logo
    • News
    • Classifieds
    • Free Subscription
    • Book Store
    • Submit
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Submit an Educational Announcement
      • Submit a letter to The Editor
    • Past Issues
    • Regional Trade Shows
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
    • News
    • Classifieds
    • Free Subscription
    • Book Store
    • Submit
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Submit an Educational Announcement
      • Submit a letter to The Editor
    • Past Issues
    • Regional Trade Shows
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
Vinyl Pools LLC made famous on ‘Dirty Jobs’
News
January 14, 2023
Vinyl Pools LLC made famous on ‘Dirty Jobs’

The season 10 premier of Mike Rowe’s popular show, Dirty Jobs, featured replacing the vinyl liner on what can only be described as a swamp.

In the show, Mike helps out as Dan Duker, owner of Vinyl Pools LLC in West Palm Beach, Florida, does what he does every day, although he admits that this particular job rates an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of disgusting.

Dan is a second-generation pool professional who began learning the tricks of the trade from his father, Dave, at the age of 12.

Dave built this pool years ago and wasn’t in the least surprised to see that the pool was in the condition it was in.

“If you build enough pools, you can spend the rest of your life replacing liners,” Dave said.

Dan bought the business from his father seven years ago, and he makes a good living. He generally works alone, although family members sometimes stop by to help. He says he has no desire to become a swimming pool conglomerate, and that he’s found a balance in doing 100 pools a year. At about $5,000 a pool, with a profit margin of about 50 percent, he can both provide for and spend time with his family.

The TV episode began with sucking out 9,000 gallons of sludge. With the water mostly gone, Dave, Dan, Mike, and a cousin got to work with shovels, mucking out the pool, finding the occasional frog. While the other men wore heavy work boots, Dave worked barefoot, explaining that he has neuropathy.

That was the hard part, but Dave said his son had never been afraid of hard work.

“You can’t teach work ethic,” Dave said.“Eitheryou’vegotit,oryoudon’t.”

Next, using a putty knife, they scraped the roots and debris out of the bead receiver to prepare it to hold the new liner. They tore out the old liner. The men prepped the old surface with some cement, to even it out, and lined the walls and steps with foam, gluing it down flat with spray adhesive.

The next part Dave made look easy, but Mike was there to say it wasn’t.

“it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Mike said throughout the day.

They spread out the new liner, inserting the bead into the bead receiver, before the final step of vacuuming the wrinkles out of the now completed pool.

Toward the end of the job, Dan’s 5-year-old son, Darren, showed up to help out. Like Dan had done since his own childhood, Darren frequently assists at his Dad’s jobs and will one day probably inherit the business.

Check out Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel if you want to feel good about the work that you do.

“Hard work, skilled labor, and the willingness to get your hands dirty can lead to something that looks a lot like success,” Mike said.

LATEST NEWS
Homes with pools raise price and sell speed
News
Homes with pools raise price and sell speed
Demand for houses with swimming pools remains strong in warm weather states
June 30, 2025
By Marcelle Dibrell As summer begins to heat up, so does the U.S. housing market — though not evenly across the board. Buyers and sellers are navigati...
this is a test
News
Final summer survey results tallied
June 30, 2025
Each year, Service Industry News takes the pulse of the pool and spa service sector through our comprehensive survey, and in this final installment of...
this is a test
during the pandemic peak. This ….
News
during the pandemic peak. This ….
June 30, 2025
during the pandemic peak. This has resulted in a widening gap between buyers and sellers. According to Redfin, there are approximately 1.9 million sel...
this is a test
News
Chem exposure sends 5 to hospital
June 30, 2025
Several patrons at a residential community swimming pool in Apache Junction, Arizona, were sent to the hospital following a hazardous materials incide...
this is a test
News
New Jersey city pool workers arrested
June 30, 2025
A group of municipal pool workers in New Jersey has been arrested for allegedly stealing chemicals from the Secaucus town pool to support their privat...
this is a test
Gators swim to escape heat wave
News
Gators swim to escape heat wave
June 30, 2025
As summer heats up across the South, pool technicians are being reminded that it’s not just algae or cloudy water that can cause a service delay. Some...
this is a test
Read Our Newsletter
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Free Subscription
View Current Print Ads
Educational Announcements
Aquatic Training Institute

Educational Leverage

Foundation For Pool Industry Education

Locey Pool

Pool Chemistry Training Institute

Pool & Hot Tub Alliance

Portofino University

Underwater Pool Masters
Trade Show Dates
  • The International Pool Spa Patio Expo
    Nov. 12-14, Dallas, Texas
  • The Pool and Spa Show
    Jan. 28-30, Atlantic City, New Jersey
  • 35th Annual National Plasterers Conference
    Feb. 26-28, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
  • The Southwest Pool and Spa Show
    Feb. 4-8, Houston, Texas
  • The Western Pool and Spa Show
    Feb. 6-8, Long Beach, California
Books to Order
About Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy
We use cookies to ensure that our website gives you the best experience possible. By continuing to use this website, you agree to this use of cookies.OK