“How Do I Cover My Ass?” Protecting Your Pool Business When a Pool is Structurally Failing

Pool Pros text questions here

In this week’s episode of Insurance Interludes, host Steve Sherwood teams up once again with Pat Grignon, Vice President of the California Pool Association (CPA), to tackle a real-world scenario hitting every service tech’s nightmare list:

A failing shell. A leaking pool. Conflicting opinions. And YOU stuck in the middle.

Steve brings the audience behind the scenes of his own route — a client with a structural crack that keeps reopening, “experts” claiming they can fix it, and the big question:

“How do I protect myself while still trying to do good business?”

Pat breaks down exactly how pool pros can keep themselves legally covered, insured, and sane when structural failures, hillside homes, cracked shells, and desperate customers collide.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

📝 Why Paper Trails Are Your Lifeline

Pat explains why ANY phone call about structural damage needs to be followed by a “per our conversation…” email or text. Document everything — not because you're dramatic, but because you need receipts when things go sideways.

⚠️ When to Walk Away (and When You Can Stay)

Steve and Pat compare two real pools from Steve’s route:
• A cliffside pool in Silver Lake that could cause a full-blown mudslide — instant “NOPE.”
• A flat-ground residential pool losing water but posing low catastrophic risk — maybe salvageable if documented correctly.

🛠️ Are Those ‘Staple Repairs’ Really Reliable?

They discuss companies that claim they can staple, bond, fiberglass, or otherwise resurrect a cracked shell — and whether those repairs last or leave YOU holding the liability bag.

📨 Exactly What to Write to Protect Yourself

Pat gives the language every pool pro should use, including:
• Confirming the client takes responsibility
• Noting structural issues are outside your scope
• Stating you will maintain water quality only, not shell integrity
• Recording that repairs are done by others, not you

🧨 Hidden Risks in Fancy Backyards

Steve asks the big question for pool pros in high-end markets:
“What crazy features require extra insurance riders?”
Pat breaks down:
• Grottos
• Waterfalls
• Diving boards
• Rock jump ledges
• Slides
• Custom features homeowners swear are ‘totally safe’

…and why touching some of these items (tightening a bolt, adjusting a slide, fixing a board) instantly becomes YOUR liability.

📘 What Insurance Actually Covers — and What It Really Doesn’t

Pat explains what’s included in CPA policies, from faulty work coverage to pop-pool enhancements, and why service companies shouldn’t act like builders unless they have builder-level insurance.

💬 Why Your Insurance Agent Should Be Your Second Brain

Steve shares real-world moments where calling Pat saved his ass.
Pat explains that your agent should act like a consultant, not just a bill collector — especially when weird situations pop up.

🔌 Pools + Water + Electricity + People = Risk

Steve closes with the big truth:
If you work around water and electricity, you MUST carry insurance.
CPA is a preferred sponsor, but the message is universal:
If you’re touching po

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