Hello everyone, so we are in the process of getting quotes for a pool for this coming Spring. We are in Illinois and would probably get 3 to 4 months of use so we are not looking to spend 50K on an in-ground pool. So we started looking into the "recessed" option. So far we've had Kayak Midwest, Radiant, and a Doughboy pool quoted out. We live in a fairly wooded area and already have a 4 foot fence, but a 6 foot is required for pools OR a safety cover can be used instead. Ideally we would like the safety cover option instead. We also have about a 3 foot sloping grade towards the back end of the pool. So here's where we are at with installation included...
Kayak
16x32 - 4 foot recessed all the way into the ground, rep came out and did a 1 hour "presentation" on his laptop and really did a nice job trying to sell the pool. Included 2 foot walk around deck, 2 drains, insulated walls, automatic cover (10K), and all necessary pumps/filtration. The end result was about $42K before they gave us the "Demo Home" site discount...which came out around 38K. We would still have to finish the grading around the pool, run electric, landscaping, permit, etc. When all is said and done probably going to end up around 50K. The sales guy gave us a whole talk on "operating costs" for the pool, he swore we would never need a heater since the walls are insulated and the cover would help keep the heat in the pool. He insisted that the operating costs for the pool wouldn't compare to any other pool (hmmm).
Radiant Metric
16x28 - 4 foot recessed. Included dirt removal, auto cover, 2 drains, chlorinator, heater, coping, lights, inside steps ($3500), gas/electric. Would require a 3 foot concrete decking all the way around the pool (an additional $2500). Would grade the dirt up to the edge of the pool, about 40K.
Doughboy Saratoga
16x28 - 4 foot recessed. Included dirt removal, 2 drains, heater, lights, inside steps, gas/electric, chlorinator, permits, about $22K.
Just looking for some feedback, I know the Radiant is considered "top of the line" and not sure what to think of the Kayak. The Kayak build quality seemed top notch, but the sales guy kept hammering Doughboy. The Doughboy is the most price attractive, but my biggest issue is the safety cover (or the use of an automatic cover). Has anyone heard of installing an auto-cover over a doughboy? There's some pictures floating around the internet that show concrete decking with Trex covering the top rail (http://www.poolworld.biz/upload_content/products/4_26_orig.jpg). Could you installed an auto cover over something like this if the deck was flush over the pool?
Thanks for reading, just trying to weigh all our options.
K
Kayak
16x32 - 4 foot recessed all the way into the ground, rep came out and did a 1 hour "presentation" on his laptop and really did a nice job trying to sell the pool. Included 2 foot walk around deck, 2 drains, insulated walls, automatic cover (10K), and all necessary pumps/filtration. The end result was about $42K before they gave us the "Demo Home" site discount...which came out around 38K. We would still have to finish the grading around the pool, run electric, landscaping, permit, etc. When all is said and done probably going to end up around 50K. The sales guy gave us a whole talk on "operating costs" for the pool, he swore we would never need a heater since the walls are insulated and the cover would help keep the heat in the pool. He insisted that the operating costs for the pool wouldn't compare to any other pool (hmmm).
Radiant Metric
16x28 - 4 foot recessed. Included dirt removal, auto cover, 2 drains, chlorinator, heater, coping, lights, inside steps ($3500), gas/electric. Would require a 3 foot concrete decking all the way around the pool (an additional $2500). Would grade the dirt up to the edge of the pool, about 40K.
Doughboy Saratoga
16x28 - 4 foot recessed. Included dirt removal, 2 drains, heater, lights, inside steps, gas/electric, chlorinator, permits, about $22K.
Just looking for some feedback, I know the Radiant is considered "top of the line" and not sure what to think of the Kayak. The Kayak build quality seemed top notch, but the sales guy kept hammering Doughboy. The Doughboy is the most price attractive, but my biggest issue is the safety cover (or the use of an automatic cover). Has anyone heard of installing an auto-cover over a doughboy? There's some pictures floating around the internet that show concrete decking with Trex covering the top rail (http://www.poolworld.biz/upload_content/products/4_26_orig.jpg). Could you installed an auto cover over something like this if the deck was flush over the pool?
Thanks for reading, just trying to weigh all our options.
K
