[jchase]

We will be building in Buttonwood next year and are planning on adding a swimming pool/hot tub/summer kitchen. Does anyone have recommedations as to having The Villages complete during construction or having an outside contractor complete? Is there a big cost savings with going with an outsider? If so, who would you recommend? Any information would be appreciated.

[Talk Host]

It was our experience that The Villages didn't want to build our pool. They told us at the time that they would charge us up to $20,000 more than an independent pool company would charge us after the fact.

We used United Pool and Spa of Leesburg. They built a nice pool, but it was the worst construction nightmare I have ever had. Days and days and weeks and weeks of no progress. Promises and promises and no action. At one point, weeds were waist high around the hole in the ground. I called them every morning at 7:20 for 4 months to find out what they would be doing today. Most days, it was nothing.

Additionally, their contract called for final payment "before" the pool was finished. So, the deal was, "hey if you don't pay the final payment, find somebody else to finish the construction."

During the months of delays, a guy was at our house working on some doors. He asked who was building our pool. When we told him, he said, "They built my pool. It is a nice pool but it was like pulling teeth to get it done."

Finally, after the pool was done, the walls began to discolor. It took them nearly 200 days to send somebody out to look at it. They tried to tell me that it was "my fault" that I had put copper into the water.

On a house at the 9th tee of Amberwood Golf course there was a big sign on the back of the house for a while. It read "United Pool of Leesburg made this big mess."

That was our experience. I certainly would not want tell you not to use them. You may want to give them a try. Your experience may be different.

JLK

[bike42]

We know some folks who just finished a pool/birdcage project and others who are doing one right now. They both used Gingerich Construction, who uses a sub-contractor from Ocala for the pools. The finished one came out very well and the one in process is going smoothly. Both also got bids from T & D, which has done the majority of the pools in TV (I believe they do the ones on new houses), but their bids were higher than Gingerich's.

[K9-Lovers]

As we speak, Backyard Aquatics from Mt. Dora is working on our pool. It is an amazing process to watch as each day a new crew arrives and performs their own specialty work. Someone has been here everyday working since the permits were secured (except for a 3-day period to let the concrete cure).

I interviewed a number of pool companies and obtained quotes before selecting Backyard Aquatics, and so far, I'm immensely pleased.

While T&D is highly recommended here on TOTV, it was like pulling teeth to get them to make an appointment for a quote and get them to respond with a quote (I had to call and email several times over a period of 6 weeks just to a quote). After receiving their design (which was horrible) and their quote, I stopped contacting them. They never followed up with me . . .? Not a good sign.

Today, we are driving to Backyard Aquatics' showroom to select our deck finish and tiles.

When the pool is complete, I'll show some photos.

[jchase]

Originally Posted by K9-Lovers

As we speak, Backyard Aquatics from Mt. Dora is working on our pool. It is an amazing process to watch as each day a new crew arrives and performs their own specialty work. Someone has been here everyday working since the permits were secured (except for a 3-day period to let the concrete cure).

I interviewed a number of pool companies and obtained quotes before selecting Backyard Aquatics, and so far, I'm immensely pleased.

While T&D is highly recommended here on TOTV, it was like pulling teeth to get them to make an appointment for a quote and get them to respond with a quote (I had to call and email several times over a period of 6 weeks just to a quote). After receiving their design (which was horrible) and their quote, I stopped contacting them. They never followed up with me . . .? Not a good sign.

Today, we are driving to Backyard Aquatics' showroom to select our deck finish and tiles.

When the pool is complete, I'll show some photos.

Thank so you much for your input!

[jchase]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

It was our experience that The Villages didn't want to build our pool. They told us at the time that they would charge us up to $20,000 more than an independent pool company would charge us after the fact.

We used United Pool and Spa of Leesburg. They built a nice pool, but it was the worst construction nightmare I have ever had. Days and days and weeks and weeks of no progress. Promises and promises and no action. At one point, weeds were waist high around the hole in the ground. I called them every morning at 7:20 for 4 months to find out what they would be doing today. Most days, it was nothing.

Additionally, their contract called for final payment "before" the pool was finished. So, the deal was, "hey if you don't pay the final payment, find somebody else to finish the construction."

During the months of delays, a guy was at our house working on some doors. He asked who was building our pool. When we told him, he said, "They built my pool. It is a nice pool but it was like pulling teeth to get it done."

Finally, after the pool was done, the walls began to discolor. It took them nearly 200 days to send somebody out to look at it. They tried to tell me that it was "my fault" that I had put copper into the water.

On a house at the 9th tee of Amberwood Golf course there was a big sign on the back of the house for a while. It read "United Pool of Leesburg made this big mess."

That was our experience. I certainly would not want tell you not to use them. You may want to give them a try. Your experience may be different.

JLK

Thank you for your input. I will post our final decision and outcome.

[Shirleevee]

T&D did our pool/spa/cage and did an excellent job.

