Paint the Pool

summary

In this episode of the Talking Pools podcast, Rudy Stankowitz discusses the complexities and pitfalls of painting swimming pools. He begins with a light-hearted introduction and New Year's wishes before delving into the historical context of the phrase 'mother-father.' The conversation shifts to industry news, including updates on pool care companies and market trends. The main focus is on the drawbacks of pool painting, highlighting its short lifespan, labor-intensive preparation, and susceptibility to damage. Rudy emphasizes the importance of considering long-term solutions over quick fixes, urging listeners to think critically before opting for pool paint.

takeaways

• Painting a pool may seem like a quick fix, but it often leads to more problems.
• The lifespan of pool paint is significantly shorter than other resurfacing options.
• Proper preparation is crucial for any pool painting job.
• Paint can mask underlying issues rather than solve them.
• Pool chemicals can deteriorate painted surfaces quickly.
• Investing in durable surfaces like plaster or tile pays off in the long run.
• Painting a pool can turn maintenance into a challenging task.
• The aesthetic appeal of painted pools is often one-dimensional.
• Consider the long-term value of a pool before deciding to paint.
• Communication with customers about the risks of painting is essential.

Sound Bites

• "Why you should never paint a swimming pool."
• "Painting is the fruit fly of pool finishes."
• "Just think before you paint."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and New Year's Wishes

00:34
The Linguistic Journey of 'Mother-Father'

04:22
Industry News and Updates

07:51
The Pitfalls of Painting Pools

17:38
Final Thoughts on Pool Maintenance

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:54

Hey everybody. It's Friday. I'm Rudy Stankowitz. This is the Talking Pools Podcast. Thank you for tuning in to chat with me today. Happy to have you. We made it through Christmas. New Year's Eve. It's 2025 now. What's your New Year's resolution? If I was to make a wish for all of you, it would be to have a prosperous 2025. I hope this year kicks ass for you. Before we jump into why you should never paint a swimming pool, I want to talk about the history of the phrase, motherfucker. A little bit of news before we jump into the topic. Azurian expands its executive team. Azurian is a leading pool care platform in the Northeast. It's appointed Mike Todd as Chief Integration and Development Officer and Nina Sornoza Ordenz as Director of Human Resources. Mike Todd will oversee pre- and post-LOI diligence integration processes and growth plan. Nina Sornoza Ordenes will enhance HR operations to attract top talent. That comes to us from TMCNet.com, December 23rd, 2024. Fluidra, a global leader in pool and wellness equipment, has agreed to acquire back BAC pool systems, known for its stainless steel and elevated pool solutions. This strategic move aims to expand Fluidra's commercial pool offerings and strengthen its position in the market. Release date for that one was December 21st, 2024. That came right out of PoolMagazine.com, one of the sponsors for this show. Shares of Pool Corp saw a 1.1% increase, reaching$351.65 a share during positive trading session on December 24th. Despite this rise, the stock underperformed compared to the broader market indices. Release date there, December 25th, 2024. The source was MarketWatch.com. In response to feedback, G Long City Hall extended the operating hours of Eastern Beach Children's Pool. Alright, I don't fucking care. If you live there, call them up. They'll tell you when you can swim. Pools. That's P-O-O-L Z, an online marketplace, announced Australia's best pools for 24, notably a plunge pool in Arundel, one Best Plunge Pool, a custom concrete pool in Broad Beach secured best resort style pool, and a pool in Mermaid Waters received Best Glass Window Pool. That release date is December 23rd, 2024. The source there was CourierMel.com.au.

SPEAKER_05 3:39

So I've been on vacation. Starting Saturday. Friday was our last work day. Um started vacation Saturday. Got sick Saturday. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and I'm still sick. Vacation's almost over, and I haven't been able to do nothing because I've been stuck on the couch trying to recover and recuperate. But you know what? I'm grateful though. Because even though I'm sick, I'm still alive and healthy. So still kicking. But hope everybody had a good Christmas and enjoyed their family and ate a lot of food. And yeah, man. Wish you guys the best. I wish you guys the best for next year. Get ready for 2020, cuz we're coming in strong. And want to take over. Get ready.

SPEAKER_04 4:47

We got this. Tip of the day is brought to you by Coachella Valley Pools of Instagram.

