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Read more about the article CMAHC’s Dewey Case Discusses Importance of Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act

CMAHC’s Dewey Case Discusses Importance of Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:February 27, 2021
  • Post category:Pool Safety

Pool Pro Podcast and Ask the Masters' Podcast Spotlight Critical Requirements and Expiration Dates for Pool Service Professionals and Builders RALEIGH, N.C. – Dewey Case, technical director for the Council…

Continue ReadingCMAHC’s Dewey Case Discusses Importance of Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act
Read more about the article LIFEGUARD FAILS

LIFEGUARD FAILS

  • Post author:Contributor
  • Post published:December 15, 2019
  • Post category:Employees/Pool Safety

by Annette Cohen Pallowick Lifeguard Responsibilities What are the responsibilities of a lifeguard? How do we know if the lifeguard is living up to those responsibilities? Can you identify each…

Continue ReadingLIFEGUARD FAILS
Read more about the article Teaching Children with Disabilities to Swim

Teaching Children with Disabilities to Swim

  • Post author:Contributor
  • Post published:November 10, 2019
  • Post category:Pool Safety

The Challenges of Teaching Children with Disabilities to Swim and How to Overcome Them by Nikos Vasilellis Teaching Children with Disabilities to Swim Swimming is one of the most exciting…

Continue ReadingTeaching Children with Disabilities to Swim
Read more about the article Don’t Drink The Butt Water!

Don’t Drink The Butt Water!

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:August 4, 2019
  • Post category:Pool Safety/Swimming Pool Safety

Crypto is Contracted by Swallowing Contaminated Pool Water! This is why we hear about "outbreaks" and facility closures in the NEWS on such a frequent basis. People dip their butts…

Continue ReadingDon’t Drink The Butt Water!
Read more about the article Oh Crap, Someone Pooped In The Pool!

Oh Crap, Someone Pooped In The Pool!

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:July 14, 2019
  • Post category:Apartment Pool Maintenance/CPO Certification Class/Home Owner Pool Care/Hotel Pool Maintenance/Pool Safety/Pool Service Tips/Water Chemistry

Code Brown!!! Sh*t happens, right? A fecal incident can occur from someone being ill, a child not wanting to get out because they are having too much fun, or even…

Continue ReadingOh Crap, Someone Pooped In The Pool!
Read more about the article Prevent Drowning In Your Backyard Pool

Prevent Drowning In Your Backyard Pool

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:July 7, 2019
  • Post category:Pool Safety

On average, 19 children in the U.S. drown every year on the 4th of July - USA Swimming Foundation This is a tough subject and it's hard to even write…

Continue ReadingPrevent Drowning In Your Backyard Pool
Read Rudy's Column in AQUA Magazine
Talking Pools Podcast
Talking Pools Podcast

If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home.

Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact. 

Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day.  And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities. 

Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster.  That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road.

If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird. 

Here’s Why Pool Service Pros Hate Painted Pools
byRudy Stankowitz

Send us Fan Mail

The Truth About Pool Coatings, Surface Preparation, and Why Failures Really Happen

Everyone wants to know which pool paint is the best.

Wrong question.

In this episode of Talking Pools, Rudy Stankowitz takes listeners far beyond the paint can and into the science of coating failures, adhesion, compatibility, moisture, and surface preparation. Using the recent attention surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as a jumping-off point, Rudy explains why nearly every coating failure investigation asks the same question:

What happened before the paint ever touched the surface?

From chlorinated rubber and acrylics to epoxy and high-build epoxy systems, this episode explores the strengths, weaknesses, and proper applications of today's most common swimming pool coating systems. More importantly, it explains why even the most expensive coating in the world can't overcome poor preparation.

If you've ever wondered why one painted pool lasts fifteen years while another begins peeling after a single season, this episode connects the dots between chemistry, application, environmental conditions, and good old-fashioned craftsmanship. Along the way, Rudy shares real-world stories, practical advice, and plenty of his signature Gen X humor.

