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re: OT Pool Owners- Questions
Posted on 10/5/16 at 9:28 pm to dallastiger55
Posted on 10/5/16 at 9:28 pm to dallastiger55
Haven't heard of that finish. Sounds like pebble-tec to me. You can haggle to a point. Best thing to do is get them to itemize everything and include model numbers on everything. That way you can compare apples to apples on the bids and see where you have wiggle room to negotiate.
I'll give you some advice that you didn't ask for:
- read your contract clearly before signing, make sure the design they showed you is the exact thing they bid. Pool contractors are notorious for giving you a pretty CAD design with a bunch of options. Except, they don't tell you they are options until after you signed the contract. If it isn't written in words, they don't consider it part of the contract.
- get them to clearly define the payment schedule... For example, they will want money up front, money after excavation, money after they complete gunite, again after coping, and then a final payment when there is water in the pool, leaving 5% outstanding to cover the final 20 - 40% of the work.
Here's the catch, they will throw the coping around the pool before they do any decking. They will have water in the pool before any decking. Basically, you may get yourself in a position where you have to pay out 95% of the project, but you won't be able to swim for 2 more months. Once they get to that point, you will see the crews working very sporadically because they will move focus to the next project to get its 95%.
I made sure the final 30% payment would not be paid until the final punch list was complete. You will get a lot of, "that's not how we do things"- but if they want your business, then make them work for it.
Also, they will tell you that you have a warranty. What they won't tell you is that the plumbing was subbed out and the sub will warranty that component. Gunite is a different sub and different warranty, plaster is a different sub and different warranty. The actual pool builder will be responsible for very little of the warranty. Some builders are a bit more helpful than others when it comes to putting you in contact with the correct sub for warranty work. My suggestion, have the builder identify I the contract what components his employees are doing, and what components is he subbing out and to whom. You will be surprised at how little the pool builder is actual responsible for.
I'll give you some advice that you didn't ask for:
- read your contract clearly before signing, make sure the design they showed you is the exact thing they bid. Pool contractors are notorious for giving you a pretty CAD design with a bunch of options. Except, they don't tell you they are options until after you signed the contract. If it isn't written in words, they don't consider it part of the contract.
- get them to clearly define the payment schedule... For example, they will want money up front, money after excavation, money after they complete gunite, again after coping, and then a final payment when there is water in the pool, leaving 5% outstanding to cover the final 20 - 40% of the work.
Here's the catch, they will throw the coping around the pool before they do any decking. They will have water in the pool before any decking. Basically, you may get yourself in a position where you have to pay out 95% of the project, but you won't be able to swim for 2 more months. Once they get to that point, you will see the crews working very sporadically because they will move focus to the next project to get its 95%.
I made sure the final 30% payment would not be paid until the final punch list was complete. You will get a lot of, "that's not how we do things"- but if they want your business, then make them work for it.
Also, they will tell you that you have a warranty. What they won't tell you is that the plumbing was subbed out and the sub will warranty that component. Gunite is a different sub and different warranty, plaster is a different sub and different warranty. The actual pool builder will be responsible for very little of the warranty. Some builders are a bit more helpful than others when it comes to putting you in contact with the correct sub for warranty work. My suggestion, have the builder identify I the contract what components his employees are doing, and what components is he subbing out and to whom. You will be surprised at how little the pool builder is actual responsible for.
This post was edited on 10/5/16 at 9:35 pm
3
Posted on 10/5/16 at 9:31 pm to Floating Change Up
Go vinyl, less maintenance/cost over the long run.
Go salt.
Do your research is all I can say
Go salt.
Do your research is all I can say
Posted on 10/5/16 at 9:34 pm to Floating Change Up
good points of having line item for everything and make sure you know what's in the actual bid vs list of options.
Only my opinion but...
1. which EcoFinish product? I know it's a newer product and it's a poly-plastic coating trying to compete with a pebble finish. I personally wouldn't touch it only because it's still newer product. It has a 10 year warranty I believe but what did they say when it needs to be redone? Maybe b/c I havent' seen it enough to be fair for me to say but Again, IMO Pebbletec/pebblesheen, will last longer than typical plaster and has been around for a long time, and has the best look.
2. Of course you can haggle but will lose something off the line item and I'd be willing to bet change orders would be coming down the line.
Above poster said 30% final which I'd be shocked if a pool contractor agreed to that unless he really knows you. 10-15% is a resonable completion.
Only my opinion but...
1. which EcoFinish product? I know it's a newer product and it's a poly-plastic coating trying to compete with a pebble finish. I personally wouldn't touch it only because it's still newer product. It has a 10 year warranty I believe but what did they say when it needs to be redone? Maybe b/c I havent' seen it enough to be fair for me to say but Again, IMO Pebbletec/pebblesheen, will last longer than typical plaster and has been around for a long time, and has the best look.
2. Of course you can haggle but will lose something off the line item and I'd be willing to bet change orders would be coming down the line.
Above poster said 30% final which I'd be shocked if a pool contractor agreed to that unless he really knows you. 10-15% is a resonable completion.
Posted on 10/6/16 at 8:04 am to Floating Change Up
quote:
You will be surprised at how little the pool builder is actual responsible for.
Don't you mean to say, "how much the builder actually 'builds' or does, as opposed to 'responsible for'? Seems to me the pool contractor, as the party the homeowner contracts with, is "responsible for" everything, regardless as to whether he or his sub screws up.
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