Subcontracting your own pool project?

[beary]

Since I'm in the middle of it, it is hard to say, but I would think twice about again. I'm and engineer and like doing that kind of stuff. I find myself checking in on the sub contractors and making sure I get what I want more than my pool contractor. On the other hand, my pool contractor knows the good and bad subcontractors and has already save me a lot of money.

Here is what I would do if I were to start this again. I am finding that many of the good contractors are a fireman who does this part time. I would find one and talk with him on the idea of him helping me build a pool. I'm finding they know who to subcontract and who not.

I would still be leery because my pool contractor has a good experiences with subcontractors and he can get them, NOW! I don't think that could happen if it were just me, at least not in the summer busy season. Now maybe in winter.

However, this wouldn’t be for the meek. I find most folks are pretty stressed during the build even with using a pool contractor. It would be pretty scary on your own. Who would you blame?

beary

[mneal]

We recently did our 1st pool (12K gallon IG) and I have a friend of a friend that retired from the pool business . He encouraged me to be my own GC and sub everything out. The savings was not enough (was about 10%) in order for me to deal with it. I am a mechanical engineer and I am sure it is rocket science but like the other guy said, I dunno diddly squat about good verse bad subs etc. Plus I would think that as a one time only customer I would not get as good service compared to most subs who do lots of work for pool guys, so schedule would be longer . Plus, I had no idea what the details and quality control requirements are, dug hole looks like a hole to me and have no idea what is required , so I would pay they guy after he made a hole, the the shot shell, same deal, what if down the line the plaster guy said"this shell is worthless" and I paid the shell guy and he was long gone...that sorta of risk was a HUGE downside. All that added up I bit the bullet and paid a pool guy to do it and I am happy with that decision for me.

[heyyafl]

I would never hire a pool contractor do build a pool for me. Two years ago when I was building my pool my pool builder went out of business, I lost a lot of money and had to hire another pool company to finish it. I wish I hired them or U Build It for the pool. It looks like this Bella Pools company does a lot like U Build It. I am building my house with U Build it and I am very happy, they help you build your own home through finding you qualified subcontractors. I would never do this without their help! Let me know what you come up with because when I am done with my house I am doing a pool.