You Saw it, You Own it! Steve Sherwood on Pool Inspections
02 April 2026

You Saw it, You Own it! Steve Sherwood on Pool Inspections

Talking Pools Podcast

About

Pool Pros text questions here

What starts as a routine pool inspection can turn into a liability nightmare—fast.

In this episode, Steve breaks down a real job where fire-damaged fencing, questionable decking, and one simple question—
 👉 “Will insurance cover this?”
—pushed the inspection way outside its lane.

⚖️ The Core Issue

Where does your responsibility actually end?

     You’re there to inspect the pool Not the fence  Not the deck  Not the insurance claim 

And that line matters more than most people realize.

🚧 The Rule

👉 Just because you see it… doesn’t mean it’s your responsibility.

Your job:

     Identify pool-related conditions Flag safety hazards Recommend a licensed professional

And then…

Stop.

⚠️ The Exception

If something creates a direct safety risk to the pool (like a compromised fence):

     Document it  Recommend repair  Do NOT price it or manage it 

💰 The Trap

Giving quotes for insurance work can:

     Turn you into the contractor  Invite scrutiny from insurers  Kill your credibility as an independent expert 

🧠 The Takeaway

You don’t need every answer.

You need to know:

     What’s yours  What’s not  And when to stay in your lane 

Because the moment you step outside your expertise…

👉 You’re not helping anymore.
 👉 You’re exposing yourself.

Support the show

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

    FacebookInstagramTik Tok

Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com