IG Vinyl Build: It's Happening!

[TKpoolOH]

Awesome, thanks @Mdragger88 It looks like the microSD is supposed to last for 28 days, have you experienced that? My build is allowed 60 days per contract and I have absolutely no doubt my PB will not do anything until he has to.

 

[Mdragger88]

Wyze cams with an added sd card in them for continuous recording. They also have cloud service available for a fee. I do not subscribe to the cloud service.
The v3 cams are outdoor rated & have a better pic than the v2’s. They are cheapest on the WYZE website but also available for about $5 more in person at Home Depot or on Amazon- the sd card is about $11

Awesome, thanks @Mdragger88 It looks like the microSD is supposed to last for 28 days, have you experienced that? My build is allowed 60 days per contract and I have absolutely no doubt my PB will not do anything until he has to.

That means that the footage from 29 days ago will drop off into the abyss as new footage is added & over writes the oldest on the card. To keep that footage just remove the sd card & upload the footage to some other storage before then. You could also just purchase several sd cards & swap them out before the 28th day.

 

[Newdude]

You could also just purchase several sd cards & swap them out before the 28th day.

That was what I was gonna say. Treat yo self with $11 cards.

 

[Dirk]

Got an email this morning. He doesn’t know I know he’s built 3 pools already this year. His words below:

Trevor,
I wanted to reach out regarding the schedule. Please remember it was snowing and raining until the past Saturday. We are just getting started for the season.
We have 4 guys as of now. This is 6 people to manage our service center as well as construction. Our sub crew only has two guys at this point. We are moving slowly. I would estimate a start date of late June. We are trying. I apologize for the short tone of message. I am literally working from 6 am to 5every day and still getting message after message from people mad that we are not getting there fast enough.

Well, this is kinda good news, even if he's fibbing a bit (or a lot). He's got you on his radar at least. And you've established yourself as someone that's not going to just wait without saying anything at all. Keep up the pressure (but be professional). Squeak that wheel! The best solution (as I see it) is to get this guy to do the work and for him to do a good job. Sounds like you're working to that end as best you can. You can be a little rough on this guy. When your job starts, then you can go back to mister-nice-guy mode on his subs (snacks and treats and praise, etc). They're the ones doing the actual work, so they're really the only ones you need to coddle.

So I had May 11. Where's my money!

 

[Mdragger88]

That was what I was gonna say. Treat yo self with $11 cards.

The 128gb cards are $17

 

[TKpoolOH]

That was what I was gonna say. Treat yo self with $11 cards.

For sure!

The 128gb cards are $17

Even better!

Well, this is kinda good news, even if he's fibbing a bit (or a lot). He's got you on his radar at least. And you've established yourself as someone that's not going to just wait without saying anything at all. Keep up the pressure (but be professional). Squeak that wheel! The best solution (as I see it) is to get this guy to do the work and for him to do a good job. Sounds like you're working to that end as best you can. You can be a little rough on this guy. When your job starts, then you can go back to mister-nice-guy mode on his subs (snacks and treats and praise, etc). They're the ones doing the actual work, so they're really the only ones you need to coddle.

So I had May 11. Where's my money!

That's the plan, thanks for the tips! However, I am now having to GC my job and my neighbors because my neighbor has no idea why his permits aren't done and PB of course isn't saying a peep. Plus, PB said long time ago we'd use xyz company in town to dump my 200 cubic yards, however, just called them, and their in town lot can't handle 200 cubic yards, their closest one is another 12 miles away. I ain't paying for the extra hour roundtrip, with 40 trips for his F650 dump trucks.

I swore @Leebo had extra PoolMath subscriptions to give out since not enough of us submitted entries for the coloring contest

 

[Newdude]

swore @Leebo had extra PoolMath subscriptions to give out since not enough of us submitted entries for the coloring contest

Including yourself.

 

[Dirk]

The 128gb cards are $17

Geez, I remember making a semi-back-alley deal for four 4GB ram cards for my Mac. I was so happy to only have to pay $2,000 for the lot!

Luckily I didn't need to buy any gas to get home...

 

[Dirk]

That's the plan, thanks for the tips! However, I am now having to GC my job and my neighbors because my neighbor has no idea why his permits aren't done and PB of course isn't saying a peep. Plus, PB said long time ago we'd use xyz company in town to dump my 200 cubic yards, however, just called them, and their in town lot can't handle 200 cubic yards, their closest one is another 12 miles away. I ain't paying for the extra hour roundtrip, with 40 trips for his F650 dump trucks.

I think staying on top of what a contractor and his subs are doing is the only way to ensure good work and timely progress. Every step. Not supposed to be that way, but that's the world in which we now live...

