On this episode of the Aloha Deep Dive Podcast, recorded live at the HBR expo, hosts John Watts and Brad Cook sat down with Beth Jacob of Jacob Sunrooms, Exteriors, and Baths to talk about how outdoor living projects, especially sun rooms, pair with backyard pools.

Who is Jacob Sunrooms, Exteriors, and Baths?

Jacob is a family-owned company that’s been in business for about 50 years, started by Beth’s father-in-law and later run by her husband before she joined the team. The company specializes in window replacements, tub and shower renovations, and outdoor living additions like sun rooms, screen rooms, and pergolas.

Can you build a sun room around a pool?

One of the most interesting moments in the episode: Brad asked whether Jacob could enclose an entire pool with a sun room structure, essentially creating an indoor pool. Beth confirmed they’ve done exactly that before. While it’s not a common request, it’s absolutely possible for homeowners who want year-round use of their pool space without dealing with bugs, heat, or humidity.

What other outdoor living options does Jacob offer?

Beyond sun rooms, Beth highlighted a few other options that pair well with backyard pools:

• Screened-in porches, a simpler, non-climate-controlled option for keeping bugs out while still enjoying the outdoors
• Aluminum pergolas with louvered, operable roofs that open and close depending on the weather
• Custom two-story sun rooms, including one build with a full oak staircase inside

What’s trending right now in bath and shower renovations?

Beth also speaks about a rising demand for aging-in-place bathroom renovations, including walk-in showers, walk-in tubs, and safety features like grab bars. These projects typically take just one to two days, with water shut off for only a short window, a fast turnaround that echoes the same customer-first philosophy Aloha applies to its own pool builds and service calls.

Why this matters for pool owners

Between the sun rooms, screened enclosures, and bath renovations, this episode is a good reminder that a pool is often just one piece of a bigger backyard and home upgrade. Companies like Jacob can help extend the usability of a pool space well beyond swim season, whether that means climate control, bug-free lounging, or a more accessible bathroom to go along with all that pool time.

Listen to the full episode

Want to hear more about custom outdoor living projects and how they pair with a new pool? Catch the full episode above or YouTube channel. And if you’re ready to start planning your own backyard upgrade, reach out to an Aloha sales rep today.

Transcript:

John: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another edition of the Aloha Pools and Spas Deep Dive podcast. I’m John Watts, along with Brad Cook. Brad, please introduce our guest.

Brad: We have Beth Jacob from Jacob Sunrooms, Exteriors, and Baths.

John: That’s a mouthful.

Brad: We can just call it Jacob. We just did a segment with Beth’s sister, Chesley Fence and Deck, so we thought we’d come back and talk about this side of the business too.

Beth: We’re busy, and we love it.

Brad: So tell us about everything Jacob does.

Beth: We’ve been around for about 50 years, local and family-owned. We specialize in window replacements, tub and shower replacements, and bathtub renovations. What we’re probably most known for is our outdoor living work, sun rooms, screen rooms, and pergolas. We have a lot of products that enhance backyard living, kind of like an Aloha pool.

Brad: I’m guessing you’re not the original founder from 50 years ago.

Beth: I look good for 80, don’t I? My father-in-law started the company, my husband took it over in the ’90s, and then we met. He got me out of my old career, and I haven’t looked back.

John: So you’re doing a lot of work around pools these days too.

Beth: A lot of pool work. Everyone wants to update their backyard and live a little more outside. That’s where Aloha and Jacob come in together. Sun rooms are a great example, you can use them year-round, get that indoor comfort with a full view of your pool, without the bugs and heat.

Brad: So basically moon rooms, since you can use them at night too.

Beth: We can absolutely do that.

Brad: I’ve seen simpler versions too, like a covered patio that gets screened in afterward. It’s not temperature controlled, but it gives people a bug-free space to sit outside.

Beth: Exactly, and it’s a great product for people who don’t need a full three-season room but still want to enhance their space.

John: Could you build a sun room around an entire pool? Basically make it an indoor pool?

Beth: I’m glad you asked. We’ve absolutely done that before. It’s not common, but we can close in an entire pool system with a Jacob sun room.

John: What else is trending in your business right now, besides sun rooms?

Beth: Outdoor living is always popular, but right now we’re seeing a big uptick in bath and shower renovations, especially for aging-in-place situations. We help homeowners replace old tubs with walk-in showers, add safety grab bars, and keep people comfortable and safe in their homes longer.

Brad: Do you all do walk-in tubs too?

Beth: We do. You sit down, close the door, fill it up with a watertight seal, and get all the safety benefits of a bath without the hazards.

Brad: I actually learned about that today for the first time. We had a customer asking about exactly that earlier, and I sent her straight to your booth.

Beth: That’s exactly the kind of renovation we handle. And typically, it’s fast, one day, maybe two at most. Your water might be off for five or ten minutes total.

Brad: That’s impressive. Most remodeling projects, if someone’s in and out in a week, that already feels fast. You’re saying two days is normal?

Beth: That’s right. We want to take care of the client, finish the project, leave them with something beautiful, thank them, and ask for a five-star review on our way out.

Brad: Sun rooms probably take a little longer, though, since it’s a different kind of structure.

Beth: Right, sun rooms are more involved. We pull permits and work with the city or county wherever the homeowner lives, so there are no code issues down the road for the next homeowner.

John: What’s the craziest job you’ve ever done, besides the pool enclosure?

Beth: We’ve built some double-decker, two-story sun rooms, including one with a really nice oak staircase in the middle.

John: So if someone sees something on HGTV and wants something similar, you can replicate that?

Beth: We can do a lot, and in a lot of different colors too.

John: Is there anything more off-the-shelf, or is everything custom? Say someone wants a hot tub and a pergola or screened area.

Beth: Everything’s custom, even our pergolas. They’re aluminum, maintenance-free, and louvered so they open and close. If it starts to rain during a barbecue near the hot tub, you can close it up and keep going.

Brad: Sounds like we’re just missing a landscaping and irrigation company at this point, us two, an electrician, and we’ve basically got a full backyard.

Beth: That’s the thing that matters most to clients, walking them through all the pieces they might not think about, and helping them have a great experience with the project, not just a great pool or sun room. Even if they don’t buy from me that day, they’ve learned something, and that matters.

Brad: I love that mindset. It’s very similar to how Aloha and Chesley think about it too. If someone doesn’t buy today, they’ll still tell a friend about the experience, and that friend becomes a future customer. It’s an ecosystem.

Beth: Exactly. And even if our price isn’t the cheapest, people often end up back with us anyway once they’ve compared, because of the experience and the quality behind it. Mistakes happen too, we’re human, but if something isn’t installed right, we come back and fix it. There’s a workmanship warranty behind everything. You don’t stay in business for 50 or 60 years by cutting corners.

John: Where can people find you?

Beth: We have two showrooms, one in Fenton, Missouri, and one in Fairview Heights, Illinois, open six days a week. Come look around, touch the products, get a feel for what you’re getting, kind of like how people want to experience a pool in person too. You can also find us online at jacobfamilyinc.com.

Brad: Thanks so much for coming on, Beth. I think we’ve got some future projects to work on together.

John: And that’s another episode of the Aloha Pools and Spas Deep Dive podcast. Dive safely.