UnderWaterVanya said:
Has the deadline for the builder to remove the shell passed? If so have you determined if you are doing a semi-diy or a fully built pool and have you selected the type of pool and the builder yet?
Deadline came and went long ago, but we're still trying to decide how to proceed with the replacement. To a certain degree, the urgency has been removed, since this summer is pretty much over (so, in other words, we wouldn't be able to swim until next year anyway), but then again, our backyard is a wreck... we've been working to get it reasonably back into shape, but we can't sod it until the pool is done, and the kids can't play out there for obvious reasons.
How did the summer go? Did your kids find a way to forgive you for hiring the company that did this to them?
They're terribly disappointed (as are all of us), but they are handling it as well as could be expected. Regardless, I'm extremely sad for them.... they were so very much looking forward to having their friends come over and swim this summer. We did what we could to salvage the summer, with a few hastily arranged vacations.
Earlier today my wife and I were talking about what this experience has done to us. Looking back at photos and video of day one, the kids were SO excited when the truck rounded the corner with our pool. It was the joyful realization of a dream we've had and work towards for many years, and this magical moment can never be recovered... even when the replacement of this pool begins, I don't expect any of us will have nearly the same level of excitement and enthusiasm, as it will just feel like a continuation of this same arduous construction process that began long ago.
Essentially, the whole experience of getting a pool has been ruined for our family.
I know that eventually we'll have a complete and usable pool, our backyard will be put back together, and we'll get a lot of enjoyment out of it. But this year has been largely taken from us (not just the pool problem itself, but the resulting overall "black cloud" that has been hanging over our heads for the past several months and for the foreseeable future, causing immense amounts of stress, anxiety, distraction, and sadness). We are trying hard not to dwell on it, but it's hard to ignore.
--Michael