I'm in the initial stages of selecting a pool builder. I was wondering if any fellow Houstonians have any recommendations.

What part of town?

+1

Katy

How much does a nice, small pool (nothing over the top) run, ballpark?

35-40k just got you in the door a few years back.

I used Cypress Custom Pools in Cypress and was very happy. Don't know if they go to Katy though.

My recommendation on design - don't go too big, and don't go too deep - it's just extra water that must be filtered and treated. Judging from our own experiences, the pool is used a lot when the kids are young but it quickly tails off. People tend to stay in the shallow end. More pool deck or an upgraded outdoor kitchen is better than more pool.

Triton Pools in Cypress. Has done 5-6 guys in my office, including me. 18 days dig to swim. $35-40k minimum.

Bill Davie with pro pool consultants. He is doing mine now. He uses a different business model than normal pool builders. Cost + 12% mgmt fee. Exactly 1 month into it and we are pouring deck tomorrow and plastering wednesday. Start the fill on thurs/fri. He has delivered on everything he said he would and his cost was 15-20% cheaper than anyone else. PM me if you want his contact info.

Used Platinum. Very happy with the results

We used Custom Outdoors to build pool in Fulshear. Very happy with the results. Owner Kenneth comes to your home... sketches out an idea with you. Of the 5 or so companies we met with... they were far and away better.

[This message has been edited by jjwaggie (edited 7/12/2014 8:41a).]

I would stay away from cypress custom pools. A few people in my neihberborhood have a bad experience with the owner. They are happy with the work but communication seems to be an issue.

Yep, our neighbors and I called the guy at Cypress Custom the "Pool Nazi". But I can tell you that in ten years we have had no problems.

Do any of the companies mentioned in this thread do pool remodels? I am closing on a property next week which has a pool I would like to replaster/tile/coping.

Remodel

http://www.poolworkshouston.com/

Invision Pools

Checking in for a pool/patio remodel as well.

I'll be doing the replaster this winter, pool was done once over the original incorrectly so it's starting to chip pretty bad.

Not sure if I will go with plaster or pebble sheen, never really been a fan of pebble tec

quote:

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Triton Pools in Cypress. Has done 5-6 guys in my office, including me. 18 days dig to swim. $35-40k minimum.

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Did you deal with Craig for the process? Interested in process and pricing.

we are really happy with our pebble sheen

"don't go too big, and don't go too deep"

Besides that's what she said, this also ensures that your pool is boiling hot for much of the summer.

OP, just made the decision of putting in a pool. I am in Katy as well. Can you share which builders you looked at? On my list are Platinum, Pulliam, Sunset.

Add Custom Outdoors to your list to talk with but mention you got referral from last name Wilson... I get nothing from it but they have been busy and that should help get you a quick reply. They did ours earlier this year and will be starting on our neighbors soon.

We used Platinum. Love our pool, but our experience was pretty bad. I'm thinking it was bad luck or an outlier (project managers getting sick, fired, etc.).

If you can swing it, I would recommend going big and having a deep end (6 feet or so), as well as some sort of water feature that you can use to circulate water when you are swimming. Makes a huge difference in pool temps.

We built a pool at our last house. Do the things to keep your pool cool in the summer. Definitely do a deep end and a water feature. When we built our pool, I had them do a large shallow end, and then basically a deep "cove" off of it. Anything up to 7' was the same price; deeper than 7' was added cost.

If you are trying to save money, you can do deck jets instead of a waterfall. They are kind of like the water jets at a splash pad. They just shoot out of the decking and into the pool. Run the pool pumps overnight when you know you will be swimming the next day and it cools off.

And I'd stick with white plaster. We did gray plaster. It doesn't age well, and it holds heat. Our lot was pretty shaded, and the builder said we would have an issue with it being cold moreso than hot. False.