With Texas heat in full swing, pool builders are swamped with work. Andrew Legro, owner of Coastal Oasis Pools, has tips for pool owners.
For people interested in installing a pool at their homes, what is the main hurdle they have to get past?
Within city limits there are permits and restrictions that must be followed. The main obstacle right now is every pool builder has more work than they can handle and material shortage. Gunite, [a mixture of sand, water and cement that is applied in layers using a specialized spray gun], has been the biggest issue. There are so many pools being built and only so many gunite companies. COVID-19 has created a materials shortage that is leaving pools sitting incomplete longer than normal.
What are some tips for pool owners to keep their pools and their filters clean?
If a homeowner is maintaining their own pool, it’s imperative they stay on top of the water chemistry and equipment maintenance. It gets very expensive and time consuming if a pool is neglected for even just one week. A good Taylor K2005 test kit [is a good tool to test the pool’s water chemistry]. YouTube is a great tool for tutorials on how to run tests and which chemicals to use to adjust the chemistry.
What is one thing pool owners should never do when it comes to pool maintenance?
Work outside of their abilities. Trying to do it yourself to save money sounds great, but the problem can be compounded and much more costly.
