Over the last few years, the pool industry has shifted to ONLY focus on START times for projects. The covid boom trained consumers (and contractors) to talk about how far they were booked out and focus on when the project would start. That has been damaging to the pool business. The start date should be discussed, but isn't knowing when things are going to be DONE more important? Recently, a lot
of projects have been started, and MANY projects never completed.
As honest contractors, we choose to live in a world of COMPLETION timelines and commitments. It may not be as exciting as talking about when a project can start, but we focus on what work load we have and when we can realistically and accurately accomplish that work. We do this TRYING to leave room for weather variables and feel confident that we can commit and keep that promise. Since COVID, we have installed hundreds of pools, and have made our completion date on all but a couple and those were factory shell delays. We take a lot of pride in that record.
When we target start times, we set ourselves up for trouble. If we try to plan a Spring/ March start time and the weather is WET AND MILD, that could very legitimately push us back to a May start before the ground tightens up again. If there are jobs already open from the fall and winter, those projects will need finished and closed. We all know that Spring can be wet, but we have experienced Springs where we didn't work for almost 3 months. It happens and its devastating to a season and schedule.
Once the weather DOES break, getting trucks, stone, and concrete is nearly impossible because EVERYONE in the area is fighting for the same resources. Open projects are frustrated that they are not complete and unopened jobs are anxious to get started. No one is happy. Even though there is a belief that SRPING is the best time for construction, it is completely inaccurate and false. It is the WORST time to work outside. Based on these variables, Fall is truly the best time to build anything, despite what Home Depot marketing has told us.
