New To Pools...can You Tell Me If This Is A Good Deal?

[AudreyGina]

Okay, so I've spent the last few months researching about inground pools and I've decided on a fiberglass one. After getting a few estimates, I found someone (recommended by a coworker) that I really feel comfortable talking to and he has a small family business and installs 10-15 pools per year (in business for 5 years). He doesn't subcontract any work and offers a year warranty on the construction (the actual pool has 35 yr. warranty). He also gave me and extensive list of references.

This is what he quoted me:

Pool: Blue Hawaiian Water's Edge "Galaxy Blue" color. It's 13.6ft. by 30ft. and the depth is 3.6ft to 6 ft.

Excavation/Back filling

Approx. 50 ton IB Stone (pebbles from a local quarry for back filling)

Hayward 1HP Pump

Hayward 220T Sand Filter

Automatic Chlorinator - Upgraded to Salt

Fiber Optic Light

Stainless Steel Modern Handrail

Start Up Chemicals (Salt)

Maintenance Kit

Vacuum Hose and Hayward Tiger Shark Automatic Vacuum

Water

Electric (including a shed that was not previously wired)

Solar Cover

Bullnoze Paver Coping

3 ft. of pavers around pool

90 sq. ft. Paver walk way to backporch

100 sq. ft. Paver Patio

Paver Firepit

Installing 10 landscape lights (I'm providing these)

And the price is...::drum roll::...$33,700 (taxes included).

Any comments? Thanks!

[AudreyGina]

Wow...42 view and no replies? Did I do something wrong?

[waterbear]

It's really hard to say if the price is good or not since there are such regional variations in pricing.

My suggestion is to ask for the last 5 builds he did and talk to them. The list of references is useless since he will only give you satisfied customers and some might be much earlier builds but if you check with the last 5 you can see how his current work is.

[mskowronski]

Where are you located? We have been seriously considering using Expert Pool Builders- they are also family owned and operated and have been in business for over 20 years. I really liked their salesman (who was also the President of the company) and they even came out and gave us a 3-D design of what our pool would look like, They werent pushy at all, and have given us time to think it over and encouraged us to check out their competition. We live in the Chicago area.

[PoolGuyNJ]

I like a concrete collar to hold a shell, not pavers. Its a weight thing.

I don't like fiber. Its a fading technology in pools. LEDs are more powerful, offer a nicer glow and saturation of the water, and last a lot longer than the bulbs of a light generator. They also offer more colors and don't get dusty.

The S220 is too small. It will force the water to pass at speed, something you don't want since that reduces filtering quality.

A plastic coated hand rail and rail socket are encouraged.

Scott

[Forecastle Mom]

Trust me...you definately want a collar concrete instead of pavers...My best advice would be...go and check the previous references IN PERSON !! You can't trust anyone these days...(*also hold back 50% of the money until the job is done)

Not sure where your located...but it sounds like you got a much better deal than I did!! Buyer beware is all I have to say!

[sidney]

Agreed, we had a fiberglass pool installed in summer of 2010 and it just cracked in half over the winter...now the installer is walking away..he is stating that it is the pool company who winterized the pool who caused the problem. These guys are unreal... very quick to take your 60k but also very quick to deny responsibility. Do not trust anyone also take video or as many pictures as possible while they are installing the pool and check the shell thoroughly when it arrives before accepting it.

[PoolGuyNJ]

A shell that cracked in half over the winter? That makes my eyebrows rise. That suggests it wasn't set correctly, not that it wasn't winterized right. It would have to loose support to crack in half, meaning at least one side lost support.

Scott

[sidney]

I agree, I had an expert come out and review what they thought happened. They concluded that it was set too low into the ground. Probably about 18-20 inches below grade. Thereby causing water to get trapped under the pool...hydrostatic pressue and you know the rest