck jets which spray arched streams of water into the pool. Then, homeowners can add a heater, choose their decking material, and more.
Chris Hussong advised, “You get what you pay for. If you spend a little more. you’re typically happier.” Even though he thought it might be a bit excessive, Chris really wanted a waterfall. “Unexpectedly, it’s our favorite part,” he said. Reflecting on his new backyard, he said, “We love it and it’s the best investment we ever made.”
Backyard Creations (BYCPools.com) builds stunning in-ground pools with many standard features plus add-ons including slides, heaters, mosaics, spas, waterfalls, swim-up bars, firepits and more.