Can a the "process" be adapted for weather?

[SmelliottsPool]

I am writing out of unbelievable frustration and disappointment. What was supposed to take a few weeks is entering month #3 due to "weather". Also what has fallen under "weather" is a diminished crew, a lot of concrete (too much for 2 guys) and a pool builder that works for himself a max of a few hours a day. In fairness, we have had only one week that it didn't rain at least once, another that it rained the entire week and he hit rock twice. We were sold up one side and down the other about how our PB would handle the work load and what he WOULD do if it was necessary. There have been many sunny days past by with no progress. We are now to a place where the rubber has to meet the road, IT IS NECESSARY! "Nothing can really get done until the concrete is finished": The drains (that have to be drilled out of rock), gas, electrical, pool-crete, french drain and a retaining wall. I have gently nudged that this timeline is really crazy and asked if we can get some other things done while we are waiting on an "all clear" for the concrete. I was told,"what we do is all a process".

I am trying to keep my head, not jeopardize what needs to be completed ASAP, but also trying to sift through the Baloney Sandwich to balance expectations with pressure. He claims to be doing all he can, but what I am seeing is quite the contrary. (for instance, only working a few hours on a sunny Friday before Memorial Day).

Firing him isn't an option, we have too much tied up, would prolong our process and of course a contract.

Any help? Am I not being realistic?

 

[rlefig]

I don't know, up here in Massachusetts experiencing something similar. We are having our gunite pool reno'd and while we have the tile in place still need the coping and Ecofinish. It has rained out 4 days out of 7 each week. We have had no progress 3 weeks or so it seems and there have been clear days in there.

I have been trying to stay patient. The PB always gets back to me and blames the rain and unpredictable weather. I am sure he can also be backed up on other projects too, but I want mine done. And yes you might have to work weekends too PB

 

[SmelliottsPool]

thanks seems VERY straight forward to me if you are running behind and working 2 days a week because of rain...the expectation is that you work at least one sunny weekend to catch up??!?

 

[pooldv]

I'm a little different than most folks on deadlines. There is no reason to set false expectations of completion. Every deadline you set in your mind is based on what you want and not what might really be feasible or able to be accomplished in a given period of time. Of course, as rain delays your project it also delays other people's projects as well. They all want their pools done just as much as you do, who should be first? You must trust your pool builder to manage their business as best they can. You hired your PB for a reason. Trust them and let them run their business as they see fit. They want happy customers and are doing the best they can.

 

[SmelliottsPool]

Thank you for that perspective. I do appreciate that, it allowed me to refocus a bit.

The core of the problem is adequately and reasonably managing expectations as a professional who people are entrusting with a huge investment. To be clear, the expectations were set by him, not us. But maybe he wasn't realistic, I know there have been a handful of issues he didn't anticipate. When you couple that with bad weather and a multitude of other excuses, it is a nasty cocktail mistrust and for feeling taken for a ride.

All that being said, I agree he has quite a lot at stake. I get the impression he is kind of "over it", our situation and maybe pool building all together.

 

[pooldv]

I love my PB, we were neighbors for many years before we built the pool. And we are still neighbors and we stop and chat on the road whenever we can. He builds great pools. Our pool is amazing and we love it. But communication and deadlines and due dates were often a mystery. I think in reality they don't really know either but don't want to say it. And customers don't want to hear it. So, they give it their best guess without saying it is a guess. And then it rains ... There will be a time not too far away where you will be loving your pool and all of this will be a distant memory. But, I certainly understand the frustration of sunny days going by and not swimming in the pool. Yet!

 

[bmoreswim]

I truly am not piling on pooldv's comments because he said it well and you appreciate what he said and also related it to your situation. Good evaluation.

The part that I smile at when I see it in any thread about delays is the comment about sunny days and no work. It's as if the OP's pool is the only one being built at that time. In most cases it's highly likely the PB is working somewhere (or he wants to but can't get subs). However, it doesn't mean they communicate well (many don't) or are particularly good at setting expectations (many aren't). Tough spot. But the less upset/heated/fed-up either side gets, the better the whole process goes for the most part. A great skill I admire and try to emulate is being able to clearly and firmly communicate displeasure while maintaining good working relationships.

 

[Uncle Salty]

Ours took about 5 months and albeit was over winter months here but I also felt the same way as the OP regarding the sunny days and that but as others have said yours likely isn't the only build going on or even just service calls they may be tending to. I never lost patience with my builder but instead kept the end result in my vision and couldn't be happier and I'm sure you'll feel the same soon enough.

Salty

 

[SmelliottsPool]

Thank you for the feedback and conversation. By the time is all said and done this will have taken about 3 months start to completely finished. I am hopeful to be swimming by the end of the month and with your help have refocused.

We signed with him in Feb., it was anticipated to start in mid-March. The pool was delivered before the dig started and didn't until April 10, meaning he had 1/2 the money upfront. We hit rock, then rain, his help was other places and so it went. Any expectations were set by the PB. He sold us on the job by his attention and vowed work ethic. He claimed to ONLY work on one pool at a time, not our question, his offering. The entire process would take 3 weeks with good weather and no problems (which never happens) and that "if he wasn't working he wasn't getting paid". He said "I've even been known to set up a tent with heaters to get something finished if I have to". So, while I am all for everyone having a day off, allowing themselves to maintain their business as they see fit, recover from some really hard days, etc. These expectations were created by him falsely to get the job and he did. The rain pushed us into his "pool openings" and that's where I think it got the most sticky.

So, did I get sold? I did. Will it be great? I am sure. I think the biggest lesson for me is not just patience but ..the set-backs are not directly proportionate to the recovery time in the building process. A set-back is more than just that, you don't make up that time, it is actually exponential. To other PBs I would say operate on worse case scenario, not best...this way you look like a hero when you over deliver.

Thanks all....

 

[pooldv]

You're welcome! Looking forward to some pool pics!