Want a Roseville Pool: Watch out for "Cheap Builders"
A swimming pool is the ultimate backyard dream. But in the City of Roseville, that dream is built on a foundation of complex permits, strict safety codes, and mandatory inspections.
When getting quotes, it’s tempting to go with the lowest bidder. But what are they leaving out?
The Roseville permit packet is over 10 pages of non-negotiable requirements. At Granite Pools, we don’t see this as a hassle—we see it as our blueprint for building your pool right. Our Foundation Series is a comprehensive package designed to handle 100% of this for you, ensuring a safe, high-quality pool that lasts a lifetime.
Here’s a look at the crucial steps a “cheap pool builder” may skip, and how our quality pool contractor protects you from those risks.
1. The Permit & Engineering: Your Project's Foundation
A low-cost builder often “saves money” by submitting incomplete plans or, even worse, telling you a permit isn’t necessary. This is a massive red flag that can lead to mandatory stop-work orders and costly redesigns.
How We Handle It: The Foundation Series includes all your Permits, Engineering, and Plans. We manage the entire 3-week city plan check process, ensuring every detail, from easements to electrical loads, is approved before we dig.
The “Cheap Builder” Risk: They skip the proper engineering. When the city inspector fails the project for improper bonding, fencing, or setbacks, the builder is often long gone, leaving you to fix it.
Our Guarantee: We back our work with a Lifetime Structural Warranty. A cheap builder’s “warranty” is often only as good as their phone number, which is likely to be disconnected when you have a problem.
2. The "Hidden" Danger: Substandard Equipment
The easiest way for a low-bidder to save money is by using cheap, builder-grade equipment. This equipment is loud, inefficient, and costs you a fortune in energy bills and early replacement.
Here’s what’s standard in our Foundation Series, and why it matters:
✅ Smart Pump: Pentair Variable Speed Pump (VSP)
How We Do It: We install a high-efficiency VSP, which can save you up to 90% on your pool’s energy costs versus old single-speed pumps. They are also whisper-quiet.
The “Cheap Builder” Risk: A cheap or unlicensed builder may try to install an old, single-speed pump. Not only are these “energy hogs” that will cost you a fortune in utility bills, but they are also illegal for new pool construction in California. State energy codes (Title 24) mandate variable speed pumps for their massive energy savings.
✅ Better Filtration: Pentair 420 Sq. Ft. Cartridge Filter
How We Do It: This 420 sq. ft. filter has a massive surface area, trapping finer dirt and debris. This means crystal clear water and far less maintenance for you—it only needs cleaning a couple of times per year.
The “Cheap Builder” Risk: They install an undersized, poor-quality cartridge filter. A small filter clogs quickly and can’t keep up with the pool’s volume. This means you’ll have more visible debris in the pool, your water will be cloudier, and you’ll be forced to use more chemicals just to keep it sanitary. It’s a classic ‘save now, pay later’ trap that costs you more money every single month in maintenance and supplies.
✅ A Cleaner That Actually Works: Pentair Rebel Suction Cleaner
How We Do It: The Rebel is an advanced cleaner specifically designed to work with your VSP’s energy-saving low speeds. Its turbine design avoids clogging, and its programmed steering cleans the entire pool, from the floor to the walls.
The “Cheap Builder” Risk: They’ll toss in a cheap, “bouncing” cleaner that gets stuck on stairs, clogs easily, and requires your pump to run at full blast, negating any energy savings.
3. Passing Inspections: Fences, Gates & Alarms
Safety is the city’s #1 priority. Roseville’s codes for fencing, self-latching gates, and door alarms are strict and non-negotiable.
How We Handle It: While we don’t build your perimeter fencing, we make it our job to ensure your fencing is up to code for inspection. We verify:
- Your gates swing away from the pool.
- Your gates are self-closing.
- Your fencing has latches at the required 60-inch height.
- We also ensure there is proper access for the inspector.
The “Cheap Builder” Risk: They don’t check your fencing or gates. When the inspector arrives for the “Pre-Plaster” inspection, they can’t enter the yard or they immediately fail the project for a non-compliant gate. This stops your project cold, and you are forbidden from filling your pool with water until you pay a fence company to fix the problem, costing you valuable time and money.
Our Standard Safety: We also include Door Alarms & a Floating Pool Alarm as standard safety features in our package to meet all city barrier requirements.
4. From "Pool Filled" to "Pool Ready": Our Startup & Pool School
Finishing construction is only half the battle. A new plaster pool requires a very specific startup process to cure properly and remain beautiful for years.
How We Do It: Our Foundation Series includes a professional Pool Startup with a 4-Week Pool School Orientation. A trained professional will visit multiple times to get the water chemistry perfectly balanced. We teach you how to manage your new equipment, answer all your questions, and ensure you are a confident pool owner.
The “Cheap Builder” Risk: They fill the pool, hand you a test kit, and disappear. They leave you on your own to figure out the complex chemistry of a new pool. Without proper education, you can easily ruin your new plaster finish, leading to staining and costly, premature repairs.
Ready for Your Roseville Pool: The Granite Pools Promise
Your pool is a permanent addition to your home. Our Foundation Series (starting at just $55k) is a complete gunite pool package that includes all the high-performance equipment, safety features, and warranties you need. We even include a 3-Year Warranty on Pool Equipment and that crucial 4-week “Pool School” to make sure you’re a confident pool owner from day one.
Don’t let your backyard dream become a nightmare of failed inspections and hidden costs. Let’s build it right, together.