Pool Party Needs a Landscape Expert

I found the July 5 article “Before You Take the Plunge” by Kathy Sena informative for future swimming pool buyers. However, having been in the pool business more than 40 years, I realized there were some very important things that were not mentioned and some things that sound good but are totally unrealistic.

When a pool is being built, it becomes one element in the yard integrated with the site--the house, hardscape, softscape, fencing, lighting, etc.

For a homeowner to depend on the pool contractor to do such a design is foolhardy. With an investment that big, it makes better sense to hire a landscape architect or professional landscape designer.

It was also suggested that the owner check out the reputation of each subcontractor that the builder uses. That is not realistic. No builder is going to give out a list of subcontractors with the telephone numbers.

If the homeowner does not feel confident in hiring the builder and wants to check out his subcontractors, he or she shouldn’t hire the builder.

ARCHIE KAPP

President

Atlas Swimming Pool Co.

Los Angeles

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I am having a pool built and wish your July 5 article headlined “Before You Take the Plunge” had been published before we started.

We signed a contract with a large pool builder and have had nothing but problems from the inception of this project. There have been incredible delays and little to no response from the company.

The construction supervisor promised me status updates every other day, and I have not heard from him in more than a month. There is a general manager who promises to get things fixed and never returns calls. There is a construction foreman who cannot accurately read the plans and insisted that my equipment is in the right place when it is clearly off by four feet.

I would add one very important tip to the process of hiring a pool contractor:

In addition to having the contractor specify a date by which your pool will be complete, insist on a nonperformance clause. That is, if it is not done by the stipulated date, you will deduct $250 for each day late from the final payment.

The standard contract specifies a time schedule, but there is no downside for the company if it isn’t met. Basically, you’re stuck.

DAN ROSS

Glendale