New Pool Build in FL - Looking for help/advice

[DreaSlown]

Hi Everyone,
After having 2 prior homes with pools already constructed, we finally bought a home with no pool so and are so excited to finally be able to design and build our own vision of paradise! We signed a contract with a pool company in mid-November 2020, and since then the construction has proceeded as follows : permit issued 1/20/21, dug on 2/26, steel inspection on 3/4, and gunite on 3/15. They just did some backfill last week and we are supposed to be getting plumbing today - but I'm not convinced they are going to show. We starting to get worried. Lots of delays, broken promises, and now we are seeing complaints online regarding poor workmanship and people waiting over a year and their pools still aren't finished. I'm attaching a pdf of our plans. I would be so appreciative if you guys could take a look an let me know if anything jumps out as not being right. There is no completion schedule listed in our contract - just says all work will be completed in a professional and timely manner. Let me know what you guys think, and if anyone else has had this happen to them....Just not sure what to do, if anything...

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hello Welcome to TFP

I wish we could have helped with the plans before you got this far. Sometimes we see things we'd suggest changing, but if your pool has already been dug and gunited there is little we can suggest to change.
I'm scratching my head wondering how they think that pool is going to be 18,000 gallons with only a 14 foot swim section, and going from 3' to 6' ???

As to your engineering plan, you might want to remove that and repost without the identifying information on it, OK?

Perhaps one of our building pros will be able to decipher more of the plans to chime in?

How do you plan on sanitizing your pool? We recommend salt water chlorine generator or Liquid Chlorine. And getting your own TFP endorsed pool test kit, to care for your pool in the best way.

Some articles to review-

Construction Archives

www.troublefreepool.com

How to Chlorinate Your Pool

Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.

www.troublefreepool.com

Start-up New Plaster

The first few months are the most criticle for a newly plastered pool. We're here to share best practices to ensure the plaster will last for many years.

www.troublefreepool.com

ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Maddie

 

[DreaSlown]

Thank you Maddie!
I did as you suggested an replaced the engineering file. I didn't even think about that..... Anyway, I'm not sure how they came up with those gallon calculations either. So many things just don't seem right about what they do from what I'm hearing/reading. The more I read on here, the more anxious and afraid I'm getting. Another pool client of theirs said they don't mortar or grout the pool coping and several people have had issues with the pool tiles falling off. Someone else said their plumbing was installed backwards...inflows as outflows and outflows as inflows....I just don't know what to do at this point and I wanted some feedback on what they had designed. Especially the plumbing, etc... The pool is smaller than we would have liked because there is a drainage easement that runs smack through the middle of the backyard. Had I known before we bought the property, we may have had second thoughts, but at the time we had been told there was a pool plan already drawn up for the house by the previous owner and nobody mentioned the easement. I would have liked it to been wider and have a beach entry. We had to compromise a bit on that and make due. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what our best course of action is so any input from you guys is welcome. This is our first build and obviously it's going to be trial by fire! And we are sanitizing with a salt water chlorine generator.

 

[DreaSlown]

Just wanted to update and ask if anyone else can weigh in on my situation and our pool plans.
My PB finally dug trenches for our plumbing today, after 2 weeks of no work. I'm getting more concerned by the day and wondering if I shouldn't just eat the loss I will be taking and fire them. We have already paid 2/3 of our contract. And BTW - this builder was significantly cheaper than all of the others we got quotes from. I will probably have to wind up paying double our quoted price to have someone else finish the job. At the time the PB we contracted with had glowing reviews and I couldn't find anyone complaining about them. Now it seems everyone has an issue.... Please give me some advice!!!

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hmmm... Is there a main office you could go to early in the morning and talk to them about your expectations and when were they planning on meeting them?
Do you know of any other pools they're building now? I wonder if they are one of those low budget guys who can't pay for your crew or supplies until the pool before you pays the bill?
Put an email in writing with your issues....Make a paper trail. "As we spoke today I want to confirm that these are the issues and you stated to me you will....." That kinda thing. Ask him to email you back for your records.

