HELP! Inground pool installation problems - LONG

[Belle2667]

For several years, DH & I struggled to make a decision on getting an inground pool. Last year, we bit the bullet and decided to go for it.

We did extensive research on which types of pools were available, what shape and options we wanted, and we received quotes from 2 reputable builders. We signed paperwork last July and agreed installation would begin the end of May this year.

So for 10 months, we've been getting more and more excited about the pending summer swim season! We waited for the "pool guy" to schedule our installation, and he said he'd be here on May 30. (Whew, just under the wire for "end of May"!)

Anyway, he digs 3 test holes. 1 in the shallow end, one in the middle section and one in the deep end. He hit "rock" in the deep end. (Our property is an old soybean field.) The "pool guy" tells us he can give us a 6 foot deep pool versus the 8 foot one we wanted, or for a "minimum of $5,000 more", he can try to remove the rock.

We ask him what the "maximum" is. He can't tell us since he doesn't know for sure how long it'll take. We asked him if there was something he could do to give us an upper-end estimate on the price. He says no. We don't like the idea that he may dig and dig, charge us any amount over $5,000 he wants to, and all we may have at the end of it is a very expensive hole in the ground that gets filled back in and now needs to be reseeded at a minimum.

Is this common among pool builders? The ones we spoke to mention extra charges if they hit rock, but they don't give specifics, and now we're in the thick of things and don't know what to do. Are we expecting too much from our pool builder?

Any advice is appreciated, or if you've been in this situation yourself, what did you do? Thanks!

 

[luvflorida]

We had an inground pool installed last summer. One of the first things the pool company did was spray paint the outline of the pool onto our lawn in the exact spot we wanted the pool to go. They started digging after making sure there were no underground wires, gas lines, etc. in the area. I'm not sure how they determined this, but they used some kind of equipment that didn't require digging.

Our pool ranges from three feet in the shallow end to six feet in the deep end. The contract called for a depth of five feet, but we wanted it six feet, so we paid a couple of hundred dollars extra, which was fine with us. I remember them telling us that it was possible that they could start digging and hit ledge/rock, and if that happened, it would cost more to dig. However, by assessing the surrounding area, they didn't really think that would happen, so we didn't worry about it. Thankfully, it was fine and the digging went smoothly.

Maybe we were just being naive by not asking how much more it would cost. I think if I were in your situation, I would go for the six foot depth and not have to worry about the extra cost of going eight feet.

 

[golfgal]

I could see where they can't give you an estimate as to how much excavation would cost, the "rock" could be a big boulder that they could get out in one big scoop or it could be so big that it would take weeks to get it out. They have no way of knowing what it is. I guess if it were me I would take the 6' pool to be on the safe side.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As someone who just signed to get our pool today...no way would our Bank allow this.
The price is agreed upon prior to signing.

Texas has ALOT of CYA clauses however since so many pools are built here.

If you signed for the pool...you have a written contract of what they were going to build and where.
So what you are telling me is that they are backing out of their original agreement with you, right?

In the end there needs to be an agreed upon price prior to digging. To do otherwise is foolish.

I would redo the original contract with a new price.

 

[AZKathy]

Can't they flip the pool around so the shallow end is where the rock is or arrange the pool to avoid the rock? I don't know how big this is and your size of back yard.

We have had two types of pools, one diving pool and the current one is a game pool. Our kids prefer the diving pool for jumping in and goofing off with the deep end over the current game pool we have now. You may want to discuss with your family if they want to give up the diving option.

Good luck!

 

[momof2inPA]

That seems like a huge amount of money for a little excavation. I can't imagine digging in our part of PA and not finding rock at 6 feet. Can you call the other pool installer and see if they have a counter-bid?

 

[Belle2667]

Golfgal - I completely understand how the pool guy might not be able to give us a complete estimate, however he's not even willing to tell us how much it might cost us to explore the situation to give us a better estimate.

AZKathy - Flipping the pool may be an option, but right now, we're not getting a good feeling that he even wants our business. I guess if business wasn't as good as it seems to be, he might be more willing to work with us.

I think we'll be chatting with a few other builders this weekend.