SPEAKER_02 5:08

So we've recently been asked about nominating manufacturer personnel or manufacturer reps for our upcoming mentor recognition. And while we absolutely love our manufacturers and distributors deeply, we value our relationships with them and sincerely appreciate all they do to support us and the industry. This podcast is dedicated to the pool professionals who build, service, repair, and renovate swimming pools. Our mission has always been to champion those on the front lines of this industry, the people who bring pools to life and keep them running smoothly. To honor that, it's only fitting that our awards stay true to this focus, recognizing the incredible mentors among us who represent who we are and what we're about. So thank you for understanding. And we can't wait to celebrate the outstanding contribution of pool pros and who inspire and guide others in the craft. More information on this will be coming out shortly. There's a been a little bit more every week we're at now. Think of who that person is that helped you get to where you are. We want to hear about it. That's the person that we want to talk about. Why have less nickel when you can have more? If you're looking for longevity, efficiency, and strength, Raypax Avia with Nitech might be for you. NYTEC is RayPak's exclusive solution to superior strength and maximum efficiency when it comes to residential pool heating. With 900% more nickel compared to Kupro nickel in critical surfaces, Nitech creates an ideal surface to protect against scale formation, erosion, without compromising on thermal efficiency. Dive into the details at raypak.com forward slash nitech. Again, that's raypack.com forward slash nitech. You sorry mother f you backed up into my truck.

SPEAKER_00 7:11

Welcome to the Talking Pools Podcast Friday edition word of the day. Today, we're diving into a topic as enduring as calcium scale and just as satisfying to chip away at. The fabulous word motherfucker. It's not just a curse, it's a linguistic Swiss Army knife. An all-purpose word that works as a noun, verb, adjective, or exclamation. Whether you're describing a client who swears their swamp of a pool is totally balanced or venting about a stubborn stain, this term fits like a well-worn work glove. Stay tuned as your unapologetic, cool-loving host Rudy takes you through the colorful history and evolution of this iconic term. Along the way, you'll learn how to seamlessly work it into your day at least three times. Because who doesn't need a little extra fun on a Friday? Grab your nets and your sense of humor, because this episode is about to get motherfucking amazing.

SPEAKER_02 8:08

By the time of the Renaissance, insults targeting one's family became increasingly colorful and elaborate. Shakespearean plays, for example, are filled with indirect and witty takes on personal offenses, though none quite as explicit as Mother Father. What light through yonder window breaks? It is you, mother father! However, as language evolved, more direct and confrontational forms of speech emerged. Sailors, soldiers, and often the working class developed their own slang where phrases like mother father may have originated as a way to assert dominance or belittle rivals. Fast forward to the 20th century, particularly in the United States, where mother father became a staple of working class and military vernacular. Its shocking nature ensured it would gain traction as a powerful expletive to express frustration, anger, and credulity. The phrase also became closely associated with countercultural movements, where breaking taboos was a form of rebellion. In music, particularly, blues, jazz, later rock and roll performers would use euphemisms and wordplay to sneak suggestive or taboo language passive censors. Over time, mother father became a part of pop culture, often appearing in movies, songs, and comedy routines. Interestingly enough, variations of the phrase like mother father emerged as a way to soften its impact while retaining its empathetic nature. For example, in some family-friendly context, mother father became a humorous substitution to avoid profanity. Its usage, we're talking about actually mother father now, not what it's sitting in for. Its usage in this form demonstrates the adaptability and creativity of language over time. Mother Father, or its uncensored counterpart, is recognized worldwide as one of the most provocative phrases in the English language. Despite its harshness, it's been reclaimed in various ways, appearing in art, literature, and even comedic contexts to emphasize intensity or absurdity. Its longevity is a testament to the ability to capture raw emotion, whether through shock, humor, or defiance.

SPEAKER_07 10:26

Aquastar's new pipeline cartridge filters, available in two sizes, deliver top-notch hydraulic efficiency along with best-in-class filtration performance, approaching that of DE filters. Uniquely designed open pleat spacing means 100% of the media square footage is usable. And these claims are backed by NSF test results. Designed with a pro's time and comfort in mind, the patented double locking system improves safety and ease of access, making filter cleanings faster than ever before. Available now. Ask your supplier for pipeline filters today.

SPEAKER_09 11:00

That is amazing. I could actually go out and make money doing filter cleanings if you were like this. If they were Aquastar filters out there, then I could be a filter cleaner girl.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

We can do that. Make it happen. Let's make it happen. Todd? There you go. Awesome. Thank you, Jules the Pool Girl. Again, Aquastar Pool Products Pipeline Filters. Super easy, right?

