One of my coworkers just got engaged. (Congrats again, girl!) I don't know how long it took her fiancé to pick out the ring, but the more I learn about ring shopping, the more complicated it sounds.
You have to spend enough that it's lifelong quality, but not so much you put yourself in lifelong debt. You have to choose a high-quality band and stone(s).
Just as important, you need a high-quality, trustworthy jeweler. They'll make or break the experience in the long run.
You know what's bigger, more permanent, and much more expensive than an engagement ring? An inground pool. So how do you know if your pool builder is a good one?
River Pools specializes in fiberglass pools. We also educate on all 3 pool types—and all aspects of the pool journey—so that you can make the best decision for you and your family.
A big part of that decision is choosing who will build this pool you've been dreaming of.
Yes, price is a huge factor. Everyone loves a discount. But if you focus on price over the quality of the pool contractor, you may find yourself in trouble down the road.
Here's your personal guide to evaluating pool builders.
How to know if a pool builder is worth your time
- Their online reviews and ratings are 4 stars and up on average
- They provide a list of all customers for references
- They show pictures of their own projects (if they're established)
- They have clearly defined sales, planning, and execution processes
- They use gravel backfill (for fiberglass pools) and other installation best practices
- They have a good installation warranty
- They're honest about their past challenges
1. Online reviews and ratings
Yelp, Google, and Facebook are your friends here.
Everyone gets dinged once in a while. But if you have 50+ reviews, the average tends to be representative of how the customers feel.
On average, a pool builder should be rated 4+ out of 5.
And if they're rated lower than that? The majority of the people rating them had a mediocre or even straight-up bad experience.
That's not a risk I'd take. I won't even stay at a 3.5-starred hotel. And that's incredibly low-commitment compared to a pool project, which costs tens of thousands of dollars and stays with you for decades.
It can be equally as telling to see if and how they respond to negative reviews.
What if there aren't any reviews?
Sometimes a pool company doesn't have many online reviews at all.
That doesn't necessarily indicate anything one way or the other. It's insufficient data. But it does mean you have to be extra aware as you vet them.
Their reference list is even more important in this case.
2. List of all customers/references
Basically, if a pool builder is doing a good job, they should be able to provide the vast majority of their customers as references.
Feel awkward asking for references?
Try asking these questions in this order:
- How many pools did you install last year?
- May I see your reference list from last year then?
If the contractor tells you they installed 40 pools, but there are only 15 people on the reference list... You see where I'm going? Bad news.
Then CALL the references.
Ask the customers questions like these:
- What did you enjoy about the experience?
- What was least enjoyable?
- What would you do differently?
- What pool, options, and accessories did you choose?
- How did the pool builder handle challenges and problems when they arose?
- If you could do it over, would you use the pool builder again?
3. Pictures of their own projects (if established)
They should have images of their own pool projects.
Pool contractors should provide photos of the pools they've built themselves, not stock photos or pictures from someone else's site. It's okay to ask if the images are from their pools.
What if they're a new business?
Newly established pool builders may not have a lot of their own photos to share.
For example, even some independent installers of River Pools products may be new and not have a lot of their own photos to show yet.
In these cases, the other 6 points carry more weight.
4. Clearly defined processes
The pool builder should have a clearly defined sales system.
Not just "Hey, I'll be there sometime tomorrow afternoon!" but "Here's how the process works. Step 1, we have a conversation. Step 2, we..."
How do you find out their process if they don't offer it upfront? Ask!
Look for a clearly laid-out planning and execution process as well.
Exactly what the process itself is isn't as important as the fact that they have one.
(To learn more about this, check out Inground Pool Planning Meetings: The Key to a Successful Project.)
5. If fiberglass, use stone and best practices
If they're a fiberglass pool installer, they should follow best practices, not just the "industry standard" minimum.
Look for these best practices in their installation techniques:
- Only rigid PVC
- Composite rod
- Plumbing supported by straps and encased in gravel backfill
- Stone foundation and backfill
- Dewatering pipe
- 12" concrete collar
6. Installation warranty
A workmanship warranty is the guarantee a pool builder puts behind their own work.
The workmanship warranty should cover major issues like plumbing leaks, fittings leaks, structural settlement, or pool or patio movement.
Here's the thing: the industry standard for a workmanship warranty is one (yes, 1) year.
Many of these issues won’t happen within the first 12 months after construction. Thanks for nothing, freeze/thaw cycles. Many pool owners who have these issues and only received a 1-year workmanship warranty from their pool builder are stuck footing the bill for these repairs.
A 5-year workmanship warranty therefore speaks volumes over a 1-year alternative.
7. Honest about their challenges
Simply put, any builder who says they've never made a mistake is either brand new or not being honest.
Ask about their challenges. Do you feel like they're open and honest about them?
"Tell me about the biggest mistake you guys have ever made on a pool project." If they say they've never had one, they're probably not telling the truth.
Conclusion
"Some things are easier said than done." "Do as I say, not as I do." Pick a cliche. I've got more.
The point is, as fiberglass pool specialists, we at River Pools take pride in educating folks across the web about all things inground pools. We hope this article was helpful for you!
Give us a shout (figuratively, please)—we'd love to chat with you about your dream backyard oasis!
Up Next:
The Ultimate Swimming Pool Builder Vetting Checklist
Editor's note: This blog article was updated on January 9, 2020.
Editor's note: This article was updated on December 13, 2023.