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Encompass Pools: Blogs
More Than Water: The Moments You Don’t Expect When You Own a Pool
There is a moment most pool owners remember forever.
It isn’t the day construction starts.
It isn’t even the first time the water fills.
It’s usually something quieter… something smaller… and somehow, something much bigger at the same time.
For me, it was a random Tuesday evening in July.
The sun was setting. The kids had finished dinner. Someone grabbed pool towels without being asked. Music was playing softly from the patio speaker. The water was perfectly still until the first splash broke the calm, followed by laughter that echoed across the backyard.
That was the moment it hit me.
Owning a pool isn’t about the pool.
It’s about what happens around it.
Summer Feels Different When It Lives in Your Backyard
Before owning a pool, summer felt rushed.
We chased weekend plans, packed coolers, loaded cars, and tried to squeeze fun into tight schedules. There were long drives, crowded spaces, and the constant feeling that time was slipping away faster than we wanted.
Now, summer doesn’t feel scheduled anymore.
It feels… available.
Sometimes it looks like spontaneous cannonball contests.
Sometimes it’s floating quietly after a long day at work.
Sometimes it’s kids inviting friends over without needing to plan weeks ahead.
Sometimes it’s simply dipping your feet in the water while the grill heats up.
A backyard pool turns ordinary days into something worth remembering — without needing to go anywhere.
The Memories You Don’t Realize You’re Creating
No one tells you this when you’re deciding whether to build a pool…
The memories don’t come from the big parties.
They come from the small, unplanned moments.
They come from:
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Teaching your child how to swim for the first time
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Watching teenagers actually put their phones down and laugh together
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Late night swims under patio lights
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Coffee by the water before the house wakes up
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Neighbors becoming close friends over casual weekend hangouts
A pool becomes the place where life naturally gathers.
And one day you realize the backyard has become the center of your home.
It Changes How You Experience Home
Something unexpected happens when you install a pool — your house starts to feel like a destination.
You begin to notice:
You spend more time outside.
You entertain more.
You relax faster.
You disconnect easier.
There is something calming about water. It naturally slows things down in a world that constantly feels busy.
A pool doesn’t just add value to a property.
It adds value to how you live inside it.
The Seasons Become Milestones
Pool owners start marking time differently.
There’s Opening Day — when winter officially ends.
There’s the first swim of the season — usually colder than expected but worth every second.
There are mid-summer nights when the water feels perfect and time seems to stretch a little longer.
Then there’s Closing Day — bittersweet, but filled with reflection about everything the season held.
Each year brings new traditions, new laughter, and new stories. It’s more than water.
-Stephanie Clayman
Built Different: The Story Behind Encompass Pools
If you asked people who know us to describe our partnership, you’d probably hear the same phrase over and over…
“Opposites attract.”
And honestly, they wouldn’t be wrong.
Encompass Pools was never built by two identical minds or matching personalities. It was built by two guys who see the world differently — but share the exact same vision.
Two Perspectives. One Mission.
From day one, Neal Forester and Israel Clayman have approached business — and life — from opposite angles.
One leads with instinct.
One leads with strategy.
One sees the dream first.
The other builds the roadmap to get there.
What makes it work isn’t agreeing on everything.
It’s listening.
It’s debating.
It’s compromising.
And most importantly…
It’s knowing that every decision comes from the same place — wanting what’s best for our customers, our families, and the community we serve.
Starting From nothing — Building Everything
Encompass Pools didn’t begin in a corporate boardroom or with generational funding.
It began with a simple belief:
If we work harder than everyone else, treat people right, and refuse to cut corners — success will follow.
In April of 2023, Encompass Pools officially became an LLC.
Two months later, in June, we broke ground on our very first pool build.
No massive staff.
No massive marketing budget.
Just grit, determination, long days, and even longer nights.
But we believed in what we were building.
The Growth That Still Feels Unreal
Looking back, the numbers tell a story even we sometimes have to pause and process:
• 2023: $800,000 in builds
• 2024: $1.7 Million
• 2025: $2.2 Million
And while those numbers are something we’re incredibly proud of… they only tell part of the story.
Behind every project is a backyard where memories will be made.
Behind every install is a family trusting us with their dream.
That responsibility is something we never take lightly-it weighs on us daily, and nightly. The thought of our customers relying on us for memories that bring joy, knowing that they put their savings in our hands is something we never lose sight of.
Why Being Different Makes Us Stronger
There have been plenty of moments where Neal and Israel didn’t initially agree on direction, design choices, timelines, or growth strategy.
But instead of creating division — it created strength.
Because when two people with different viewpoints are willing to listen, the result is better solutions, better service, and better outcomes for homeowners.
Encompass Pools isn’t built on ego.
It’s built on collaboration.
The Values That Drive Every Project
No matter how much we grow, some things will never change:
Honesty — even when it’s not easy Quality craftsmanship — even when it costs more time and effort Relationships over transactions Delivering a backyard that feels like home
We didn’t come from money.
We came from hard work, learning lessons the tough way, and refusing to quit when things got difficult.
That foundation shows up in every pool we build.
Faith, Family, and Gratitude
None of this happens without the people standing behind us.
Our families who sacrificed time.
Our friends who supported us when success wasn’t guaranteed.
Our customers who trusted a young company with their backyard dreams.
We are beyond grateful.
Truly… blessed.
Eyes on the Future
We have huge goals.
Not just for growth in numbers — but growth in impact, innovation, and community involvement.
2026 is already shaping up to be a year of expansion, new services, and bigger opportunities to serve homeowners across our region.
But no matter how big Encompass Pools becomes…
It will always come back to two guys who believed they could build something meaningful from nothing.
And who continue to push each other every single day to be better.
From Our Families to Yours
When you choose Encompass Pools, you’re not just hiring a contractor.
You’re partnering with two owners who are personally invested in every detail, every design, and every finished backyard.
Because we know what it means to build something that lasts.
We’re living proof of it.
— Neal Forester & Israel Clayman
Owners, Encompass Pools