SPEAKER_09 11:21

Super easy.

SPEAKER_08 11:26

Blu-ray XL is the power of minerals working for you. Reduce your overall chemical costs and labor up to 50% guaranteed. Whether you have 20 accounts or 20,000, Blu-ray XL's direct pricing and free shipping to the pool trade have you covered. Improving pool professionals' profit and work-life balance is what they do. Blu-ray XL, the real mineral purifier. Visit them at Blu-rayXL.com.

SPEAKER_07 11:56

Blu-ray all day.

SPEAKER_03 12:25

Get helpful tips and check out our product catalog today at Jaxmagic.com.

SPEAKER_06 12:32

Pool Magazine is the hottest new publication for the pool and spa industry. Featuring up-to-the-minute news on what's happening in the pool world in a fresh new stylized format with our mobile-friendly app. Pool Magazine is the app for keeping your fingers on the pulse of the pool industry. You'll find featured news, editorials, podcasts, videos, and more on the Pool Magazine app. Download on Google Play and the App Store.

SPEAKER_02 13:11

Not gonna lie, there is something alluring about the idea of slapping a fresh coat of paint on a concrete swimming pool for your customer. It's quick, it's cheap, relatively speaking. It gives the illusion of a pristine oasis. Kind of like putting a bow tie on a hamster and calling it James Bond, but much like dressing up a rat for a formal event, painting your customer's pool is riddled with complications that you might not anticipate. So before you crack open that can of paint, let's take a deep dive into why painting pools often turns out to be a well-intentioned, albeit impractical, endeavor. Imagine spending hours baking a gorgeous three-layer cake only to find that it crumbles the moment you slice into it. That's the disappointment you'll feel when your fresh pool paint starts to peel or fade after just a couple of summers, depending on the type of paint you use, acrylic, epoxy, rubber-based, you're looking at a lifespan of somewhere between two to five years tops. Acrylic paints might not last even through a particularly robust mosquito season. While epoxy, the luxury option, only lasts marginally longer. If you are selling paint and you've not yet approached your local water park, they use epoxy paints like mad. They have to repaint every attraction once a year. That's a lot of paint. Even though I don't believe in it, this is a big DIY thing for them at the park. Why not make money? They know what they're in for. Let them paint it. You should sell them the mother father paint. That's our word of the day again. Mother Father, we want to use that three times throughout the course of the day. Alright. So let's compare painting to other resurfacing options like plaster or tile, which can last decades. It's clear that paint is the fruit fly of pool finishes, fleeting, frustrating. What makes this lifespan even more tragic is the grueling process of preparing the surface. Painting a pool isn't as simple as giving it a quick rinse and hoping for the best. No. You're gonna need to channel your inner Michelangelo and painstakingly clean, dry, and prime every square inch of concrete. If your pool has cracks or residual paint clinging on like a dingleberry to a baboon's bottom end, you're gonna need to strip, patch, and possibly cry into a bucket of acid before you can even think about applying paint. It's labor-intensive ordeal. It's gonna make you question every life choice that led you to this moment. And if you skimp on prep work, congratulations, you've just created the perfect conditions for your paint job to peel like a bad sunburn. Even if you manage to complete the Herculean task of surface prep, the battle is far from over. Pool paint, for all its promises of a dazzling underwater sanctuary, is surprisingly delicate. Exposure to chemicals, UV rays, and the constant agitation of water, not to mention the stupid piece of copper pipe that Mother Father customer tossed into the skimmer by the wackadoo pool owner. See, boom, that's twice today. We're only shooting for three times with the word of the day, mother father. I used to sell paint. I sold a lot of paint back in the day. DIY projects up in the northeast, it seemed a heck of a lot more popular. The prep work is insane. The DIY person, you know what? As much as they try, they don't ever seem to get it 100%. They just don't have the right tools to do it. So within a couple of years, a couple of months, if you're particularly unlucky, you'll notice fading, chalking, peeling, like watching your dreams of getting a pic of your work on the cover of Aqua magazine dissolve into a patchwork of despair. And let's not forget about color. It might look vibrant and inviting at first, but give it time. The sun's gonna beat the shit out of that bright blue into a sad, washed-out imitation of itself like an oompah loompa who's lost the will to live. And if you think a painted pool can match the aesthetic depth of plaster or tile, think again. Paint gives you a flat, one-dimensional finish that screams, hey, I'm here for a good time, not a long time. Another drawback of painting your pool is how it interacts with water chemistry. Pool chemicals, while vital for maintaining a safe swimming environment, are not