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Top 10 Finalists Named for 2025 Mentor of the Year Award

Post author:Rudy
Post published:August 5, 2025
Post category:Talking Pools Podcast

Top 10 Finalists Named for Talking Pools Podcast 2025 Mentor of the Year Award 🔍 Behind the Process: How We Chose the Top 10 Mentors of the Year in the…

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.

Ask a question here

A pool remodel is rarely as simple as replacing the tile and plaster. Once the old surface comes off and the ground is opened, contractors can uncover structural cracks, deteriorated rebar, undersized plumbing, missing hydrostatic relief, unsafe electrical work, and decades of questionable shortcuts.

In this bonus episode, Kelli speaks with Jose Gonzalez of Adams Pool Solutions in Pleasanton, California. Jose grew up working alongside his father in the pool industry and has spent nearly 12 years with Adams, advancing from plaster and pebble application into field management, project management, and sales.

Kelli and Jose dig into what really happens during a remodel, including the hidden conditions that can add thousands of dollars to a project. They discuss structural crack repair, hydraulic upgrades, permits, waterproofing, material selection, customer education, and why thorough documentation protects both the contractor and the homeowner.

Jose also shares one unforgettable discovery: full-size pool lights installed without proper niches or grounding, held in improvised cavities with plaster and silicone.

The lesson is simple: a successful remodel is not about hiding old problems beneath a beautiful new finish. It is about correcting those problems and building something that will remain safe, functional, and durable for years.

In This Episode

Jose’s journey from helping his father as a child to managing and selling remodel projects
The difference between resurfacing a pool and performing a complete remodel
Why structural cracks appear more frequently than many contractors expect
Three approaches to crack treatment and when each may be appropriate
How deteriorated rebar can turn a surface crack into a major structural repair
Why contractors should discuss possible change orders before demolition begins
Hidden copper lines, undersized plumbing, and other hydraulic surprises
Missing or covered hydrostatic relief systems
Why modern codes can require upgrades to older pools
The value of preconstruction equipment inspections and signed documentation
When waterproofing makes sense and when it may create bonding concerns
Why poor surface preparation can cause a new finish to delaminate
The long-term cost of cheap tile, coping, grout, and installation materials
When permits are essential and why some contractors refuse to proceed without them
Using renderings and physical samples to help homeowners visualize the finished project
Why licensed contractors, field experience, transparency, and realistic timelines matter
Jose’s advice for pool professionals entering the remodeling business

Featured Guest

Jose Gonzalez
Adams Pool Solutions
Pleasanton, California

Key Takeaway

A trustworthy remodel contractor does not simply deliver the cheapest version of what a homeowner requests. They expose the problems, explain the options, document the decisions, and build the pool as though it were going into their own backyard.

#TalkingPoolsPodcast #PoolRemodel #PoolRenovation #SwimmingPools #PoolConstruction #PoolContractor #PoolProfessionals #PoolDesign #PoolSafety #AdamsPoolSolutions

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com

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