Trilogy Pools & In-floor Cleaning...

[platinumtouch]

Hi there. New to the forum (so hello all ) I am in RI and am interested in the Trilogy Fiberglass Picasso Pool (24'x12') and Picasso in-ground spa ((11'9"x5'7") may ending up adding the spa later to save initial money depends on pool cost... have no idea right now) and possibly the Picasso Tanning Ledge (also 11'9x5'7 and again an add-on later depending on price... unfortunately, I have been trying to get someone from Trilogy to give me information as to if they have any dealers in the New England (Rhode Island) area... thus far it has been quite frustrating (numerous website requests and messages left with Trilogy). Does anyone know if they have anyone GOOD in my area?

Also. in-floor cleaning question. I have seen/heard so many different opinions on the in-floor cleaning systems. Viking and Trilogy both use Vantage I believe... but I've heard they are great and make your pool "completely maintenance free", I've heard they are ok, I've heard they aren't worth it and worst case I've heard the additional drilling/cutting into the shell for the nozzles is just a leak/crack waiting to happen not to mention the failure possibilities with the nozzles. It's VERY hard to tell what to do with this thing. Typically they are in the $3500-$6000 range (the one I was looking at was $4900) so this is no small chunk of change (literally we are talking stamped/stained concrete deck money PLUS (I have a fairly small yard). If it makes my life exponentially easier it is worth it but if you guys (experts) think it's better to just roll with a nice "robot cleaner" for $1000-$1500 then that is the route I go (that is another expense that can always be added later vs the in-floor which is now or never as well).

Thanks very much for the help! This is a confusing and overwhelming process with this kind of cash on the line!!!!

[platinumtouch]

Nothing back from Trilogy so far despite numerous attempts. I give up. Not a ringing endorsement of their interest, professionalism or quickness to reply. Guess the economy is so good for them they can afford not to care I own a business that is in a VERY fast moving industry and I'll tell you that if I ran my business the way half these pool installers and manufacturers did (going on 1 1/2 weeks waiting for pictures from Crystal Palace Pools as well as the Trilogy inquiry) my customers would go run me out of business in a month. Quite honestly it is pathetic.

Hopefully someone can answer my question on the in-floor cleaning systems. I will post it in a different thread as well because perhaps I'm in the wrong forum section.

[dorway]

Nothing back from Trilogy so far despite numerous attempts. I give up. Not a ringing endorsement of their interest, professionalism or quickness to reply. Guess the economy is so good for them they can afford not to care I own a business that is in a VERY fast moving industry and I'll tell you that if I ran my business the way half these pool installers and manufacturers did (going on 1 1/2 weeks waiting for pictures from Crystal Palace Pools as well as the Trilogy inquiry) my customers would go run me out of business in a month. Quite honestly it is pathetic.

Hopefully someone can answer my question on the in-floor cleaning systems. I will post it in a different thread as well because perhaps I'm in the wrong forum section.

You are in the right section sir. There just is not a whole lot of us out here that use or are familiar with Trilogy Pools & what they offer or do. I know where they are, & have heard they are nice guys but don't know anything more about their operation.

I am familiar very much with Viking Pools & can tell you they still offer an infloor cleaner inspite of hearing many horror stories from many ex Viking Dealers. There is a tendency for the fittings to shear off the bottom of the fiberglass pool shell if the pool is installed in expansive soil conditions or mushy, wet, excavations. The only thing you can do at that time is to F/G over the leaking head of the system since you can't access it from the backside of the plumbing. This is going to cause patches in your pool floor. Depending on whether you have some type of exotic surface finish or not, the patches may not match well.

I am not trying to imply that most of these systems will fail, but in my opinion, the only one you have at this time, I would suggest a Hayward Tigershark QC unless you have a real bad leaf issue. Then I would suggest a Hayward Phantom. Either one is easily replacable if you do not find them to be adequate. But I think you are going to be pleased.

In any event, best of luck to you & happy swimming in your soon to be built F/G pool!!

[poolguy1234]

There was a Viking guy close to my area who was very experienced in FG pools who had installed thousands of pools (Viking as well as others). I had heard through some of his old contractors he had done a few of those in floor cleaning systems and it was pretty much a disaster.

I have never done one personally but I agree with everyone else on this post that it looks like a maintenance nightmare if something goes wrong. In my opinion for what an auto pool cleaner costs and how well they work I would spend the money else where and get the auto pool cleaner.

[jwilsonri]

Hi there. New to the forum (so hello all ) I am in RI and am interested in the Trilogy Fiberglass Picasso Pool (24'x12') and Picasso in-ground spa ((11'9"x5'7") may ending up adding the spa later to save initial money depends on pool cost... have no idea right now) and possibly the Picasso Tanning Ledge (also 11'9x5'7 and again an add-on later depending on price... unfortunately, I have been trying to get someone from Trilogy to give me information as to if they have any dealers in the New England (Rhode Island) area... thus far it has been quite frustrating (numerous website requests and messages left with Trilogy). Does anyone know if they have anyone GOOD in my area?

