Could someone look at my bid and offer HONEST feedback please

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T

TXPfamily

Member
May 11, 2021
18
Pflugerville, TX
Hello!
I have met with 4 different contractors and the one I feel has provided the best customer service to me so far and has the best reviews is the one that I'm inquiring about their estimate.

So I've never been a pool owner...this is my first and to say I'm overwhelmed would be the beginning.

I have attached the project image and the proposal (deleted all identifying information). I would appreciate someone who has knowledge of the entire pool area to look over my estimate and see if there is anything that JUMPS OUT that I should be aware of. This is such a HUGE investment that I do not want to be taken advantage of.

I guess what I'm asking is for someone to look over my bid and offer any advice on things that I may be needing, are overkill and or anything else.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME!!! THANK YOU!!


Carla in Texas
 

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Welcome to TFP :)

This is actually a good quote, a little high but that is to be expected with covid and all the additional costs...

Things to get rid of:
UV anything.. The great big sun in the sky has all the UV you need for free.. They will try to push it as free do not take it, will cost you money in the long run.
in floor cleaning..

Demo phase, steel phase, plumbing phase, electrical phase, = perfect...

Pool coping, do not get any of those choices OK flagstone, limestone and leuder stone are really sand stone, sand stone breaks down in water... why would you put it around a pool?

Get man made/pavers or travertine coping.. I just got my coping from these guys DFW Pool Coping I have not built my pool yet but I have it... DFW has TONS of coping suppliers...

1622639797797.png

1622639797797.png


Equipment package:

Get the Pentair Intellitouch **** I meant to link to IntelliCenter, sorry about that... *** not the easy touch 8, that is an older system and they are trying to get rid of it..
www.pentair.com

IntelliCenter® Pool Control System

The IntelliCenter Pool Automation system works with the Pentair Pool app to put total pool control right in the palm of your hand.
www.pentair.com www.pentair.com
Also get the IC 40 or IC60 salt water generator with it in the kit...
Get rid of the rainbow inline chlorinator = pucks, high CYA and green pools..

They will try to tell you not to get salt water generator as they are bad... Let me be the first to tell you ALL pools are Salt Water Pools... after a year you will have above 1000 ppm salt in your pool.. Ask them if all pools are salt water pools why do you not recommend a SWG? SWG pools are WAY easy and work great....

Other than that I think you are doing great.. Make sure you have a person you can contact and talk to when you are building.. Put everything in here when it gets going and ask tons of questions before, during, and after.. :)
 
Last edited:
I'd get the autofill option. I'd like to see in the contract more detail about the WATER depth and what the tolerance is. Another member here had a pool built and the depth ended up something like 6" shorter than expected. You may also want to research to decide if a cartridge filter might be better for your needs than a sand filter. Pros and cons to both.
 
One thing I don't see in your contract is payment schedule. My builder has it broken down into 4 payments (40, 30, 20, 10) and each payment is payable AFTER each phase is complete. I prefer that to payments before each phase.
 
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Carla, re UV, the UV we get from the sun is 95% UV-A, 5% UV-B. A fades your clothes, ages your skin as it tans it, and increases risk of skin cancer. B destroys many materials left exposed very long and causes skin cancer. The UV-C portion of the spectrum (100-280nm wavelength) is fully absorbed by the ozone layer of the atmosphere, and while it is dangerous radiation if applied to your skin, it is also a potent disinfectant. But we don't get any of the UV-C that comes from the sun. That's why UV-C appliances are used for disinfecting bathrooms, cell phones, air conditioning ducts, and in hospitals and clinics. UV-C kills bacteria and also kills viruses that are chlorine resistant, so it is a worthwhile supplement if you can afford it, but not a replacement for chlorine.

Anyone who tells you the sun will provide the same UV as the Pentair or Hayward or Paramount equipment is just not informed--and probably repeating what someone else on the Internet said. Yes it has no residual effect and only disinfects as water passes through the UV-C light, so only works while the pump is running, and even then the effect is reduced if you run a pump at high speed (which you rarely need to do, by the way.) It is beneficial but not necessary.
 
BowserB said:
Anyone who tells you the sun will provide the same UV as the Pentair or Hayward or Paramount equipment is just not informed--and probably repeating what someone else on the Internet said.
Click to expand...
Hold on there old friend !!! That’s not what we say. It may be misinterpreted that way but it’s not it. We say that you get the UV that you *need* for free, from the sun. The parts that allow the CCs to burn off. We have never stated that the sun will disinfect the pool.

Now, factor in the rinky dink residential units are nothing more than a small light bulb, and those units really can’t disinfect anything like their commercial counterparts. Like you said, they won’t hurt anything but OPs wallet. But they do nothing for 99.9999999% of the water when the pump is running and ZERO when it’s off. A total waste all around. :)
 
BowserB said:
Carla, re UV, the UV we get from the sun is 95% UV-A, 5% UV-B. A fades your clothes, ages your skin as it tans it, and increases risk of skin cancer. B destroys many materials left exposed very long and causes skin cancer. The UV-C portion of the spectrum (100-280nm wavelength) is fully absorbed by the ozone layer of the atmosphere, and while it is dangerous radiation if applied to your skin, it is also a potent disinfectant. But we don't get any of the UV-C that comes from the sun. That's why UV-C appliances are used for disinfecting bathrooms, cell phones, air conditioning ducts, and in hospitals and clinics. UV-C kills bacteria and also kills viruses that are chlorine resistant, so it is a worthwhile supplement if you can afford it, but not a replacement for chlorine.

