Reprint of Article in Pool & Spa News

April 24 2006

The Do-It-Yourselfer

Gene Trumbull has made a career of teaching others to build their own spas

By Zipporah Porton: Gene Trumbull spent 15 years building and remodeling homes and occasionally he would construct a pool or two. But now he spends all of his time helping people build custom spas.

“The last couple of years were phenomenal,” said Trumbull, who formed his company, Custom Built Spas, at the end of 1998. “And to think I didn’t even want to go into business”

Trumbull, 59, was semi retired when he moved from Connecticut to South Carolina . His friends were remodeling their house and wanted a spa. Always the handyman, Trumbull offered to build one, relying on his own knowledge as a contractor and consulting with those who have done that type of work.

The installation turned out beautifully, and soon there were spa requests from neighbors, and even Parker Bohn III, the No.1 bowler in the Professional Bowlers Association that year.

“That was the light bulb’ moment,” Trumbull recalled. “If someone of that caliber was interested, it was something I should consider.” So he wrote a few how-to-books and posted them on his own makeshift Web site to test the waters. When the books turned out to be hits, he invested more time and money, and his business took off.

To date, Trumbull is selling four books online. The first which he calls a masonry spa building book, explains how to take materials and create your own custom spa “from scratch, “while the second discusses using a one-piece shell. Most recently Trumbull completed a book about swim spas. His fourth offering, Spas Secrets, is free with any order and provides tips for those who decide they would rather purchase portable spas.

He insists his process is detailed enough for even the most inexperienced builders. As an added bonus, anyone who purchases a book from his site can call the Vernon , CT- based author anytime for help.

“Some of my customers want to build and do hands on things,” he said, “while others just give {the book} to their contractors and have them do it for them.” In fact, many of Trumbull ’s customers are small contractors looking for an add-on business.

“It’s a joy, “he said of his work. “It can be hectic sometimes, but I really enjoy doing what I do.”

For more information, visit www.custombuiltspas.com