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| Choosing Your Pool Builder & Construction FAQ's | ||||
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The questions and answers below are some of which our company gets from our many customers calling and emailing us for advise. Some of the answers come from printed information; most however, come from my personal experience as a service tech, builder and the 29 year owner and founder of Rainbow Pools, Inc. Keep in mind some of these answers are my opinions and beliefs. This information only applies to pools built in Suffolk County, NY. Other conditions including weather and ground problems in other parts of the country may dictate other types of construction. Note: Should I get more questions that relate to pool construction I will update this list. If you have a question, email me and we will consider posting it here. If you need directions to our retail store click here. How do I find the right swimming pool contractor? Every pool company has packages, I'm confused, help me? I see many different advertised prices. Why is that? Why should I choose your company? What about warranties for swimming pools? I have heard the term NEPSA, what is this? What is a collar? My yard is very small can I put an in-ground pool there? What kind of pool design is the best for me? What should I do? An email written to me from a women in California. Very interesting. What is meant by 235 steel? What type of material should I use to build my pool? What is the difference between The Polaris 360 and the 380?
How do I find the right swimming pool contractor? This is probably one of the most important decisions you will have to make. I would begin with checking the contractors licensing information and insurance information. If the company is not licensed there is not much sense of going any further. Check to see if they are a member of NESPA and APSP. When you interview your prospective swimming pool contractor ask some of these questions. Do you carry workers' compensation insurance? Do you have any complaints with Consumer Affairs Department? Do you have any complaints with the Better Business Bureau? Has your company changed names or ownership? Have you gone out of business and reopened under another name? How long has your company been in business? Will you give me names of satisfied customers in my area?With regard to our company all
our licensing and insurance information can be found on our web site. If you have a
problem with your pool WE TAKE CARE OF IT! Every pool company has packages, I'm confused, help me? All companies put together a package of products they feel will be the best accessories for the customer. Many will offer a special deal, bonus packages, or free items. They are most likely added in to the price some where. When you shop for pool equipment try to compare item to item. Keep in mind that a company with a solid reputation, products and building methods counts! This has a value that all companies add to the package; rightfully so I may add. When you shop, compare the products and then decide how much more you want to pay a particular company for its past track record, believe me it counts. Do your home work and don't get stuck with a "fly by night". I see many different advertised prices. Why is that? It depends on how a company puts their package together. What products are being used, the type of construction and the markup a company places on a particular product. Words like complete, loaded, includes everything all mean different things to different people. When you are shopping for product alone it is a good idea to compare apples to apples. Compare warranties, remembering they are only as good as the manufacture and the pool company you are dealing with. At Rainbow Pools, Inc., we believe that our prices are very competitive, our warranties one of the best in the industry. Our honesty, reliability, integrity and 25 year history in the swimming pool industry speaks for itself. We are here for you now and will be here for you in the future.Why should I choose your company? After going through our web site, checking our company out, reading the FAQ's, and doing all your home work, I would ask you, Why Not! Rainbow Pools, Inc. a company that has been in business 27 years under the same name and operated by the same owner. Watch the ad's that say "in business for x amount of years". With this kind of ad you have to ask, "how long are you in your own business"?' Ownership and length of time can be check by logging on to the BBB. Check our rating with the Better Business Bureau. Our construction methods and design are superior in many aspects. Most important of all we are trustworthy, honest and reliable and we will be here for you when you need us, now and in the future. Some things you just can't put a price tag on.What about warranties for swimming pools? Most are provided by the manufacture for their individualized equipment and can run any where from one year warranty to a lifetime. What is important is that you check the warranty from the your prospective builder. Our company gives our customers what we consider to be one of the best in the business. All our steel walls carry a LIFETIME GUARANTEE. In addition to the manufactures we offer additional warranties which the manufacture does not cover. When obtaining estimates from various builders ask them to show you a copy of their warranty. Ours will stand up to all, and pass many by. After the walls are bolted together and the bracing is attached to the wall the collar is added to the base of the walls. There are several ways pool companies do this. Method 1 is a hand mix collar which extends about 1foot around the pool. Method 2 is just cement the braces or piers. And method 3 is to pour a full collar 3-5 inches deep around the entire pool and about 24" wide. Method 3 is now recommended by all steel manufactures (check the manufactures book given to you by your salesman). This method is more costly due to the amount of concrete used. When comparing prices in your pool package take this in to consideration. Our company uses method 3. I have heard the term NESPA, what is this? The initials NESPA stand for NorthEast Spa and Pool Association. NEPSA sets the standards for the building of residential swimming pools. They also have training seminars and they keep members informed of the latest regulations and changes within the industry. We are a member of NESPA and we follow all their regulations, in addition to state and local regulations when it comes to building your personalized backyard recreational pool.My yard is very small can I put an in-ground pool there? Of course you can. There would be limits however as to design, depth, etc. With our expertise we would be able to design a pool for any