Did your timeline actually match what was promised?

A

Andrew Coleman

Member
Mine was supposed to be done in 3 weeks, and we’re on week 6 now. Curious if this is normal or if I just got unlucky. How long did your project really drag on?
 
I don’t think you’re alone there. Our contractor told us it would be about a month, but in the end, it stretched closer to two and a half. A lot of it came down to weather delays and waiting on certain materials to arrive. The crews usually work fast once they’re actually on site, but the in-between gaps add up. From what I’ve seen and heard, it’s pretty common for pool projects to run longer than promised, so don’t feel like you got singled out.
 
You’re definitely not the only one. Our pool was quoted at about four weeks, but it ended up taking almost two months from start to finish. Most of the delay wasn’t because the crew was slow, it was stuff like rain, backordered materials, and a few unexpected inspections.

Once everything was in place, the work moved quickly, but those little gaps between stages really stretch the timeline. From what I’ve seen, most DIY or contractor-led makeovers run longer than the initial estimate, so don’t sweat it, you’re actually pretty normal in this situation.
 
Same here a ‘4-week’ job took almost 7. The delays were gaps between trades and waiting on materials. Now I add a 30% buffer and ask for clear milestones so you don’t stress when it slips.
 
My pool project also went over schedule, from what was supposed to be 3 weeks to almost 7 weeks. A lot of factors like weather and material delays affected the timeline.
 
Ours didn’t match the original promise either, so I wouldn’t say you’re unlucky. We were quoted three weeks and it finished closer to six, almost exactly where you are now. What made it feel worse was that the actual work days were pretty short, it was the waiting between stages that stretched everything out.

In hindsight, the timeline they gave us felt more like a “best case” than a realistic one. Weather, inspections, and lining up different trades all slowed things down even though no one thing went seriously wrong. Once the last phase started, it wrapped up fast.

I’ve since learned to treat the initial estimate as optimistic and mentally double it. It doesn’t make the delays disappear, but it definitely keeps the frustration level lower.
 
From my experience this is pretty normal with pool projects because weather, material delays, and small scope changes always stretch timelines, my 3 week job turned into almost 6 too, and once it was finally done I cleaned everything up with aquadoc tile and vinyl cleaner so the pool at least looked finished even if the schedule was not.
 
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Short answer, no, not even close. We were promised three weeks too and it landed right around six, almost the same spot you're in now. The frustrating part wasn't the actual work days, those were pretty efficient, it was the dead time between steps. One day of rain would push plaster back, then curing time stretched things, then inspections took longer than expected. It all stacks up fast.

What I didn't realize going in is that a lot of the timeline is chemistry and waiting, not labor. After the surface went in, we still had to baby the water so the new finish didn't get etched. Daily brushing, chasing pH drift, keeping alkalinity from dropping too low. The pool looked done but wasn't really usable yet, which mentally made the delay feel worse.

Once everything was finally cleared, I spent a day cleaning construction dust and residue off the tile and waterline just so it felt complete. Using aquadoc tile and vinyl cleaner helped get rid of that chalky film so it didn't look like a jobsite anymore. From talking to neighbors, your timeline is pretty normal. If anything, week six is kind of the average, not the exception. Anyone actually finish on time, or is that just a myth?
 
Megan Lawson said:
I don’t think you’re alone there. Our contractor told us it would be about a month, but in the end, it stretched closer to two and a half. A lot of it came down to weather delays and waiting on certain materials to arrive. The crews usually work fast once they’re actually on site, but the in-between gaps add up. From what I’ve seen and heard, it’s pretty common for pool projects to run longer than promised, so don’t feel like you got singled out.
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From what Megan Lawton shared, I went through something very similar. Mine was quoted at 3–4 weeks and ended up close to two months because of material delays and gaps between trades. At first I thought I was just unlucky, but it turns out initial timelines are often overly optimistic. Now whenever I start any pool-related project, I mentally add a buffer so I’m not stressed every time there’s a small delay.
 
You’re not unlucky. You just got the “real world” version of the timeline.

Our contractor said 4 weeks. It finished in 8. And nothing catastrophic even happened. It was exactly what others mentioned, gaps. One crew finishes, then you wait three days. Rain pushes something back. Inspection gets rescheduled. Material shows up late. Individually small, collectively brutal.

What also stretched it for us was the curing and startup phase. Once plaster went in, it wasn’t just “done.” We had daily brushing, keeping pH from climbing into the high 7s, watching alkalinity so the saturation index didn’t drift and mess with the fresh surface. The pool looked finished but wasn’t really swim ready, which made it feel like it was dragging even more.

If I’ve learned anything, the timeline they give you is the perfect conditions schedule. Real life usually adds 30 to 50 percent. It’s frustrating, especially when you planned around it, but week 6 for a “3 week job” is honestly common.

The only time I’ve seen projects hit their promised date is when nothing unexpected happens and all trades line up perfectly. That’s rare. Annoying, but normal.
 
You’re not crazy. Three weeks turning into six is basically the unofficial industry standard at this point.

What I noticed on ours wasn’t just weather or materials, it was sequencing. Our builder had to coordinate decking, electrical, and a heater swap all at once. We put in a Raypak 406A during the remodel and that alone added a few extra inspection steps. Nothing dramatic, just little pauses that stack up. One missed inspection window and suddenly you’ve lost another week.

The part that really stretched it mentally was startup. After resurfacing, I was brushing twice a day and testing constantly because the pH kept drifting up and I didn’t want the saturation index creeping positive on fresh plaster. Filter pressure also climbed about 4 psi the first week from all the plaster dust, so I had to clean the cartridges earlier than planned. The pool looked finished, but it was still in “babysit mode.”

If you’re at week six on a three week quote, that’s frustrating, but honestly pretty typical. The clean, brochure timeline almost never accounts for real life. Has your builder at least given you a firm next milestone, or are you still in the vague “soon” phase?
 
Yeah honestly the timeline thing almost always ends up optimistic. Ours was pitched as a 4 week build and landed closer to 7, and nothing major even went wrong. The frustrating part was the idle days between steps. One crew finishes excavation, then you wait. Gunite goes in, then inspection gets pushed. Weather knocks out a couple days. Individually small delays, but stacked together it stretches everything.

One thing that surprised me was how long the startup phase actually takes after the pool looks finished. When our plaster went in the pH kept drifting up into the high 7s for the first week and I was testing constantly trying to keep the alkalinity from crashing. Brushing twice a day also kicked up a ton of plaster dust which pushed my filter pressure up about 4 psi before I finally cleaned the cartridges.

The builder told me later that their “3–4 week” estimate is basically perfect conditions with no inspection gaps. In the real world they usually add another couple weeks. Not fun when you’re waiting to swim, but sadly pretty normal. Did they at least give you the next inspection or plaster date yet? That’s usually when things start moving again.
 
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