 

[Newdude]

640K ought to be enough for anyone
- Bill Gates 1981

IOS 15 needs 5GB to download and install
-Apple 2022

 

[TKpoolOH]

Well, glad I finally got some answers but am even less confident this is going to turn out right. Finally got a written part/model number list which I've been trying to get forever from PB. Unfortunately, not everything is on the list and more than half of it is wrong! I specifically asked for this in January (amongst other times) when PB had nothing to do but he ignored me as usual. Getting it sorted out. Everything was supposed to be Pentair but looks like all equipment is still pentair but parts also include hayward and jandy. Anyhow, couple questions:

1) Brass anchors are definitely better than plastic for everything right (ladders, rails, etc.)? (I realize cost is significantly different)
2) Was going to have Pentair valves, but apparently he has switched to Jandy Neverlube. That's a win for me right? All the equipment is Pentair.
3) What exactly do inlet fittings do (#Hay-25-7041)?
4) Intellibrites are solid right (AMP-30-2012)?
5) Is the multiport valve (PAC-06-229) the right one for a Pentair TR100 sand filter?
6) Any issue with mixing and matching pentair equipment with pentair, hayward and jandy parts?
7) Was supposed to be 3 hp Intelliflo, of course he ordered 1.5 hp superflo. Like everything, I've got several written and verbal confirmations on what I wanted/requested/ordered. Is the 011056 or the 011028 better?

Unrelated to these questions, what's the appropriate way to water the new concrete when it's poured? Do you just mist it to keep it wet, saturated it and make puddles on it, etc.? Water it for about a week?

If PB thinks my pool gets pushed back for any of these errors, I will be livid! Thanks for the input on my questions! So jealous of all you folks swimming with these hot days or those of you at least building your pool so you can swim on these hot days.

 

[TKpoolOH]

Wyze cams with an added sd card in them for continuous recording. They also have cloud service available for a fee. I do not subscribe to the cloud service.
The v3 cams are outdoor rated & have a better pic than the v2’s. They are cheapest on the WYZE website but also available for about $5 more in person at Home Depot or on Amazon- the sd card is about $11

Just ordered my Wyze v3. Thanks again for the insight!

 

[Dirk]

I can only answer a few of those. We'll need our build experts for the rest. (@Jimrahbe, @JamesW, @1poolman1, @jimmythegreek)

2) Jandy Neverlubes are the gold standard. The Pentair valves are also very good, but you didn't lose anything ending up with Jandy.

4) All multi-color LED pool lights are iffy, with not great track records and not great longevity. I'm fairly certain the Intellibrite 5G (if that's the model you're referring to) is as good/bad as the rest. I'm on my second one now. There were two versions (at least). The later version has a better heat sync which helped with the reliability. I'm sorry, I don't know how to best tell the difference from the outside. They fixed this problem several years ago, so as long as you get a new one (and not one that's been sitting on a shelf for the last five or six years) you'll be fine.

6) Depends on which is being mixed and matched. There are two primary considerations. (1) You'd want the main pump, the automation controller (or a future one) and the SWG to all be of the same brand. These components "talk" to each other (over a COMM line) and competing brands don't. (2) If you buy three certain Pentair items at the same time, on the same invoice, you get an extended warranty of three years on almost everything else Pentair that is also purchased on that same invoice. It's a significant warranty bump. You definitely want to pursue this one-time deal. Check out the details here: Pool Product Warranty Information
That page is difficult to decipher, but it's all there. Be sure you and your contractor are on the same page about this important detail, and that he makes the Pentair purchases in such a way to take full advantage of the upgrade. Pentair rules are fussy when it comes to getting the extended warranty.

7) There is huge difference between the IntelliFlo and the SuperFlo, like the difference between a Cadillac and a Buick. They'll both get you there, but which do you want to own! It's especially a big deal if you are getting, or will some day want, an automation controller. Insist on the IntelliFlo. Others here can help you with the model number.

Sympathies for your continuing saga. Hang in there.

 

[TKpoolOH]

I can only answer a few of those. We'll need our build experts for the rest. (@Jimrahbe, @JamesW, @1poolman1, @jimmythegreek)

2) Jandy Neverlubes are the gold standard. The Pentair valves are also very good, but you didn't lose anything ending up with Jandy.

4) All multi-color LED pool lights are iffy, with not great track records and not great longevity. I'm fairly certain the Intellibrite 5G (if that's the model you're referring to) is as good/bad as the rest. I'm on my second one now. There were two versions (at least). The later version has a better heat sync which helped with the reliability. I'm sorry, I don't know how to best tell the difference from the outside. They fixed this problem several years ago, so as long as you get a new one (and not one that's been sitting on a shelf for the last five or six years) you'll be fine.

