Please help evaluate a quote on a new gunite pool - Illinois

[amwillg]

Make sure that depth is clearly defined. Many (most?) PBs define depth as height of wall, not water level. If you are expecting 5'6" water depth, let them know. Also keep in mind that many contracts allow for a +/- as large as 6" either way. I've seen someone complain of a pool being like 9" shallower than they expected with the pool still technically meeting contract specs

 

[BigMommaStephanie]

A pool builder just strung us along for almost a month and (surprise!) didn’t deliver on his quote. In fact, suddenly we are out of his service area.

At this point, we are currently considering doing an owner’s build because we have contacted more than 20 companies and the schedule is 2 - 3 years out (crazy!). Wish us luck! If you have any suggestions for gunite contractor/specialist in the Chicagoland area (NW burbs) , please send them along.

 

[BigMommaStephanie]

We are going the owner-build route if we can find subcontractors? We have designed a pool digitally, pics below. Please take a look and tell us: where can we add a 10 - 15’ garden/rock slide in this design, taking into account the autocover and the limited space in the back (5 feet wide due to easement)? Do they sell pre-made rock slide kits?

We’d love some advise on this and any other items we may not be thinking of, given this rendering.

We are working with a civil engineer on a drainage plan; do we have to consider any specific drainage techniques around the pool’s shell and deck?

We found PJs Concrete and wanted to inquire on whether they work with owner-built pools, but after several calls/messages, we have not heard back. We’ve looked at Yellow Pages, Craigslist, and random sites with no luck. It seems subcontractors are hard to find in Illinois, but easy in TX, CA, AZ...

Pool 40’x18’
Raised spa 2’
Raised bond beam 18” w/ pillars with sheer descents
Spill over Spa 9’x6’, half circle (can’t build on easement)
Autocover
1500sqft decking area around the pool -either concrete or pavers.
Covered patio/grill area 12’x12’
Fire pit

*material choices in the photos are not actually what we plan to have - we just had limited knowledge of the options in the program we used (my husband uses CAM at work, so not very familiar with Revit).

 

[jimmythegreek]

Its gonna be very hard to find subs in this corona market. PBs are having trouble with subs we use regularly, I'd imagine a DIY callback is gonna be hard to get

 

[BigMommaStephanie]

We finally did it! We found a fantastic contractor who is doing all the work to ready the pool for the gunite. He started our dig last Wednesday, and is almost done with rebar. He still has plumbing and bonding to finish. He is also running most of the plumbing in the shell. The shoot is scheduled for next Friday. I’ll be posting detailed pictures once he’s done with electrical and plumbing. If anyone wants to take a look at them and offer suggestions on anything that might need to be changed, I’d greatly appreciate it. We want to follow the best practices of pool construction to avoid any future problems/issues.

 

[sktn77a]

Your patience was rewarded!

 

[BigMommaStephanie]

More pics

 

[SKEDADDLE]

Unfortunately we have contacted half a dozen pool companies in our area and they’re so busy they don’t event want to come out to our house knowing our budget. We did get a quote for a fiberglass pool 40x15 for 115k - installation in July 2022!

In our climate - which is better when it comes to ease of maintenance/filtration - sand filter or DE filter?

ajw22
Thanks for the info - I send your recommendations to the PB and I’m awaiting his response.

I don't think its out of line at all. I have had the same issues with our PB because he lacked major detail in the contract. Our pool is 57 x 28 with tanning ledge. We are about 50k higher using pebbletec and all high end equipment. We have spent more than double the pool quote on other stuff i.e patio, site work, drainage, retaining walls, landscaping, lighting. Absolutely insane.

 

[SKEDADDLE]

AJW - we will definitely be running those percentages with the builder. Thanks!

poolgate - thanks, we will be sure to check that those items are listed.

This is the first reply we received:

The pump is a Hayward variable speed (1.5 HP) - no specific model stated;
The filter is a 30-in high rate Hayward sand filter;
Hayward 300,000 BTU heater;
Hayward OMNI logic control system - again, no model specified;
3 SR Smith LED lights;
2 Skimmers
2 custom-mold products CMP sheer descent;
1 bubbler in tanning ledge;
4 floor and 4 wall returns;
3-inch plumbing for main drains;
Hayward model automatic pool cleaner (again, no model specified).
Coverstar automatic pool cover

Would anyone be able to recommend specific Hayward models for each? I.e. pump, DE filter

Thanks!

There is two versions of the Omnilogic HLBase which is what most people use and the the Omni PL which is their newest version and comes with the saltwater cell. We are doing DE 7220 which is their largest filter.