Major backyard/pool reno project planning - getting started - advice appreciated!

[HitchHiker]

All,

Got another quote back from one of the national pool contractors, here goes:

1) Drain pool and remove relief plugs
Saw cut under tile line and around all fittings
Remove existing tile and coping, haul away
Install new six inch ceramic frost proof waterline tile band
Install new handi grip brick coping
Install new tile trim on steps and deep end swim out
Acid wash & bond coat pool and spa
Apply a new hard white Marblelite pool plaster finish
(Includes new VGB drain cover(s) and one gallon of pool start)
Install new mastic caulk between back of coping and existing pool deck
Install Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS)
​$ 18,668.00
​LESS DISC​$ 3,734.00
​​ TOTAL​$ 14,934.00

2) To upgrade pool finish to a colored quartz finish, additional​$ 3,551.00
3) To upgrade pool finish to a colored pearl finish, additional​$ 4,475.00
4) To replace skimmer with new skimmer​$ 2,450.00

The tile, coping and plaster have a 3 yr warranty on workmanship and materials.

 

[kimkats]

It is way too hard for anyone outside of your area to say if the price is good or not. Prices vary SO much even from one side of a big town to another. The best thing to do is get as many quotes in your area as you can.

Kim

 

[HitchHiker]

It is way too hard for anyone outside of your area to say if the price is good or not. Prices vary SO much even from one side of a big town to another. The best thing to do is get as many quotes in your area as you can.

Kim

Kim, got it and thanks. If price is specific to region, what about average discounts off of quotes? How much room for negotiation is there on pool renovation pricing? Any guidance from this standpoint?

 

[Foxy]

Your prices are high compared to costs here, but as mentioned regional costs vary a lot. A comparison is, I just paid $500 for a skimmer replacement, $900 for upgraded water line tile of 100 linear ft, $4000 for Quartz plaster in a 15k gallon pool, $500 for a color 5G LED replacement light and the control unit.
I was told a 5% discount for cash is reasonable.

 

[kimkats]

When you get more quotes you can, and should tell them you are going to, price check them against each other. Now if you area has a lot of work going on and they are not hungry you will not have as much leverage. All you can do it ask!

Kim

 

[AmyJo]

What a great pool! Love the configuration. There's just something about this age of pool that I absolutely love!

One word for you: AQUABRIGHT. More affordable for a renovation than PebbleTec, lasts longer, no fading and smooth.

I feel your pain about wanting to alter your existing pool by adding a spa or waterfall. We've not been successful with anything like that, as the prices and trouble to achieve are insane. However, we are still planning to add a couple of Pentair Magic Stream deck laminars. We are also wondering if we could possible sink a premade spa and build a surround? Haven't looked into yet. It makes me sad we can't add a spa at one end.

In any case - hang in there and good luck!

 

[HitchHiker]

Your prices are high compared to costs here, but as mentioned regional costs vary a lot. A comparison is, I just paid $500 for a skimmer replacement, $900 for upgraded water line tile of 100 linear ft, $4000 for Quartz plaster in a 15k gallon pool, $500 for a color 5G LED replacement light and the control unit.
I was told a 5% discount for cash is reasonable.

Thanks for the feedback. It seems prices in the mid Atlantic area are indeed on the high side. Will do what I can to play vendors off of one another to drive the prices down. [emoji1]

 

[HitchHiker]

What a great pool! Love the configuration. There's just something about this age of pool that I absolutely love!

One word for you: AQUABRIGHT. More affordable for a renovation than PebbleTec, lasts longer, no fading and smooth.

I feel your pain about wanting to alter your existing pool by adding a spa or waterfall. We've not been successful with anything like that, as the prices and trouble to achieve are insane. However, we are still planning to add a couple of Pentair Magic Stream deck laminars. We are also wondering if we could possible sink a premade spa and build a surround? Haven't looked into yet. It makes me sad we can't add a spa at one end.

In any case - hang in there and good luck!

Thanks AmyJo. I am looking into Aquabright. Their home offices appear to be in Warminster PA which is about two hours from where we live. I've already reached out to them for a referral and received two vendors as follows, anyone have any experience with either:

Carlton Pools Locations - Carlton Pools
R&R Pools R More

I will be reaching out to both of these vendors this week. If my plaster is aged and needs some repair, will I need to get the plaster repaired beforehand? I've been reading about how Aquabright really requires the underlying surface to be smooth and in relatively good shape otherwise the Aquabright easily shows the underlying plaster problems. True?

I agree with you on the very high prices of adding a spa to a reno. Even a water wall at least from one of my vendors was 12-15k and that didn't include tile and finishing. Talk about sticker shock.

I'm also waiting on pricing back to add a tanning shelf but that looks like a pretty penny as well, well over 10K to add one. Sigh.

