Getting Quotes on FG Pool

[South_Texas_Sun]

I'm sure there are ways to get good deals but I'm more concerned with having a single contractor with a good reputation be responsible for the build.

When speaking with Water World they did recommend an excavator but it was not included in the price and I had to manage the relationship. They also add a $4k delivery charge to MD.

I really like some of the designs they have but not sure I want the headache of managing all the contractors.

I'm sorry, 2Hipp, I didn't make that very clear.

I wasn't suggesting bypassing a poolbuilder/salesman for the purpose of getting a better deal. (although you very well could end up with a better deal)

I was suggesting the subcontractor route because you would have a lot more CONTROL over the process than the PB company route, and if someone wasn't prompt or competant, it then becomes dead easy to rectify the problem.....i.e. just call someone else who WILL do your bidding.

[blue_steel]

I wrote a total of two checks. One to the excavator who ordered the pool, arranged delivery and installed it. The second check was to the mason for the patio. It was really painless. The excavator guaranteed the work in writing.

[2Hipp]

Blue Steel,
I'm thinking I should get a quote from one of the Water World recommended excavators. If the excavator can take care of a lot of the install and logistics maybe I can save a few bucks. I really like some of their pools as they have the best variety of sizes I've seen and they can go up to 18' wide.

Water World made the process seem much more difficult then I was will to get into. Renting a skid loader and having gravel delivered just wasn't something I'm wanting to take on.

[blue_steel]

Give it a try. Ask for the names of installers in your area and have them come over for an estimate. Then take a look at some of the pools they installed and speak with the owners (I looked at two that our installer put in). If it doesn't feel right, then head in another direction. Also, the installers told me that 18' wide pools are only allowed in certain states due to transportation restrictions on the highways. Supposedly NJ only allows 16' wide. I believe their 18' wide pools are manufactured at their Texas location.

[Jeffski]

We pay $3 per SF for cement. Your qoute says $8.75 per SF. Ask why before they start. I can add color and stamping and still only pay $9 per SF.

[2Hipp]

Jeffski - Just so I know I'm comparing apples to apples when I talk to the salesperson, what part of the country do you live in?

[pcgeek]

FWIW, I'm in the DC area and looking at $7.60 per sf as the lowest I could find from a PB for the decking so it could be a regional problem. I can't really comment on the rest since we're building a gunite pool but I can verify that this region is just rediculous for pool pricing (which I'm not sure I still understand why other than they can get away with it).

[wbrady]

The quotes I recieved from 6 diferent MD pool builders ranged from $6 - $10.50 a sq/ft. Everything in the Balt/Wash area is a bit over priced, just take a look a real estate.

I looked into other concrete people and found some around $5 a sq/ft, but they had never done decking around a pool before. I quess sometimes you get what you pay for in experience.