Pool Tile, Coping, and Kickflips: The Unique Lifestyle of Thiago Dasilva

In Florida’s competitive pool construction scene, you’ll find a wide range of subcontractors—but few bring the same energy, attitude, and personal flair to the job as Thiago Dasilva. Originally from Brazil, Dasilva came to the U.S. looking to build a better life for himself and his family. Today, he owns and operates Greenstone Tile and Pavers, a small but busy operation where he stays hands-on with every project.

Dasilva isn’t the kind of guy who’s chasing status or running a big crew. He’s the one doing the work—installing tile, coping, and pavers on high-end residential pools throughout the Tampa Bay area. Contractors who need a solid installation often call on him, especially for more detailed jobs. If you’re following any of the pool industry Facebook groups, chances are pretty good that you’ve already seen some of his work.

Point of fact, we recently featured a Hampe Pools project during our Pool Magazine webinar on Tile Trends—an elegant, modern backyard design that drew attention for its vibrant mosaics and clean execution. Thiago Dasilva worked as an employee of Hampe Pools on that job, helping to bring that project across the finish line with precision.

Though he’s often brought in as a subcontractor, Dasilva takes pride in treating every job like it’s his own. Whether it’s a straightforward waterline or a complex glass mosaic, he approaches each project with the same goal, delivering high-quality work that both he and the builder can be proud of.

“I love seeing people smile when they see the completed job,” Dasilva told us. “That’s what makes me feel proud—when the homeowner is happy and the builder is satisfied with the result. That’s the greatest reward for me.”

Unlike some subcontractors who rush through work to move on to the next job, Dasilva believes in taking his time to get it right. He’s not interested in cutting corners or tackling too many projects at once. Instead, he focuses on delivering quality, one pool at a time.

“I don’t like to be all over the place,” he said. “I take my time. I don’t rush through the job. I care about what I’m doing.”

That mindset—coupled with his attention to detail—has made him a go-to name in a region where pool construction never slows down. He’s the type of installer builders can count on for a clean layout, tight grout lines, and an end result that lives up to the design.

When asked what separates a good installer from a great one, Dasilva answers without hesitation: “Compassion. You’ve got to care about what you do.”

Over the years, he’s had the opportunity to work alongside some of the best in the business, but he’s quick to give credit to those whose work has also influenced him.

“I’ve learned a lot from Jeff Hampe. On every job, I always learn something new. I’ve also learned a lot from observing the work of guys like Jimmy Reed, Ray Corral, Danilo Bonazza, and so many others,” he said. “I look up to all of them.”

But Dasilva has also seen his fair share of mistakes out in the field—work that may look okay on the surface but doesn’t hold up over time.

“I see people just putting mud straight against concrete without any thinset or bonding agent,” he explained. “That’s a big one. It might look fine at first, but later it cracks, separates, and causes problems. You have to prep properly or you’re setting yourself up for failure.”

He’s just as critical of rushed layouts and sloppy grout work. “You walk onto some jobs and you see tiny cuts in the tile that throw the whole thing off. It might be functional, but it’s not clean. That kind of stuff bothers me.”

One of the most challenging jobs he’s ever tackled involved a massive infinity-edge pool with custom mosaics across the floor—an intricate installation that took him nearly seven months to complete.

“There was a lot of slope and depth to deal with,” he said. “It was a challenge from start to finish, but I learned a lot on that job. When it was said and done, I felt incredibly proud of the work I did there.”

Despite the complexity of projects like that, Dasilva still finds joy in the everyday rhythm of the job. Whether it’s prepping the surface, setting tile, or double-checking a layout, he approaches each phase like a craftsman—even if he’s not the kind of guy who uses that word to describe himself.

While his tile work speaks for itself, there’s one detail about Dasilva that tends to surprise people: on rare occasions, he’ll drop into the pool with a skateboard before the job even begins.

For most tile installers, that empty concrete shell is just a workspace. For Dasilva, it’s sometimes a playground—at least when the shape is right.

“I grew up skateboarding back in Brazil,” he said. “It’s been a part of my life since I was six years old. So when I find a shell that’s got good curves and transitions—usually the old pools from the ’70s—I can’t resist. I bring the board out.”

It doesn’t happen on every job. In fact, he says it only happens maybe once or twice a year when the opportunity presents itself. But when it does, it’s a chance to reconnect with something that still brings him joy.

“I feel like a kid walking into a candy store,” he laughed. “It just makes me happy. And believe it or not, skating the shell actually helps me find hollow spots or imperfections in the surface. So it’s fun—but it’s useful too.”

His posts on Facebook—blending clips of him carving around the bowl with shots of precise tile installs—have earned him a following among pool pros who appreciate both the quality of his work and the personality behind it.

“Yeah, some people think it’s crazy,” he said. “But it’s who I am. I’m still skating. I’m 43 now, and I’m still doing it.”

For Dasilva, it all comes down to work-life balance. He’s not chasing money or awards. He’s focused on doing honest work, staying hands-on, and improving with every pool he touches. “I’m not trying to be the biggest company,” he said. “I just want to do good work, take care of my family, and enjoy what I do.”

When he’s not working, he’s usually with his wife and kids—or sneaking in a skate or surfing session whenever he’s not on the clock. It’s a lifestyle that blends hard work with personal passion, and one that’s earned him quiet respect in an industry that doesn’t hand it out easily. “I feel like I live in paradise,” he said. “I get to work outside, build something beautiful, and have fun doing it.” In his own way, Thiago Dasilva is proof that you don’t have to run a big crew to make a big impression—you just have to be passionate about what you do.

Photo Credits: Thiago Dasilva, Jeff Hampe