We are trying to decide on a builder right now and interviewed 7. Only one didn't respond, Cypress Custom pools, which I find unprofessional and rude since I wasted about two hours of my time. Lots of choices and prices can vary significantly so I recommend talking to several. Everything is sub contracted out so you can get a pool built and not have to pay some outrageous prices some pool builders seem to think they deserve. We recently moved to Magnolia from The Woodlands after 12 years. I can't believe what some people are willing to pay for a pool but some people feel much better by overpaying by $15,000-$20,000. If a pool builder is paying superintendents , sales personnel, designer, and a design center they are a ripoff in my opinion. Same guys doing the work for multiple pool builders so it's not like one is superb over the other if they are using the same equipment and materials.

We are halfway through with the raw gunite done. It is a hard process to find a PB. We ended up with a smaller, experienced PB who built a pool we saw of a friend of ours. Without the referral, it would have been hard to choose. Get several quotes for sure, even if you find someone you like just to reassure yourself on the price. There are a ton of stories about going with the low bidder, none of them very good.

This is a great site to browse through, start with searching "TX or Katy Pool Builds" or something like that. You will find some builders names pop up. Careful if a PB solicits you with a direct email, you should find them not vice versa.

Our prices varied by as much as $30,000 on what I would consider an average price of around $80,000. One builder was over $96,000, lowest around $67,000. I'm going to look at some of the work my top two choices have completed and look in detail to compare their build specifications.

I just looked at a friends pool which is absolutely beautiful and is one of the nicest pools I have ever seen. I know what he paid for it so I know for a fact one can build a first class pool and not overpay some pool builder by $20,000 for the exact same work. His builder was also a custom home builder so he received huge discounts on all of the stonework and materials. He was able to go in and select and purchase all of the travertine and other stone and pay directly at the builders discount.

This post was edited by ktm250sx on Sun, Apr 27, 14 at 10:26

You sound like you have a basic knowledge, but make sure your PB explains every option to you. There are a variety of costs depending on overhead and material selections. You want to be sure you are getting an apples to apples comparison. Make the PB get specific on the structure of the pool and equipment and material aspects.

Thank you everyone for your responses. We are hoping to meet with a few PB this week. We would like to make a decision soon. Oh I forgot to mention that my husbands father has a concrete business, and I know he would like to get involved if we asked him. Do you think if my father-inlaw was involved it would lower our cost?

@Ktm250sx, did you have a decision regarding your pool construction? Was the price what you anticipated?

Have your prospective pool builders give you quotes with a cost breakdown on each item or feature so you have an idea of what one PB charges verses the other. This way you can truly compare "apples to apples." Doing this also helped my husband and I eliminate things and add things to really stay on budget and also negotiate some things in when we were ready to sign.

I would defiantly reach out to your father-inlaw for the concrete work. Anytime you have a friend or family member in the trade needed don't be afraid to ask. I would rather give my business to a friend or family member over some sub contractor through the pool builder.

I'm only mid way through by pool build, just completed Gunite and waterline tile. What I can tell you from the little bit of experience I have had so far is that it is very easy to go over budget once you sign on the dotted line and they break ground. Things will come up that add cost to the original budget.

Best of luck in the decision process and I can't wait to see your pool progress. :)

We have selected a builder and waiting for the homeowners association approval. We thought we'd have it by Friday but haven't received it yet. The utilities were marked but for some reason the electrical company didn't physically mark the line location but stated we were "all clear". We want it marked to be on the safe side so they are supposed to come back out and mark the lines location.

Prices varied a lot for same exact pool. Despite what some of the pool builders on here say some builders are just price gouging only because they can right now. They are all busy, at least they say they are extremely busy, though all could start on it once we got approval and lines marked. All but one stated they were the best and they did things differently though not one of them really gave me anything specific that separated them from the other builders. I know that not all pool builders are the same but I didn't interview just any pool builder I could find. Fact is the "pool builders" don't build any aspect of the pool. It's all sub contracted out and of course their sub contractors are the best, all but one told me the same thing. One guy stated most every respectable pool builder builds a pool to the same specs which is what I found to be true.

As far as how many to interview and get quotes from, personally I'd say at least four. We have several pools being built in out neighborhood and no one I've spoken to got less than four quotes. Just don't tell the pool builder that as it appears some think its a waste of "their" time. It's our money so I'm going to do what I think is best for me and my financial benefit. Plus they all have some different designs and you can see what you like and dislike about each one. I'll update my build as it progresses. Good luck!

This post was edited by ktm250sx on Sun, May 18, 14 at 21:26

Cg,

First you will need to figure out exactly what you want in the pool. Specific equipment like pump, filter, cleaners with or without booster, water features, spa etc. ! Especially the shape Then have the perspective pool builders design and bid the same pool. If you have to list the requirements on a piece of paper and hand each a copy. Do not let them specify what you want. Make sure everything you want is listed in the contract before you sign. The extras after the contract is signed is where the $$$ stack up.

With that said most pool builders in your area are using the same sets of sub contractors mostly. For our area all the pool builders use two sets of subs contractors. I had the PB allow me to visit other pool builds during each phase and took names and numbers at each. The PB's are too busy to escort you and just give you the address where the work is being done. If time is of no importance you could do an owner build and do it in the off season. October- January depending on your location.
I'm currently doing a owner build. All said and done I'll be at around 30K. Started April 21st, got concrete deck yesterday and plastering Friday. So I will be swimming next weekend. Just over a month. Not bad for a owner build.

My build
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pools/msg0408254230779.html?32

Todd

Congratulations on your owner build, I thought seriously about doing that myself. I'm kinda in between on my build, long story, but I'm saving some money. Hoping to dig next week and waiting on the electrical company to mark the line. They've been out twice and we were told we are "all clear" but we want it marked. Hiring a private company to mark it and hoping it's done in the next day or two. Electrical company told us it wasn't a factor but I know the line is in the back yard and hoping its in the utility easement area but several in the neighborhood have been run diagonally across the yard.

This post was edited by ktm250sx on Thu, May 22, 14 at 21:49

We built a new pool in Spring in early 2013. Compared many high and low priced firms. But prices were almost the same when we put them all on the same specs: 2 inch lines, 2 speed pump, integrated pool vac (not a separate pump/polaris, chlorine generator / saltwater pool, quartz plaster, sundeck cool/texture coating on all deck and existing 10x25 patio, fancy lighting, 8 ft sitting ledge in deep end, 400,000 btu heater, spa, umbrella sockets in deck by steps and by sitting ledge, remote control system. Initial quotes ranged $28k to $41k, but all ended up around 40 when priced on the same specs, then in mid 40's when I added a LOT of deck. Went with Blue Haven (office on rt 6 near Westheimer) VERY tough negotiating with Bob, he started at 49 and came down to 41.5, but VERY happy and would go to them again. Paid $47, but $6-7k was added deck. Took almost exactly 6 weeks from groundbreaking to finish