I was quoted 500,000 B for a pool!

I couldn't agree more with what JimboLv says. The bottom line is do your homework and don't rely on what you are told by the local pool shops. Quick example. I needed to replace the filter pumps (2) and didn't realize they had to be sent to BKK because no one up this way can do the work. To make matters worse they are Chinese made and the parts had to be oredered from China. I opted to replace both pumps due to their age (5 years) and visited a local dealer who tried to sell me a pump which was rated (water delivery) well above the capacity of the filter. It didn't sound right to me so I questioned him further and he told me that it would make backwashing the filter much easier???????????? I asked what do I do with the extra water that the pump will move to the filter on a regular basis and received back a blank stare with a grin? I contacted the pump manufacturer office in BKK and they confirmed for me that you do NOT want a pump which pumps more water than the filter can handle. All the guy in udon wanted was the bigger sale. My experience with pool dealers here in Udon is "buyer beware".

The original installer NEVER told me anything about servicing the pumps and I stupidly never asked. The same goes for the skimmer boxes which are also Chinese made and difficult to repair.

As for costs. True labvor is cheaper but components which have to be imported more than make up for the cheap labor. Building a pool is an expensive proposition here in Thailand but but in the end certainly worthwhile from my prospective.

Never having a pool in the US despite living in Florida definitely worked against me when it came time to build one here. Do your homework before venturing down this road which can easily turn slippery.

As for JD Pools. I could disagree more with monkeyman. JD Pools in BKK was supposed to design a filtration system for my pool. I paid them 10,000B for the design and as a downpayment for the system. I received nothing in return despite numerous phone calls. A year later we were contacted by their BKK office and told we would forfeit the money because we never went forward with the project. Never mind they didn't design the system as they said they would. Bottom line is we lost 10,000B. Live and learn. Additionally, I don't THINK they will build a concrete in ground pool. To the best of my knowledge their pools are in ground with a plastic liner or a preformed plastic/fiberglass tub.

I forgot to add the following re: construction costs for a pool. Steel rebar (highstrength type) is also expensive these days and will also offset the low cost of labor.

You're right about buying stuff made in China. It would have taken me months to have those pumps repaired. The replacements are european made and can be repaired here in Udon. I am also using an American made Hayward DE filter. Great clear water all the time. I have a salt water pool which does not require the addition of chlorine to the water. There is an electronic controller which electronically seperates the chlorine atoms from the sodium atoms. The free chlorine then disinfects the water and eventually joins back up with the sodium atoms creating salt again. The cycle repeats itself over and over as long as the pumps are on. This type of system is easier on the skin and hair and does not burn your eyes like regular chlorine will. The salt level is about the same as human tears.

I have no problem at all with the construction of the pool. No cracks or problems with the shell. The only problems I've had have been related to the cheap Chinese crap which was installed by a local pool dealer. The pool was built by the contractor who built the house and is quite sound. I posted earlier that the pool shell is sitting on a series of concrete pilings for added stability.

Mike