New Pool Build in SoCal

[erikpiazza]

After going to multiple showrooms (including the absolute joke of a "showroom" our PB has), we searched out and found a tile we like through a separate vendor. It's more than 3 times the price of what our PB has in the budget for tile, but it's the "jewelry" of the pool so it's worth some extra cost. It's penny round tile (1" diameter circles) on a mesh back. I confirmed with the PB that this tile would be fine to use (it's pool rated), but PB said there will be an additional labor charge of $1000 because of it being penny rounds. That's $9.10 per square foot EXTRA they want to charge me. So I'm wondering, what possible justification could there be for this? PB told me it was "because they have to be cut." I've installed a lot of tile over the years and they ALL have had to be cut! Anyone have any idea what could justify this?

 

[Desert Dog]

I had a business owner tell me once has 40 years experience and he would have never done that and it wasn't his fault. I said you may have 40 years experience, but the kid you had do the job started last week.

Now the guy doing your pool, he is probably only as good as his subs.

 

[erikpiazza]

I had a business owner tell me once has 40 years experience and he would have never done that and it wasn't his fault. I said you may have 40 years experience, but the kid you had do the job started last week.

Now the guy doing your pool, he is probably only as good as his subs.

If only we could get any of his subs to actually show up! The one sub we've seen (excavation) was good.

 

[erikpiazza]

Our PB claims the plumber will be on site within the next few days and now that I have absolutely zero faith in PB, I know I need to watch the subs like a hawk. What should I be watching out for on the plumbing?

 

[erikpiazza]

My pool currently under construction will include a 7' diameter spa of which a little less than half will have an infinity edge that spills over into the pool. My PB has said that the flow of water over that edge will be pretty minimal. I'm fine with it not being a full on waterfall like we'd get if it was just a small spillway, but I do want it to flow enough to make a little sound and look like it's on purpose. The pump will be a Jandy 2.7hp variable speed. Will that be enough to achieve what I'm hoping for or should I ask about upgrading the pump?

 

[erikpiazza]

At long last, progress. After sending a strongly worded email to all of the contacts I had for the PB, things started moving. Two days later the plumber arrived and plumbed the shell. On the second day of the plumbing, the PB owner came out personally to evaluate things and answer my questions, which I appreciated greatly. The next day, the rebar guys arrived and got started. I sure hope this level of progress continues!

 

[cowboycasey]

The higher you turn the pump up the more water it will move.. it all depends on how big the pipe is for the suction side, the return side and a bunch of magic, exactly how much it will move is unknown by me

 

[erikpiazza]

Does anyone know what the average range for pool tile installation rates are in Southern California? My PB is quoting me $37 per square foot, which seems pretty crazy to me, but I have no idea. That price is for just the installation. Any frame of reference I can get would help me negotiate with my PB. Thanks.

 

[cowboycasey]

About the only thing I can think of is ask another tile installer or 2 for a quote.. It is not cheap to install tile.. I know I am doing an all tile pool but I am the installer... there are many steps to installing tile to do it correctly...

 

[erikpiazza]

We're under construction on a 32x15 pool with a 7' circular spa. The spa overlaps the pool creating about 9' of infinity edge. The specs calls for a Jandy 2.7hp variable speed pump to run the entire pool and spa. PB has now "warned" me several times that the infinity edge will "just barely trickle" and I noticed on the plans that it showed there being 2 small spillways instead of the infinity edge. Perhaps whoever designed the plumbing thought it was going to be 2 small spillways. At any rate, I'm assuming that we need either an additional pump or a bigger one and some plumbing changes. Gunnite was done last week so PB is now telling me that I shouldve brought this up earlier, which I find ridiculous! Can anyone confirm that this one pump they have planned for is not going to be enough to make the infinity edge flow?

 

[erikpiazza]

Sorry, forgot that I had already asked this question in another thread. Please remove.

 

[NCMike]

I didn't see your other thread, but I just wanted to comment that I have 13ft of spillover into my pool and one 2.7hp jandy pump did not work for us. My PB added another 2.7hp pump to get enough flow into the spa for the spillover to work correctly. Depending on pipe sizes your PB uses, it may or may not work with just one pump. Id ask him to try it but have a backup plan incase another pump is needed.

