On such a large pool you should spend the few extra hundred dollars and get the Aquacal H155.

The builder will get a better price on the electrical & plumbing since those trades will already be at your jobsite during the construction and trenches will already be dug for your electrical run.

You also are forgetting about the valves, plumbing material, and equipment pad.

You should not have to buy all this stuff and deal with this hassle, just find a builder that would be willing to give you a better deal! You should seek additional estimates for your pool project and have the builder install it.

Good Luck!
Jason

Jason,

Thanks for the feedback. Builder wants $6,000 for the H155. He will allow us to out source decking and coping, and that alone will save us about $5,000 compared to other builders we've interviewed. And we like this builder (have not signed yet).

Guess I'll have to chew him down somewhat on the H155... even our scontract signing continigent on a "good price."

Thanks...
-Gorilla

Gorilla,

Thats ridiculous! You can see from the inyo website itÂs only a few hundred dollars more for the H155! It is the same cost for materials and labor to install a $2,000 or a $4,000 heat pump. If you are out sourcing all this stuff it means he is not fair on the pricing. The pool builder will always get a better deal on pavers and the heat pump than you outsourcing these as a homeowner. Look at other area pool builders websites and in the photo gallery if you see a lot of pool (or almost all) with acrylic deck it means they must be expensive on the pavers. If you see a photo gallery that has a lot or almost all pavers then they are more likely fair on the paver price. The fact is Pavers and brick-bull-nose are actually less expensive than acrylic decking for pool companies that use mostly pavers!

Jason
jsfl2000@yahoo.com

Here is a link that might be useful: Yahoo Search - Orlando Pool Builders

Jason,

Again, I appreciate the info.

I've interviewed 3 PBs: Florida Pools, Atlas Pools, and Artesion Pools. Florida Pools was the only one that would allow an outsource of decking/coping, and by outsourcing, I'll be paying $4/SF for Flagstone Paver brand pavers. The Other PBs wanted about $6/SF and more.

Another thing they outsource: stamped concrete. They do the pour, but the homeowner pays the stamp guys directly. Total cost is about $9/SF. Another PB wanted $15/SF.

When I asked Florida Pools what's in it for them by outsourcing decking/coping, they said they get to build the pool. Made sense to me at the time... I save in the long run, and they get the pool contract, not their competition.

But they have to make money somehow too, and on options, I thought they were high on only the heat pump. Another PB wanted $5600 for a ThermalFlo 1200 (does not have titamiun heat exchanger). Crap compared to AquaCal/AquaPro hign end units.

So for decking/coping, they are allowing me to save big. Other PBs offered to meet or beat that price once I told them I was going with Florida Pools, but only after trying to sell me $6/SF pavers and $24/LF concrete brick coping.

Other than the price of the heat pump, their price and quality looks good.

Last question for you: could there be any other reason why a PB would offer to outsource some of the work?

Thanks...
-Gorilla

Your PB is charging you $1300.00 to install,run electric, 50A, etc that is a great price. Plus if he does it PB will stand by his work. Why would PB outsource work? Well coping and decking seem to be where a lot of issue's come up with poor install, cracking and what not. Again if you outsource this PB says great that is not my problem.

An H155 is the most awesome heat pump available. I have one on my pool and love it.

I'm surprised that in my market, SE Texas, that heat pumps aren't more popular. If you choose the H155R it will also cool your warm summer pool water.

1300 for installation is fair and 6000 installed on the H155 isn't out of line. If I had a buyer considering one and I'd quoted 6000 installed, if the buyer wanted help on the price the max discount I'd offer would be 10 percent (5400 installed) Closing the pool sale is the name of the game and if giving a discount on a heat pump is what it takes to put the baby to bed I'd do it without hesitation.

See ya,
Kelly

I am a pool builder in Orlando and it's not a great price... It's a rip off! If they priced everything fairly Gorilla would not have to seek outside sources to build half the pool!

Bella, I'm sorry you disagree, in my market the H155 is 3500 at my cost. My plumber and electrician will charge me almost 1000 to run a 60 amp circuit to the heat pump and connect them up. When I place my normal markup on 4500 worth of incurred construction costs the resell price is right at 6000.
I'm curious, what do you pay in Florida for the same appliance, how much will your plumber and electrician charge, and what would your resell price be?
I know that pool products sell for different prices in different parts of the country. You guys are in the biggest market for heat pumps in the nation. That's why I'd like to know what the H155 sells for in your area.

Thanks in advance.

see ya,
Kelly

Kelly,
I am not really just talking about the heat pump... ItÂs the combination of the pavers, brick-bull-nose and the heat pump.
I would be more than happy to tell you exactly what my cost is on this if you want to email me. I donÂt know if itÂs the best idea to post builder pricing on this stuff.
I can sell this while building the pool since the plumber & electrical will already be at the jobsite hooking up the rest of the equipment for about $4500 and still make a fair profit.

Jason
jsfl2000@yahoo.com

In my area we pool builders get hosed daily by my wholesaler, the largest in the world, and our service providers. They know that they've got the upper hand and squeeze us tightly. I've NEVER paid more for service and products in a lifetime of constructing pools than I am right now.
I realize that costs are up everywhere, especially for my electrician on his price of THHN building wire, but I think that the connection to the power center and price per foot is unrealistically high.
I understand your reason for not elaborating on the costs and will send you an email, I normally don't either. I did it on this thread because it falls right in line with my cost and resell pricing. My electrician wires heat pumps on their own breaker from the homeowners power center rather than the Jandy power center I install. He says that although it costs more to do it this way that it's, in his opinion, the proper way to do it. I've conducted business with him for a very very long time and have never disputed his prices or methods of wiring pools and spas. Most of my pools are at larger homes and have longer power runs which in turn drive my incurred prices up.

See ya,
Kelly

My 2 cents....

I just paid my electrician $1800 to run a 60AMP Breaker Box out to the pool equip, wire the pump, light and make provisions for a future heat pump. This was approx 75ft away from the house and I live in MA.

That gives you an idea the cost for wiring alone in my area.

Follow-up: Told the builder that the AquaCal H155 is about $300 more than the AquaPro 1300 (my price if I purchase), and is he willing to install for $4,900... (His AquaPro install price was about $4600, so I figured $4,900 was fair).

His answer: Yes, heÂll install it for $4,900.

Of course, we did not sign yet, so I do not know what the answer would have been if we signed already.

-Gorilla

I think we both know what your price would be of you signed already!

Why would you go with a pool company that is not giving you fair prices... hoping you will get suckered in and fall for it.

Interesting how fast they dropped the price an entire $1,100.00

What else is he getting you on?

A fair pool builder will give you fair prices up front. You have been doing a lot of research here and asking very good questions. It does not seem that you are comfortable with this builder. I really think you should seek a few more estimates.

Jason,

I feel comfortable with the builder... but it's always nice to get a sanity check on pricing :)

What I've found is that pool builders, of the 3 I requested bids from and all three are prominent PBs, have a wide range of prices. It's almost like their business model is to offer decent prices on some things, but on other items, they have huge markups (the sucker you in and fall for it routine).

But by doing research here, I have a pretty good idea now which prices are out of line.