Getting Quotes on FG Pool

[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.

[Jeffski]

I live in Michigan (sorry for the delay). Maybe the stuff I'm getting is of a cheaper quality? I hope not.

[2Hipp]

$4K delivery from the S. Jersey plant to Maryland seems way too high. I bring 40 foot containers of product from Asia by boat and then truck from the port to warehouses in NJ and the total cost is $3,718 including broker fees, insurance, etc.
My contractor did not break delivery out in his quote. I could have sworn WW told me it would be $550 to North Jersey.

Spoke with a Water World salesperson today. The $4k includes shipping (with permits and escorts) and installation including crane time.

He's sending me contact info for excavators in my area, so I'll talk to them and see what they have to say.

One thing that concerned me was when I asked about their warranty he wasn't sure and mentioned the 50 year shell warranty. I explained I was referring to issues with pool leaking or faulty plumbing and he wasn't sure. Kind of sent up a red flag to me.

[mbar]

The pool contractor I had got my fiberglass pool from Water World. I paid him, and he did the installation. I got the excavator and the electrician - This is the 7th year for my pool and it still looks new. They do honor the warranty, the only thing I had done to mine is to have the rim of the pool re-gelcoated due to little cracks that are common. They don't hurt the pool, just look ugly. I have been very happy with the pool.

[keithw]

I'm in Va Beach and installed my own fiberglass pool. I bought a smaller CPC brand (Marco). CPC and Viking are actually sister companies and are manufactured with the same process. If if you compare their two sites, many of the pools are identical except minor changes like an added seat, etc. I would also have to agree with those who have said that they are one of the better pools. I looked at quite a few manufacturers offerings before deciding and they had the strongest pool that I saw. Especially the upper coping.

Putting in a fiberglass yourself is also not rocket science and you could save quite a bit by either DIY or subcontracing IMO if you don't mind getting involved in the process. I bought directly from CPC inc delivery. They will even give you the installation manual if you request. All in my pool was about 13K, inc, delivery, rental of the excavator, hauling away dirt, decking around, addition to wood deck to extend to pool & waterfall.

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e4...vab/?start=all

BTW, my pool came standard with three returns so two seems a bit low for a pool much bigger than mine. I would think that you would want more circulation than that on that large of a pool.

[2Hipp]

The Tri-County (Company mentioned in the first post of this thread) pool company came out yesterday to give us a quote. Their package is pretty comprehinsive but a little on the expensive side.

They are already willing to knock off $5k for starting contruction this fall so I have to weigh the credit against the monthly payments I would be making while not using the pool druing the winter. If they are willing to knock the $5k right off the bat do you think it's possible to get more out of them?

The company gave us ton of customers to talk to and a couple in my neighberhood.

All of their add ons are really expensive like $2500 for SWG, $2500 for a safety winter cover, $3200 for a gas heater, etc. All of these prices seem to be double or triple what I could purchase them for. If I go with them I'll probably get the standard package and add the accessories like the SWG and pool cover myself.

[Tishabiondy@natlmail.com]

We're due to have a Dolphin 16 x 38 white fg pool installed next week. $28,300 includes 26" Hayward sand filter, Northstar 1hp pump, 250,000 btu gas heater, 4-color fiberoptic light, start-up equipment and chemicals, 4 ft. cantilevered concrete decking and regular cover with sandbags. Does not include heater hook-up.

Tisha

[2Hipp]

Tisha,
What part of the country are you in. It really upsets me to see in my area pools of roughtly the same size and features are $10k to $15k more then other parts of the country.