[ijusluvit]

Originally Posted by jchase

We will be building in Buttonwood next year and are planning on adding a swimming pool/hot tub/summer kitchen. Does anyone have recommedations as to having The Villages complete during construction or having an outside contractor complete? Is there a big cost savings with going with an outsider? If so, who would you recommend? Any information would be appreciated.

You would chuckle if you knew how many hundred posts have been written on this subject. Trouble is sometimes the best info is not easy to find in using the TOTV search engine.

Let me summarize some of the points which have been made repeatedly:

Don't have The Villages build your pool as part of the house project. It will be more expensive and most importantly, you will have little input or control of the project.

There are a few reputable pool builders in the area, and some not so much. I have read literally dozens of glowing recommendations of T&D Concrete's pools. I have read no more than one or two positive reports about any other company. There are many "nightmare" stories out there. T&D built my pool/ spa in 2005. it was, and still is, a beautiful job. Of the scores of companies and contractors I've hired over the years, T&D still is the best I've ever dealt with.

If there is any knock on T&D, it is that they are big and busy, and might not give you the most personal, immediate service. The solution is simply to ask for one of their construction supervisors, Randy Martin. Tell Randy you were told that if he does your job it will be a great job. Then tell him you'd like his wife Vera to design the project.

The pool isn't a tub of water. It can be a focal point of your living area and might have three diverse functions: endless swim exercise area, 85 degree pleasant swim and soak, and 100 degree spa. There will be a birdcage and a surrounding floor area which should fit naturally with the rest of your living space. That's why you need a good builder, and a good designer. In our case, we ended up building a smaller pool/spa than we thought we would. Within a few months we decided it was perfect for all we wanted and simple to care for. The leading complaint I've heard from folks with pools is that theirs is too big and too much work to maintain.

Good luck! Take your time with this project! You can send me a pm if you'd like to see our pool.

[Shirleevee]

If there is any knock on T&D, it is that they are big and busy, and might not give you the most personal, immediate service. The solution is simply to ask for one of their construction supervisors, Randy Martin. Tell Randy you were told that if he does your job it will be a great job. Then tell him you'd like his wife Vera to design the project.


Vera & Randy were our on the job supervisors. Yes, they were very busy at the time. St. Charles was being built and while it may have taken a little while longer, it was well worth the wait. Good Luck!

[JIMBERG]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

You would chuckle if you knew how many hundred posts have been written on this subject. Trouble is sometimes the best info is not easy to find in using the TOTV search engine.

Let me summarize some of the points which have been made repeatedly:

Don't have The Villages build your pool as part of the house project. It will be more expensive and most importantly, you will have little input or control of the project.

There are a few reputable pool builders in the area, and some not so much. I have read literally dozens of glowing recommendations of T&D Concrete's pools. I have read no more than one or two positive reports about any other company. There are many "nightmare" stories out there. T&D built my pool/ spa in 2005. it was, and still is, a beautiful job. Of the scores of companies and contractors I've hired over the years, T&D still is the best I've ever dealt with.

If there is any knock on T&D, it is that they are big and busy, and might not give you the most personal, immediate service. The solution is simply to ask for one of their construction supervisors, Randy Martin. Tell Randy you were told that if he does your job it will be a great job. Then tell him you'd like his wife Vera to design the project.

The pool isn't a tub of water. It can be a focal point of your living area and might have three diverse functions: endless swim exercise area, 85 degree pleasant swim and soak, and 100 degree spa. There will be a birdcage and a surrounding floor area which should fit naturally with the rest of your living space. That's why you need a good builder, and a good designer. In our case, we ended up building a smaller pool/spa than we thought we would. Within a few months we decided it was perfect for all we wanted and simple to care for. The leading complaint I've heard from folks with pools is that theirs is too big and too much work to maintain.

Good luck! Take your time with this project! You can send me a pm if you'd like to see our pool.

How big is to big. What is your size? Thanks

[FMF Doc]

Originally Posted by JIMBERG

How big is to big. What is your size? Thanks

If it goes into neighbor's yard it is too big.

Welcome to Talk of the Villages.

[GaryW]

T&D is more expensive than most. But what you get with T&D that you will not get with almost all others is service. If you have a complaint about the pool, contact Randy Martin at the Pool and SPa office. Randy is a good guy, and will look after your job. Yes they are big and busy. T&D does all the new and most of the aftermarket concrete jobs in TV. They do new and aftermarket pools. I have a friend that used Hudson Pools from Ocala to do their pool, took about 6-8 months to get job almost completed, then they could never get the owner to come and see all the problems.
It is up to you, but I would rather have a company do my pool that is right here and will fix whatever it is. I have researched most companies around here that will do a pool. I know T&D does like 1-2 pools a day, so tell me what other company is doing that here.......

[Billyg]

Cant say enough good things about T&D!
The best.
And the company philosophy is one that I agree with.
They have great employees because they pay their employees well.