Top July articles: Legendary returns and unmatched conversations

By Emma Peterson.  

These standout stories explore the trends, people and products shaping the future of the outdoor contracting industry. 

As another month comes to a close, it’s time for our usual article recap! This month, the OutdoorCoffeeShop™ readers were especially interested in construction growth, sustainability, innovative products and the return of one of the pool industry's most respected builders, as reflected by our July 2026 top five article list!  

In July, readers were keen to celebrate the return of pool legend Bryan O’Neil.  As quoted in the article, “Bryan O'Neal, one of the most respected names in luxury pool design in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, has returned to the industry he helped define with the launch of O'Neal Shiers Aquatics, a new family-owned and operated company specializing in high-end custom swimming pool construction and renovations across North and South Carolina.” 

Additionally, they were intrigued by Tremco's Vulkem® Pro Series, which serves the sealant, adhesive and concrete repair needs of professional contractors and DIY-enthusiasts alike, as well as an article about the rising popularity of green homes.  

Closing out the list are two articles reporting on episodes of Contractor Outlook. One of the episodes dives into infrastructure investment and commercial expansion predictions with Paul Trombitas, an FMI Corporation partner, while the other explores construction market research from the Farnsworth Group with their Director and Senior Consultant, Eric Voyer. 

Read our top July articles 

5 - He's back: Legendary pool builder Bryan O'Neal returns with O'Neal Shiers Aquatics, partnering with second-generation master builder Sean Shiers by O'Neal Shiers Aquatics. 

4 - One product line, endless applications by Emma Peterson. 

3 - Green homes and real returns by Emma Peterson. 

2 - Connecting the dots between data and strategy by Emma Peterson. 

1 - Construction growth expected in the next year by Emma Peterson.