[Nathan]

Howdy Folks,

I've seen a few new members that do Pool Construction & Enclosures so I wanted to add a forum for them.

Hope everyone enjoys

[mcdoodles]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Howdy Folks,

I've seen a few new members that do Pool Construction & Enclosures so I wanted to add a forum for them.

Hope everyone enjoys

Awe, that is so nice of you. Too bad I am out pool work. Thanks though

[dirt diggler]

am I the only one here??

[Nathan]

This is still a pretty new topic for us. It's going to take a little be for pool guys to find this site.

I'm sure they will come along soon.

[dirt diggler]

yeah, oh well -- that's fine, I'll just sit up at the bar

[TimNJ]

I put in a DIY vinyl liner pool this summer and there really is not much to it at all. A little research on pumps and piping. I figure I will have about $18,000 into it by the time I finish with the patio work around it and some landscaping. That is easily less than half if I paid a pool company, plus the reputation of all the pool companies here that I have heard about is $%^t. Sign contract in April, pool is finished in time to close it down for the winter. The running joke is, if you buy a pool this year don't plan on using it until next year.

[dirt diggler]

Originally Posted by TimNJ

I put in a DIY vinyl liner pool this summer and there really is not much to it at all. A little research on pumps and piping. I figure I will have about $18,000 into it by the time I finish with the patio work around it and some landscaping. That is easily less than half if I paid a pool company, plus the reputation of all the pool companies here that I have heard about is $%^t. Sign contract in April, pool is finished in time to close it down for the winter. The running joke is, if you buy a pool this year don't plan on using it until next year.

that's cool Tim --- i guess not too much to em.

[joasis]

I hope to do my pool next summer in conjunction with the new home. I think I am going with a fiberglass shell...if things go as planned, I won't have 10k tied up in it.

[dirt diggler]

hey guys, lets take it easy on the whole "pool builders suck" thing ...

it is hard work

[TimNJ]

Originally Posted by dirt diggler

hey guys, lets take it easy on the whole "pool builders suck" thing ...

it is hard work

Dirt, You get no argument from me on the "hard work". For some reason this year I did a LOT of work for people who were in the process of having pools put in or had just had a pool put in within the last 2 years. The consensus from everybody was the companies take your money and then never show up except one or two days every couple weeks. This was from all the big dealers who service my area of NJ too, not just one isolated company. It seems around here if you just show up and work consistently on a customers pool you could clean up in this market. Of course that rule of thumb applies to any construction project. It is what seperates the good and bad apples.

[Creative Pools]

I think the biggest reason why people are not happy with thier pool builders is, they want to spend the least amount possible, which does'nt leave much $ for the people building the pool. If there were more $ to go around, then pool builders whould be glad to spend more time on each pool. And if the pool builder puts in a higher bid, the customer justs goes somewhere else. What's a pool builder to do.

[dirt diggler]

Originally Posted by Creative Pools

I think the biggest reason why people are not happy with thier pool builders is, they want to spend the least amount possible, which does'nt leave much $ for the people building the pool. If there were more $ to go around, then pool builders whould be glad to spend more time on each pool. And if the pool builder puts in a higher bid, the customer justs goes somewhere else. What's a pool builder to do.

welcome, brother

AND ---
The other reason people are always mad is b/c of the length of time involved. Creative, you don't have this problem most likely (or at least, not to the extent of) --- but guys in the North do.

People will get mad because you're busy. Heck, I've got a client right now who is STEAMED that I am starting another project. But what nobody thinks about, is that the business is seasonal. You HAVE to be slammed --- cuz things don't just slow down in the winter --- it STOPS.. And, if you're trying to compete with all the other idiots (which most likely, you'll have to) --- you gotta be stampin em out

[D&H]

A friend of mine wanted to put an inground pool in himself and asked me to help. Sure, I said. In the end, it was a beautiful 26x60 inground pool in his backyard (he has 30 acres). I had put up several above ground pools, but this was my first inground pool.

We contracted out the dig, the vermiculite/concrete bottom and the liner installation. Everything else, we did ourselves.

I have a bunch of pictures on my website at www.swimalot.com , and in case I'm not allowed to put a link and it gets removed, here's a pic of the finished pool.

[Tom R]

Hey, - - Tim(NJ) the Pool Man, - - long time no see, buddy.

Hopefully you'll be postin' some pics soon . . .

[ruskent]

I'm actually in the process of becoming a dealer/installer for a fiberglass pool manufacturer out of Texas. Most of my business is landscape construction, so i deal with people daily who have had pools recently installed. So i hear all the horror stories out there.

Hopefully in a couple years i will be doing real well.

Matt

[dirt diggler]

Originally Posted by ruskent

I'm actually in the process of becoming a dealer/installer for a fiberglass pool manufacturer out of Texas. Most of my business is landscape construction, so i deal with people daily who have had pools recently installed. So i hear all the horror stories out there.

Hopefully in a couple years i will be doing real well.

Matt

That's cool Matt --- I've been wanting to get into those --- honestly, I keep getting underbid by the dealers that stock like 10000 shells in their yard (makes a huge price difference)

Very quick turnaround, and a lot easier & faster than gunite/vinyl

***

The dig is probably the hardest phase (very very low tolerance in the excavation because you must conform to the shell) but that's not even that bad

Let me know if ya need a winter foreman

Good Luck

[ruskent]

^^ Yea i think digging the whole will be the hardest part. I'm most likely going to sub out excavation for the first year atleast. If i find a good honest sub, that digs the hole neat, and cleans up when he leaves, i may never excavate in-house.

In my area there is no body that really does fiberglass pools. THere are one or two guys that install a few, but nobody that really markets them.

I am going to focus 90% of my marketing on the fiberglass pools. I think the business has huge potential and it will lead to more landscape construction work (which is currently 85% of my business) than i will know what to do with.

Matt

[dirt diggler]

Matt --

yeah, unless you have a good operator, you should sub the excavation out. You really need to be on with the dig --- like i said, it can be unforgiving (any voids might lead to quality concerns later ...)

Yeah and you know, I think it will bring in more landscaping for you. I've been toying with the idea of offering landscaping as well --- thinking that it might bring in more pools. I dunno ...

It's a lot of fun though --- let me know if you ever need some help or have questions (i.e. sizing pumps, filtration, hydraulics, etc)

[TimNJ]

Originally Posted by Tom R

Hopefully you'll be postin' some pics soon . . .

Tom, I don't even have a digital camera Maybe hint to wife for Xmas present. I did take quite a few pictures of the process the old fashioned way. I just have to get them developed.

[Tom R]

Originally Posted by TimNJ

Tom, I don't even have a digital camera Maybe hint to wife for Xmas present. I did take quite a few pictures of the process the old fashioned way. I just have to get them developed.

Just get her one, - - then you can borrow it every twice in a while . . .