Building a pool in Covid/2021 (Houston: home, maintenance, fence)

[TallGreengrass]

Anybody want to discuss building a pool? We’re finally at the point where the kids are old enough and we’re comfortable with the expense and maintenance of a pool (plus Covid has us WFH and home bound). We’re not moving anytime soon so there is not an ROI concern. We’ve been asking friends and neighbors for references, ideas and firsthand experience. How long did it take? How’d you pay for it? What would you do differently if you could?

[donblackie]

Pool labor is in very high demand at this time so be patient. From experience, the Gunite crews have a strong pipeline of jobs so expect that to be one of the bottlenecks and your pool builder should look to schedule around that.

Pricing is going up on labor due to demand so dont expect to get a "good deal" on a pool right now as everyone has the same idea due to our current situation.

We havent broken ground yet and we have been 3 months in the planning and permit phase with our builder.
My sister's pool took about 70% longer than average due to waiting on different crews.
We are paying for our pool outright as I looked at different financing options and the interest rates werent low enough for me to consider.
From here, what I would do differently is built the pool prior to this COVID situation but hindsite is 20/20 so I am paying a premium to get my family a function

[travelguy_73]

We signed a contract in Sept, they dug in Nov, gunited in Dec, electrical/plumbing has finally been done, and now we are waiting for another cleanup before the decking can be done.

This is my first pool, though a number of my neighbors have them. They all told me it would take longer and be messier and less organized than I think, and to expect/plan for it. They were right. The rains that came between dig and gunite meant crews coming back to clean out the mud (twice I think). Make sure that is a pool company cost!

We are paying cash, so that might have sped up the initial part of the process, but the rest is just start-and-stop. We have a supervisor, but for the most part, pool companies are more middle men.

But it will be great when it is done, which at this point will be spring, LOL.

eta: I recommend you check out the forum on Trouble Free Pool. It's been a huge help in terms of knowing what to expect, pool equipment, finishes, etc.

[a_guerrajr]

We signed in May of 2020, broke ground June 1 and it was done in 5 weeks ( we lost one due to rain).
Spent around 60K for pool and spa.
Builder said if we would of waited a 2 more weeks they would of had a 3 week delay to even start.

TFP is a good source, alot of people from Houston on there post about their pool and ask questions.

Set money aside for automation, I kind of regret not getting it, but it is something else that can break.
I did a full landscape and fence (not via PB) so I had to drop the automation in favor of looks and privacy.

Plan out anything you want now, extra gas line, extra electrical outlet, speaker wires. Your yard will get trashed so might as well have it be reborn with everything you want.

[TallGreengrass]

Thanks everyone for the replies