 

[becker1123]

When we lived in Collegeville, PA one of our neighbors put in a rather expensive (I thought) pool and the story I heard was that it went from being a $60K pool to a $90K pool because they had to drill and dig through bedrock. We weren't too far from where you are, so the rocky ground is probably similar. I guess they wanted the pool bad enough to cough up the extra money, but it seemed like way too much to me, and the story was probably exagerrated by the time it got to me. I've also heard of similar things where we now live near St. Louis. I hope to get a pool someday, so I'm curious to see how yours ends up. Hopefully not too expensive.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

This is what I don't get...in Texas it is all rock and they put in gunite. You can have the pool anyway you want it, any shape, doesn't matter.

Maybe someone can explain this.

 

[ElizaB39]

Hey I am just down the road from Collegeville, PA; just moved from there in fact. I don't have any pool experience, but my friend had a pool put in, with attached spa for around 50K, included an electric cover for safety. Two years later the pool liner was cracked and the pool company out of biz. Pool was closed last summer and is opening this summer after a 50K "renovation" (basically a whole new pool has to be installed). Yikes!

 

[Mizz Dizz]

 

[Belle2667]

Hi Mystery Machine -

In PA, it seems vinyl liner pools are more popular first, because they are cheaper, and secondly, there sometimes can be problems with the frost/freeze issues of summer with gunite pools.

Becker 1123 - Wow! a $30K increase in price! That's exactly what I'm afraid of, without giving me a top-end estimate, it's like giving the pool guy a blank check!

Like I said earlier, we'll be spending some time this weekend with other builders to see what they would do in this situation. I'll keep you updated!

 

[Spoisal]

What is the advantage of an 8ft pool over a 6ft pool? you can't have a diving board either way (I think it needs to be at least 10ft for that). Plus, with a 6 ft pool, you would have less of a slope from your shallow end to your deeper end. We have a pool that goes fron 3 1/2 ft to 6 ft & it is awesome! The question is - is that extra 2 ft worth 5k or MORE? Good luck with the resolution!!

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

ours is 8 and a half foot deep and you still cant dive in it.
we also have a slope and we have a ridge surounding the deep end.
I if it were me id go with the 6 foot pool.

 

[ckret01]

Almost 15 yrs ago my parents wanted a round 24' inground pool. They came and started digging and they found shale that they had to blast through in orser to put this pool in which only went to 5' or 6'. It would have cost them anywhere from 5 to 10k to ave the rock blasted and they opted not to b/c they didnt have the money at the time. So know they have a half inground and half above ground pool. They had to put a deck around it to make it look decent. Good luck

 

[hottubbrad]

It is common in our area to charge extra for rock removal. Rock can be either hard or soft which can result in a variable time to remove it. Nobody knows what is under the ground until you expose it and start chipping away at he rock. We explain this to our clients and have it clearly written on our contract. Any pool builder who guesses and gives you a price to remove rock will run the risk of over charging or under charging. Not good in both cases. In addition to the rock removal charge, you will have a rebuild charge which is the price to turn a jagged rock hole into a smooth bottom for the pool. Rock does not always come out clean and smooth. In my time, I have see $8,000 - $27,000 for extra charges once we hit rock. Unfortunately, if you live on rock and want a pool, there is no alternative. In addition to OP, your pool builder is not hiding from or shirking his responsibilities. There is no way you should pay the same price for a pool installed in a clean, easy digging, rock-free backyard. The pool builder that guesses at costs is foolish and will likely end up on the losing end of the deal.

 

[dbogen]

I realize this is a zombie threat, but I'm curious. How deep did the pool end up being?

 

[Belle2667]

Wow - Talk about zombie threads! I can't believe it's 10 years already!

We ended up going with another pool builder. Since we knew about the rock, we were upfront with the builder about it and factored additional expenses (IIRC, they did put a cap on the expense) into the quote to cover it. This builder was so attentive to our concerns and they got the 2 TON boulder out of the yard and our pool goes from 3 foot to 8 foot, just the way we wanted.

Probably the biggest surprise to us is that when they built our house, the ground was so soft they had to put in a sub-foundation, so finding that kind of rock was a bit unexpected.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

BBBBRRRRAAAIIIIINNNSSS

(or if you're a zombie with a thing for steam engines)
TTTTTRRRRRAAAAIINNNNSSSSS

 

[MickeySP]

Awesome !! To actually have a zombie thread updated. I think this is the first one I have eve seen.

Hope you are enjoying the pool!!