Anyone who tells you the sun will provide the same UV as the Pentair or Hayward or Paramount equipment is just not informed--and probably repeating what someone else on the Internet said. Yes it has no residual effect and only disinfects as water passes through the UV-C light, so only works while the pump is running, and even then the effect is reduced if you run a pump at high speed (which you rarely need to do, by the way.) It is beneficial but not necessary.
Click to expand...
How does chlorine respond to UV-C? I've always wondered if the UV systems deplete chlorine.
 

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Jetjohn6 said:
How does chlorine respond to UV-C? I've always wondered if the UV systems deplete chlorine.
Click to expand...
I found this to be a good read as well, and it actually links to the study behind the answer to the question you posed: Comparing The Best Secondary Sanitization and Oxidation Systems for Swimming Pools.

The short answer is that "Yes" UV systems do in fact deplete some Free Chlorine, so your secondary sanitizer actually ends up competing with your primary sanitizer, thereby increasing chlorine demand. The other points worth mentioning are that the medium pressure UV systems used in pools are point of contact only (neutralize only what they come in direct contact with) and do nothing to oxidize.
 
Jetjohn6 said:
I'd get the autofill option. I'd like to see in the contract more detail about the WATER depth and what the tolerance is. Another member here had a pool built and the depth ended up something like 6" shorter than expected. You may also want to research to decide if a cartridge filter might be better for your needs than a sand filter. Pros and cons to both.
Click to expand...
When you say to get the 'autofill option', is this in place of something that is on my list? Sorry, but when I say I'm completely new to this, I'm not exaggerating.

What would be the main deciding factor as to choose between a cartridge filter vs sand filter?

Also, the contract should be finished today and I intend to post it on here for additional help.

Thank you!!
Carla
 
Oswald said:
One thing I don't see in your contract is payment schedule. My builder has it broken down into 4 payments (40, 30, 20, 10) and each payment is payable AFTER each phase is complete. I prefer that to payments before each phase.
Click to expand...
I was told the contract should be ready for me to review this afternoon. I'm assuming it will be listed there. I plan on posting the contract on here for further guidance.

Thank you!!
Carla
 
TXPfamily said:
What would be the main deciding factor as to choose between a cartridge filter vs sand filter
Click to expand...
If fill water or draining (during/after backwash) is a concern, then sand would lose out.

the rest is personal preference and it’s the Chevy/Ford/Dodge debate, but for pools. Everyone has a favorite, but all 3 will get you to the store just fine. Unless it’s a Ford. The it’s Found on Road Dead. :)
 
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TXPfamily said:
When you say to get the 'autofill option', is this in place of something that is on my list? Sorry, but when I say I'm completely new to this, I'm not exaggerating.

What would be the main deciding factor as to choose between a cartridge filter vs sand filter?

Also, the contract should be finished today and I intend to post it on here for additional help.

Thank you!!
Carla
Click to expand...
Autofill means the pool has a water line plumbed to it with a float valve. When water level drops due to evaporation/splash out the autofill system automatically adds some water, maintaining a constant water level. The alternative is to manually put a garden hose in the pool when the water level gets low. Some folks in hot, dry areas report having to add water every few days. This can also be a problem if you're on vacation and the water level drops below the skimmer as the pump will then start sucking in air instead of water.
 
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Dump the UV and in-floor. Others have covered the UV but an in-floor cleaner is an energy hog. They require high pressure and flow rates. Just the opposite of what you want for an energy efficient pool. Get a robotic floor cleaner instead.
 
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cowboycasey said:
Welcome to TFP :)

This is actually a good quote, a little high but that is to be expected with covid and all the additional costs...

Things to get rid of:
UV anything.. The great big sun in the sky has all the UV you need for free.. They will try to push it as free do not take it, will cost you money in the long run.
in floor cleaning..

Demo phase, steel phase, plumbing phase, electrical phase, = perfect...

Pool coping, do not get any of those choices OK flagstone, limestone and leuder stone are really sand stone, sand stone breaks down in water... why would you put it around a pool?

Get man made/pavers or travertine coping.. I just got my coping from these guys DFW Pool Coping I have not built my pool yet but I have it... DFW has TONS of coping suppliers...

1622639797797.png

1622639797797.png


Equipment package:

Get the Pentair Intellitouch **** I meant to link to IntelliCenter, sorry about that... *** not the easy touch 8, that is an older system and they are trying to get rid of it..
www.pentair.com

IntelliCenter® Pool Control System

The IntelliCenter Pool Automation system works with the Pentair Pool app to put total pool control right in the palm of your hand.
www.pentair.com www.pentair.com
Also get the IC 40 or IC60 salt water generator with it in the kit...
Get rid of the rainbow inline chlorinator = pucks, high CYA and green pools..

They will try to tell you not to get salt water generator as they are bad... Let me be the first to tell you ALL pools are Salt Water Pools... after a year you will have above 1000 ppm salt in your pool.. Ask them if all pools are salt water pools why do you not recommend a SWG? SWG pools are WAY easy and work great....

Other than that I think you are doing great.. Make sure you have a person you can contact and talk to when you are building.. Put everything in here when it gets going and ask tons of questions before, during, and after.. :)
Click to expand...
Your advice was great! I have attached the contract and ask if you don't mind reviewing it for any obvious items that I may be missing (of course I will not hold you personally liable) ;)

Thank you!!
 

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    3.1 MB · Views: 42

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