Frequently Asked Questions

Are you having questions about building, maintaining, or just owning a pool or spa?
Well, you have come to the right place. We have assembled some frequently asked questions below to help you know what to expect.

• How long does it take to build a pool?

  We understand that the time line is an important consideration when choosing a pool company; in most cases, your new pool can be completed in 6 to 8 weeks. Weather will have a great effect on this time line. Although this is an important consideration, please remember that Harbor Pools will not compromise quality to meet a time line. Our first responsibility is to construct a superior product that will bring you many years of enjoyment. This is a large investment and one that we do not take lightly. Other factors that could impact the time line are homeowner’s association approval and regulations, third party inspections, and availability of some selected materials.

• When is the best time to install a pool?

Many factors go into making this determination. Generally this is tied directly to water temperature. If you are like most, and are considering a Pool/Spa combination, then any time is a good time because you can enjoy your heated spa year-round. However, if you are only interested in a pool, then water temperature dictates the answer to this question. For example, if we start construction on a pool at the beginning of February, we could be finished by mid-March. Add another week for start-up, and you could be in the water as early as the first part of April. Your pool will be up and running for the spring swimming season. On the other hand, if you choose to begin construction at the beginning of September, then (in most cases) the project will be completed by the end of October or just in time for the winter season. With this scenario, the kids may have to wait to enjoy the pool until the first part of the spring swimming season.
Some customers choose to have the pool finished during the winter months so they can have their outdoor kitchens, grills, lighting, irrigation, and landscaping completed by spring.

• What are the steps involved in building a pool?

  Swimming pool construction includes many steps, beginning with an experience-based design process. Once the design has been approved, we have the existing utilities marked to ensure that there is no conflict with the project plans. We lay out the pool. During this phase, we paint the ground and drive in wooden stakes to reflect the outer contour of the pool. Next, our excavation crew comes out. We verify the grade and excavate the pool area. The next day, our steel crew installs the reinforcing steel bars. During this process, our plumbers stub in the plumbing. The following day, our gunite crew comes out to pneumatically apply the pool shell. Our plumbers return the next day to install the remaining plumbing. Next, we send our electrician out to hook up the electrical lines. Tile and coping is then applied, followed by decking and plaster. The entire process is quite involved, and sometimes requires some deviation from the standard format. Each pool is unique and requires attention to certain details specific to that pool. Our goal here is to merely point out the generic phases of development. Harbor Pools’ owners will personally oversee this process and make adjustments as needed, to ensure that the project is completed correctly. The basic pool construction outline includes:

  • Design
  • Marking of Utilities
  • Layout
  • Excavation
  • Steel Bar Reinforcement
  • Plumbing
  • Gunite
  • Electrical Wiring
  • Tile and Coping/Rock Work
  • Decking
  • Interior Finish

• Should I be wary about buying a pool advertised at a super- low price?

As with any other construction process, the old adage, “You get what you pay for,” applies to your new pool project. Often builders advertise a super-low-cost pool to attract the attention of a homeowner and then talk the customer into upgrading the project. This is the old “bait and switch” method of selling. The pool offered would probably not be worth having. There's a good possibility that if the price of the pool is super-low, the workmanship and customer service will be compromised. Some builders are even more devious. They may offer a super low-cost pool with no intention of ever completing the project. It is important to choose a reputable pool builder that is concerned with quality, as well as value. Harbor Pools never compromises on quality, and stands behind its product -100%. You have our total commitment to build an outstanding product, regardless of how little or how much you spend.

• Most pools seem the same. Why do costs vary?

Swimming Pools are like other products; for every name brand, quality item sold there are a multitude of cheap replicas or knock-offs. Any product that has been properly engineered and properly constructed will have a longer life expectancy and out-perform those that have not. Remember, “You get what you pay for.” Homeowners looking to make a decision on the purchase of a new pool should look through the HYPE and sales tactics to make an informed decision. If you are dealing with a salesperson, chances are that after you sign the contract, you will never see that person again. The purchase of your new pool is a large investment. Wise homeowners do their homework to better understand what they are getting for their investment dollar. Always compare “apples to apples” and don’t allow a salesperson to talk you into using a product of lesser quality. Remember that a properly engineered and constructed swimming pool will bring you a lifetime of happy memories.

• If I have a small yard, can you still design a pool that will fit my budget, taste, and yard?

Yards have gotten smaller in recent years, and oftentimes the limited space regulates the size and shape of your pool. We would be glad to meet with you to show you various designs that fit your yard. Our pool and spa designs and estimates are free, so you can see how wonderful a custom designed pool will look in your yard.

• What options are available to add to my pool?

The possibilities are endless. Pool designs have come very far in recent years, and we can build almost anything that you can imagine. Harbor Pools has the ability to design and build all varieties of pools, spas, and water features. Need some ideas? Check out our Photo Gallery to see waterfalls, jump rocks, tanning ledges, fountains, grottos, and more. Let us help you explore the possibilities.

• What pool shapes are available?

Your choices are unlimited when it comes to custom features, shapes, and designs. Freeform, lagoon, Grecian…it’s up to you. Our expert designers can offer suggestions that best utilize the size and shape of your yard. Wherever your imagination takes you, Harbor Pools can accommodate your taste while we design and build the pool of your dreams.