backyard. Specially designed pools are not strictly for the customer purchasing a large pool. At Rainbow Pools, Inc. "You Dream It, We Build It!" ®What kind of pool design is the best for me? Good question. A lot depends on the location of the pool, the particular design and what you want to achieve for your back yard. You are not just buying a pool. This is going to be the water recreation area in your backyard. A place where you will entertain friends and family. A place where children and grandchildren will meet and play. We can help you with these objectives by designing a pool just for you and your backyard. We can offer you all the standard shapes and many custom shapes. We can always design a special shape exclusive for your tastes. At Rainbow Pools, Inc. "You Dream It, We Build It!" ®What should I do? An email written to me from a women in California. Very interesting. I know that I am not in your area, but I wondered if you could take a few minutes to help me out? I am interested in having an in-ground swimming pool built in my yard. I am amazed at all the cut-throat businesses there are out there. I feel at such a loss as to who to go with on this expensive project. Can you help me with somehow to get help on reputable companies, best products, what I should ask for or need, whether the dark bottom really retains much heat, what time of year is best to construct? Thank you so much if you can help.Due to the less than 5ft opening (neighbor won't let me take down the fence), I am limited on who is willing to even take on this project. One company I am thinking about is xxxx pools. I am leery though because the first salesman was caught in numerous lies. I feel they will tell me anything to just get me to sign the dotted line. They use rac-vac equipment which I am concerned about also. To quiet my fears, he has offered me life time warranties on the structural, sweep and filter something, but I can't read my own writing. Seven years parts and labor on the pump/filter. He says this is his in-store offer, it wouldn't be backed by (deleted xxxx Pool Company) He is coming in with a VERY tiny bobcat, so I told him I wanted to cap the dig... we agreed on $1,000 over and above what we have agreed upon for the pool. The other company is local, and I like them very much. The excavator did my neighbor's pool (the one that wouldn't take down the fence), so he knows exactly what he would be up against. We are talking a 15 X 30 pool. I want 7 ft, but he says we may only be able to go 6ft, due to the hand dig. It will have Navigator pool cleaner, Sta-rite 150 with a Sta-rite 3/4 pump, visqueen pool cover and a 500 watt pool light. What do you think? I hope you are still with me here as I am going crazy with this! The later company wants to dig NOW but I am concerned with the rainy weather, and I am also doing a remodel on the outside of my home, so I don't know which order is best? Thanks, Lynn (last name omitted for privacy) Roseville CA Response: To me this is a real easy one which can be answered with another question. Why would any one even consider giving your business to a pool company whose "salesman was caught in numerous lies. I feel they will tell me anything to just get me to sign the dotted line". Enough said!! Our policy at my company is to NEVER lie to the customer. Give the customer the best and most accurate information that you can. If there are known problems with the pool site, grading, trees, water etc., we will always tell you up front even if it means loosing the sale. Period! What is meant by 235 steel? I believe that G235 galvanized, 14 gauge is the best product to construct the frame for a vinyl in-ground swimming pool. In a climate where the earth moves during the freezing and thawing process of summer and winter, I prefer steel mainly for its strength and flexibility. Here on Long Island the frost can go as deep as 3 feet. Think what the freezing and thawing is doing to the pool structure. You may wonder how good steel is. Well lets look around at our environment. We have bridges, railroad tracks, guard rails, buildings so tall they sway and flex in all types of wind and weather conditions. They all have one characteristic in common, steel. All these structures are exposed to the elements, surviving centuries of stress, strain and flexing. Steel wall swimming pools have a history that goes back five decades with over three million swimming pools installed. Steel walls have a proven history, a history that proves the material and design of your swimming pool will be efficient, consistent and economical...... What do you want your pool to be constructed of? Steel swimming pools if constructed properly will perform faultlessly. Our steel walls come with a LIFETIME GUARANTEE and TRANSFERABLE WARRANTEE.Every manufacture of swimming pool walls has a brand(s) of pool kits that they market. The manufacture only allows certain dealers to sell some of their products within a particular geographical area. Supersteel is manufactured by International Swimming Pools (Interpool). The panel is 14ga., G235 rated with a lifetime warranty. We sell Seablue® and Infinity® steel wall pools which are also manufactured by International Swimming Pools (Interpool). We also are an authorized pool builder of Seablue Swimming Pools. Rainbow Pools, Inc. is part of the Backyard Escape program. Both kits feature a panel that is 14ga., G235 rated with a LIFETIME WARRANTY, which is transferable. Refer to our construction methods for additional clarification.What is the difference between The Polaris 360 and the 380? The basic difference between the two models is that the 380 requires a booster pump and works independently of the pool system with no diminished return flow. When the 380 is operating the pool pump and motor must also be operating in order to supply water to the booster pump. The 360 does not require the use of a booster pump but will diminish the return flow. Both units will do an excellent job of cleaning your swimming pool. Naturally the electric bill will be lower when using the 360. |
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Swimming Pool Dealer and part of the
Backyard Escape Program
Using the Rainbow Pools, Inc. slogans, "You Dream It, We Build It!" ® and other intellectual property such as logos, slogans, trade dress, and graphic symbols on packaging, products, or services requires express written permission from Rainbow Pools, Inc. Use of confusingly similar or disparaging terms is a violation of our intellectual property rights, and a violation of Federal and State Laws. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced in any manner without the prior written permission of Rainbow Pools, Inc. "You Dream It, We Build It!" ® is a registered trademark of Rainbow Pools, Inc. © 1997-2007. All Rights Reserved.