 

[erikpiazza]

I didn't see your other thread, but I just wanted to comment that I have 13ft of spillover into my pool and one 2.7hp jandy pump did not work for us. My PB added another 2.7hp pump to get enough flow into the spa for the spillover to work correctly. Depending on pipe sizes your PB uses, it may or may not work with just one pump. Id ask him to try it but have a backup plan incase another pump is needed.

Did your PB have to plumb a new line into the spa or were they able to use the plumbing that was already there? My PB is trying to avoid adding any additional plumbing (because the gunnite is already done), but I tend to feel like they'll at least need to increase the size of the return pipe to allow for enough flow. But maybe that's not necessary?

 

[Mcow]

Man between your situation and a buddy of mine who started his build in October and is about where you are. I am dreading the building experience on our new pool. Our current pool took exactly 3 months start to finish 4 years ago. I was going to get the pool going on our new house next month but now I am thinking I will wait until September so we do not have to suffer the summer looking at a hole in the ground. I have already been told by the PB (same one that built my first pool) that is is a 6 month process minimum. Good luck on yours and hope things move faster. That tile pricing seems insane btw.

 

[NCMike]

Did your PB have to plumb a new line into the spa or were they able to use the plumbing that was already there? My PB is trying to avoid adding any additional plumbing (because the gunnite is already done), but I tend to feel like they'll at least need to increase the size of the return pipe to allow for enough flow. But maybe that's not necessary?

They used the existing plumbing. I have 3 lines running to the spa from my equipment pad. 1 is for half the jets from a dedicated pump. 2 is the other half the jets from my filter pump. A d 3rd was a makeup line that was repurposed for the second spillover pump.

 

[erikpiazza]

Ok, here's an update and summary. It's now been 9 months since we signed the contract and 3.5 months since the dig. We finally got resolution on the plumbing issue, which luckily turned out to be a miscommunication and did not require any additional work. The equipment has been put in place, plumbed and wired, and we got the plumbing and electrical inspection signed off yesterday. I think we're now waiting on some deck and landscape drain lines to be installed so the trenches can all finally be backfilled.

 

[klanel]

Ok, here's an update and summary. It's now been 9 months since we signed the contract and 3.5 months since the dig. We finally got resolution on the plumbing issue, which luckily turned out to be a miscommunication and did not require any additional work. The equipment has been put in place, plumbed and wired, and we got the plumbing and electrical inspection signed off yesterday. I think we're now waiting on some deck and landscape drain lines to be installed so the trenches can all finally be backfilled.

I can relate to your frustrations. I only met with one 'builder' and didn't look any further. I had a good feeling about him and expected much more. I no longer trust him as you have said about yours. I would have fired him before work started but I knew this late in the season I would not be able to find anyone else. And from things I hear, there are issues with other builders as well. I know you will be glad to get it over with. What should be an exciting process gets turned into a stressful process just trying to get through it.

 

[MrBBQ]

I had swan pool’s west come give me a bid(the appointment lasted 2 hours). It took weeks to get a quote from them and I got the excuse we sent it to the wrong email address over and over. It took weeks to get the actual quote and by then I was already over them and moved on. This was is October 2020. Sorry you are having a bad experience especially considering you paid them money.

 

[erikpiazza]

So here's what you get after 10 months with Swan Pools of SoCal. No actual work has been done for close to a month other than them coming out for 2 hours to move the chlorinator because they violated the National Electric Code and the California Fire Code by installing the equipment too close to the electric panel. By my measurements, they are still in violation of the codes, but Swan insists that my eyes don't work so I'll see what the inspector says. Meanwhile, Swan continues to dodge any questions I have about when work will commence again and when they think this thing might be done. At this point, I think it will be a miracle if it's done by the end of the year.

If you're in the market for a pool builder and are in Orange County, CA: whatever you do, DO NOT use Swan Pools unless you want nothing but lies, delays, and a total lack of anything resembling communication or customer service.

 

[Texas Splash]

Wow.