Find a problem, any problem and partners Paul Leber and Dave Peacock will exhaust all avenues to find a solution. Combined, the two have nearly 30 years of Connor Group experience.
Over their tenure, both Paul and Dave have lived our fix vs. replace mindset. In 2015, the two teamed up in Dayton, taking a deep dive to complete a massive repair. As we acquired Hunters Chase, the property’s pool came with a major problem.
In Loop’s latest Fix vs. Replace series, Paul and Dave share their troubleshooting trials and tribulations that are still paying big dividends for our residents today.
What was the problem?
“When we purchased Hunters Chase, the pool had risen out of the ground due to hydrostatic pressure,” Paul explained. “The bid to repair was $115,000 and would not open that year. Dave and I went to work. Partner Rodney Johnson had the concrete around the pool removed. Dave and I found, drilled and hammered through the hydrostatic drain as it was filled with concrete from the previous company.
“This released the water pressure under the pool, allowing it to sink back into the ground. We then started to repair the fiberglass shell and resurface. We worked for five days on the project and had concerns about how long it would last.”
Why is it unique from a maintenance standpoint?
“When we bought the property, the pool had not been opened in two plus years. It had started to float out of the ground and had major cracking all over the fiberglass shell,” Dave said. “Nearly all the tiles were falling off, and the concrete decking was in disrepair.”
What tools or skills were required to complete the fix?
“I tried,” Dave said. “The fix vs. replace mindset is a maintenance tech’s most important tool. Anyone can fix something by just throwing parts at it until it works. That’s not the same as troubleshooting, finding the problem and fixing that one thing that’s wrong.”
How long did the repair take?
“When we looked at it, we weren’t sure it could be repaired or how long it would last,” Dave said. “We spent about two weeks cleaning and cutting out cracked fiberglass, doing fiberglass repair, replacing tiles, and painting,” Dave explained.
What was the ultimate savings?
“We saved at least $50,000, which is what it would have cost to put in a completely new pool. It still looks nice today,” Paul said.
What did you learn?
“The biggest thing I’ve learned about fix vs replace is trying. Everything can be fixed; it was put together, so it can be taken apart. Even a swimming pool,” said Dave.
What advice do you have for others when it comes to having a fix vs. replace mentality?
“You’re going to always learn something by trying to fix something. You may fail, but if you give the effort, you’ll gain experience and learn what to do or not do the next time,” Dave explained. “Probably half of what I’ve learned has come from trying to fix things I’ve never worked on, and I always learn something.”
Paul offered four simple steps: “Identify the root problem, plan a strategic solution, utilize your resources and schedule the repair.”