Maddie

 

[DreaSlown]

I have been doing a lot of research over the past few days. They have over 100 permits currently out in our county and 2 other surrounding counties. Looks like their area of work is gradually increasing to include areas farther south than before, and very few pools actually get completed. I have now heard of complaints from at least 6 other people who have been under construction with them for a year and are still not completed! I have spoken to the customers that are complaining, and they are all valid. I have seen pictures and even visited one who lives close by to see the work in question up close. The waterline tile job was horrendous and their travertine deck was not good quality and sinking in some areas. There are other complaints of shoddy work, backwards plumbing, lying to homeowners about compaction tests being completed, failed inspections, tile falling off, etc.... It is looking more and more like they are one of these companies that takes the large deposit and first couple draws, and then leaves you to hang for as long as possible. I'm sick over this. My husband is saying we should fire them, but with the price of pools continually increasing and the outrageous number of pools being built, there are very few PB who would be willing to assume the job. I'm really at a crossroads here and am not sure which way to turn. Any advice???? I think some of the other customers are going to start complaining to the permit offices to try and get a hold put on any new permits to them. If that happens, and they do rely on new contracts for any new income I'm sure they will be put out of business fast.

 

[kevin76]

Personally speaking, firing them after already paying 2/3 of the total price would not even be an option for me unless I was sure it wouldn't get completed(i.e. Olympus pools in Tampa situation). I could not absorb that hit financially and afford to start over with another PB. I would have to try to get in contact with them and hope they finish the job, while watching over their work closely.

 

[DreaSlown]

At this point I'm starting to become convinced it will not get finished. With the number of complaints piling up, and people threatening to call lawyers and county offices, I'm sure they are going to get shut down and new customers will dry up. Which one will actually happen first is debatable though. I'm not anxious to take the monetary hit by any means, but I'm starting to think we don't have a choice. Whatever else they get done is likely going to have to be re-done anyway, since the tile isn't grouted properly and they reportedly don't grout the coping either. When you ask them questions about these things they say stuff like "pool tile falls off sometimes - it's just a thing that happens" and "nobody grouts coping".... The plumbing for one customer's pool was backwards - they plumbed an inflow as an outflow and an outflow as an inflow....They had been fired from that job, and the homeowner had hired another company to finish. When they finally turned the equipment on they found the plumbing issue. Of course the PB lied and said there was no way they made that mistake, but nobody else had touched the plumbing. I'm just tired of the lies and BS, and scared to have a major disaster with my pool.

 

[TampaKathy]

I feel bad for you...I know someone in Tampa going thru the Olympus issue and at some point you have to ask yourself if you are just throwing good money after bad (sounds like you've pretty much come to that conclusion!) and I would be concerned with subs filing liens Maybe go the the PB office and say that this isn't working out and for $x back, let's cancel the contract? Can't hurt at this point!

 

[DreaSlown]

I know of one company they used - CEMEX - that has a bill for our gunite to the tune of around $6,000. They have the right to file a lien if not paid....I'm worried about that too. I had considered asking them for money back and cancelling, but I want to be sure that CEMEX bill gets paid, and I don't think that they have enough cash flow to even give me money back. When you owe for a draw they want it before the work is actually completed or the second it is. We get texts saying such and such work will be completed at 2pm today...we need your draw. They they send an assistant to wherever you are - at work, home, etc...to get the $$$. Will even take a CC over the phone for $16,000 plus deposits...They are always calling and texting that they want their draws. And it's not like we don't pay on time. Any and all of our contract changes have to be paid for immediately. I had inquired about doing a pebble finish, rather than the gem coat that is included in our contract, and eliminating waterline tile completely - just to avoid having a bad tile job. They told me they would get back to me with the price difference. I heard nothing for over 2 weeks, and then out of the blue I got a text asking if we were doing the pebble finish. I responded that I hadn't gotten a price from them. They immediately told me $2500 more and $5,000 if I wanted pebble with tile, and that they would need payment. I declined and said we will stick with the gemcoat. These all should have been red flags I guess but I had no idea. This is my first build - and I'm definitely getting an education fast.

 

[TampaKathy]

I'm going thru my first build as well...it is stressful...I seriously had the thought of filling in the hole and forgetting about it. I thought being on here and educating myself for months would be helpful, but now I'm thinking I would have been better off not knowing.

 

[kellyfair]

I think you need legal advice.

 

[DreaSlown]

I'm going thru my first build as well...it is stressful...I seriously had the thought of filling in the hole and forgetting about it. I thought being on here and educating myself for months would be helpful, but now I'm thinking I would have been better off not knowing.

I feel really overwhelmed by all the information too, but I'd rather find out now then 5 years down the line when I'm having major issues....

