Hello!
I was going to wait to start this thread until the pool excavation actually started, but then I realized it might be too late by then to take advantage of some of the advice that is offered up on here. Also part of me has trouble believing that this is actually going to happen; even though I have permits, a dig date and a small fortune of pool equipment piled up in my garage.
A quick background on the build…I bought this home about 7 years ago and have never spent much time in the backyard. The only time I feel like I’m back there is to mow the lawn or clean up dog poop. Like everyone else on this forum, I’ve always wanted a pool. I had gotten some estimates from PB’s, but although fair, they always seemed to be just out of my price range and didn’t incorporate the upgrades I had imagined. A friend of mine did an owner/builder last year and I think that’s what finally gave me the confidence to move forward. That and the impending baby that was on her way. I figured if I didn’t do it now, I might never get around to it. My wife agreed as long as it was complete before the baby showed up...which was last Monday. Pool 1, me 0.
I also learned A LOT from bulldogz400’s build and kind of used that as a guide. His posting of prices was very helpful as well and gave me a target to compare to. I’ll try to mimic his thread with posting of estimates and actual prices paid.
So far I’ve contracted the dig, plumbing/electrical and steel. Dig is scheduled for 3/8/16. I plan on taking pictures of each phase of the process so that some other poor sap like myself spends countless hours pouring through these threads daydreaming about building a pool.
Below is a copy of my plan and some pictures of my backyard after I took down the patio cover and removed my small pond. I swear my backyard usually looks at least a little better than it does in the pictures. When I decided to go forward with the pool I gave up on maintenance. Oh, and my signature is either equipment I have or am planning to have after construction.
I was going to wait to start this thread until the pool excavation actually started, but then I realized it might be too late by then to take advantage of some of the advice that is offered up on here. Also part of me has trouble believing that this is actually going to happen; even though I have permits, a dig date and a small fortune of pool equipment piled up in my garage.
A quick background on the build…I bought this home about 7 years ago and have never spent much time in the backyard. The only time I feel like I’m back there is to mow the lawn or clean up dog poop. Like everyone else on this forum, I’ve always wanted a pool. I had gotten some estimates from PB’s, but although fair, they always seemed to be just out of my price range and didn’t incorporate the upgrades I had imagined. A friend of mine did an owner/builder last year and I think that’s what finally gave me the confidence to move forward. That and the impending baby that was on her way. I figured if I didn’t do it now, I might never get around to it. My wife agreed as long as it was complete before the baby showed up...which was last Monday. Pool 1, me 0.
I also learned A LOT from bulldogz400’s build and kind of used that as a guide. His posting of prices was very helpful as well and gave me a target to compare to. I’ll try to mimic his thread with posting of estimates and actual prices paid.
So far I’ve contracted the dig, plumbing/electrical and steel. Dig is scheduled for 3/8/16. I plan on taking pictures of each phase of the process so that some other poor sap like myself spends countless hours pouring through these threads daydreaming about building a pool.
Below is a copy of my plan and some pictures of my backyard after I took down the patio cover and removed my small pond. I swear my backyard usually looks at least a little better than it does in the pictures. When I decided to go forward with the pool I gave up on maintenance. Oh, and my signature is either equipment I have or am planning to have after construction.
