OP
Cat_Driver
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2008
- Messages
- 2,359
- Location
- Coachella Ca.
- Tractor
- 2016 Kubota 4060, 2017 Tackeuchi excavator TB260
I wanted to put a pool in and got three or more quotes at the time 20 plus years ago. After seeing the price all 30K and above to nearly 60K. I said well, look like no pool for us.
I set out to build it myself. I drew a crude sketch on paper and emailed it to a company in Florida ( I'm in Ca.) to do drawings for the permits for $300.00. Hmmmm, I took a chance, and WOW they delivered technical drawings with pool plumbing, lighting, cement, tanning shelf, holes for umbrellas, filtration, and on and on.
Next, I asked a pool guy doing work across the street if he knew people to od the work on the side, after 5 pm, on Saturdays, Sundays, etc. One by one I called each subcontractor, hole digger, rebar, plumbing, electrical, Shotcreting, Gs lines, Tile guy, and more.
I ordered all the equipment online at a discount pool supplier. One by one they gave me quotes and when I added it all up I was under 10K for the same pool I was quoted over 30K.
With the concrete guy, I decided to concrete the entire back yard and down both sides of the house. Here a funny part. Knowing the distance from the street to the backyard I expanded a pumper truck to arrive on pour day. To my astonishment, I looked out the front window and there were 10-15 people all with wheelbarrows standing, waiting for the truck to show up. I thought NO WAY.
Sure enough, the truck showed up and each man took a load of concrete in his wheelbarrow and raced it to the far corner of the yard, next, then next then next. Soon they were like ants perfectly choreographed, perfect timing running in this HUGE wheelbarrow circle. carefully passing each other one coming, one going.
I seriously doubt a pumper truck could have done it quicker. My guess is the contractor looked at the price of a pumper truck and figured he could get a gaggle of men to do it cheaper.
The most surprising thing I witnessed was the guy doing the pool plumbing was using the truck, and tools from one of the most prestigious pool companies in my area that quoted me 60K for the pool.
Apparently he was the foreman and was doing "side jobs" using the company equipment.
Granted I got zero guarantees ( EXCEPT the equipment I purchased) on my project as I was the contractor. I permitted everything and got city inspectors. The only hiccup was when the inspector came out before the shotcrete he said the rebars were an inch too close to the property line. I jumped in the poll yanked the rebar back an in and he was fine and signed off.
Here it is 20 years later not a single issue with the pool or any of the work. Sure I replaced pump motors, some plastic valves being baked in 120 degrees plus sun.
I added extra liability insurance to the house and property with the help of my agent in case anyone got hurt. I did not ask for contractors' licenses since I figured they were all doing side jobs.
The shotcrete guy that does all the pools in our area told me the company gives him free use of their equipment to do side jobs as a "bonus" - I doubt it.
I never knew so many employees would take advantage of their companies by doing side jobs that would otherwise go to the company. I don't agree with what they are doing, I don't condone it, but I also wasn't going to kick them off my job as it was too late.
Who would have thought that I needed to ask the question " WILL YOU BE BORROWING YOUR BOSSES EQUIPMENT TO DO MY JOB" Yes every one of the workers could barely or not speak any English.
Live and learn.
I set out to build it myself. I drew a crude sketch on paper and emailed it to a company in Florida ( I'm in Ca.) to do drawings for the permits for $300.00. Hmmmm, I took a chance, and WOW they delivered technical drawings with pool plumbing, lighting, cement, tanning shelf, holes for umbrellas, filtration, and on and on.
Next, I asked a pool guy doing work across the street if he knew people to od the work on the side, after 5 pm, on Saturdays, Sundays, etc. One by one I called each subcontractor, hole digger, rebar, plumbing, electrical, Shotcreting, Gs lines, Tile guy, and more.
I ordered all the equipment online at a discount pool supplier. One by one they gave me quotes and when I added it all up I was under 10K for the same pool I was quoted over 30K.
With the concrete guy, I decided to concrete the entire back yard and down both sides of the house. Here a funny part. Knowing the distance from the street to the backyard I expanded a pumper truck to arrive on pour day. To my astonishment, I looked out the front window and there were 10-15 people all with wheelbarrows standing, waiting for the truck to show up. I thought NO WAY.
Sure enough, the truck showed up and each man took a load of concrete in his wheelbarrow and raced it to the far corner of the yard, next, then next then next. Soon they were like ants perfectly choreographed, perfect timing running in this HUGE wheelbarrow circle. carefully passing each other one coming, one going.
I seriously doubt a pumper truck could have done it quicker. My guess is the contractor looked at the price of a pumper truck and figured he could get a gaggle of men to do it cheaper.
The most surprising thing I witnessed was the guy doing the pool plumbing was using the truck, and tools from one of the most prestigious pool companies in my area that quoted me 60K for the pool.
Apparently he was the foreman and was doing "side jobs" using the company equipment.
Granted I got zero guarantees ( EXCEPT the equipment I purchased) on my project as I was the contractor. I permitted everything and got city inspectors. The only hiccup was when the inspector came out before the shotcrete he said the rebars were an inch too close to the property line. I jumped in the poll yanked the rebar back an in and he was fine and signed off.
Here it is 20 years later not a single issue with the pool or any of the work. Sure I replaced pump motors, some plastic valves being baked in 120 degrees plus sun.
I added extra liability insurance to the house and property with the help of my agent in case anyone got hurt. I did not ask for contractors' licenses since I figured they were all doing side jobs.
The shotcrete guy that does all the pools in our area told me the company gives him free use of their equipment to do side jobs as a "bonus" - I doubt it.
I never knew so many employees would take advantage of their companies by doing side jobs that would otherwise go to the company. I don't agree with what they are doing, I don't condone it, but I also wasn't going to kick them off my job as it was too late.
Who would have thought that I needed to ask the question " WILL YOU BE BORROWING YOUR BOSSES EQUIPMENT TO DO MY JOB" Yes every one of the workers could barely or not speak any English.
Live and learn.