Creating the picture-perfect backyard fiberglass pool isn’t always easy.
Whether you’re choosing the right fiberglass pool brand, decking, tiling, or features for your new pool, getting your fiberglass pool from concept to completion isn’t always straightforward.
The right custom pool builder can make all the difference. An experienced pool builder possesses the knowledge, expertise, and project management skills to ensure that your fiberglass pool installation proceeds smoothly.
They’ll help you avoid some of the biggest mistakes that most homeowners make when installing fiberglass pools. Curious to know what they are?
Good Day Living here. For more than 20 years, we’ve built backyard luxury fiberglass pools to help homeowners stress less and enjoy more of the great outdoors.
If you’re thinking about building a backyard fiberglass pool, you definitely have to check out this quick read on the biggest mistakes most Tennessee homeowners make when embarking on a new backyard pool build.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the following:
- 7 of the most important checklist items to check before you hire a custom fiberglass pool builder.
- Commonly asked questions about what to avoid in your next fiberglass pool builder
- What to ask your fiberglass pool builder on your first discovery call.
Quick answers: What makes a great fiberglass pool builder?
| 1. A portfolio of work of progressively more involved fiberglass pool builds: Ask your prospective fiberglass pool builder to provide you with pictures of their recent builds. 2. Detailed site planning: Top-quality pool builders come ready with blueprints for permits, safety regulations, site accessibility, excavation protocol, and more. 3. Processes for permitting: The best fiberglass pool builders submit plans to your local municipality for approval. They’ll take care of the entire permitting and inspection process. 4. Clear timelines, clear milestones: A luxury pool builder is well-versed in project management, providing you with clear timelines and actionable milestones for your build. 5. Well-defined project scope: Everything from tiling to decking to plaster should be itemized, documented, and made visible to you at a moment’s notice. 6. Extensive warranties: Expert backyard fiberglass pool builders provide some of the most extensive and all-encompassing warranties in the business. 7. Dedicated project management: The best pool builders provide a dedicated account manager who is your point person for change orders, resolving issues, asking questions, and much more. |
7 topics you should address before starting your Tennessee pool project
One of the most consequential mistakes that Tennessee homeowners make is forgetting to ask about the fiberglass pool builders’ work process and history. The following seven topics are essential to discuss with your pool builder before hiring them.
Addressing these topics will reduce the potential for unforeseen delays, problems, or miscommunications.
- Proof of recent work
- Site planning
- Permitting and inspections
- Clear timelines
- A clear explanation of the scope of the work (both in writing and in person)
- Extensive warranties
- Project management and communication
Let’s take a look at how to address these topics with your prospective pool builder.
1. Ask your pool construction team for proof of recent work
One of the biggest mistakes we’ve seen from Tennessee homeowners looking to build a pool is forgetting to ask for proof of work from their prospective pool builders. A professional pool contractor will be able to share proof of their recent work in booklets, online, and in their showroom (if they have one).
The lion’s share of their work should highlight the work they’ve completed. If their most recent work was years ago and includes generic stock photos, you may want to consider choosing a different pool builder.
On the other hand, a professional fiberglass pool builder will present a large portfolio of fiberglass pools of different brands, sizes, and shapes, showcasing their versatility and craftsmanship in every build.
Make sure to inquire about the following:
- Local projects
- Progress photos
- “Before” and “After” photos
- Finished backyard photos
2. Site planning and yard fit
Since fiberglass pools are manufactured in specialized factories that allow manufacturers to hand-lay fiberglass shells, these pools typically require a level surface to better position the pool.
A quality pool builder will help you make an informed decision about where to position your pool to ensure it fits nicely in your backyard. A few items you’ll want to ask your fiberglass pool builder is:
- How do they handle slope changes in a backyard?
- How will they access your backyard when the time comes to install your fiberglass pool?
- How about draining the pool? How will drainage work with your pool?
- How will your builder build with utility lines in mind?
- What happens if setbacks occur?
Not having a clear picture about what’s entailed in planning a concrete or fiberglass pool can set pool owners up for expensive change orders and modifications that could have been prevented with careful planning and inquiry.
3. Permits and inspection support
Fiberglass pools require permits before construction can begin. A high-quality fiberglass pool builder will obtain the permits and ensure the necessary inspections occur.
Pool buyers: You should always inquire about who does permits, what documents are needed, and who’s responsible for the necessary paperwork and inspections on your pool project.
A high-caliber pool builder will manage this process, but you should make sure you document who’s responsible for what as you gather all the necessary information to complete your new pool build.
4. Clear timelines with even clearer milestones
Fiberglass pools are built with careful planning and strategic milestones. We always recommend asking your pool builder for a high-level overview of the timeline of your build.
For example, a typical fiberglass pool build looks something like this:
- Initial call back (within 24 hours)
- Site visit (1-2 weeks)
- Design turnaround (1 week)
- Permitting once the contract is signed (4-8 weeks)
- Permit to build (2-4 weeks)
- Dig to swim (8-12 weeks)
Make sure to ask your pool builder about specific building milestones nested within the general planning milestones mentioned above. By asking your team about realistic time frames for each stage — including delays due to inclement weather — you’ll gain more control over the construction process and spend less time worrying who does what and when.
