SR Smith pool slide gap between flumes

[Newdude]

If this was your pool would that be a solution that you would be ok with?

Not for what they charged you to build a rock slide. Not even for half of what you paid for it.

I would not allow them to use a filler of any kind. (Epoxy, grout etc). The edges of the slide pieces are rounded for a reason. If the top edge of the filler cracked free from the upper slide piece, it clould fillet someone.

 

[Kwitttx]

I wanted to leave information out as to not create a bias against the PB. I spent right under $200,000 on this pool. Every single step of the way we have had issues. The superintendent never caught any of these, it was my husband and I that did. They didn’t check grade and my pool was going to sit up 3 feet above my patio and the hot tub 5 feet above the patio, they over dug the pool and forgot to leave 10 feet for the sun deck and only left 6, they tried to sneak in a different grotto at the final plan approval which we fought about for over a week. They gave us a table for the pool that looked absolutely horrid. I’ll post a pic. They have since changed the table because we put our foot down. I cannot fathom what is wrong with this pool that my husband and I cannot see. They have never apologized for any of these inconveniences. I’m just at a loss on what to do! Thank y’all for your help! I’m all ears to any more suggestions or help!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

At this point I think you need to go over the supervisors head and demand a meeting with the pool company owner. No work continues until the owner meets with you.

Then ask the owner one simple question -

“Would you accept this kind of shoddy work if it were your home and pool?”

If they have any shame or integrity left, the answer to that question will be simple …

 

[Kwitttx]

I have went to the General Manager. It’s easy to see where the team gets it from. He’s not helpful at all. Another company bought them out and I’ve been trying to get ahold of the ceo of that company to no avail. Truthfully, they treat us like we are the problem, like us wanting it built according to the plans is wrong of us and we are being nitpicky.

 

[oldprophet]

I would tell whoever the owner of the pool business is that you want to put a STOP to all work on the slide until a mutually agreed upon solution is found. Do NOT let them do any work until they present to you the solution and I would insist that SR Smith agrees with it as well and will warranty their slide given the builders solution to fix the issue. I would not allow any work to proceed without written and signed guarantees. That slide is built into a rock wall which means it is basically untouchable after the builder is long gone because no one likes to fix other contractors screw-ups. The builder needs to fix it and fix it in a way that does not void the SR Smith warranty.

All the parts are bolted together butt to butt with a rubber gasket between the joints. Maybe they forgot the bolts. You are right, no temp fix should be done.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Well that just all sucks.

Clearly they have locked the slide into place with the stone work and now they are desperately trying to figure out how to remedy the gap without completely demolitioning the slide. The mason is probably like, “you can pay me to take down the stone work and to put it all back up again, but I’m not working for free because your guys didn’t assemble it right…”.

If they won’t fix it correctly then maybe you can negotiate taking back some money for the slide part of the project and then have them finish the pool and be gone. The. You can find someone independently to rework the slide.

Other options are to hold out and fight them to fix it or take them to court over it after the job is complete. Litigation will cost you lots of grief and there’s not much hope you’ll recover the full cost of fixing it. And you’re in Texas which is not known to be friendly towards this type of legal action.

 

[JamesW]

Maybe they forgot the bolts

The bolts is there; it is just not tight.

It is too late now to tighten the bolt without taking everything apart.

 

[JamesW]

https://www.srsmith.com/media/179374/srsmith_2021_grs15_manual_nov2021.pdf

 

[Kwitttx]

So do I tell them to redo the slide? If someone can truly get hurt on this, won’t I be held liable because I knew that prior? My dad is an attorney, he could get me through the beginning stages of a lawsuit but he does not do construction litigation. I just honestly don’t know what to do. It sounds easy to tell them to redo it but they aren’t going to and mark my words, SR Smith is going to side with them. They are one of the largest pool builders in the U.S which is why I feel like she retracted her original super straightforward statements.

 

[JamesW]

If someone can truly get hurt on this, won’t I be held liable because I knew that prior?

Seems likely to me.

SR Smith is going to side with them.

Not necessarily.

Make them tell you in writing if it is correct or not.

Do not allow them to be ambiguous or evasive.

 

[JamesW]

See what Fluidra has to say about it.

Fluidra USA

[email protected]

(904) 378-0999

www.fluidra.us/

8525 Mallory Road Jacksonville, FL 32220 (USA)

https://www.poolspanews.com/business/fluidra-acquires-s-r-smith_o

Fluidra continues to accelerate growth with acquisition of S.R. Smith

Fluidra continues to accelerate growth with acquisition of S.R. Smith. Addition of the US-based manufacturer of commercial and residential pool deck equipment and accessories will bolster Fluidra’s position in the commercial and residential pool segments.

www.fluidra.com

Fluidra Acquires S.R.Smith

S.R.Smith has been acquired by Fluidra, a leading global pool and spa manufacturer whose portfolio of brands includes Jandy®, Polaris® and iAquaLink®.

www.srsmith.com

 

[Kwitttx]

Seems likely to me.

Not necessarily.

Make them tell you in writing if it is correct or not.

Do not allow them to be ambiguous or evasive.

I’m hoping that I’m wrong, it’s just a feeling I have. I will contact them as soon as they are open next! Truly, thank you!

 

[oldprophet]

The bolts is there; it is just not tight.

It is too late now to tighten the bolt without taking everything apart.

