6 replies to this topic

[Ray]

I've been thinking of buying a Swimming Pool.

Does anyone have any thoughts to share on Pool Vendors?

Did you like your Pool project? What should I watch out for?

If you had good or bad experiences with any particular vendor and care to share, please do so.

Thanks,

Ray

[Chad Vander Veen]

A co-worker of mine had a terrible experience with Premier Pools. Basically they had been told they'd be swimming by last June and just recently had the pool finished.

[Steve Heard]

Hey Cvander

I've heard things, both because I was pool shopping, and because lots of my customers have refi'd to build one.

I haven't heard a good word about any one company. I've heard horror stories about them all.

Here are some of the issues I've been told of:

1. Pricing. The same light that costs $600 with one company, is $1000 with another, but they charge less for tile, etc. So, it's hard to get apples to apples comparisons.

2. They tend to over promise, and underdeliver, forever blaming the delays on their sub-contractors.

3. Hidden/sudden charges: "Oh, we hit rock, so we have to charge another $3000 to dig it up. Oh, you want us to replace the drainage system we dug up? We have to charge you for that." That sort of thing.

4. Most pool builders use the same small group of contractors for various phases of the project. Most use the same company for digging the hole, most use the same company for gunnite, the same company for decking, etc. So, what is a pool company, anyway?

Many swear by U Build It, but other swear at them.

A friend who just had her pool competed in late August, says that knowing what she knows now, she'd do it herself, if she ever has to again. She knows all of the subs, and would just call them individually, and save the 30% markup.

Please keep us posted on what you end up doing. I am not sure I am ready to contract it myself.

[jenjen]

My pool was built by Geremia, I was impressed with their quality and after checking out a couple of my neighbors pools. Mine is 4 years old now and I have only had one problem with a pump and they replaced it under warranty. Mine took about 3 months to build, but the rain slowed it down.

I agree with the other poster about the additional charges - they hit rock digging my pool (as they do with most in Folsom) so I had an extra $3000 to pay and still only got my pool 6 1/2 feet deep.

It seems like the costs of pools have really gone up lately. I really enjoy having one here and swim every day with my kids in the summer.

[Prairie Oaks Agitator]

Our pool is now a year old, but construction took so long that this was our first summer of actual use. I like having a pool, but I would seriously think twice about having one put in again, because of the aggravation factor. We talked to about 4 contractors, got referrals from friends & neighbors, all the things one should do. We used American Pools, a Folsom company, but would not recommend them, and now wish we had gone with Premier, which was our second choice, or obtained even more bids. Geremia has a good rep, but their sales person said unless our budget was ++$50,000 they were not interested.

Some things we found most useful:

1. Solar heating is a really good idea. Your SMUD bill will jump up around $75/mo just from the pump filter, add about $200/mo if you go electric heating, solar adds pretty much zero.

2. Standard pool size (the ones you see in the ads) is 15'x30' and 6'deep. We found this is really small if you want to use the pool for laps exercise, and were happy to pay the extra $$ to get a 35' swim lane area in the design. We also paid more to get a deeper deep-end.

3. Built-in spas look beautiful, but add about $10,000 to the budget and take a disproportionate amount of energy to keep heated because they are not separately well-insulated from the pool. If you want a good spa experience, go for a separate unit that also has more seating & all the extras.

4. You really really want to have 2 "floor returns" installed in addition to the regular returns. The "return" is the pipes that put the water back in the pool after it goes through the filters & heating. Standard pool has a few returns around the top edge of the pool, but adding returns from the floor of the pool gets heated water circulating faster.

5. Creative Tile in Roseville is a great tile place. If your builder uses them, you will find many lovely tiles in the "standard" price category.


6. Perhaps the best advice is to just expect the construction to have problems and annoyances and aggravations and cost more than you thought. Then you won't be disappointed.

Good Luck!

[Ray]

Thanks for all your input, it's valuable in our decision making process. We haven't done a lot of homework yet but are starting to get the idea of what we are up against.

We're also going to the Auburn Home Show and might talk to some of the pool companies that will be there as well.

Ray

[DalOwnerX3]

Watch out for contractors that charge extra for stuff like "water"