HOW TO PICK A POOL BUILDER
An interview with David Brown, owner of Georgia Luxury Pools.
Selecting a pool builder can be the most stressful part of the project! We sat down with David Brown of Georgia Luxury Pools to help guide you through the selection process. In this article, we asked David, “when selecting a Pool Builder, what questions should a customer ask?”
How long have they been in the pool business?
I recommend a builder that has at least 10 years of experience. This proves they have gone through a decade of industry cycles and have learned some best practices as a builder. This shows they are not a fly-by-night builder who will disappear in the middle of a project; it does happen unfortunately. Also, be sure to ask if they have liability insurance coverage!
Will the builder be pulling the county/city permits?
You do not want to be the responsible party pulling permits; this puts the liability on you as the homeowner, not the builder, if something goes wrong. Permitting can take two weeks to two months, depending on the municipality and the engineering review of the property.
Ask about all warranties.
Ask about where they are buying their products. For example, if they are purchasing a pool light from Amazon and not with a Pool Supply vendor, you may not have a warranty or be able to get replacement parts when needed. Ask about the Manufacturer's Warranty and the Labor/Work Product Warranty.
Always have a signed contract!
You should have a signed contract with a payment schedule in place. All materials should be listed in the contract, and you should be provided with a list of references that you can call to speak to past customers about the work provided by the builder.
Ask for a clear Site Plan in writing.
Make sure they meet with you in person and create a clear plan in writing. The plan should include a design layout to materials selection, as well as, their process/phases to get the pool finished.
Are they a Certified Builder?
The state of Georgia does not require a pool builder to be certified. Anyone can decide to sell and build pools without any prior knowledge or education. We highly recommend you make sure your builder is a member of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) and has their certification with PHTA. This is an industry-standard. Being certified by PHTA is an investment by the pool builder and shows that they are taking continuing education classes on engineering, hydraulics, and design to stay up to date on the latest state/federal standards, codes and ordinances required. They are investing to be the best builder for your project.
Be in the know:
It is also important to know that in 2008 a Federal Code was passed for pools to have two bottom drains or a grate approved for a bottom drain. In 2017, Georgia adopted the Federal Code. This is a rule passed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission; the purpose is to prevent drain entrapment and child drowning in swimming pools and spas.
David Brown is the third generation of his family in the pool business. He has over 25 years of experience building pools. If you are thinking about adding or renovating a pool, give David a call at 404.649.2358
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