(December 2012) – Al Curtis, designer and builder for Legendary Escapes, has become known for his innovation and creativity. He is always looking for ways to make sure each swimming pool he builds is a unique creation, unlike any other, and a perfect fit for each customer. In addition to that, though, he is also committed to being as “green” as possible and being eco-friendly whenever he can. One way he does this is by using as many recycled materials as he can in his projects.
Curtis is known for his creative use of reclaimed barn wood and brick, bringing new life to these materials. He uses these materials to build beautiful retaining walls, fences, pool houses, and more. He is always on the lookout for new materials to recycle, and new ways to use them. This summer, he was informed of a re-roofing project at the University of Michigan, and could not bear to see so many roof tiles thrown away. He arranged to pick up the old roof tiles and put them to good use in his construction project.
While setting up for an open house at a swimming pool project he was just finishing, Curtis went for a walk to the train tracks behind the house. He came back excited, holding several old, rusty railroad ties. There was a pile of them marked “Free: take as many as you want.” There was a project underway to replace the ties with new ones, and Al knew just what to do with the old ones. He cleaned and polished them and made them into towel hooks for the mining and fishing themed swimming pool. “I’ve got so many ideas for these,” he said, “I’m going to have to come back tomorrow with my wheelbarrow!”
Curtis uses as much reclaimed material as possible, for several reasons. It adds artistic and aesthetic appeal, of course. “I love old materials because they have so much more character,” he explains, “they have a story to tell.” But it’s more than aesthetics for Curtis. He loves to give old materials new life and hates to waste. Using reclaimed materials allows him to keep his business as eco-friendly as possible, while giving his customers and outstanding swimming pool. Another benefit of using reclaimed material is cost-effectiveness. Curtis is committed to keeping costs down for his customers whenever possible, without sacrificing the integrity of the product. Repurposed materials often come at little to no cost to Curtis, which benefits his customers in turn.
Curtis has earned the respect of many of his industry colleagues for his innovation, creativity, and skill. At a recent open house, an industry professional looked around at the backyard being showcased in amazement. “You could walk up to a pile of this stuff and think it’s just a pile of junk,” he said, “but then Al can turn it into this!” Curtis has a unique ability to see things for what they could be, rather than what they are. This helps him provide an unmatched experience for his customers and create outstanding, eco-friendly swimming pools.
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Al Curtis is the designer, and builder for Legendary Escapes Pools. He has years of industry experience and is committed to providing his clients with the best experience possible. If you are interested in building a new swimming pool, you can contact him or a capable member of his team by phone (248-478-4978), email (pools@legendaryescapes.com), or online (www.legendaryescapes.com).
