Because pools are costly, require a ton of upkeep, don't ROI, and are just generally a bad idea.
That was before a wind storm in September knocked down our two trees of substance and destroyed the backyard that my wife had spent 13 years cultivating.
My wife was shattered and I told her... in a moment of weakness.... maybe we should just build a pool in the backyard instead?
Indeed.....




So I began to look into the process. How much could a pool possibly cost? 30k? 40k?
The most reputable builder of pools is about 1/3 of a mile from my house. So I called them and the next big 2. The other big 2 didn't call me back... after repeated attempts.
The most reputable told me that they were scheduling dig dates for.... February. 2022. It was September.
So I kept digging. I found a pool builder that had very favorable reviews but was small.
Another local pool builder responded to my inquiries as well.
PB 1 came to my house with a work truck, dirty boots, and told me he would have no problem building me a salt pool, and putting the equipment wherever I wanted. He was super accommodating and you could tell that he worked.
PB 2 was a nice guy and happened to be a graduate of the same school as me. Had a truck that had never had a tool in it and shoes that were sparkling clean. He had more opinions when it came to equipment location and systems.
PB 2 was 15k more than PB 1.
Both of the bids made my eyes water.... but what the heck.
Went with PB 1.
Pool Builder told me that I was on the schedule for late April and that I'd be swimming by summer.
Sounds good!
Mild winter in Salt Lake. Bad for water and snow, good for pool builders.
I get a call from my PB on March 15th. "We are going to come by tomorrow for some pre digging." Wow! Sounds great!
The next evening at 8pm a Kubota pulls into my driveway. We are digging tomorrow. You good with the plans I sent? If not, just tell me where you want the pool and spa.
PB had sent me a rending that looked good. I decided to move the spa closer to the pool but having staked everything a few weeks earlier, I liked the placement.
And boom.... we are digging.




PB is extremely hard working but requires me to make decisions really fast.
After a few snow and rain storms, multiple cave ins... he made everything right. Shotcrete was done on Monday and I've been watering it everyday since.
Hopeful to be swimming in June, but have realistic expections.
Next steps, need to bury the power line, get the coping/tile installed, backfill the plumbing and start on the the pavers!

That was before a wind storm in September knocked down our two trees of substance and destroyed the backyard that my wife had spent 13 years cultivating.
My wife was shattered and I told her... in a moment of weakness.... maybe we should just build a pool in the backyard instead?
Indeed.....




So I began to look into the process. How much could a pool possibly cost? 30k? 40k?
The most reputable builder of pools is about 1/3 of a mile from my house. So I called them and the next big 2. The other big 2 didn't call me back... after repeated attempts.
The most reputable told me that they were scheduling dig dates for.... February. 2022. It was September.
So I kept digging. I found a pool builder that had very favorable reviews but was small.
Another local pool builder responded to my inquiries as well.
PB 1 came to my house with a work truck, dirty boots, and told me he would have no problem building me a salt pool, and putting the equipment wherever I wanted. He was super accommodating and you could tell that he worked.
PB 2 was a nice guy and happened to be a graduate of the same school as me. Had a truck that had never had a tool in it and shoes that were sparkling clean. He had more opinions when it came to equipment location and systems.
PB 2 was 15k more than PB 1.
Both of the bids made my eyes water.... but what the heck.
Went with PB 1.
Pool Builder told me that I was on the schedule for late April and that I'd be swimming by summer.
Sounds good!
Mild winter in Salt Lake. Bad for water and snow, good for pool builders.
I get a call from my PB on March 15th. "We are going to come by tomorrow for some pre digging." Wow! Sounds great!
The next evening at 8pm a Kubota pulls into my driveway. We are digging tomorrow. You good with the plans I sent? If not, just tell me where you want the pool and spa.
PB had sent me a rending that looked good. I decided to move the spa closer to the pool but having staked everything a few weeks earlier, I liked the placement.
And boom.... we are digging.




PB is extremely hard working but requires me to make decisions really fast.
After a few snow and rain storms, multiple cave ins... he made everything right. Shotcrete was done on Monday and I've been watering it everyday since.
Hopeful to be swimming in June, but have realistic expections.
Next steps, need to bury the power line, get the coping/tile installed, backfill the plumbing and start on the the pavers!

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