6) Depends on which is being mixed and matched. There are two primary considerations. (1) You'd want the main pump, the automation controller (or a future one) and the SWG to all be of the same brand. These components "talk" to each other (over a COMM line) and competing brands don't. (2) If you buy three certain Pentair items at the same time, on the same invoice, you get an extended warranty of three years on almost everything else Pentair that is also purchased on that same invoice. It's a significant warranty bump. You definitely want to pursue this one-time deal. Check out the details here: Pool Product Warranty Information
That page is difficult to decipher, but it's all there. Be sure you and your contractor are on the same page about this important detail, and that he makes the Pentair purchases in such a way to take full advantage of the upgrade. Pentair rules are fussy when it comes to getting the extended warranty.

7) There is huge difference between the IntelliFlo and the SuperFlo, like the difference between a Cadillac and a Buick. They'll both get you there, but which do you want to own! It's especially a big deal if you are getting, or will some day want, an automation controller. Insist on the IntelliFlo. Others here can help you with the model number.

Sympathies for your continuing saga. Hang in there.

Thanks Dirk!

Guess I’ll take my chances on the intellibrite. Actually considering no lights so I can limit cuts into vinyl. My old pool didn’t have lights but had a nice overhead light. I do have some flood lighting but not perfect on pool area.

All electrical/communicating equipment is pentair (intelliflo, TR100, IC60, UltraTemp 140, and IntelliConnect). The other brand stuff are things like skimmers, valves, inlet fittings, etc.

I’ve got in writing from PB I’ll have the 3 year warranty but I should probably take that with a grain of salt. Thanks for confirming the intelliflo. I knew the superflo wouldn’t communicate with IntelliConnect.

 

[gingrbredman]

Was supposed to be 3 hp Intelliflo, of course he ordered 1.5 hp superflo

I think that is the only one of the seven items you listed that would be a deal breaker. Everything else is either fine, or can get by (Intellibrites for example), but the pump is the only one I'd have a hard No about. Even the Intelliconnect is border line, but can get you by while for a while, but you really want the better pump.

 

[TKpoolOH]

Got my Wyze v3's today, thanks @Mdragger88! Now I just need to determine my best placement and set up, have a couple options, will test views out.

@Dirk @Newdude Would it be foolish of me to send the PB a certified letter requesting a specific dig date? I already told him I marked June 23rd on my calendar as a dig date which he has ignored for nearly 2 weeks. I want to do as much as I can to push it, but I also don't want to make him mad because I have seen he has no problem delaying my project for no valid reason.

 

[Newdude]

Would it be foolish of me to send the PB a certified letter requesting a specific dig date?

If he responds, it is only as good as his word, and you're out the USPS costs. So far, the $12 to the post office is worth more.

Say he responds with a date, he is not held to that unless you both add it to the contract (with initials). And then he could still blame everything that 'isn't his fault'. He'd also never agree to penalties along with the new build date, so you really have no way to gain anything here IMO.

Hang tight for Dirk. Maybe he has an angle I'm not seeing.

 

[Dirk]

I’ve got in writing from PB I’ll have the 3 year warranty but I should probably take that with a grain of salt.

I would recommend you get pro-active with the warranty. That 3-year warranty is with Pentair, not the contractor, and would survive even if the contractor disappeared for some reason, as long as the paperwork is in order. Insist on a copy of the invoice that shows the purchase of all the eligible components. They should all be on the same invoice, purchased at the same time, and that is your proof to Pentair should you need it. He might squawk, because it'll reveal his markup, but you can counter with something like "Oh, I already know the wholesale prices and your markup, and that's no problem, I just want the invoice." Or something to that effect.

Regarding the certified letter: I would save that for when you're ready to go both-barrels, like when you're ready to submit a proper demand letter and start legal proceedings. Otherwise, I concur with you and 'dude, you'll just be aggravating a situation without actually backing it up with consequences. A "regular" letter is fine, or more email, or both, each a copy of the other (that's what I normally do). Should you end up in court, you can still show your regular attempts to communicate with the guy, and how he kept putting you off. You really only need certified when you have to prove it was sent and delivered (like a demand letter).

Keep nagging him, professionally and politely(ish). Your best bet is still to get him to do the work and want to do a good job for you.

 

[TKpoolOH]

I would recommend you get pro-active with the warranty. That 3-year warranty is with Pentair, not the contractor, and would survive even if the contractor disappeared for some reason, as long as the paperwork is in order. Insist on a copy of the invoice that shows the purchase of all the eligible components. They should all be on the same invoice, purchased at the same time, and that is your proof to Pentair should you need it. He might squawk, because it'll reveal his markup, but you can counter with something like "Oh, I already know the wholesale prices and your markup, and that's no problem, I just want the invoice." Or something to that effect.

Thanks for this insight, will do!

Keep nagging him, professionally and politely(ish). Your best bet is still to get him to do the work and want to do a good job for you.

I thought this would be the best route for now but just wanted to check opinions. I’ll keep up with your eloquently put professional and polite(ish) nagging.

 

[Newdude]

I’ll keep up with your eloquently put professional and polite(ish) nagging

You can be polite, yet firm. The two aren't mutually exclusive.