jkapit
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Posts posted by jkapit
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Hello all
I want to extend my decking on my pool and around the pool area. I am looking at about additional 1000 square feet. I have Kook Deck around my pool now. Should I extend it with Kool Deck? Or, should I use some other option, if so, what?
I will NOT be doing this myself. I will be hiring a contractor. Can someone please give me a ball park figure for cost, including installation?
Thank you.
Just wondering are you happy with your kool deck? I am currently deciding if we go with cool deck or cement.
Thanks,
Jkapit
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We are in the final stages of completing our Gunite pool and was looking for advice on if we should go with cool deck or cement.
Has anyone owned cool deck for 5 years or more and are happy with it's longevity?
Or is colored cement more durable, less expensive, but a bit hotter to walk on.
My yard get's full sun all day and the texture and look of the Kool Deck looks good, but I am concerned that it is not durable.
Thanks,
jkapit
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hey guys
i notice there's an abundance of unsatisfied consumers on this forum (and other places too) --- so I have a question that has nagged the heck out of me for nearly two years. Hopefully someone can shed some light
A little background:
I own a swimming pool company. We're young and small. I love pools --- it is a passion. It is hard work too --- but is very rewarding (and the intangible rewards far outweigh the monetary gain, trust me).
However, we lose SOOOO much business to a lot of these larger franchise companies (I call em the "McPool Builders). The comments I read in this forum are not abnormal nor are they shocking. I run into a lot of pool owners who were seriously upset with their builder, or had terrible experiences. I ran into a former prospect who had chosen a larger company, over mine --- and tell me they wish they had gone with mine (though we were in line at the grocery store and I think she was just trying to avoid the awkwardness of the moment).
So my question is --- why do you all keep going to these companies?? What is it that makes you say "ah--- I like your company." I'm sure you all check references --- but do you think that anyone's ever going to give you a bad reference.
Obviously, none of you are the first "victims" (if you will) of any of these McPool Companies. But everyone keeps going back!!!
I do feel for your situations --- and feel frustrated for you. However, it frustrates me at the same time because many of these "horror stories" are really easy problems to deal with, and it's unfortunate that there are so called "builders" out there who cannot REALLY stand behind their work.
So, does having a builder who actually CARES about their work mean anything to you, as a consumer? Or someone who is willing to accept responsibility for their actions??
Sorry for the venting ... feedback welcome
I think what makes these big builders effective at marketing is pretty simple.
1)The cost seems more competitive than smaller builders. In my area the smaller builders were 10-25K more for roughly the same pool - it is hard to convince some-one who does not really understand the process to appreciate why they should pay more for what they think is the same product.
2)Good marketing/brochures make them appear more professional than smaller local guys.
3)Warranty - Lifetime shell warranty, this is probably the biggest selling feature. Considering these are big companies you would not think they would go out of business and void the warranty.
Now that I selected one of these big companies the reality is:
1)No one at the company cares since you are 1 of 50 pools being built simultatneously in your area
2)No one wants to answer your questions since they are too busy or have no idea what is going on
3)They all use the same sub-contractors so it doesn't really matter who you buy your pool from
Right now, I would switch companies if I knew I could get a project manger who cares and communicates well about the process and progress of the project.
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I am currently under construction on a new inground pool. This pool will be 8 ft deep and apparently the water table in my yard is about 3 to 4 ft from the bottom of the pool excavation.
The township inspector is concernced about how the pool will displace this amount of water.
Does anyone think this is a major problem and why?
Also, the construction crew dug down an extra 2 feet in the deep end and added extra stone and buried a drain pipe. The pipe runs to the top of the pool deck area and they temporarily hooked it up to a pool pump. It takes about two hours to pump out the water whenever the crew needs to work on the pool. But once it empties the water it looses suction/siphon and the pool slowly fills up overnite.
Right now the next step is to shotcrete the pool. The hole is dug, rebar in, and because of this water the inspector has postponed shotcrete until he gets some answers from the pool companies engineer.
Any feedback on this situation would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Joel
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We just went through the same process. We had 4 companies bid for our pool.
The line item costs and products varied widely, but in the end the total pool prices were not that far off from each other. For instance, some companies included salt generation, one a sand filter, one a DE, and another a cartridge filter. Some included 60 ft of gas line, others 100ft. Some included the pool cover, others did not. One recommended a heat pump and the rest a gas heater. Some companies included the topo-survey and others did not.
From what I can tell, there will be a number of extra cost items that may not be priced into the contract that you may need to be prepared to pay. In my case, installation of a dry sump since they hit water, extra gas line footage, extra fill dirt, extra retaining wall since the elevation of the pool was higher than I originally thought. All these costs were estimated by the pool company so I was not suprised, but are technically not in the contract for the pool.
Even though this intially seemed confusing, I was not really that concerned with the prices for each individual component since in my mind the total price of the project and reputation of the builder is all that really matters.
I went to see a few jobs, talked to a number of people who used the various companies then made a decision.
Lastly, read the contract very carefully. There were a number of things I wanted changed or added to make me feel comfortable about moving forward with the project. I am not a lawyer, but was able to work through the contract. Make sure you understand it before you sign it. I've read a number of posts that people were suprised about what was in the contract after they signed it!
Last week they excavated and this week the re-bar is going in, so-far so-good.
Good luck.
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No doubt they are bums and sorry to hear about your troubles, but when you are signing for something for alot of money read the darn contract and get references.
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Karen and Brian,
Thanks for your input. Sorry to hear that you're finish is not holding up like you thought it would. It just shocks me that they even sell it and lead you to beleive it will last for a very long time and it doesn't.
Right now I am probably going with gunite. The main reason was the overal width of the pool.
Wav Tec Suks! Help Please
in All Swimming Pools Types
Posted
Don't beat yourself up on this, just learn from your mistake. It always pays to read contracts before you sign. If something seems unfair just change it and initial it. If they accept it great, if not choose another company. Most companies will modify the contract at your request and if they don't just find another contractor.
I am not a lawyer, but I would just not go through with the project with Wave Tec. I would go to court to pursue the down payment if it was substantial. If not, just feel lucky you did not get totally screwed by these guys and find another pool company.