DFW Pool Build Quote

[nawvidA]

Got my quote from my preferred builder and wanted to get everyone's thoughts and suggestions. Appreciate the help. We wanted more of a play pool to enjoy with friends and family and hold some parties around.

Size: 30' X 15' 399 / 93 Volume: 13518 gal
Depth: 3.5 X X 5 400 / 93

Pump: Pentair Intelliflo VSF
Filter: FNS Plus 60 sq.ft. DE
Computer: Easytouch 4PSC-IC40 Pool (salt)
Controls: Screenlogic Interface Combo
Pool Light: Amerilight 500W White (50')
Heater: N/A

Sanitizer: Nature2 Fusion System
Cleaner: Pentair Racer LS Pool Cleaner
Tools: Net, Pole, Brush, Thermometer, Test Kit

Coping: 1 1/4" Travertine
Wall Cap: 1 1/4" Travertine
Water Features: Sheer Descents on Wall

Decking Specifications
Area: 417
Material1: Colored Salt or Textured, 1-Color, no seal

Interior Finish Specifications
Pool Interior: Pebble Sheen Standard Color


WaterlineTile: Standard Selection

This is being priced at 68k...is that considered pretty reasonable for the DFW area when I'm not getting a spa or heater?

Shade arbor in video would be extra at $4k

 

[Jimrahbe]

N,

Nice looking pool..

The first thing that pops up is... Why is it that your pool builder does not understand that your SWCG is the pool Sanitizer ??? I suggest that you get rid of the Nature2 Fusion system which is a mineral system and not recommended here.. Absolutely not needed for your pool. I am sure your pool builder will say it will allow you to run with lower chlorine.. You just do not want to do that.

The next thing that I would suggest is to get rid of the pressure side cleaner and go with a Robot.. Something like this...

I have the EasyTouch with ScreenLogic and love it!! That said, if I were to build a new pool today it would have the new Pentair IntelliCenter. Almost the same price as an EasyTouch and ScreenLogic, but much, much better..

Sounds to me like your pool builder is stuck in the past.

Price wise, my pool and equipment, which is very similar to yours costs about $50K five years ago. But, it is hard to compare prices as part of their bid includes where you live and how much they can get out of you... The same pool can have a much different price, just depending on which side of the tracks it is on.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[setsailsoon]

Naw,

Belated welcome to TFP and nice pool! My brother lives very close to you. Here are my comments:

• With not spa and no heat I get that you're not going with Pentair's top of the line Intellicenter. In your area a heater makes the pool season longer and my brother uses his a lot.
• Go with Intellicenter for your automation. It's only a couple hundred $ and it's the best automation available. You may be adding things in the future and this system uses a very expandable modular design. For example, they recently added multi-position valve capability with a free firmware upgrade. All you have to do is add the valve actuator.
• Don't sanitize with the fusion 2. It contains expensive mineral cartridges that TFP recommends against. Go with Pentair swg or 3rd party like Circupool.
• My brother is plagued with a LOT of leaves and dust in Flower Mound. The DE filter has worked well for him but it's a water hog and seems to need a fair amount of TLC plus DE. A large cartridge filter may be a better choice. If you go this route go with the biggest single element filter you can. They're way easier to clean and if sized right you won't have to clean more than once per quarter.

Thanks for the post. You're way ahead of the game by getting input early. I'm sure you'll get a lot of input on the items I mentioned and the rest that I'm not really experienced enough to make recommendations on.

As important as design specs are the commercial terms and conditions of your contract. Do you have a clear understanding in writing for all of the following:

• What your obligations are to provide access
• Decision milestones
• Change Order process
• Construction waste handling
• A complete set of specifications
• How permits are handled
• Schedule (estimated but at least a starting point)
• Site clean up
• Quality management
• Progress payment inspections
• Final release of liens prior to final 10% payment
• Performance test prior to final 10% payment
• Subcontracting plan
• What is warrantied and what does warranty mean
• Terms fair and balanced for both parties

If not you should make sure you do prior to signing. Discuss in person and constructively with the builder. This should not be a contentious discussion and he should appreciate that you want to understand all this up front. A lot of people skip this and just sign the contract. This is a recipe for disaster unless absolutely nothing goes wrong. Pool construction is complex so there are always at least a couple of surprises. A thorough discussion and then complete written terms makes this a lot easier. At the very least this make sure you both know what can happen in the construction process and this almost always makes it go better. At worst you have a fair contract with all the important stuff covered to fall back on just in case it's needed.

I hope this helps.

Chris

 

[Jimrahbe]

N,

To follow up on Chris' recommendation about the DE filter...

I have two rent houses with DE filters... When we built our pool, I only had experience with DE filters, and wanted one for my pool too.. But to add a DE filter I would have had to run a drain line to the sewer, which cost too much, so we installed a large cartridge filter.

Now, after working with a cartridge filter, I can't wait for the two DE filters at my rent houses to die, so that they can be replaced with cartridge filters. No multiport valve to go bad, no messing with DE.. Dirt simple to use and clean, unlike the DE filters. I could go a whole year between cleanings, but like to clean them twice a year.. If you go cartridge, get the CCP-520.. That is the one I have and it works great.

