Ontario -- Beware Foster Pools

[Barb]

Just wanted to let anyone in southern Ontario know that they should avoid Foster Pools at all costs. We bought a house that had a three-year-old pool which had been installed by Foster Pools of Hastings, Ontario, and it has been nothing but trouble. The first year, the salt system wouldn't start up and the local pool company said the unit was fried. I called Foster Pools to see if there was some kind of warranty on it, but they wouldn't call me back. Second year, the pool developed huge wrinkles in the bottom of the shallow end. Third year (this year), the fibreglass steps have cracked (huge cracks!) on both sides and the concrete deck is cracked and chunks of it are falling out. My husband, who's a civil engineer, is sure that all these problems are related to insufficient compaction. Of course, they won't talk to me at all. I'm spending $2,500 this week to have the steps repaired and liner reset (if it works). In the three years since we've owned this pool, it has cost us about $6,000 for repairs, and we still need to have the deck replaced. In the next few years, I expect to have to have the steps ($5,000) and the liner ($3,000) replaced. Who knows how long the pump, filter and heater will hold out. I'm guessing that their prices are lower than other pool companies, but it's definitely not worth it!

[TimeWrap]

There could be alot more then just a compaction problem like your husband think, you can compact, compact, compact till your tamper cant compact no more but when it comes to soil problems i.e. Shrink Swell Soil or just down right bad soil, you can't put all the blame on the contractor. Did the contractor use steel mats or rebar around the concrete decking area and pour thick concrete?? did you get a soil check before getting your pool installed to figure out what kind of soil you all were working with?

I once installed a pool in shrink swell soil, I told the homeowner there was going to be better chances for cracks in the concrete no matter what we do but I wanted another $1,000 so I could put big steel mats around the pool, all he wanted to do was save money and didn't want mats around the pool no matter what I told him he just thought I was trying to get more money so a year and half later there was cracks in the concrete not major ones just cracks... And guess who gets blamed? It's like homeowners expect us to control mother nature....

But than again your pool is not a fiberglass pool which is a whole different construction process!! Good luck and i hope you get things fixed right but remember sometimes its just simply not the contractors fault.

[Barb]

There could be alot more then just a compaction problem like your husband think, you can compact, compact, compact till your tamper cant compact no more but when it comes to soil problems i.e. Shrink Swell Soil or just down right bad soil, you can't put all the blame on the contractor. Did the contractor use steel mats or rebar around the concrete decking area and pour thick concrete?? did you get a soil check before getting your pool installed to figure out what kind of soil you all were working with?

I once installed a pool in shrink swell soil, I told the homeowner there was going to be better chances for cracks in the concrete no matter what we do but I wanted another $1,000 so I could put big steel mats around the pool, all he wanted to do was save money and didn't want mats around the pool no matter what I told him he just thought I was trying to get more money so a year and half later there was cracks in the concrete not major ones just cracks... And guess who gets blamed? It's like homeowners expect us to control mother nature....

But than again your pool is not a fiberglass pool which is a whole different construction process!! Good luck and i hope you get things fixed right but remember sometimes its just simply not the contractors fault.

[Barb]

The previous owners built the pool so I don't know what kind of materials they used. Our soil is clay-like and generally pretty stable, though -- nothing out of the ordinary. The guy who repaired the steps said it was a frost heave. The whole shallow end is heaved but not the deep end, so whatever's happening at the shallow end isn't happening down there.

[CharlieX]

The previous owners built the pool so I don't know what kind of materials they used. Our soil is clay-like and generally pretty stable, though -- nothing out of the ordinary. The guy who repaired the steps said it was a frost heave. The whole shallow end is heaved but not the deep end, so whatever's happening at the shallow end isn't happening down there.

[CharlieX]

We live in Southern Ontario and had Foster Pools install a fabulous pool for us several years ago. They were very professional and our pool has been wonderful. We haven't had any problems.

[Out of patience]

We had Foster Pools install our pool several years ago. We have the same problems with the concrete pool deck cracking everywhere. the concrete in front of our steps has sunken 4 inches and has cracked in two places....funny that it did not crack where cuts in the concrete have been made to address this issue. We also have other areas around the deck where cracking has taken place. Compaction and lack of adequate support is certainly the problem. We had Rob out to our pool after the second year and his response was "concrete cracks". We hired another pool company to open our pool and their first response upon arriving was "this must be a Foster Pool" so this must be a recurring issue with Foster.

Unfortunately, once the pool was in, the service or warranty was non-existent. We had them open and close the pool a few times and we were never happy with the level of service.

Do you research, if you use Foster, make sure there is enough support (tubes) for your concrete deck...pay a little more and force them to do it.

Best of luck to everyone.

[Keene]

stay away from Fosters once they get your money the service stops ..........