5. Get an itemized scope of the work (including decking, electrical work, and more)
A comprehensive fiberglass pool build is unlike concrete or vinyl pool builds in that it often requires fewer chemicals🙂, but isn’t always as customizable as, say, gunite pools🙁. Of the many advantages and disadvantages of building a fiberglass pool, none is more important than getting an upfront, written, itemized scope of work.
Because fiberglass pools generally require heavy-duty equipment like excavators, cranes, and plate compactors, you definitely want to get an itemized scope of work to better understand decking, plumbing, electricity, coping, and more.
Doing so will help prevent surprise costs that you wouldn’t have known had you not received everything in writing. By asking for a detailed breakdown of tasks, daily schedules, resources, progress, budgets, and more, you can ensure a safer, less stressful fiberglass pool build.
6. Warranties: Who backs it, and how does it work?
A professional pool builder will typically provide two types of warranties for your pool:
- A manufacturer’s warranty
- A builder’s workmanship warranty
A fiberglass pool manufacturer’s warranty is often broken into two parts: the structural warranty and a limited comprehensive surface warranty. Many pools come with a transferable 50-year structural warranty and a limited 10-15-year surface warranty.
What’s more, with a workmanship warranty, you can expect your pool builder to provide a warranty that covers issues caused by workmanship. Examples of issues caused by workmanship include uneven concrete or leaky plumbing.
Most times, warranties will last one year or longer. If you notice your pool company has a workmanship warranty of less than a year, you may want to ask your company about other warranty options, as a workmanship warranty is a strong indication of the company’s confidence in its workmanship.
Make sure to ask your company what’s excluded in the warranty, as well as when you can expect to receive a response should you choose to contact a representative responsible for administering the terms of your warranties.
7. Project management and ongoing communication
A process that often goes overlooked while building a fiberglass swimming pool, and even a concrete pool, is communication.
While the quality of work on a fiberglass swimming pool is determined by the durability of the pool shell, the gelcoat material, and the ongoing maintenance it receives, its true value stems from the organized project management and continuous communication that helps breathe life into it.
Before signing the contract, pool owners should ask their pool contractors about how they tackle project management.
- Who is the main point of contact during the build?
- How do change orders work?
- What’s the process for resolving issues?
- What does maintenance look like, post fiberglass pool installation?
- What if repairs are needed?
By asking questions about your pool contractor’s processes and capacities, you’ll gain insight into how they treat their people, product, and processes on and off the job site. Investing time in getting to know your team’s communication and project management style can help you determine whether they’re the right people for your build.
Red flags that could indicate trouble during pool construction
You can ask all the right questions and come prepared with pen and paper to every meeting, but still find yourself ripped off by a contractor. It’s happened to us all at some point in our lives.
We’d like to share a few red flags that could be cause for concern. If you notice any of the following in your pool builder, you should consider getting a second opinion before signing the contract.
- Super vague quotes or excessive initial upfront down payments
- No detailed project timelines for each stage of construction, permits, project schedules, or regular updates
- Permits are written in your name, not necessarily the pool contractor’s name
- No portfolio of work is provided
- High-pressure sales tactics are used to rush the decision-making process
- Too-good-to-be-true pricing or hidden fees that weren’t made known in the initial quote
If you notice any of the above-mentioned details come up, you should run for the hills and choose a more reputable pool contractor.
Before making your final decision, here’s what to ask on the first call
Let’s say you find a pool builder you really like. You just booked your first call, and you’re excited to get the ball rolling on your new fiberglass pool.
What do I ask them? You might be wondering. Here’s a list of 15 helpful questions to get you started:
- How long have you been building pools?
- Do you offer a turnkey solution? Do you handle the entire process from design to permitting to installation?
- How long does it take you to build a pool?
- How much will it cost, and do you offer financing?
- Can you show me a portfolio of your most recent work?
- What should I expect before and after signing the contract?
- What about excavation, plumbing, and electricity installation? What should I expect?
- Do you offer additional features?
- Do you offer ongoing maintenance service?
- Do saltwater systems require less maintenance than chlorine pools?
- Do you offer “pool school” to teach me how to maintain my pool?
- Can you give me a detailed breakdown of timelines, zoning, permitting, and warranties?
- How do you handle change orders?
- What’s included in the initial estimate, and what isn’t included?
- Are you licensed and insured?
True or false?
True or false: Luxury fiberglass pools won’t corrode.
True! Luxury fiberglass pool shells are highly resistant to corrosion, rust, and degradation from chemicals.
And a true luxury pool build starts with intentional design, not templates.
Want to know what separates luxury pool builders from the rest? It’s the level of investment in you and your project. Find out what luxury investment looks like here on our Instagram page.
Looking for helpful info on building your fiberglass or concrete pool?
We invite you to get in touch with one of our Good Day pool specialists. Our luxury pool contractors have more than 20 years of experience designing and building luxury fiberglass and gunite pools, homes, and outdoor structures that are designed to fuel good days and even better times.
Our pool installation specialists would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about building pools or structures that are designed for making memories.
To contact one of our pool intake specialists, contact us today. We look forward to being of service to you.
Want to See What Installing a Fiberglass Pool Shell Looks Like?
