The Pool Guides Podcast

Everybody asks what a pool costs to build. Almost nobody asks what it costs to own. This episode fixes that. Cristian sits down with Tyler Hermon of Pools of Fun in Indianapolis, who has spent 18 years in the industry assisting with pool sales, five retail stores, and a full maintenance division. That combination is rare, and it is exactly why he can walk you through the real ten-year picture on f...

Most homeowners spend more time around their pool than in it. Which means the patio, the deck, and the gathering spaces around the water carry most of the experience. So how do you plan that space well? In this episode, Cristian sits down with Trey Watford, lead designer at River Pools Virginia, for a practical, design-driven conversation about patio square footage. They cover the realistic averag...

Most homeowners plan the pool and figure out the outdoor living space later. That's the mistake. In this episode, landscape architect Trey Watford, lead designer at River Pools Virginia, walks you through the design process from discovery to final plan, so you can approach your own project with confidence no matter who you work with. Trey covers the questions every homeowner should ask themse...

If you live in a region where winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, choosing the right type of swimming pool is more complicated than it might seem. In northern climates like Wisconsin, frost can reach several feet into the ground, and freeze–thaw cycles can create pressure on pool structures both from the surrounding soil and from the water inside the pool itself. In this episode of...

What happens when a frustrated pool buyer decides to become the solution? In this episode of The Pool Guides Podcast, Cristian sits down with Jeff Sebek, owner of River Pools Kansas City, to unpack the story of how poor communication during his own pool installation led him to start his own company. Jeff began as a homeowner researching fiberglass pools, interviewing multiple builders, and designi...

How long does it really take to install a pool? In this episode of The Pool Guides Podcast, Cristian Shirilla talks with pool industry expert Jason Hughes about what actually controls your pool installation timeline — and why speed alone is a dangerous way to choose a pool. Common Questions This Episode Answers: How long does it really take to install a pool? How long does it take to install a fib...

If you’ve ever looked at your neighbor’s pool and wondered why your project is coming in $40,000 higher, this episode is for you. In Episode 2 of The Pool Guides Podcast, Cristian Shirilla sits down again with fiberglass pool expert Jason Hughes to explain why pool quotes that look similar on the surface can be wildly different once you dig into the details. They walk through the real-world factor...

If you’re planning to build a swimming pool in 2026, pool pricing can feel confusing fast. One quote might be tens of thousands of dollars higher than another — even when the pools look nearly identical. In this first episode of The Pool Guides Podcast , Cristian Shirilla sits down with pool industry expert Jason Hughes to explain what pools actually cost in 2026 and why prices vary so widely. The...