Also. in-floor cleaning question. I have seen/heard so many different opinions on the in-floor cleaning systems. Viking and Trilogy both use Vantage I believe... but I've heard they are great and make your pool "completely maintenance free", I've heard they are ok, I've heard they aren't worth it and worst case I've heard the additional drilling/cutting into the shell for the nozzles is just a leak/crack waiting to happen not to mention the failure possibilities with the nozzles. It's VERY hard to tell what to do with this thing. Typically they are in the $3500-$6000 range (the one I was looking at was $4900) so this is no small chunk of change (literally we are talking stamped/stained concrete deck money PLUS (I have a fairly small yard). If it makes my life exponentially easier it is worth it but if you guys (experts) think it's better to just roll with a nice "robot cleaner" for $1000-$1500 then that is the route I go (that is another expense that can always be added later vs the in-floor which is now or never as well).

Thanks very much for the help! This is a confusing and overwhelming process with this kind of cash on the line!!!!

Hello there! My name is Julie Dugan and I work for Cherry Hill Pool & Spa - we install Viking, CPC, Crystal Palace and Liberty Pools. I would be more than happy to speak with you at your convenience and help you with your swimming pool project.

I live in Portsmouth, RI and plan on installing a Viking pool at my home within two years (Need to build my second floor first, otherwise pool would have already been installed) Yes, I sell these pools, but I am also the client care rep for Cherry Hill and have personally gone to the home of every client we have, photographed their pool and spoken with them about their experience. The testimonial page of our website (http://www.CherryHillPool.com/testimonials.html) is very telling and something our company is most proud of.

To answer your question about the In-Floor - 99% of our clients choose that option. Yes, it is pricey, but in our client's words, not mine, it's the best decision they made...it makes their pool NO MAINTENANCE.

In terms of your project, I would like to speak with you about what you envision your backyard to be. In terms of Social/recreation/fitness. I would like to help you.

I spent all weekend at the Rhode Island Convention Center working the home show for Cherry Hill. One of my clients (http://www.cherryhillpool.com/gallery/pages/rennard.html) came by to say hello. This pool was installed in 2004 and they showed pictures of the projects they just completed: Enclosed kitchen and dining area, fireplace, TV, and more. (I will add those images to their slide show this week). But the greatest joy I had was listening to them talk to someone considering a Viking pool. They spent 30 minutes talking to complete strangers sharing their love of the pool (Viking Laguna model) and how positive their experience has been with Cherry Hill.

We are not perfect, but we work REALLY REALLY hard to exceed our customers expectations. We believe in our pools, we stand by our work and at the end know we did our very best.

Renovating your backyard is no different to renovating your kitchen or any other important room in your home. It's is a big project.

If you would like to speak to me, my number is 401-487-9773 (cell) 508-248-0048 is my office. Good luck with your project and if I can be of any service, please let me know.

[platinumtouch]

Thanks so much to everyone who answered on this topic. NOTHING from Trilogy (which is pretty poor to me installer or not in my area but I guess that's why they are as small as they are). Anyway, you have all helped quite a bit. I went by Cherry Hill booth in RI on Thursaday and spoke to a very helpful guy.

[southportmom]

I was also interested in the Trilogy pools. I left them several voicemail and emails.. None of my messages were returned. I gave up. Imagine if you went with them and had a problem. What would the turnaround time be then.

[edie_tn]

Since I just recently had a Trilogy pool installed, I wanted to reply. While deciding on my pool, I was very interested in Trilogy and sent a couple of e-mails through their website with no reply. I then called them and the phone was answered. I made a point to tell the woman that answered that I had made an inquiry by e-mail with no response and was interested in speaking to someone about their pools. They immediately offered my the cell phone number of the rep. for my area. I phoned her cell and she answered immediately and was very helpful. From there, everything went well. And, once I had chosen a builder, the Trilogy rep. showed up the day of the dig and remained in town through the next day to oversee the pool installed and leveled.

I have read, over and over again though, that no one is getting replies from e-mails. I must admit that this is a good way to lose potential customers....

I would also like to comment regarding your question about an in-floor cleaner. My pool is 28x14 and it is so very easy to clean that I would consider an infloor cleaner to be an unnecessary expense, and something that could break later. I think I recall reading that the pool you are interested in is not large either, so, if you don't mind my opinion, you can probably do without it and be quite happy with your other options.

Whoever you choose, good luck on your pool build.

Edie

[platinumtouch]

Edie,

Thanks for the information and I hope you continue to enjoy your pool. Your thoughts on the in-floor cleaning are interesting though I still feel like I want it.... I'm probably 60/40 at this point. Like you said I am looking small it may indeed be a waste.

Now as far as Trilogy I think it is important that I come back and comment on this post. I am unable to get a Trilogy pool in my area as there are no licensed installers but I was contacted back by the owner of Trilogy Ted Baudendistel. Ted was VERY helpful and informative and did his best to get me a qualified installer. In addition, even after finding out that Trilogy was not one of my options Ted was very helpful has answered some general questions and made it clear that he is there if I need him. I wish I installed pools, I would rep them myself. Ted seems to be a great, knowledgable guy and I've heard great things about Trilogy (hence my interest in the first place) so I think they are definately a company moving in the right direction, have some nice designs and I love the Fusion system and they appear to really be committed to quality. It appears that they certainly need to work on their replies to website inquiries as I'm sure that is really hurting them.

I wish they had a quality installer around here. If anyone is fully qualified and wants to help me out I'll put you in touch with the right man to pick up the line as they are looking for someone out here.

[JenniferWD]

Sorry you can't install a trilogy in your area. I installed mine in Sept (completed in Dec due to floods) and I couldn't be happier. Trilogy was the best from my research. I considered the cleaning feature but like another response, the pool is so easy to clean it just doesn't make sense for the expense. Good luck!