Not necessarily the most cost effective. Using a professional to build your pool might seem expensive, but wait to see how much it costs for an amateur. What actually is included, how many extras are tacked on once I’ve committed to using them. The expression “I thought that all of this was included” so common on cheap quotes.

 I got 20 quotes.

If you want to make your life miserable then get lots and lots of quotes. Perhaps you have driven around looking for cheap petrol and after you finally decide on one, you find a cheaper outlet around the next bend. Frustrating.  We call that paralysis by analysis. Because each pool is inherently different and no two pool quotes are exactly alike many people get lost in all the details and finish up giving up.

Far better it is to get yourself up to speed with pool terminology and approach two or three reputable builders.

It doesn’t matter what equipment.

Yes it does! The right equipment matched to suit your pool requirements and calibrated to match and complement each other is essential for competent pool filtration and trouble free maintenance. Some equipment on the market will need to be replaced every two years at best while a slightly dearer model in the first place can give you eight to ten years reliable service. And what about the builders who match a 360 lpm flow rate from a good quality pump and try to filter it through a 250 lpm sand filter, thus voiding your warranty and putting the unit under undue stress. There are cowboys everywhere in this business. Most would not even understand the term dynamic head pressure essential to good filtration needs.

Excavation was cheaper with them!

Hardly. The excavation allowance in a pool contract is put down as a provisional sum. That means it is an estimate of the total costs including tip fees if stated. The reason for a provisional amount is it is impossible to be exact when there are so many variables. What type of ground is it? Is there rock, what type of rock? What size machine can be used? How will the machine be able to maneuver around the house or trees? Do we need a bob cat? What’s his access like. Will he have room to turn around, or will he need to reverse out. What size trucks are needed, and how many. How far away is the dump site, and will it except all your spoil. Is there a charge for dumping? Will the trucks be delayed by traffic?

We are obligated to give an accurate estimate, a realistic one considering all these variables. Many quote an extremely low price or quote just a few hours and inevitably when the dig exceeds their provisional amount by heaps; they pass on the bill and also add a builder’s margin of 20%.Who really was the cheapest now?

My friend had a pool built by them.

Perhaps they did, and perhaps it went reasonably well. But what is the reputation of that builder overall. Some well known builders here in Queensland have a lawyer on staff because of the ongoing disgruntled clients. Now that would worry me!

The internet is full of sites showcasing the bad actions and lack of care from certain builders. Check out your builder first. Speak to some of his client’s .See some of his pools. That way you are far more likely to get a builder you are confident with.

The pool builder will fix my cave in!

Yes he will.. .At a price. Sometimes because of ground conditions or a heavy rainfall a completed dig will cave in. It is even worse if the steel cage is already in. These are referred to ‘latent conditions “in the contract. Builders do not allow for such things in the contract unless specifically stated. You as the client will have to pay the extras to dig out and box and form the cavities as well as back fill after the shell pour. Alternatively you can dig it out yourself. And if the steel is bent beyond repair you will be up for the removal and replacement of new steel. You can take out insurances to cover this, but hopefully your builder will avoid most troubles like this by getting the shell in quickly. Platinum Pools usually have the shell in from dig to concrete in five days or less.

Temporary fence and permanent fence is included.

Please check your contract carefully. If it is not written down on the contract, the work you expect will not be done. That applies to removing trees, fences clothes lines concrete slabs and sheds. How long is the temporary fence for? If I am building as well,  will the hire be long enough to cover the house and pool builds. Some Building companies also at times require a pool shell to be covered by and engineered compliant cover during the course of a build which can add several thousand dollars to a build. So ask your builder.

 I’ll wait till winter when pools will be cheaper then!

This is a marketing fallacy. All products tend to get dearer as time goes by. By waiting you more than likely will pay more for your pool as costs are passed on. Having said that, building in Queensland’s winter with its low rainfall and consistent weather is a great time to build. Some season dependant products do come on special to clear old stocks or to stimulate sales. But they are few and far between.

Concrete or Fiberglass?

Both have pros and cons. Good access and quick builds are synonymous with fiberglass pools. A vibrant colour range is also good. But if your ground is sloped or you are limited with space or the power line out the front would block a crane your costs with a fiberglass pool will sky rocket. Clever marketing from them also makes their product look superior as to warranty, often claiming twenty years or more. But having worked for a glass pool manufacturer you soon learn the outs that are hidden in the small print. If you don’t keep accurate monthly written records of the chemistry your warranty is void. The pool can crack and blister yet still hold water, so that’s not covered. The pool will fade and discolour, that’s normal. Granted the six year warranty on a concrete pool looks small in comparison, but consider, is not the standard house warranty only 6-7 years, and I know they last a lot longer than that. If the pool is properly constructed in the first place it will last indefinitely and certainly can be re pebbled or given a face lift after many, many years.

 I found fibre-Crete very cheap.

I hate these pools. I have nothing nice at all to say about them. They are passed off as concrete pools and sold at a price.. One band of reo bar placed around the top of the pool excavation and a whole lot of steel pins put into a concrete mix will never compare to a properly built fully concrete shell. The three, four or five thousand dollar saving you think you have will turn into a disaster for you in just a short time costing you far more to fix. Don’t go down this track!

 

Wikipedia, Quote.”

Fibers are usually used in concrete to control cracking due to plastic shrinkage and to drying shrinkage. They also reduce thepermeability of concrete and thus reduce bleeding of water. Some types of fibers produce greater impact–, abrasion–, and shatter–resistance in concrete. Generally fibers do not increase the flexural strength of concrete, and so cannot replace moment–resisting or structural steel reinforcement. Indeed, some fibers actually reduce the strength of concrete.