Every backyard is different and so is every family; both should be considered when designing your swimming pool.

We will personally meet with you at your home. We will survey your backyard, show you the different styles that are available, ask some key questions then help you select a design for your backyard.

We can construct a swimming pool in almost any backyard. Most pools have some access challenges, but small digging machines have made it much easier to build in a small backyard. We also have extensive experience in hand digs. Some construction sites, like in the French Quarter, have no access except through the front and back door, so almost anything is possible!

In the past, pool maintenance was more of a chore, but today, with better recirculation systems, automated cleaners and chemical systems, your swimming pool will be simple to maintain. Most pools only take about 20 minutes a week.

This is an important question, make sure to interview your prospective pool builder very carefully. Here are some things to consider

A. What is the company's reputation in the area?

B. Do you know a friend or neighbor who has used the company, and are they happy with the results?

C. Ask for a reference list of all the pools they have done that year..

D. Ask for a few older references from years ago, perhaps in your neighborhood so that you could see how well there pool has aged?

E. How long have they been in business, and how long have they been building pools in your area?

F. How many swimming pools have they built?

G. How long does construction take?

H. Will they finish your pool on time?

I. How close do they space the rebar?

J. How thick is your gunite on your pool walls and floors?

K. Have they had pools crack?

L. Is the company financially sound so there is no risk they will not finish your pool or go out of business?

M. Has the owner ever gone bankrupt?

N. Does the builder own a home in the area, and does he have a pool?

O. Is the estimate free of hidden charges that may drive up construction cost after work has begun?

P. Will the company bring a portable restroom, and keep the property clean, and safe throughout construction?

Q. Finally, is the payment schedule fair so the builder does not have all your money, and has no incentive to complete your pool?

There are many reasons for estimates to vary from company to company, here are a few.

A. An average 500-square-foot pool can use as little as 21 yards of gunite, or as much as 40 yards of gunite.

B. Steel is another factor, the same as a 500-square-foot pool can be tied with as little as 100 rods or as many as 325 rods. The price difference of just these two phases could be as much as $5,000.

C. Quality of the materials.

D. The experience of the craftsmen.

The payment schedule is a very important tool to keep contracting honest. DO NOT give all of your money in the early phases of construction. 

Here are examples of a good and bad payment schedule.

Good Example

Deposit $1,000

Dig 25%  

Gunite30%

Tile, coping, plumbing 20%

Deck 10%

Plaster 10%

Plaster 10%  

Final 5%

Bad Example

Deposit 10%

Dig 35%

Gunite35%

Tile, coping, plumbing 10%

Plaster 10%

All payments are made after the phase is completed. The key, to assure the contractor has incentive to finish your pool, is to not pay more than 55% through the gunite phase.

The warranty on most pools is standard lifetime on the shell of the pool. One year on almost everything else. A few products offer extended warranties. The difference is the company. If they are not in business there is no warranty.

Not a lot of factors, our prices are set by a pretty standard formula. Square footage plus extra features. The variables are access into the yard, soil disposal, and waterfront or hillside construction.

I will answer your second questions first. Our standard pool construction takes us 3 to 4 weeks and pools with spas, waterfalls and large decking areas may take up to 6 weeks.  

Now about your neighbor's pools. After building pools for 46 years in this area I have seen a pattern develop, this is what happens. A struggling company will bid too low to secure a job. They might also receive too much money in the first couple of phases of construction. Then they spend your money to finish their last pool. They may not show up on your job for weeks. Then they will have to sell the next job and use their money to finish your pool, maybe, sometimes that next job does not come, and someone else will have to finish their pool.

Yes, financing for your new pool and spa is available through Lyon Financial, where I am registered as a preferred pool builder. For more

information on financing for swimming pools, visit Lyon Financial.