View attachment 528672

A problem is that the gasket is missing, The gasket is there to keep the water running down the slide from leaking out the gap. The slide probably needs to be disassembled and redone.

 

[Kwitttx]

One thing I really didn’t check but just did was the actually feeling of the transition.. the top part is higher than the bottom, just running my hand down it you can tell it’s going to hurt sliding. Also, to the person who was worried about the rock under the slide, looking from the other side.. we may actually have an issue (not sure) I’ll add the picture. I don’t see how anyone could hit this rock but it says the slide has to overhang at minimum 3 inches and this rock is right under it.

 

[JamesW]

I would insist on it being done correctly.

Contact SR Smith and ask them to send out a service person if necessary.

Contact Fluidra and see if they will provide any assistance.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

The slide probably needs to be disassembled and redone.

Agreed. But the problem is the slide is now embedded in rock wall and can’t be taken apart without removing the stone structure. It’s pretty clear that the slide was incorrectly assembled and then the mason showed up and finished the rock slide wall. The job supervisor should have been onsite during the assembly and installation of the slide but clearly was not or was there and not competent enough to read a manual and check the assembly. So now there is a major defect in the installation and the builder wants the homeowner to accept this or they want to apply some half-a⒮⒮ed fix which will fail in a couple of years. It’s unacceptable and the builder needs to take responsibility for it.

This is the problem with this industry - pool “builders” are rarely actual tradesman but just glorified schedulers. They want to do nothing but push the paperwork (plans and permits) and schedule subs and then collect their 20%. They send their sales people in to make promises they can’t keep and then assign job foreman to your site who either sit in their trucks all day or simply drive by and never stop to check in on the work. And then when the homeowner demands something be fixed, they get blamed for being “picky” or told they are “not the expert”.

It’s maddening. And it’s not even my home/pool …

I agree with @JamesW, call SR Smith and ask them to send out a representative to assure that the installation is correct and that they will warranty the slide and it’s installation …

 

[Newdude]

the top part is higher than the bottom, just running my hand down it you can tell it’s going to hurt sliding

Probably not. It's like a 3/4 inch jump and they won't even feel it. But if the bottom piece was higher, then that would be a big issue.

I don’t see how anyone could hit this rock but it says the slide has to overhang at minimum 3 inches and this rock is right under it.

I agree it's feel good only, but also a liability if somebody got hurt.

 

[Kwitttx]

Agreed. But the problem is the slide is now embedded in rock wall and can’t be taken apart without removing the stone structure. It’s pretty clear that the slide was incorrectly assembled and then the mason showed up and finished the rock slide wall. The job supervisor should have been onsite during the assembly and installation of the slide but clearly was not or was there and not competent enough to read a manual and check the assembly. So now there is a major defect in the installation and the builder wants the homeowner to accept this or they want to apply some half-a⒮⒮ed fix which will fail in a couple of years. It’s unacceptable and the builder needs to take responsibility for it.

This is the problem with this industry - pool “builders” are rarely actual tradesman but just glorified schedulers. They want to do nothing but push the paperwork (plans and permits) and schedule subs and then collect their 20%. They send their sales people in to make promises they can’t keep and then assign job foreman to your site who either sit in their trucks all day or simply drive by and never stop to check in on the work. And then when the homeowner demands something be fixed, they get blamed for being “picky” or told they are “not the expert”.

It’s maddening. And it’s not even my home/pool …

I agree with @JamesW, call SR Smith and ask them to send out a representative to assure that the installation is correct and that they will warranty the slide and it’s installation …

The person that put the slide together was the site superintendent and another guy from the pool company (the delivery guy) so he must’ve seen it and thought it wasn’t a big deal or just missed it completely. I will offer to fly an SR Smith representative out here to check it, I doubt they will come without being compensated but I have no clue. When you run your hand down the slide, you can feel the transition a lot. It’s possible that a body would feel differently than a hand but it is a very noticeable and rough feeling.

 

[Kwitttx]

Agreed. But the problem is the slide is now embedded in rock wall and can’t be taken apart without removing the stone structure. It’s pretty clear that the slide was incorrectly assembled and then the mason showed up and finished the rock slide wall. The job supervisor should have been onsite during the assembly and installation of the slide but clearly was not or was there and not competent enough to read a manual and check the assembly. So now there is a major defect in the installation and the builder wants the homeowner to accept this or they want to apply some half-a⒮⒮ed fix which will fail in a couple of years. It’s unacceptable and the builder needs to take responsibility for it.

This is the problem with this industry - pool “builders” are rarely actual tradesman but just glorified schedulers. They want to do nothing but push the paperwork (plans and permits) and schedule subs and then collect their 20%. They send their sales people in to make promises they can’t keep and then assign job foreman to your site who either sit in their trucks all day or simply drive by and never stop to check in on the work. And then when the homeowner demands something be fixed, they get blamed for being “picky” or told they are “not the expert”.

It’s maddening. And it’s not even my home/pool …

I agree with @JamesW, call SR Smith and ask them to send out a representative to assure that the installation is correct and that they will warranty the slide and it’s installation …

Your characterization is completely accurate!

 

[Newdude]

When you run your hand down the slide, you can feel the transition a lot

Kids slide down carpeted stairs for Pete's sake. A 3/4 inch wet 'stair' won't even be felt.

Now if it was sliding 'up' a 3/4 inch step, that would be felt