When you’re looking for a pool contractor, there are a lot of factors you’ll want to consider. Price, budget, experience and reliability are all important to look for, as are valid contractor’s licenses and proof of insurance. Plus, you’ll need to research multiple contractors and compare bids. On top of all of that, you have to watch out for frontloading, which is an illegal practice in Los Angeles, CA.
What is frontloading?
Frontloading is the practice of taking either very large down payments or requiring payments for work that hasn’t been completed yet. While you should expect to make payments up front and as labor continues, paying for the work before it’s done could leave you in the lurch if your contractor abandons the project partway through construction.
You can spot frontloading easily when you interview multiple contractors and receive different bids. This should give you a baseline to compare what you might be charged and when—so if a contractor gives you a bid with an oddly large down payment or will require you to pay before the work is finished, you can decline the bid.
Many contractors will provide financing options. This not only helps assure you that illegal frontloading isn’t occurring, but the fact that they have relationships with banks is also a sign of a good reputation and longevity.
Other ways to ensure your pool contractor is reputable
When you interview contractors and receive bids, you’ll ask a lot of questions—and they should include asking about licenses, insurance and past work. Make sure that your contractor has a C-53 swimming pool construction license from the California State License Board, or is working with a reputable subcontractor who holds the license. In fact, if they’re working with subcontractors, you should research them as if they were the general contractor for your pool building project. They should have both liability and worker’s compensation insurance, which will protect them as well as you from liability should injury occur.
Checking a business’s reviews with the Better Business Bureau and other consumer review websites can be enlightening as well. If anyone has made complaints, you’ll be able to see if there’s a pattern or if it’s a one-time occurrence.
Finally, ask your pool contractor to put you in touch with former or current clients. Hearing about their experiences will give you a better idea of what to expect, and if their experience is one you’d like to repeat.
Avoid frontloading with a reputable pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA
Avanti Pools, Inc. is dedicated to designing and building stunning, luxurious pools and spas for our clients. Since 1999, we’ve been licensed by the California State License Board as certified pool contractors, and can tackle virtually any job or design idea you have in mind. When you’re ready to install your own backyard oasis, work with the contractors who can get it done right. Please reach out to us today to get started. We look forward to working with you soon!
Choosing the right Los Angeles contractor for your pool and spa construction requires more than just Googling “pool contractor” and picking the first one in your area. In fact, for maximum protection, as well as guaranteeing a certain level of skill, you’ll want to pick a fully licensed and insured contractor.
Who is licensed to build pools and spas in Los Angeles, CA?
If your pool or spa job will cost more than $500 (which is the majority of swimming-related construction projects), then your contractor needs to hold a license from the California State License Board. Specifically, they need a C-53 swimming pool contractor’s license. General building (“B”) and C-27 landscape contractors can also help build pools, if they hold a specialty pool license or work with a C-53 swimming pool subcontractor.
To earn this license, a contractor has to have four years of journeyman-level experience in the field, pass a written exam, post a license bond, pass a background check and provide proof of worker’s compensation insurance when applicable.
How to pick the right swimming pool contractor
Finding a swimming pool contractor doesn’t have to be a huge hassle, but it’s also important not to rush through the process. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Compare bids from multiple contractors: As we mentioned earlier, never go with the first contractor you find. You should research and compare bids from at least three different companies. This will allow you to find the best price—even if it’s not the lowest You may like one contractor’s work more than others, or prefer the payment plan or timeline of another.
Ask for proof of license and insurance: Your contractor should be able to provide their contractor’s license (with valid photo identification) as well as proof of worker’s compensation and liability insurance policies. This is important in order to not only rest assured that you’re dealing with a legitimate, professional company, but also to protect yourself if someone is injured on your property.
Get word of mouth testimonials: Asking your family and friends whom they’ve worked with for their pool, and what that experience was like, is generally a reliable source of information. You can also research reviews on sites like Google and Yelp to get a better idea of how other customers have liked their experience with the contractor.