I was going to bring that up in my original post, but thought I'd already done enough "damage"...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Dtkokay]

500W pool light: that sounds like a traditional light, not LED? If so, I would get LED. Lasts longer, uses less electricity, and most models allow you to selectively change the color.

Delete the Pentair cleaner, which also obviates the need for a pressure connection at the pool, saving you some $. Instead, buy a robot on your own.

Delete the Nature 2 sanitizer and go with a salt water chlorine generator instead.

Price wise, that sounds a touch high, but you can always negotiate. I was able to get $3K off the price of my pool. Your best bet to check pricing is to get more bids.

 

[jugalo]

IMHO... I would get a couple more bids. Ours is similar in size but with a hot tub and Intellicenter and it wound up at $71k. Its not complete yet and I need to update my thread. We have quite a few upgrades as well. Pools in DFW seem to be higher than many other parts of the country from what I have observed.

 

[kimkats]

I agree with @jugalo just to be on the safe side.

 

[Jimmie48]

Hi there, after just going through the bidding process with 6 DFW builders...most of the bigger names anyway, I think your pool is a little overpriced, however not crazy. Is that his first price to you? Most every builder I talked to came down some after the initial bid after telling them we had other bids. Some asked to compare bids but I wouldnt do that, so they had to trust me on my word. I had bids with a spa a little bigger pool and travertine decking that were all over the place. We do have a challenging yard but nothing super crazy.

Definitely get more bids...then compare them to each other, let them know you are entertaining more than one and will get back to them...

 

[nawvidA]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback so far. Had some feedback on the initial quote based on everyone's comment.

Size of pool adjusted to 32 X 16 - figured bigger is better? Have the space so might as well use that up.
Few design changes - added pics below. Pretty much wanted more decking on the right side of pool and wall ascent in the middle with all the water features closely together with glass/ceramic tile.

Equipment updates -

Heat Pump - Pentair UltraTemp Heat and Cool Pump
Lighting - 2 Microbrite Color LED Lights 100
Removed - Cleaning, Robot would be added after build
Santizer - Builder saying should do at least inline chlorinator as a backup. About $175 less than nature2
Automation - updated to Intillicenter
Decking Material - updated to Belgard Pavers (Cambridge Cobble), might switch to Melville Plank Pavers if I want the more modern greyish look.

Cost has been updated to 75k....this is without the pergola (additional 4k) or landscaping (flower beds etc or turf upgrade)

 

[nawvidA]

Thinking of lower the raised walls on the left and right and just keeping it raised in the middle. Would ideally want the tile in the wall feature to fall through within the tiles of the pool.

Filter will be adjusted to the Pentair CC520

Coping: 1 1/4" Travertine (is this normal - good for Salt pool?)
Wall Cap: 1 1/4" Travertine (is this normal - good for Salt pool?)

 

[Jimrahbe]

N,

Having an in-line chlorinator (tablet feeder) is of no advantage as it will never get used... but it is not going to hurt anything.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Dtkokay]

Thinking of lower the raised walls on the left and right and just keeping it raised in the middle. Would ideally want the tile in the wall feature to fall through within the tiles of the pool.

Filter will be adjusted to the Pentair CC520

Coping: 1 1/4" Travertine (is this normal - good for Salt pool?)
Wall Cap: 1 1/4" Travertine (is this normal - good for Salt pool?)

I would keep the whole wall raised because it’ll help keep grass out when mowing.

 

[nawvidA]

Thanks advice on raised wall - will likely keep that. Is there anything else that I should be asking for that has been helpful feature or additions to the pool ? I was hoping for an extra water line for an outdoor kitchen but pool builder saying likely expensive or maybe adding an outdoor shower?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

They can always lay some conduit down for future expansion... say for kitchen needs? Lighting? And if you can get a water bib placed where its convenient to use in the future kitchen but also available to water plants and flowers you might have on the deck. You also need an outlet placed for robot's plug.

Skip the inline feeder! You can use a simple floating tablet feeder *if* the need really ever did arise. Your SWG if properly sized will work well and you can always use liquid chlorine if the power is out.
So save the space by skipping that feeder and make sure they don't crowd the equipment pad up too much. Make it as big as possible for ease of working on the equipment when needed. We've seen some real spaghetti type plumbing jobs that leave one scratching their head to make sense out of.

Maddie

 

[nebtex]

Price seems a bit high for me. We are south of DFW with a 40x18 pool extra patio and sidewalk and were over 20k less then that.

 

[JJ_Tex]

I was hoping for an extra water line for an outdoor kitchen but pool builder saying likely expensive or maybe adding an outdoor shower?

I have aspirations of an outdoor shower in my future, so I added a deck drain where I would put the shower and the sprinkler guy was able to add a faucet connection when he fixed my sprinklers. Those should be cheap adds, even if you dont end up doing the shower on day 1.

 

[richard-ssv]

We are near Denton and we paid right at $55k for the pool pictured in my avatar. The pool dimensions are similar, but we also added a spa and heater. Our equipment is Jandy (all remote controlled via app/computer), but we don't have a sanitizer. We also only did about 70 ft of flagstone decking that bumped up to our existing stamped concrete patio. I'm sure that your Travertine coping and decking cost more, but perhaps it shouldn't be that much more? They also threw in a XL Big Green Egg for free. If you're interested in our builder shoot me a PM.