 

[DreaSlown]

Update - We fired our contractor yesterday and are in process of hiring a new one. There are massive complaints coming out of the woodwork and we have now heard from several sources that they are hurriedly moving assets to and opening another company with plans to abandon the exiting one and possibly claim bankruptcy. We also learned that even though we contracted for gunite, we received shotcrete. The main gunite sprayer in the area had cut them off for non-payment. To "handle" the issue the PB bought a pump and some equipment and got shotcrete delivered and sprayed that instead. We were one of the very first pools they shot. This leaves us with a shoddy job, and more importantly, no lifetime warranty on the shell like we would have gotten if it had been shot by the gunite company. There are so many issues and things that need to be corrected, and I'm just sick over it. It is going to cost extra to get the pool fixed, and then a ton to have it done to the original design that included planters, a sunken conversation area, and grotto. We have already given the crooks over 40K. Please give us some advice here. I am in process of talking to attorneys as well.

 

[kevin76]

Update - We fired our contractor yesterday and are in process of hiring a new one. There are massive complaints coming out of the woodwork and we have now heard from several sources that they are hurriedly moving assets to and opening another company with plans to abandon the exiting one and possibly claim bankruptcy. We also learned that even though we contracted for gunite, we received shotcrete. The main gunite sprayer in the area had cut them off for non-payment. To "handle" the issue the PB bought a pump and some equipment and got shotcrete delivered and sprayed that instead. We were one of the very first pools they shot. This leaves us with a shoddy job, and more importantly, no lifetime warranty on the shell like we would have gotten if it had been shot by the gunite company. There are so many issues and things that need to be corrected, and I'm just sick over it. It is going to cost extra to get the pool fixed, and then a ton to have it done to the original design that included planters, a sunken conversation area, and grotto. We have already given the crooks over 40K. Please give us some advice here. I am in process of talking to attorneys as well.

That is absolutely terrible. I'm very sorry to hear that. Down here in Tampa the local news really latched on to the Olympus pools saga and ran with it. Not sure that would help you but it would get attention on it and get the word out if your local news investigated.

 

[OrlandoBull]

I am so sorry you're going through this. I would say get an attorney quick, find someone who will work on contingency fee and file a suit ASAP. Even if you change lawyers later, you need to get something on the books if they are moving assets and closing the business. Are they an LLC, or a corporation? There may be some personal liability that could help you if they are not an LLC. If you know any subs they used, you should reach out and see if they have been paid for your job. Beg them not to lien you and see if you can work something out with them.

You may want to consider finishing up as an owner build to help recover some money that you spent with them. Do you have photos of the work they did complete? If you talk to other PBs or subs, ask them to inspect the work they are getting.

Again, so sorry you're dealing with this. Hang in there.

 

[DreaSlown]

Hi All,
I haven't been posting about my pool progress lately but wanted to give an update... After we fired the PB back in late March we went through a horrendous process of trying to help find someone to finish our pool. We wound up being our own GC and have a pool builder helping us - guiding us along the way and feeding us professionals for plumbing, tile, electric, etc. This way we have the freedom to use who he suggests or find our own professionals. He is also allowing us to use his account to order what we need to finish...equipment, tile, travertine, etc.
We are paying the subs directly and he's only charging us for any work he does for us. I'm eternally grateful we found him, because at the time we fired our PB there was almost NOBODY who would take over or pool. Except for the contractors who are preying on the victims of the fraud company we hired, and trying to overcharge us to finish pools.
The original PB and his wife were arrested last week on a boatload of charges and will hopefully be in jail for a long time. They defrauded over 150 of us out of over $2 million dollars. I can sleep better at night knowing that they won't be able to do this to anyone else.
All that being said, I need help with some final selections please!
We have chosen our tile and travertine, but are really stuck on the interior finish of the pool. I love the shimmer of jewelscapes, but it is going to be a lot more $$ in terms of installation. I'm thinking the water color should blend with the tile. Any suggestions on color? And I have visited the pool finish viewing room. It's been a great help, but we are still struggling with this! We were originally going to go with a lagoon finish, then switched to a Capri color, and then again to a Tahoe blue...

 

[Texas Splash]

Wow! What an ordeal. Good they got busted. Hopefully the rest of your pool experience can be somewhat normal. As for the colors, I'm no help. They all look good to me.