Ask for a written proposal: Finally, make sure you get your bid and proposal in writing. While it’s not legally binding until the contract is signed, it’s important to be able to refer back to promises and guarantees they made when you’re reviewing the contract.
Picking the right pool contractor can be something of a research process, but you’ll be glad you took the time.
Ready to work with contractors who can build pools and spas in Los Angeles, CA? Avanti Pools, Inc. has been providing Los Angeles-area clients with the swimming pools and spas of their dreams since 1999. We are licensed by the California State License Board as well as the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals. Our team can help you design and build pools and spas and provide accessories like automatic pool and spa covers, solar and more. Call us today to get started building the pool you’ve always wanted.
If you’re going to be able to continue enjoying your pool year after year, you need to stay on top of your pool maintenance tasks, which includes regular cleaning. Most people don’t look forward to cleaning their pools, but the good news is that there are some steps you can take to automate the task, at least to an extent.
There are many pool owners that have invested in robotic pool cleaners, which work sort of like the round robotic vacuums you’d use on the floors of your home. While these robotic cleaners certainly have their benefits, they also have some limitations, as they’re not fully automatic. In-floor pool cleaning systems have become an increasingly popular option for pool owners who want to automate their cleaning as much as possible.
Here’s a quick overview of what you should know about in-floor pool cleaning systems in Los Angeles, CA.
How in-floor systems work
In-floor cleaning systems use a series of pop-up cleaners that get rid of dirt and debris in the pool. They’re referred to as pop-ups because they pop out of the floor when the cleaning process begins, and then, once they’re done, they retract back down into the pool floor. They are installed during pool construction and placed around the pool surface as well, including benches, walls and steps. An average pool is likely to have at least 15 pop-up heads placed in strategic locations around the pool. When not in use, they’re fully flush with the pool’s surface, so you don’t have to worry about them getting in the way of your activities.
Every pop-up is tasked with spraying pressurized, filtered water in a particular direction to push dirt and debris toward the main drain in the pool. That drain then sucks in all the debris and dirt, making it easy to remove later.
The pop-ups work in groups rather than individually, which makes them much more effective at cleaning. Each group will typically be composed of anywhere from two to 10 pop-ups, and every group is tasked with cleaning a particular section of the pool. The groups also don’t all operate at once—instead, they run in a sequence that allows them to more effectively push the debris to the drain, just like how you use a broom to sweep dirt into a single pile before disposing of it.
The pop-ups can push the debris in a straight line toward the deep end, or you can have them push it in a different route depending on the kind of system you have in place and the layout of your pool. You can also have the pop-up heads rotate so they can send water in different directions. Finally, you’re capable of adjusting the speed at which each group of pop-ups activates and begins cleaning the pool.
For more information about how in-floor pool cleaning systems work, we encourage you to contact a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA at Avanti Pools, Inc. today. We’d be glad to answer your questions!
If you’d prefer to stay away from relying on chemicals for treating the water in your swimming pool, there are some non-chemical alternatives available to you. One example is a system that relies on titanium oxidation with copper ionization.
In this type of system in Los Angeles, CA, as the water flows from the pump into the pool, it goes through an ionization and oxidation chamber, where the water either receives copper ions or becomes oxygenated, depending on the controls you’ve set. Either setting will result in the pool water being sanitized, which will kill off viruses, bacteria and algae. This is widely considered the most effective non-chemical strategy for sanitizing pool water. Read on to learn more about the process.
Copper ionization
The process of copper ionization was initially developed for the Apollo Space Program in 1967 as a means of ensuring drinking water was safe and that scale wouldn’t form in cooling systems during space missions. The ionization systems used in pools today are quite similar to that initial technology.
A major benefit of this process is that the copper ions generated by the system are completely safe for humans, plants and animals, unlike many of the chemicals used in other types of pools. You can still get excellent results in terms of killing off bacteria, viruses and algae without worrying about the effects it’ll have on your family, pets or landscaping.
