Swimming Pool Companies, How do I choose
the right company to build my dream pool
There is a lot to consider when starting the interview process; yes, you should be interviewing your pool building contractor. How to Choose The Right Pool Builder Swimming pool builders in Houston. What should I be looking for in a pool builder? (832) 912-7665 When meeting with the prospective contractor, you should have a list of questions ready for them to answer; here are some great questions:
Do they have verifiable reviews, such as Google or Houzz? It is best to see studies with actual pictures of real homeowners’ projects. Unfortunately, some companies will ask friends and colleagues to write reviews. How do they address favorable and unfavorable assessments, you can learn a lot about a company in how they respond to reviews.
Are they a Licensed General Contractor? You can look up the name of the company to ensure that you are working with a Licensed Contractor. If they are not a Licensed General Contractor, they may ask you to pull the permit, or they use someone else’s License. If they are not licensed, you are taking a huge gamble. In the State of North Carolina any project $30,000.00 and over, you are required to have a Licensed General Contractor, unless you are taking on this liability. There may even be a chance that they will not pull the permit, which also means that you, the homeowner, are liable.
How many years have they been in business? Who is the principal owner/s of this business? How many years have they been building Swimming Pools in their current company?
Make sure that they have Liability Insurance and Workman’s Comp insurance. It would help if you asked for an up-to-date copy of the insurance; you can also insist on being named on the Liability Insurance. If they are not adequately insured, then the liability of all parties, including their employees and subcontractors, is your responsibility.
Ask for a list of previous customers to call and visit their pools. Make sure that you get a list of at least ten previous customers.
How many different types of pools do they build, and why? Some companies build one pool, such as Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass, or Concrete/Gunite. If they only make one type of pool, their sales pitch is usually one-sided.
Will they Service what they install? Many pool companies want to build pools. It is always best to ensure that the company building your collection is an Authorized Repair Facility for the products they install.
How much actual Education do they and their employees have? Unfortunately, very few
standards are enforced or even known about in this Industry. Building a Swimming Pool is not something that should be taken lightly; the following is a list of critical and dangerous items if your pool is not built correctly- Suction Entrapment and Hair Entanglement, Water Chemistry, Proper Depths, Proper Step heights and sizes, Structural requirements, Soils requirements.
Will your project require Soil and Structural Engineering? If there is a problem, will a soil engineer be called in? Many times in this area, soil engineering is needed for Concrete Structures. It will only succeed if your structure is built correctly due to the soil. Many pool contractors have clauses that release them of liabilities due to soil conditions.
Do they have a timeline for your project? If the timetable is relatively short, be careful. Quite a few builders will rush through a project, taking shortcuts and not allowing the soil to settle before finishing the project. These missteps will take several years to reveal themselves, costing you thousands of dollars in the future.
We hope that you will find this information helpful!
Aqua Blue Custom Pools is an inground swimming pool contractor located in Houston, TX. We specialize in creating custom pools and outdoor living spaces that are shaped around our customer's lifestyles.
