Sorry, in my haste I left my full address on there, so I needed to delete it anyway. I'll just type out the basics quick.
15x32
INCLUDED IN BASE PRICE $32,025
Blue Quartz Finish (**which you just said wasn't worth it, I wonder if they'd take off for not getting it, or if its worth it when included?)
Fill spout and overflow
6"x6" frost proof tile--stock
std efficiency pump
manual vacuum equip
hi-flow sand filter
rainbow 320 auto chlorinator
stainless steel 3-tread ladder
permits and sales tax
ADDED UPGRADES:
LED multi-color lights (2) $1k
Electrical allowance $1700
salt system $1800
Polaris 280 cleaner $1275
SuperFlo variable speed pump $775
clean and clear 320 cartridge pump $775
coping:brick $3k
Decking, concrete: 723 sq ft $4596
Tight access TBD (what is this?)
Dewater with wellpoints--$1500 TBD
^^Not sure what those last two things are? They both say TBD for our price, but the second includes the price of it. Final price $45946
If their “blue quartz plaster” is included in the base price, then leave it, it’s just quartz plaster.
STD efficiency pump means a single-speed pump which is a dinosaur and energy hog. Get a variable speed pump as it doesn’t cost a whole lot more and they are well worth it in terms of low energy use.
You need to read and see if you agree with TFP’s philosophy on pool water chemistry and maintenance but you DO NOT want a puck chlorinator (the Rainbow inline chlorinator). Tricolor pucks add a constant stream of stabilizer (cyanuric acid) along with chlorine and eventually high stabilizer causes major problems in pools. I would highly suggest you go with the salt water chlorine generator system and variable speed pump. However, those work best when paired with an automation system like a Pentair EasyTouch system especially if you want remote control over your pool and perhaps tie in some landscape lighting. You might want to rework that part of the their quote. If so, go with all Pentair equipment, it’s the best solution for a turn-key system in my opinion. Sta-rite equipment is basically Pentair because they bought Sta-rite out 15 years ago. I would go with Pentair over Sta-rite just because I don’t like the sta-rite product line.
I have a DE filter and think cartridge filters are very good too. I’m not a fan of sand filters although many on here have them and love them. Up to you. However, as it is with lots of pool equipment, oversizing is always better so get the largest possible filter your budget can afford. It helps to keep filter cleaning cycle down and saves you water if you get a filter that needs backwashing (sand and DE).
$1280 for a Polaris 280 pressure cleaner is a total rip off! They don’t cost that much at all and, anyway, pressure cleaners are the rotary dial phone of the cleaner world. Save your money and spend it on a Dolphin S300i robot (~$1,200) and you’ll be a lot happier with the cleaning results.
While LED lights are great in theory for energy savings and can create fun color shows, TFP gets lots of report of them not lasting more than a few years and they are VERY expensive to replace. I have old-school energy INEFFICIENT halogen lamps BUT they are on year 5 and still going strong (and they are cheap to fix & replace). Up to you but my experience with landscape and interior LED lights is that they are constructed so cheaply that their supposed energy savings never materializes (I’m constantly replacing both interior and exterior LED bulbs at $3-$4 a pop).
The only way to know if those decking numbers are even remotely in line is to get other quotes. We always say here that you need at least three quotes to get a fair market comparison. And then, BEOFRE YOU SIGN, you get a list a references to call and visit to determine if the PB is the guy you want to spend months working with. References, references, references are absolutely key and will save you from those nightmare scenarios of dealing with a nasty pool builder or, worse, have them walk out on your job after taking all your money.