Longevity Matters

Built for Beauty

Built for Generations

Our pools are designed for longevity—but every work of art requires maintenance. Landfare offers tailored seasonal care and specialized services to protect the beauty and function of your pool year after year.

Service Highlights in Upper Arlington, Grandview, Powell & Dublin, Ohio:

Seasonal Openings & Closings – Including water balancing, cover placement, and winter prep.
Water Quality & Filtration – Testing, chemicals, and filter cleaning for clarity and safety.
Equipment Care – Pump, heater, and automation system inspection and repair.
Surface & Structure – Leak detection, resurfacing, and stone sealing.
Renovation & Renewal – Updating liners, features, and finishes to keep your pool current.

We don’t just build pools—we craft heirlooms for your property.

Building Long-Term Relationships Through Trust

Because Details Matter

The same reasons you love your home

Enduring Materials – Pools that age gracefully, not pools that need replacing.
Taste Elevated – Modern, transitional, and classic styles that never feel “stock.”
A Local Team That Knows the Neighborhoods – Serving Upper Arlington, Dublin, Powell & Grandview Heights.
Reliability You Can Count On – One point of contact, steady communication, and projects handled start to finish.

7 Pool Design
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Meet the Team

JOHN SPAYDE
Principal, Head Designer

Growing up in Mansfield, Ohio, John Spayde, owner and head designer, was surrounded by lush, natural landscape. His family owned a wholesale nursery and tree nursery where John worked during his summers. John’s mother, a talented member of the Kingswood Garden Center, nurtured her own flower garden and won many awards for her beautiful arrangements. John went on to the Ohio State University with an undergraduate degree focused on marketing/economics along with a minor in architecture/interior design.

While John enjoyed being an executive with Xerox in California, he wanted to get back to his roots when he started Landfare Ltd. He was and continues to be inspired by nature.

ZACH MILLER
General Manager

Growing up in a small town with livestock and a vast vegetable garden to maintain; Zach learned the value of hard work. He also took joy in all of the tasks that he needed to do to help his father, who was a butcher and his mother who canned vegetables and fruits constantly.

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University, he wanted to get back to his roots and be outside in nature. Shortly after college, Zach and John had the good fortune of meeting at a jobsite. The rest is history. Zach deeply believes in living values with team work, and ensuring that quality shows through every project.

Commonly Asked Question

Design & function you will love

Why do people trust you? We are not a franchise. We are not a rotating crew. Landfare Ltd. is a small, highly specialized team rooted in Upper Arlington, Dublin, Powell, and Grandview Heights. Local Legacy – Serving Columbus for over 30 years. Focused Footprint – We build where we live, so every project has our eyes on it daily. A Personal Approach – You’ll have one point of contact from design to finishing touches. “Our work is about trust. We build relationships as carefully as we build stone.” – Zach Miller, General Manager

Who will I work with day-to-day? You’ll have one point of contact throughout your project: our General Manager. Behind the scenes, you’ll benefit from the collective expertise of our small, full-time management team, including the owner of our pool maintenance company—who brings 40 years of experience to every design and installation. This means clear communication, reliable updates, and a partner who knows your project intimately.

How many projects do you take on each season? Landfare Ltd. intentionally takes on only 3–10 projects per season. This allows our team to stay deeply engaged, ensuring every detail—from stonework to seasonal plantings—is executed with the highest level of craftsmanship. We value depth over volume, and our clients appreciate the difference. Unlike firms that hand work off to subcontractors, we self-perform our core construction and pool building. Every phase is led by our dedicated in-house team, with specialists who have decades of experience in concrete, masonry, and pool systems. This approach ensures quality control, accountability, and artistry from the first pour to the final planting.

Why is fiberglass or plaster a mistake in Ohio? Ohio’s climate can be unforgiving. With repeated freeze–thaw cycles, fiberglass shells and plaster finishes expand and contract unevenly. Over time, this creates visible dimples, fading, and cracking—all signs of premature aging. Fiberglass also carries a plastic sheen that never achieves the warmth of natural stone, while plaster often requires resurfacing every 5–7 years. At Landfare, we build with poured-in-place concrete and hand-set stone—materials that move more naturally with the earth and maintain their elegance for decades. It’s the difference between a pool that shows wear quickly, and one that looks timeless season after season. We're also happy to work with pool liners.

How often will I need to resurface a concrete pool? Unlike fiberglass or plaster, a well-constructed concrete pool has extraordinary longevity. With proper engineering, steel reinforcement, and tiled finishes, most of our pools last 20 years or more before resurfacing is ever required. However, it will depend on the level of maintenance that you are continuing to do along with your unique ecosystem or incline. Our goal is permanence. Every stone and tile we place sits on a 4,000 psi concrete foundation, giving you the confidence that your pool isn’t just built for today, but for the next generation.

What chemicals do you recommend for concrete vs. vinyl pools? For concrete pools, we typically recommend a balance of chlorine or saltwater systems, combined with routine pH and alkalinity adjustments to preserve the stone and tile. Concrete tolerates a wider spectrum of water treatments when properly monitored. For vinyl pools, chemical precision matters more. Excessive chlorine or imbalance can shorten the liner’s lifespan. That’s why Landfare clients benefit from our in-house water testing and service team—we calibrate treatments not just to the pool type, but to the exact environment of your backyard. For spas, we recommend chlorine because of the water temperature.

How do I know if my pool has a leak? A pool leak can be subtle. Signs may include: Water loss of more than ¼ inch per day (beyond natural evaporation) Wet spots in the lawn near plumbing lines Air bubbles or gurgling in the return system Difficulty keeping chemicals balanced If you suspect a leak, our team performs pressure testing and dye analysis to identify the source precisely—avoiding unnecessary excavation.

Is it better to repair or replace a pool heater? It depends on the age and efficiency of the unit. Most heaters last 8–12 years with proper maintenance. If a repair is minor and the heater is under 7 years old, repair often makes sense. But with rising energy costs, replacing an older unit with a high-efficiency model can reduce operating expenses and provide more consistent heating. We’ll help you weigh both options so you don’t overspend unnecessarily.

How often should pool chemicals be adjusted? Every pool has its own rhythm, but the minimum for a healthy pool is weekly professional service. Many of our clients choose a twice-per-week approach—one visit by a certified Landfare professional, and a light check-in by the homeowner. This cadence keeps water chemistry balanced and protects finishes, equipment, and long-term investment.

What savings can an automatic pool cover provide? An automatic cover can reduce heating costs by up to 75%—provided it’s used whenever the pool isn’t being enjoyed. Beyond energy efficiency, it also keeps debris out, minimizes chlorine loss, reduces evaporation, and blocks sunlight that feeds algae growth. It’s both a functional essential and an aesthetic complement to a Landfare pool.

Who manages lighting, heating, and equipment? Landfare oversees every element, from design to daily performance. Most clients keep their pools at 86°F in summer. For year-round use—or “spools” that double as heated spas—we recommend natural gas heaters, which perform reliably beyond summer. Heat pumps are effective for summer-only enjoyment. Equipment placement is discreet, quiet, and carefully screened for both safety and beauty.