HOW LONG DID YOUR POOL MAKEOVER REALLY TAKE?

Timelines are more like suggestions in this business...

Ain’t that the truth. We planned for six weeks, ended up being closer to three months. Every time I thought we were almost done, something else would pop up - either a part was late, or someone had to reschedule. The color thing made me laugh because we went back and forth over “aqua” vs “teal” for our plaster, and honestly, now that it’s filled, it just looks blue like every other pool.

Honestly, by the end I was just happy we didn’t go over budget (well... not by much). The waiting was rough, but I tried to remind myself that rushing usually means mistakes or extra costs. I do wish contractors were a bit more upfront about delays though - felt like every week there was a “surprise.” Still, swimming in it now makes all the drama seem worth it.

It’s funny you mention the color debate - had almost the exact same argument over “pebble gray” vs “stone gray” for our tile. Once the water went in, it just looked... gray. Not sure all those sample chips were worth the stress.

I do wish contractors were a bit more upfront about delays though - felt like every week there was a “surprise.”

That’s been my biggest frustration too. I get that things come up, but a little transparency goes a long way. In my experience, building in a buffer - say, 25% extra time - helps keep expectations realistic. Even then, there’s always something: weather, supply chain hiccups, or just plain old miscommunication.

One thing I’ve started doing is keeping a running log of progress and issues. It’s not glamorous, but it helps when you’re trying to figure out where things went sideways (or if you need to push back on an invoice). At the end of the day, like you said, once you’re actually using the pool, most of the headaches fade into the background. Still, I’d love to see a project finish on time just once...

TITLE: HOW LONG DID YOUR POOL MAKEOVER REALLY TAKE?

I swear, picking out those tile colors is a trap. We spent way too long debating “arctic white” vs “frost white” and in the end, it just looks... white. I think the sample chips are mostly there to make us feel like we’re making big decisions.

The delays though - yeah, that’s the real headache. I tried to be optimistic and believed the “should be done by Memorial Day” promise. Spoiler: we were still dodging construction debris on July 4th. I get that weather and supply issues are real, but sometimes it felt like nobody wanted to admit they were behind until it was obvious. Would’ve been way less stressful if they just said, “Hey, we’re running late because X,” instead of radio silence.

Keeping a log is smart. I started doing that after the third “unexpected” delay. It’s not fun, but at least you have something to point to when the final bill shows up with mystery charges. Also helps when you’re trying to remember why there’s a random pile of gravel in your yard two months later.

Funny thing is, once the pool was finally done and we had that first swim, all the drama faded pretty fast. Still, I’m convinced contractors have their own secret calendar where every week has nine days. Maybe next time I’ll just double whatever timeline they give me and call it a win.

Anyway, if anyone ever actually finishes a pool project on schedule, I’d love to hear about it... but I’m not holding my breath.

Totally relate to the tile debate - I've watched clients agonize over shades of “white” only to realize under sunlight and water, they all blur together anyway. The timeline thing frustrates me too. In my experience, contractors tend to underestimate not just for optimism’s sake, but because there are just so many moving parts - permits, inspections, weather, and supply chain hiccups. Keeping a log is key, especially when change orders start stacking up. I always recommend documenting every site visit or conversation, even if it feels tedious in the moment. It’s wild how quickly everyone forgets who said what once things run late or budgets creep up.

My pool reno was supposed to take 6 weeks - ended up being almost 4 months. Weather delays, tile backorders, and the city inspector ghosted us for two weeks. I agree, keeping a log is a lifesaver. I’d add: get every change order in writing, no matter how small. Verbal agreements just vanish when the finger-pointing starts. The “white tile” thing cracks me up - mine looked totally different once the water was in.

I get where you’re coming from about having everything in writing, but I’ll admit, sometimes the paperwork just slows things down more than it helps. When we redid our old brick patio (not a pool, but similar chaos), the contractor and I hashed a few things out on the fly, and honestly, it worked out fine - maybe I just lucked out with a decent crew. That said, I do wish I’d paid more attention to the color samples... our “antique red” bricks looked almost purple after a rain. It’s wild how much things can change once they’re in place.

That color thing gets people every time. I’ve seen folks pick a tile or stone they love in the showroom, then once it’s out in the sun or wet, it’s a totally different vibe. I’m all for being flexible with contractors, but I’ve also seen “handshake deals” go sideways fast. Sometimes a quick note or even a text thread about changes can save a lot of headaches later. Still, nothing prepares you for how materials actually look once they’re installed - nature just does its own thing.

That’s the truth about color - my pool plaster looked almost gray in the sample but reads blue-green in the actual pool, especially midday. The contractor warned me, but it still threw me. I’m with you on documenting every change; I learned the hard way when a “verbal agreement” about coping stone led to a two-week delay. Curious if anyone else ran into weather delays? We lost nearly a month to rain last spring, which really threw off our timeline.

Curious if anyone else ran into weather delays? We lost nearly a month to rain last spring, which really threw off our timeline.

Funny enough, we barely had any weather delays - just a couple days here and there. Our bigger issue was actually waiting on tile shipments. I thought rain would be the main culprit, but nope... it was backordered mosaic glass that pushed us over. Guess you never know what’ll slow things down until you’re in the thick of it.