Rob Traugott founded Laguna Pools in 1973 as a way to return to his roots growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, swimming in the pool his father built on the family’s farm, he said.
Since then, Laguna Pools has installed more than 5,000 pools and each of Traugott’s five children has worked at Laguna Pools, he said.
Pool builders throughout Greater Houston were only building oval, rectangular or kidney-shaped pools when Laguna first opened, Traugott said.
“We started bringing in waterfalls and other things that Houstonians had never seen before,” Traugott said.
Laguna Pools is known for swimming pools but also installs the associated landscaping and other features. Popular projects to accompany pools include outdoor kitchens, in-ground hot tubs and koi ponds, Traugott said.
Before starting Laguna Pools & Designs, Traugott installed and maintained pools, he said. He likes to think his company brings a bit of South Texas to Greater Houston.
“It was in my blood so to speak because we had [a pool] when I was a teenager in the late 1960s,” Traugott said.
Laguna’s pools are customized for the client, Traugott said. The company’s 3-acre showspace allows clients to look at finished projects for ideas. The company also maintains and remodels pools, Traugott said.
Clients can take a virtual tour of their newly designed backyard paradises, Traugott said. Once a design is established, installation usually takes between four and six weeks, he said.
Each of Traugott’s 12 staff has at least 12 years of industry experience, he said. Lack of turnover has helped him maintain the company’s reputation for quality work, he said.
“You won’t go to another pool company and find four designers that have been here as long as we have,” Traugott said.
Laguna Pools staff understands their clients want more than must a swimming pool but also something that adds to their lifestyle, Traugott said.
“You want to have a work of art in the backyard, so when you look out your plate glass window, you want something that calls you out there,” he said.
Laguna Pools & Designs
1010 Greenbusch Road, Katy
281-392-8833
www.lagunapools.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Sundays