Holly Waldhauer, owner of Mermaid Lagoons in Bunnell FL, is an expert tile installer. Recent recognition of her company as Trade Members Company of the year was given by the Florida Swimming Pool Association. This is a testament to her quality and her peers’ high regard.
Holly recently shared a photo of the finished product in strong>Master Techs/strong>, a Facebook group for pool contractors. She shared a picture of the completed product on Master Techs a Facebook group aimed at pool contractors. Other professionals in the pool industry have praised this project.
“I was at a state meeting for the Florida Swimming Pool Association. Waldhauer explained that he was Vice President of the East Central Chapter at the time. “I was speaking to another board member when he asked if I would be interested in doing his swimming pool.” “I told him I had done an entire spa with glass but I hadn’t done a swimming pool. I took on the challenge. “I just jumped in headfirst and took my time.”
Holly began working in the pool business with her husband who was a plumber, decker, and tiler. She soon discovered that the setting of tile was her favourite part of the job and began to do it exclusively. She began to get offers from other builders as word spread. She eventually opened her own business specializing exclusively in setting tiles.
Holly grew her knowledge and acquired the licenses to become a swimming-pool trim specialist contractor. She now subcontracts with her husband’s pool building firm Waldhauer & Son Custom Pools & Spas and other builders in Palm Coast.
Holly, however, says that she does not have the same problems. “We have a policy that we don’t talk business or shop late at night.” With that rule in place, Waldhauer explained.
You can be a female pool contractor
Waldhauer had the courage to step outside her comfort zone and post pictures of her work in a male-dominated field. There are so many trolling on the Internet. It was a great feeling to get all the nice comments on my project.
“When I started working for builders, they didn’t believe that I was a tiler. But then, when I showed them my work, they gave me a chance. Waldhauer said, “I’ve worked with all those companies pretty much since then.”
Holly Waldhauer says it’s important to maintain a tough exterior as a woman who works alongside men. “You don’t want anyone to push you or make you uncomfortable, because that’s what happens out on the field,” she explained. “I work with up 20 men at a time, and I’m alone in a lot construction sites.” If you want to work in this industry, I would advise women to trust their intuition. Don’t overdo it. “You don’t need to prove yourself a man because we are not men.”
If you cannot carry the entire bag, do as I did and cut it in half. An 80-pound bag is very heavy. Do not do as I did. I have had rotator-cuff surgery because I overdid things. Waldhauer said, “Take it easy on yourself. Take it easy on your body.”
Waldhauer is gaining a reputation for her quality work. She sees an exciting future in Glass Tile, which she calls one of the most popular Pool Trends today. If you can afford to, then everyone does glass. The hottest trend is glass, but it can be expensive and time-consuming.
Women like Waldhauer have changed perceptions of the pool industry. Waldhauer confided that when she pulls up to a project and the homeowners see a female come out of her work truck, they are very happy to see her. “I feel as though I am a bit more detailed in my job,” Waldhauer said. I’m patient and take my time. I believe that women have more patience. A comment I hear often, especially after I covered the entire pool with glass, is that I am patient but that’s because I don’t rush. “I take my time, and I do it correctly.”
Waldhauer’s skillset and sense of sensibility show that women can do physically demanding jobs like tile setting. She hopes to prove that women are capable in every aspect of the industry.
Listen to the entire conversation we had with Holly Waldhauer in the Pool Magazine Podcast.
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