Mar 23, 2025 5 min read

Imagine spending the hot summer days lounging by a crystal blue shimmering pool in your own backyard. For almost fifty years, Del Suppo Pools has been making this dream a reality for homeowners in southwestern Pennsylvania. Specializing in custom in-ground pools and spas, this locally owned company is known for its expert craftsmanship, innovative designs, and dedication to bringing backyard visions to life. Whether you’re looking for a sleek modern pool, a resort-style escape, or a fun, family-friendly oasis, Del Suppo Pools combines top-quality materials with personalized service to create stunning pools built to last.

Del “Buster” Suppo Jr. has been in the pool building business since he was old enough to hold the measuring tape for his dad. Tagging along to dig sites, he would help hold the transit stick so that his dad could get shots to accurately dig the pool. Del Suppo Pools was started in 1977 by Buster’s father, Del Suppo Sr. and his mother, Judy Suppo.

In 1987, the Suppos opened their first retail location on McCrea Avenue in Donora, PA. In high school by then, Buster was an integral part of the business, doing everything from answering phones and scheduling work to ordering supplies and unloading trucks. In 1994 he married his wife, Jennifer, and along with his parents they expanded their business to their current location at 26 McKean Avenue, which they built themselves. In 2020 Del and Judy retired, and Buster and Jennifer purchased the business and now operate it together.

Donora, PA is a resilient rustbelt town known for its steel mill history, and still is a center for industry and manufacturing. It is nicknamed “the home of champions”, because of the number of professional athletes who were born there, including Ken Griffey Jr. and Stan Musial. Del Suppo Pools reflects the industrious image of the town in its strong work ethic and community commitment. It is a business that was literally built from the ground up.

Del Suppo pools started with concrete fiberglass walled pools, but as market conditions changed in the 1980’s, liners became more economical and quicker to build. By the 2000’s, they began to install fiberglass drop-in pools. They also renovate a lot of older concrete pools, usually converting them to vinyl liner pools.

The popularity of vinyl liners has opened the opportunity for endless customizations for pools.

“We can add in sundecks, steps, benches, change the elevations, add automatic pool covers, custom lighting. There are very few limitations to vinyl pools,” says Buster.

Because there are so many options, nearly every pool that the company creates is custom. They offer a wide selection of patterns and textures for customers to create their own personalized look for their backyard oasis. Suppo notes that they don’t have a typical clientele demographic. Because each project is customized, they can work with a variety of budgets and needs. They have built everything from small splash pools to large commercial pools for condo developments.

The customer relationship with Del Suppo Pools does not end after installation is complete. They also provide services to keep your pool running all summer and protected in the winter, like closings, openings, and weekly maintenance. Their sister company, Tri-State Pool Covers installs automatic pool covers, fabric replacements and repairs, as well as annual maintenance.

Suppo credits the long-term success of Del Suppo Pools to the strong dedication between family, employees, and customers.

“Employee retention is a key factor to any successful business,” says Suppo, who prides himself on keeping employees long-term and promoting them from within. His company provides employees with competitive salaries, paid vacation time, health insurance, a company funded 401k and profit sharing. He fosters the same loyalty and commitment to his customers, creating lasting relationships over decades.

“I have a customer that we built their pool in 1981 who we still open and close and weekly service their pool,” he says. Del Suppo Pools lives by the philosophy: “What is done well once, lasts a lifetime”. They take the time to do the job right the first time, ensuring a long-lasting product and customer relationship.

The hilly terrain can cause challenges, and a totally flat backyard is a rarity in the area. Suppo recalled a particularly challenging job in a small yard with a deep slope. They made it work with the use of an engineered retaining wall and a custom sized pool. They worked with an engineer and inspectors to ensure that everything was up to code. There is rarely a straightforward job when you’re in the business of customization.

Western Pennsylvania is not exactly known for its spectacular year-round weather, which provides a challenge for those in the swimming pool industry. Suppo says they plan around the weather, taking full advantage of the good days to get outside work done. They also don’t shy away from working in less ideal conditions. For pool customers in our area, waiting out those long, cold winter days make the hot summer pool days even sweeter.

If the thought of soaking up every ounce of summer sun in your custom-built backyard oasis is starting to sound better and better, check out the work that the Suppo’s do on their website delsuppopools.com. If you can dream it, they can build it.

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