pool bulders VS bid your own

[trueblu1]

Im in California. Wife breaking my stones because she wants an IG pool with a spa. Got several bids about $40k for the most basic pool you an get. Seems way to high. Thinking I can get bid it out myself.

Has anybody attempted this? or should I just breakdown and pay the big bucks?

[BigDave]

Pool construction involves some pretty specific trades: Plumbers (who know pools), Electricians (who know pools), excavation (probably needs to know pools), concrete forms / rebar (need to know pools), shotcrete / gunnite application (needs to know pools), plastering (needs to know pools). If you know subs with these skills and can get on thier schedules, you probably wouldn't be asking the question here.

Hire a reputable pool contractor - it is expensive but he(she)'ll know how to get it done.

[PoolDoc]

Has anybody attempted this? or should I just breakdown and pay the big bucks?

Poke through former member, Ben Choi's site: http://www.howibuiltmyownpool.com/ There's probably more involved then you realize. California is an expensive place for pools (and everything else, I think!) -- at least 2x what it costs in S. Florida -- but I don't know 'going rates' in your area.

Not sure what your wife wants: a place to cool off, or a a yard feature. If it's the former, you might try a high end Intex, like these:

Intex 54979EG 24-Foot by 12-Foot by 52-Inch Rectangular Ultra Frame Pool
Intex 54949EG 24-Foot by 52-Inch Metal Frame Pool Set

You can have those up and running in 2 weeks, instead of 9 months. It will give you both a chance to find out, if you'll really enjoy having a pool, since functionally, they will be very similar . . . as a place to cool off and float around. And because they are easy to take down and re-assemble, you should be able to sell them next year for 1/3 - 1/2 of what you paid.

Of course, if the purpose is a decorative yard feature, there's no comparison.

[PoolDoc]

moved thread, so you can post again. -ben