As any pool pro knows, dealing with finish breakdowns is inevitable.
There’s mottling and color variation, rough scale from high Calcium Saturation Index, dusting from low CSI or aggressive acids, calcium nodules, scale rings, cracks that leak — the list goes on. Some root causes trace back to water chemistry, while others stem from application, curing or environmental factors. In some cases, design plays a role.
Sam Pizzo’s career in the pool industry has spanned residential and commercial construction, design and sales — all experiences that laid the foundation for starting his own company. He began in residential construction supervision, gaining hands-on experience managing builds and learning what it takes to deliver a quality backyard project. From there, he transitioned to commercial projects, tackling the complexities of large-scale pools before ultimately returning to the residential market, where his passion for design and client collaboration took root.
Walker Draeger started in the industry with his own company, D’s Pool Cleaning, before joining Avree Custom Pools in 2019 as an assistant project manager. Within a year, he was promoted to project manager, and by the end of 2020 he had moved into pool design — where he brings backyards to life.