We are also looking into adding a partial inground spa that is completely independent of the pool. This is especially attractive to us because we can still use the spa during the winter months going this route. I must admit I'm having a good time so far with all of the planning aspects of this project. So many possibilities! [emoji1]

 

[ctrav]

Great attitude HitchHiker...get more quotes. Are you a veteran by chance? Sometimes folks give us vets a break...

 

[HitchHiker]

Great attitude HitchHiker...get more quotes. Are you a veteran by chance? Sometimes folks give us vets a break...

Thanks much. No I'm not a veteran nor am I a senior citizen so no hopes of getting those discounts.

 

[unklechuckles19]

If you haven't already, you might want to put a call into Coronado's Pool Renovations. I just worked side by side with them on a major overhaul (I did all the equipment, they did the pool finishing) and they were FANTASTIC. On their website they give a map of the area they cover, and it looks like you might be right on the line. Price wise on the job they just did, they came in just shy of $6,000 less than Anthony Sylvan, and they do all the work with in house crews, they don't sub any of their work out.


http://coronadospoolrenovations.com/

 

[HitchHiker]

If you haven't already, you might want to put a call into Coronado's Pool Renovations. I just worked side by side with them on a major overhaul (I did all the equipment, they did the pool finishing) and they were FANTASTIC. On their website they give a map of the area they cover, and it looks like you might be right on the line. Price wise on the job they just did, they came in just shy of $6,000 less than Anthony Sylvan, and they do all the work with in house crews, they don't sub any of their work out.


http://coronadospoolrenovations.com/

Thanks for the referral! I have filled out a quote request form on their website and will get them on the site survey schedule once they get in touch with me.

 

[bmoreswim]

One of the vendors is related. Carlton developed Aquabright in the mid-2000's.

 

[HitchHiker]

One of the vendors is related. Carlton developed Aquabright in the mid-2000's.

That makes sense. I wondered if this was the case as I noticed they have similar office addresses in Warminster, PA.

 

[jimim]

Kim, got it and thanks. If price is specific to region, what about average discounts off of quotes? How much room for negotiation is there on pool renovation pricing? Any guidance from this standpoint?

that's also builder dependent. I offered 1 builder 100% cash and he took zero off.

- - - Updated - - -

If you haven't already, you might want to put a call into Coronado's Pool Renovations. I just worked side by side with them on a major overhaul (I did all the equipment, they did the pool finishing) and they were FANTASTIC. On their website they give a map of the area they cover, and it looks like you might be right on the line. Price wise on the job they just did, they came in just shy of $6,000 less than Anthony Sylvan, and they do all the work with in house crews, they don't sub any of their work out.


http://coronadospoolrenovations.com/

+1 on them. they did my plaster for my builder. i was impressed with them. they were a great company to deal with and their crew that did my pool was very good. answered all my questions. were on point all day and deff went an extra mile to fix a last minute issue with a plug. i documented it in my build. there was no reason they needed to do it for me and they did. it put them behind a good hour but it totally fixed the issue that would have been cosmetic only.

jim

- - - Updated - - -

One of the vendors is related. Carlton developed Aquabright in the mid-2000's.

i did not realize that. . . good info for future.

 

[HitchHiker]

If you haven't already, you might want to put a call into Coronado's Pool Renovations. I just worked side by side with them on a major overhaul (I did all the equipment, they did the pool finishing) and they were FANTASTIC. On their website they give a map of the area they cover, and it looks like you might be right on the line. Price wise on the job they just did, they came in just shy of $6,000 less than Anthony Sylvan, and they do all the work with in house crews, they don't sub any of their work out.


http://coronadospoolrenovations.com/

Chuckles, just wanted to say a BIG thank you for this reference. I had Coronado out mid-week last week for a site survey and have already received a quote back from them for tile, coping and resurface and they are price competitive and seem to have a TON of excellent certified online reviews. There are a few not so great reviews but the ratio or good:bad reviews is generally MUCH better than most other pool renovators IME. They also left a ton of samples for us to review.

Does anyone have any experience with Carlton Pools? I met with them last week as well, and am trying to meet with Price Right Pools this week if I can get on her schedule.

I've got a spreadsheet started with all of my pricing for the various backyard transformation project phases - detached garage unit (includes driveway extension), hardscaping design and installation (includes existing deck destruction and haul away), pool renovation, and landscaping (includes new fencing).

I've been busy coordinating site surveys over the past two weeks and still have additional site surveys to schedule this week and next week. We've been working with one hardscaper in particular that has proposed the below design for hardscaping surrounding our enclosed sunroom, just waiting on pricing now. Thoughts on the proposed design? Always looking for feedback!