kind to painted surfaces. Paint is no match for the relentless assault of chlorine, algacides, and other treatments. Over time, the finish will deteriorate faster than your patients during tax season. Algae, that's my new puppy. We named her Clio. Although I could have named her algae, how cool would have that been. But algae, the eternal enemy, also loves to cling to smooth painted surfaces, turning them into slippery hazards that could rival the banana peel industry in comedic accidents. Moreover, paint has a sneaky way of masking problems rather than solving them. It might hide cracks and imperfections temporarily, but underneath that glossy facade, your pool could be harboring all sorts of structural issues. Moisture trapped beneath the paint can lead to efflorescence, a fancy word for ugly white stuff that ruins everything. Left unchecked, this can compromise the integrity of the pool, turning a cosmetic fix into a full-blown renovation nightmare. It's the pool equivalent of sweeping dirt under the carpet, only except the carpet eventually catches fire. Cost is another area where painting seems like a bargain, but ends up being a money pit in disguise. If you need it to look good right now and your customer's broke, maybe sell them the paint. But advise against it, explain their options to them. But you know, it may seem like a bargain, but ends up being a money pit in disguise. Sure, the upfront expense, it's much lower than replastering or tiling, but the need for frequent repainting quickly adds up. Each repainting cycle brings with it not just the cost of materials, but also the labor or the deep existential despair. By the time you've repainted your customer's pool a few times, they could have invested in a more durable surface that doesn't need constant babysitting. Painting also does little to enhance the long-term value of the property. In fact, it can actually have the opposite effect. Potential buyers or renters might see a painted pool as a red flag. It's a sign the corners were cut, and maybe there's some more serious problems that could be lurking beneath the surface. So it's like putting a bandage on a leaky pipe. It doesn't inspire confidence, and it certainly doesn't justify a premium price tag. But perhaps the most absurd thing about painting a pool is how it turns even the simplest maintenance task into Herculean challenges. That slick painted surface might look inviting. But when algae, again, not my dog's name, when algae or mineral stains inevitably make their debut, cleaning becomes an exercise and futility. You're gonna find yourself scrubbing with the desperation of someone trying to remove Sharpie from a white couch. And let's not even get started on how paint chips can clog your pool's filtration system, creates a whole new set of headaches. So what's the alternative? If painting your pool is the equivalent of duct taping a broken coffee mug, then resurfacing plaster or tile is like buying a brand new espresso machine. These options offer durability, aesthetic appeal, and long-term value that paint simply can't match. Aggregate finishes add texture and luxury, while tile offers unmatched customization and longevity, albeit at a higher upfront cost, these options might require a larger initial investment, but they pay dividends and reduced maintenance and extended lifespan. Ultimately, painting a concrete swimming pool is a bit like trying to fix a sinking ship with flex tape and tampons. It might work temporarily, but the underlying problems will resurface, often in spectacularly inconvenient ways. So if you're considering painting your customer's pool, take a moment to reflect on whether you're ready for the maintenance merry-go-round that comes with it. Or better yet, pock your customer into skipping the paint and investing in a solution that doesn't involve annual existential crisis. While painting might seem like a quick fix for a tired-looking pool, it's a solution fraught with shortcomings and hidden costs. From its short lifespan and labor-intensive preparation to its susceptibility to fading, peeling, and chemical wear, paint is a temporary patch rather than a long-term upgrade. So before you grab that roller, ask your customer, do they want a pool that sparkles for a season or do they want one that stands the test of time? Because while painting a pool might seem like a stroke of genius, it often ends up being a brush with disaster, no pun intended. And who's going to hear about it? Even if it's not one of your regular service customers, a one off, which it won't be because the pool's going in. To be painted again. And when it's a year or only two years, and that person calls you up pissed off, all ready to type obscenities across your Yelp reviews, just think before you paint. I know this one probably pissed off every paint manufacturer in the industry. And I'm sure I'm gonna get a flood of phone calls on the positive points of painting, which is great. Send them to me. That's all I had for this week. I am Rudy Stankowitz. This is the Talking Pools Podcast. If you like the episode, give it some love. Write a review, give us five stars, share us with a friend, share us with a friend of me. And until next time, be good. Be safe.