The Pool Latch: Up to Code or Cut Corners

When I posted that video about creating a custom pool latch to meet Florida building code, I didn’t expect it to blow up the way it did.

The comments rolled in… some helpful, many not… telling me I could’ve just bought one off the shelf. That I didn’t need to go through all that trouble. That I was overcomplicating something simple.

And you know what? Maybe they’re right. Maybe there was an easier way.

But here’s what I wish more people understood: at MY Architectural Glass, we don’t cut corners. We don’t do “good enough.” We don’t install frameless glass railings or any glass product unless it meets every single requirement of the Florida building code… pool code included. That’s not because we’re trying to be difficult or show off. It’s because honesty, transparency, and pride in our work are the foundation we built this business on.

When you’re dealing with pool safety, you’re not just checking a box on a permit. You’re protecting someone’s child. Someone’s family. That weight sits with you differently when you’re the one signing off on the work.

After half a decade of trying to build a social media presence, I’m finally getting somewhere. People are watching. People are commenting. And I’m genuinely grateful for that. But I’ll be honest… some of those comments sting. Not because I can’t handle criticism, but because there’s a difference between educating someone and belittling them.

There’s room in this industry for all of us to win. Room for all of us to succeed, to do good work, to build businesses we’re proud of. What I’m trying to do with this platform isn’t to pretend I know everything… because I don’t. No one does. What I want to show people is that you don’t always have to be right, but you should always try your best to be right. And when someone gets something wrong, or does something differently than you would, maybe pause before you assume they’re clueless.

Maybe they actually do know what they’re doing.

The contractors, subcontractors, and builders world has so much room for improvement. Not because we’re all doing terrible work, but because there’s always something new to learn. I learn something new every single week on the job… sometimes every single day. That’s not a weakness. That’s what keeps you sharp. That’s what keeps you evolving.

The rate at which you grow? That’s up to you. That’s up to how open-minded you choose to be. How willing you are to listen, to adapt, to admit when there’s a better way.

So yeah, maybe I could’ve bought that latch off the shelf. But I chose to make sure it was exactly right for that application. And I’ll keep choosing that every single time… because that’s the standard we hold ourselves to.

If my videos teach you something, great. If they spark a conversation, even better. But let’s make it a conversation where we all walk away a little smarter, a little kinder, and a little more willing to lift each other up instead of tearing each other down.

Because at the end of the day, we’re all just trying to do good work and go home knowing we did right by our clients, our craft, and ourselves.