My next door neighbor gave me Manny's info for Start Up procedure, after I had my pool re-plastered and retiled. They'd used him about a year before for start up and his daughter has maintained their pool since.
It's been a total NIGHTMARE dealing with this guy, and I demanded a refund of the money I paid him. Manny had dropped off a quart of acid to put in my pool the day before it was finished, and said "have your pool construction guys add this to the water when it's about 2 feet deep." My pool construction guy hit the ceiling when he heard this and said, you PAID this guy to do a job for you and he apparently wants you to do his job for him!
After my pool was completely full, Manny was supposed to show up the next morning to start the plaster brushing. I asked what time I should expect him, and he wouldn't give me an answer~ but instead said "I'll be there in the morning." I waited until 11:53 and phoned him, asking where the hell he was. He laughed at me. He said, I'll be there later today. I asked for my money to be refunded.
A newly refurbished pool is a delicate thing. A lot can go wrong, if start up protocol isn't followed precisely. I was frantic. Manny left me in a terrible place, and I felt I had no recourse, but to fire him, and hope to find someone else to do this job for me.
I demanded $500 of the $550 back I'd given him. I was willing to give him $50 for the start up acid he bought, but I couldn't trust him to complete this job for me. Manny refused to return more than $450 to me, and I've gotta say, this is the WORST 100 bucks I've ever spent! read more