micnic

We have three quotes for building a pool. Each quotes the excavation separately. Two give a price only and one quotes by number of hours - 4. The latter is the most favourable quote.

My question is this.

Does 4 hours seem a reasonable length of time for the excavation of the pool. It will be with a 13 t machine.

The last thing I want is additional costs at the end of the job.

Thanks

Nicky

Wol

Be careful when a quote itemises things instead of quoting for a total.

One trick used here is to give the quotation with so many cu. m of concrete, so many hours etc - and then demand thousands extra because the amount quoted for was exceeded. And you don't have a leg to stand on even though the estimated amounts were wildly out - probably deliberately.

Insist on an overall, final figure and compare quotes on that. If they can't, or won't, go elsewhere.

jad n rich

4 hours to dig a pool, not in my experience. the pool mob will usually give an allowance of hours/price then you pay for the rest, you need what hourly rate you will be charged in writing. Weve had pools dug in 8 hours, thats a small pool in easy soil, strike clay.tree roots of a large gum let alone rock or even just a big pool and 4 hours is not much at all, worse we had was 3 days.

micnic

Are there companies who will commit to a final figure then, regardless of the actual excavation time?

Wol

Even in Australia there must be people who are competent enough to know the quantities involved in their trade and therefore able to give a firm figure.

I was silly enough to accept a quote for preparing and turfing my garden based on a quote which didn't itemise exactly what preparation was proposed, and which gave the area as 1600m2. It actually came to several thousand more because the area was underestimated. If the contract had said "turf the agreed, and marked, area" it would have been up to the contractor to do just that but, as it was, I had to pay for the extra over the 1600m2 on the quote.

The story's against myself, but it might help you to avoid the same sort of mistake.

sassie

I see you're on the Gold Coast. Check out Sundollar Pools. They built ours and we found them quite reasonable, and yes, they will give you a quote for the entire job. Ours measures 7m x 4m and including a water feature came in just under $21,000.

fairwayskid

Hey

Do a search for astonman's pool build i think i remember him being quoted for number of hours and then him and builder having a big row.

Paddy

micnic

Hi Sassie,

Actually the quote is from sundollar! I saw various posts of yours recommending them. At the moment they are quoting 4 hours for excavation. I intend to speak to them again to see if they can fix it. Was your original quote an all in price with no possible additions then?

Nicky

sassie

Hi Nicky. Gosh, that's surprising. Yes our quote was all inclusive, no extra costs whatsoever. They did stress though that if they struck solid rock whilst excavating, the costs might escalate, due to extra time involved, and when they did strike rock, we were expcecting to pay extra, but they didnt' charge us anymore.

I can't remember exactly how long they were on site for, re excavating. think it was about 4-5 hours.

steveyp

How big is the pool and how far is the tip from you?

micnic

23 linear metres and the tip is about 10 - 15 minutes away I think

pete jackson

Hey there, we had pool done last year and it took 2 full days as they hit rock after the first foot of soil, so around 20 hours for hours and it was only 21LM pool!!!! B care full, Pete

Centurion

I would rather just donate my money to charity than build another pool.

Think the worse case scenario imo if its not in writing.

By far the most expensive pond I have ever owned. Next house = hot tub.

steveyp

Sound tight to me, with a 10m cube truck I reckon it's 3 loads away.
I would give it 6-8 hours.
Assuming sandy soil.

gillysm

We've had 2 pools built - both took about 1 day to dig - the 2nd took a couple of additional hours with a rock breaker. Our quotes were for a fixed amount unless they hit rock then it was undetermined (i.e on an hourly rate for the rock breaker). It was a nervous time when they brought in the rock breaker but it wasn't as bad as we feared.

You should be able to get some idea of what they might hit from your soil tests.