The liner cost is right on track. And the returns and maindrain replacment is just the covers which is standard with a liner replacment. Make sure they are putting a antivortex cover on the maindrain to make sure there is no entrapment possibilitys see link below.Be prepared to have added cost if the floor is in bad shape ( you don't know until the liner is removed) Skimmer replacment seems about right. Cutting skimmer out and removing decking is alot of labor. Overall including the step replacment it seems like a good price. I would make them have the skimmers and steps replaced before I would give the the 4k.Get it all in contract before you pay anything....

Here is a link that might be useful: Drain cover

Thank you. I had already seen that article about the drain. I will make sure they put a safety drain in. I'd assumed they were standard now but I guess not.

One of the skimmers is obviously cracked. The other looks ok but is very old. Should I just go ahead and replace them both? Or would that be a waste of an extra $400?

Also, if I have the steps covered with the liner, will that add to my cost? I thought it might look nicer but it would look good either way.

Also, the wooden walls underneath the liner may have some holes and need to be patched. They told me it would be $50 (per foot I think) for a sheet of metal, if needed. There is no way to tell how much, if any, patching needs to be done before the old liner is removed.

They did patch a large hole underneath my existing liner, two years ago. That liner was out of the track and the only way to properly repair it was to put the metal sheet patch over the hole.

Two years ago when I had the liner repaired, I called 3 other pool compaines, they were the only one who told me I did not have to replace the entire liner, at that time.

Are there any other ways I could cut costs, such as asking for a certain type of steps? They are putting in fiberglass/acrylic I think. I guess that is the best kind to put in on a budget?? Will they really last a lifetime like the company says?

I was thinking I'd try to get it all done for $5000 instead of the $6000. Also get them to throw in enough bags of salt to get me started.

I don't expect they will go that low, for $5000, but I am going to ask and if not try to bargain a little bit higher.

How does all this sound?

Why don't you look for a Bath tub repair person to look at your steps and see if the can redo/repair them? when I replace liners I only replace the cover for the drain not the whole drain,,,I would replace the other skimmer because you don't want to have 2 types of skimmer baskets and or not be able to find parts for your old one.Go for the 5k all they can say is No....

Good luck

Thanks. The steps are caved in and dented in several places. Plus they are cracked in about 50 places. Also they are chipping, the top layer (I don't know what it is made of) is chipping off ALL over. I think they are vinyl. Also they are bumpy, due to the design, they are not smooth. I guess they are bumpy for traction so no one will slip.

I think they were made in 1974.

Do you still think they could be repaired by a bathtub repair person??

I have never seen steps this bad.

But then again I don't know much about bathtub repair either!

The price for the new steps is cccchhheeeaaappp!Are you sure that this quote was recent,or in the middle of winter.Pay extra for Quaker steps,or Triac.Don't accept the junk Pool Builders Supply.

thanks. I just got the quote the other day.

I think I will just wait another year or two, because the entire project is more than I thought it would be. I want the coping replaced, and I did not realize that was not included with the liner.

To replace the coping, it will be at least $3K more, so really $11K or so to do the whole project.

The pool guy had told me over the phone about $6K.

But that was before I told him I wanted to replace the coping.

I just figured that was a part of the liner. Well now I know, at least.....

So next year or whenever I decide to do this, I'll have enough knowledge of what needs to be done, and will be prepared for the huge cost.