Quote Originally Posted by webfeet
Thanks for the response, Waste. What are reasonable cuts at what points during the construction? PC wants 10% upfront and 55 % when excavation starts, 30% when deck is formed and rest upon completion. He does not take credit cards, but has been in business years. I haven't contacted his customers from last year or 4-5 years back. But would if I decide to try him. Did you get a chance to read my thread describing the pool specs and size and system, etc.? Please do, and respond when you can. Thanks again, I know I am at the right place to get the right advice.
Webfeet
Those cuts sound a little unballanced. I'm not the one who decides (nor signs the contract ) but I think our cuts (no idea on % per cut) go :
1 Excavation
2 Walls bolted together (assembled)
3 Collar (concrete footing for the pannels) poured (this includes the plumbing being attached to the pool, as we bury the pipes in the concrete to protect them)
4 Floor vermiculited
5 Liner dropped (installed and pool filled)
*** There may be one for applying faceplates and plumbing the filter system, and getting the pool 'swimable', with filter running (even if the electricianns haven't run the power to the system, we'll run the pump on a temp line to get them swimming) ***
# There is probably one for backfilling the pool with dirt because we don't do the deck nor fence (those are not included in our contract, but we will strongly recomend the dudes we usually work with)
The final cut, as I understand it, is when the deck (which, as I said- we are not responsible for) is in place (the reason for this is because 2 -5 days before the deck is laid, we, finally, plumb in the stair returns, if you really want to know why we wait til the deck is immanent to plumb the stairs, I'll answer).
Again, it looks like your contract is biased towards the contractor, as I said before, you can make ammedments to it. Paying for the work done to date seems to me a better way (if he doesn't show up for 6 weeks, you've only paid the % of the work he's done) More cuts= a quicker job and more attention paid to your pool. Of course there has to be some $$ laid down on your part before any of this even starts, but try to get that 55% spread out a little - get to a 'swimmable pool' before you put down more than 75 - 80 % of the total. Just my $.02 (and please don't tell him who I am, he'll kill me for suggesting this ) - I've seen the other post, but am trying to decide if I can further it - Waste