The copper ions get added into the water for a few hours each week (or just a few minutes each week for hot tubs and spas). Because the processes of titanium oxidation with copper ionization are natural, you don’t have to worry about any chemical backwash issues, meaning it’s perfectly safe for you to drain out and backwash your pool.
Non-chemical oxidation
The non-chemical oxidation that can be performed on today’s pools is a high-tech form of sanitization and purification. The water passes through a chamber while a low voltage electrical current gets passed through the coated titanium plates in the chamber. While the pool is in oxidation mode, the electrolysis process results in a separation of the water into hydrogen and oxygen. This separation process results in a combination of hydroxyl radicals and free oxygen atoms, making for some of the most powerful oxidizers you’ll find for disinfecting water.
The oxygen atoms and hydroxyl ions are then responsible for taking out body oils, dead organic matter (killed first by copper ions), sun tan lotions and any other substances that might be found in the pool water.
Using a combination of copper ionization and non-chemical titanium oxidation will result in much clearer, cleaner and purer water than you’d get in other types of systems, including chemical-based treatment methods. If you have any further questions about titanium oxidation with copper ionization, feel free to reach out to the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. to speak with a professional pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA. We look forward to discussing the benefits of this treatment system for your pool!
There are times when owning a pool can feel more like a chore than a convenience. But it’s important not to get wrapped up in the chores or you’ll forget to enjoy this luxury amenity! The best way to reduce the amount of time you spend caring for your pool and increase the time you spend enjoying it is to explore the benefits of sanitation systems.
Many Los Angeles, CA pool owners have already discovered the great benefits of a pool sanitation system over traditional chlorine pool treatments and other chemical cleaning methods. And while some sanitation systems do use chlorine—like saline/salt systems that make chlorine—there are more that don’t. The result is not only less time spent maintaining your pool, but enhanced enjoyment of it!
Ozone cleaning systems
One of the true chlorine-free solutions to pool sanitation, these systems are a bit more costly than traditional pool cleaning systems—but they’re well worth the investment. Ozone cleaning utilizes ozone gas (O3) to oxidize microbes that accumulate in the pool, destroying them in a way similar to chlorine. The difference? No burning eyes or lingering chlorine smell! This type of sanitation system can even make your pool water feel softer.
The downside of ozone systems—aside from their heavier upfront cost—is the need for de-gas vessels or ozone destruct chambers, which break down the toxic gases formed by the ozone treatment process. Having them installed or retrofitted means adding more to the cost.
Titanium oxidation with copper ionization
These chemical-free systems also don’t require any chlorine, instead using an ionization and oxidation process to destroy pool microbes. NASA actually developed this process to purify drinking water for astronauts!
As water cycles through the pool’s sanitation system, it’s fed through an ionization chamber before being sent back into the pool. In this chamber, copper ions are added to the water, which serve to kill any bacteria, algae and viruses present. Titanium-coated plates within the chamber initiate oxidation during electrolysis, which further separates water into oxygen and hydrogen molecules. Everything else is targeted via ionization, including natural body oils, microbes, bacteria and more. Clean H2O is released back into the pool, completing the sanitation process.
Say goodbye to burning eyes!
The chief reason why so many pool cleaning approaches use chlorine is because it’s highly effective at neutralizing contaminants in water. The problem is, chlorine also has an adverse impact on the human body. It dries the skin, irritates the eyes and can leave you smelling stale for hours after your shower.
More Los Angeles, CA pool owners are turning to sanitation systems because they achieve the same cleansing results as chlorine, without the frustrating side effects. And, because they’re antibacterial and biocompatible, these systems are generally safer for the environment and our bodies! They’re also a lot easier to maintain and more effective than scheduled treatments.
If you’re looking for a way to keep your pool cleaner and more enjoyable, without adding more chores to your list or taking time away from your enjoyment of the pool itself, it’s time to consider a sanitation system. Contact Avanti Pools Inc. to learn more.
(818) 501-3759