Whether you're a pool service professional, contractor, facility manager, or simply fascinated by how coatings succeed—or fail—this is one of the most comprehensive discussions on swimming pool coatings ever presented on the Talking Pools Podcast. 

In This Episode

  •  Why asking ”What's the best pool paint?” is the wrong question 
  •  The lessons every pool professional can learn from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool 
  •  Why compatibility between coating systems matters 
  •  Understanding chlorinated rubber, synthetic rubber, acrylic, epoxy, and high-build epoxy coatings 
  •  Why surface preparation determines the success or failure of almost every coating system 
  •  How to properly inspect an existing painted pool before recoating 
  •  The importance of documenting coating failures before disturbing the evidence 
  •  Mechanical adhesion vs. chemical adhesion explained in plain English 
  •  Why moisture remains one of the biggest enemies of successful coating applications 
  •  Proper cleaning, sanding, acid washing, and contamination removal 
  •  How silicone contamination, chalking, oils, and residue interfere with adhesion 
  •  Why weather, humidity, dew point, and curing conditions matter 
  •  Understanding recoat windows and why missing them creates problems 
  •  Common causes of blistering, peeling, and coating delamination 
  •  Adhesive failure vs. cohesive failure vs. substrate failure 
  •  ASTM testing methods used during professional coating failure investigations 
  •  Why coating failures should be investigated—not guessed 

Key Takeaways

✔ The most expensive coating cannot overcome poor surface preparation.

✔ Compatibility between existing and new coating systems is critical.

✔ Surface contamination is often invisible but can completely prevent proper adhesion.

✔ Moisture inside concrete can remain long after the surface appears dry.

✔ Proper environmental conditions are just as important as choosing the right coating.

✔ Good investigators document the failure before removing any evidence.

✔ Most coating failures begin long before the pool is filled with water.

✔ Successful coating jobs are built on preparation—not luck.

Memorable Quotes

”Surface preparation isn't part of the job. Surface preparation is the job.””Compatibility matters. Chemistry matters. Guessing doesn't.””Painting a pool isn't hard. Knowing when not to paint—that's what separates a guy with a roller from a pool professional.”

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Learn about AquaStar's innovative Pipeline cartridge filters featuring NSF-tested performance and simplified maintenance. 

Service Industry News

Stay informed with nationwide pool and spa industry news, technical articles, and the famous Horror File. Subscribe free at Service Industry News. 

Listen If You…

  •  Paint or recoat swimming pools 
  •  Service painted pools 
  •  Investigate coating failures 
  •  Work with commercial aquatic facilities 
  •  Want to better understand adhesion and coating science 
  •  Enjoy deep technical discussions presented in plain English 
  •  Like your pool education served with a healthy dose of Gen X sarcasm 

Connect With Talking Pools

Questions about coatings, chemistry, troubleshooting, or a future podcast topic?

📧 talkingpools@gmail.com

Subscribe to the Talking Pools Podcast Network wherever you get your podcasts, and join thousands of pool professionals each week for practical discussions on water chemistry, coatings, equipment, business, and everything that makes you a better pool pro.

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com

Here’s Why Pool Service Pros Hate Painted Pools
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Open Water Swimming Myths Busted with Hilda Lopez
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Why Pool Pros Should Stop Ignoring Spas (and What Could Cost You Everything) with Adrian Lacey
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Si Solo Agregas Cloro, No Eres un Profesional
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Trump’s Reflecting Pool. Minnesota’s Supreme Court. The Pool Industry Just Got Interesting.
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Testing Water the Right Way, Hurricane Prep & Insurance Reality
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Chemistry Myths That Cost Pool Pros Money (Part 1) With Natalie Hood & Eric Wall
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Heat Pumps, Inverter Technology & Building a Smarter Equipment Pad with Madimack
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Freedom Isn’t Free… Neither Is Running a Pool Business
July 4, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
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      • Louisiana CPO Certification Requirement
    • Test Kit Store
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  • Talking Pools Podcast🎧
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