• How does the design process work?

A Harbor Pools designer will set up a meeting to discuss your pool interests and budget. To help design the perfect pool for you, he will ask you what you envision in your yard. Prior to meeting, you may want to browse through our Photo Gallery to get some ideas of what you'd like in your yard.

• How much does a pool cost?

While the size of the pool is a large factor, other variables that dictate price include: addition of a spa; water features, such as a waterfall; amount and type of decking; location of utilities; tile and coping selections; interior finish selection; automated features; etc. Harbor Pools is able to design a pool that brings to fruition whatever you can imagine and that fits within your yard and budget parameters. Remember too, Harbor Pools offers free estimates and consultations.

• Can I finance my pool?

Yes. Many people are taking advantage of lower interest rates and the equity they have in their homes. Harbor Pools works closely with lenders that specialize in finding a loan that suits a homeowner’s budget. For more information, please ask your Harbor Pools representative.

• Will my pool have a warranty?

Yes. We know that customer service does not stop when the pool is completed. At Harbor Pools, our warranties exceed "industry standards." We have a lifetime structural warranty, as well as an extended warranty on our pumps, filters, and heaters. Above all else, we want you to be happy with your new investment, so we stand behind our work.

• How much maintenance is involved with a pool?

With today's automation and pool chemical testing, maintenance takes about an hour each week. You also can cut down on maintenance by installing an in-floor cleaning system, adding a salt cell chlorine generator, or adding a Smart pH system. Ask your Harbor Pools representative about all the timesaving options that are available.

• Is there anything else I should consider when installing a pool?

  Yes. Some of the contentious issues include landscaping and sod damage, sprinkler system damage, driveway damage, pet containment, and gas meter upgrade.

  Accessing the dig site and excavating the swimming pool causes damage to the existing lawn, landscaping, and sprinkler systems. Sod is torn up, sprinkler system pipes are dug up, and the access area, and the area around the pool will look like a construction zone.

  Landscaping and sod issues are a major concern to homeowners during the pool building process. Homeowners often invest many hours in creating and maintaining the “perfect” yard. Nothing will jerk a tear from the eye of the homeowner faster than watching the flower beds, grass, and hedges fall under the wheels of the excavation machine. While homeowners will concede to the understandable “BACK YARD” destructive process of excavation, they often fail to anticipate that the excavation machine must repeatedly run back and forth to dig and carry dirt from the back yard to the dump trucks on the street out front. If it rains during that period, the trail becomes quite pronounced as the dirt turns to mud. The homeowner more readily accepts what is to happen in the back yard but is troubled that the front yard access area is disturbed and “ugly.” The excavator roughly grades the access area, but the homeowner is still left with a large area where grass is gone and only dirt remains. Most pool builders level this area out with bank sand during the final clean up. The homeowner can arrange with the pool builder or a landscaper to re-sod and/or replace landscaping in this area.

  Sprinkler system damage is often a concern that comes up during the pool building process. Damage may occur in the access area, excavation area, and area where plumbing pipes are laid. The sprinkler system will need to be revamped to irrigate the newly landscaped area around the pool. The old irrigation system is usually not compatible with your newly installed pool. In most cases the old system may have been irrigating the area that the new pool is currently occupying. Many sprinkler systems in the Houston area are looped through the back yard. This means that the underground pipes that carry water to the front yard are “looped” through the back yard because the sprinkler systems are installed after the driveway and walkways are poured. Generally, the irrigation company finds it easier to run the lines around the back of the house to feed front yard water lines, rather than water-jetting or tunneling under the driveway and walkways. This method of sprinkler system installation renders the entire system inoperative when the back yard piping is cut during the excavation and plumping process. The customer is often confused as to why there is lost usage of the front yard sprinkler system, even though no one excavated in the front yard. To minimize this problem, the homeowner may decide to contact an irrigation company or ask the pool builder to cut and cap the irrigation lines.

  Driveways and walkways may be cracked or broken if access to the pool site must be gained by driving over them. Oftentimes there is no steel reinforcing bar in them, or the concrete may not contain an adequate amount of Portland cement in the concrete mix to withstand a heavy load. When the heavy “Bobcat” front-end loader drives over the driveway or walkway, cracks or breaks may occur. If driving over these structures is the only option, then concerns involving this subject need to be addressed initially rather than letting this become a problem later on. Your pool builder should help you look at the integrity of the structures and help guide your decisions relative to this subject.
  
  Pet containment is another issue that should be dealt with during the planning period of the pool construction process. Access may include the necessity of removal of a section of fence. Arrangements should be made to ensure the family pet, or pets, are kept safe and sound during this process.

  Gas meters will need to be upgraded if a heater is installed. When the home was originally built, the gas meter was sized according to the gas needs at that time. However, with the addition of a new 400,000 BTU heater, the original gas meter quickly becomes inadequate. The original meter is no longer capable of supplying enough gas to run all of the appliances, along with the new heater. The homeowner must contact the gas provider to request a larger meter after the heater is installed. The gas provider will come out and install a new meter after charging the homeowner for doing so. This is a relatively expensive, and often unanticipated, expense. Currently, the cost is generally about $350.00.

  If you have further questions please feel free to contact us by e-mail or by phone for the fastest responce.