The area of the left of the sunroom will become a seating area for entertainment. The area to the right of the sunroom will be expanded and will become a hot tub/spa area (independent of the pool). The pool isn't reflected in this drawing yet as our focus is on the design around the sunroom that will join up to the pool deck area.

 

[HitchHiker]

Got some updated pricing as follows, would appreciate feedback on each line item from a pricing perspective:

The following proposal is based on our meeting:
1) Drain pool and remove relief plugs
Saw cut under tile line and around all fittings
Remove existing tile and coping, haul away
Install new six inch ceramic frost proof waterline tile band
Install new handi grip brick coping
Install new mastic caulk between back of coping and existing pool deck
Install Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS)
​​ ​​$ 8,488.00

2) To upgrade coping to a stone coping, additional​$ 2,112.00

3) To upgrade coping to a travertine coping, additional​$ 2,678.00
​
4) Saw cut under tile line and around all fitting
Install new tile trim on steps and deep end swim out
Acid wash and bond coat pool
Apply a new hard whiteMarblelite pool plaster finish
(Includes new VGB drain cover(s) and one gallon of pool start)
​$ 6,446.00

5) To upgrade pool finish to a colored quartz finish, additional​$ 3,551.00
6) To upgrade pool finish to a colored pearl finish, additional​$ 4,475.00
7) To replace skimmer with new skimmer, includes new plumbing line​$ 2,450.00
8) To install new skimmer in shallow end, includes new plumbing line​$ 2,868.00
9) To Install new return line, includes new plumbing line​$ 1,424.00
10) Install new Equipment Package- includes new 60 SQ FT DE filter,
New 2 hp pump, all new valves, Zodiac Fusion water purifier,
New multi-port valve and installation of all equipment and valves
All new face plumbing.
​$ 3,366.00

11) To relocate pool equipment​$ 1,235.00
12) Install new Hayward ColorLogic LED light​$ 1,058.00
13) New tanning deck with steps and permanent umbrella mount,
Includes all steel reinforcement, forming and gunite​$ 7,500.00

14) Install 2 tanning deck bubblers, includes all plumbing runs​$ 1,989.00
15) Install up to 4 deck mounted jets, includes all plumbing runs​$ 2,929.00
16) New solid Anchor cover- includes cover for pool, Cover pump,
Core drilling for anchors and installation of cover​$ 2,931.00
17) If using stone coping, additional cost for reinforcement
Of cover over the stone coping​$ 695.00

 

[HitchHiker]

Another price bid:

Free Form 109 linear feet​​​
​
- Approximately 25’ of raised wall with (3) 2’ sheer decent would estimate at $15,800.00
(does not include coping or face work)
- Installation of (4) deck jets - $3,400.00
- Installation of a standard selection 3”x3” tile line - $4,300.00
- Installation of one color 5G LED light into the existing niche and junction box - $850.00
- Installation of complete pool automation with mobile access - $4,600.00
- Installation of new pool equipment - $9,100.00
• 60 sq. ft. DE filter
• Variable Speed Pump
• Heat Pump
• Plumbing
• Poured System Pad
- Electrical estimates for automation and equipment could range from $1,500.00-3,000.00 (electric would need to be checked by our electrician for a more accurate estimate.
- Installation of one new pool return - $1,000.00
- Installation of one new skimmer line - $2.675.00
- Run new lines to existing returns and skimmer - $2,100.00
- Removal of existing bottom drain - $1,200.00
- Application of a standard color PebbleTec surface including fill water - $14,475.00
- Application of a standard color PebbleSheen surface including fill water - $15,175.00
- Installation of SmartMesh safety cover - $3,999.00 installed (paver application)

 

[kimkats]

On the first one there is this: "Install Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS)" is that redoing your main drain so it will be to code?

On both of them they say "install"..........who pays for the product to be installed?

I can't help with the prices as each area is SO different in terms of cost.

I will look this over a couple more times to see if anything else sticks out to me.

Kim

 

[HitchHiker]

On the first one there is this: "Install Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS)" is that redoing your main drain so it will be to code?

On both of them they say "install"..........who pays for the product to be installed?

I can't help with the prices as each area is SO different in terms of cost.

I will look this over a couple more times to see if anything else sticks out to me.

Kim

Yes our main pool drain is original to the pool in 1991 and apparently Delaware code requires these drains to either be capped off (if they will no longer be used), or updated with a safety system to prevent drowning. No worries on the pricing, I guess I'm just hoping a few folks from the mid-Atlantic area might view this thread and have some feedback on the pricing I'm sharing here.

So far I've met with A&S, Coronado, Carlton, and Clarks, and am trying to meet with Price Right Pools still (heard good things about this vendor recently). Waiting to hear back from Swift pools as well, since they are another Pebbletec vendor in our area (competition for Clarks). That puts me a six PRs which should give me good competitive pricing data to drive toward a decision. Many thanks!