Buyer's Resource Guide

Recommended
Resources

Every supplier, tool, and resource referenced in the DIY Pool Blueprint — with direct links so you skip the middleman markup.

⚠ Affiliate Disclosure — Some links earn a small commission at no extra cost to you
$46K
Owner-builder savings vs pool company
$35K
Additional savings with these techniques
8
Trades you can source directly
$49
Cost of this blueprint
Section 01
Pool Equipment Suppliers
Buy direct and skip the 30–50% contractor equipment markup. These are the sources recommended in the Blueprint.
Pool Supply World
TOP PICK
Consistently the best pricing on Pentair, Hayward, and Jandy equipment. Full equipment packages, filters, pumps, automation systems, and chemicals. Ships fast.
Commission 8–10%
Cookie 30 days
Shop Pool Supply World →
InTheSwim
TOP PICK
Strong selection of equipment packages and chemicals. Particularly good for startup chemical kits and ongoing maintenance supplies. High average order value.
Commission 6–8%
Cookie 45 days
Shop InTheSwim →
Amazon
DIRECT
Good for smaller items — test kits, brushes, startup chemicals, replacement parts. Verify you're buying from an authorized dealer for major equipment to protect warranty.
Commission 3–4%
Cookie 24 hrs
Shop Amazon →
Home Depot
DIRECT
Best for decking materials — concrete pavers, travertine, flagstone. Also good for conduit, PVC fittings, and miscellaneous construction materials during your build.
Commission 1–3%
Cookie 24 hrs
Shop Home Depot →

💡 Facebook Marketplace Strategy — Save 40–60% on Equipment

  • Build your full equipment list (BOM) before you start shopping
  • Search Facebook Marketplace weekly for: "Pentair new", "Hayward new", "IntelliCenter", "AquaRite", "pool equipment new in box"
  • New-in-box returns appear regularly — people buy incompatible equipment outside the return window
  • Pentair IntelliCenter automation ($2,500 retail) regularly appears at $1,000–$1,400 on FBMP
  • Same for salt generators and variable speed pumps — patience pays off here
Section 02
Design & Planning Tools
Free and paid tools to help you plan your layout, find your engineer, and manage your project.
Google Maps Satellite View
FREE
Use satellite view to measure your backyard, identify utility line locations, and plan pool placement relative to your house and property line — before hiring an engineer.
Open Google Maps →
811 — Call Before You Dig
FREE / REQUIRED
Mandatory utility line marking before any excavation. Call or submit online at least 3 business days before groundbreak. Free service — skipping it is illegal and dangerous.
Go to 811.com →
PoolMath by TFP
FREE APP
The best free pool chemistry calculator. Enter your readings and it tells you exactly what to add and how much. Essential for the 30-day plaster startup sequence in Section 17 of the Blueprint.
Get PoolMath →
Your State Contractor License Lookup
FREE
Verify every contractor's license before hiring. Search "[your state] contractor license lookup" — every state has a free online verification tool. Non-negotiable step for every trade.
Find Your State →
Google Sheets — Bid Tracker
FREE
Use the bid comparison template in Section 08 of the Blueprint in Google Sheets. Create one tab per trade, track all 3 bids, compare side by side. Free and accessible anywhere.
Open Google Sheets →
Rocket Lawyer — Lien Waivers
FREE TEMPLATES
Free conditional and unconditional lien waiver templates by state. Required with every contractor payment as described in Section 11. Download, fill in, and get signed at every milestone.
Get Templates →
Section 03
Recommended Equipment by Category
The specific products referenced in Section 09 of the Blueprint — with direct purchase links.
Pentair IntelliFlo3 VSF Pump
BEST PUMP
Variable speed and flow pump. Industry standard for energy efficiency. Required by law in many states. Saves $50–$100/month in electricity vs single-speed pumps.
Retail ~$800–$1,100
FBMP Target $400–$600
View on Pool Supply World →
Pentair IntelliCenter Automation
BEST AUTOMATION
Controls pump, lights, heater, and sanitization from your phone. Industry leading app. If you find this new-in-box on FBMP under $1,200 — buy it immediately.
Retail ~$1,800–$2,500
FBMP Target $900–$1,400
View on Pool Supply World →
Pentair IntelliChlor Salt Chlorinator
BEST SALT SYSTEM
Salt water chlorination system. Eliminates buying chlorine tablets — generates its own from salt. 5-year cell life. Integrates with IntelliCenter automation.
Retail ~$700–$1,000
FBMP Target $350–$500
View on Pool Supply World →
Pentair MasterTemp Heater
POPULAR
Most popular residential pool heater. Fast heat-up time, reliable, widely serviceable. Available in 200K, 300K, and 400K BTU. Size for your pool — ask your plumber for recommendation.
Retail ~$1,400–$2,200
View on Pool Supply World →
Taylor K-2006 Test Kit
ESSENTIAL
Professional-grade water chemistry test kit. Far more accurate than test strips. Required for the 30-day plaster startup protocol. Tests chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium, cyanuric acid.
Price ~$70–$85
View on Amazon →
Pool Plaster Brush
LOW COST
Nylon bristle brush — NOT wire. Wire brushes scratch fresh plaster. Use for the mandatory 2x daily brushing during the first 14 days after plaster. One of the most important startup tools.
Price ~$15–$25
View on Amazon →
Section 04
Free Learning Resources
The best free communities and references for owner-builders doing their homework.
Trouble Free Pool (TFP)
FREE COMMUNITY
The most knowledgeable pool owner community on the internet. Deep forums on water chemistry, equipment, and construction. The TFP method for pool chemistry is the gold standard for owner-maintained pools. Use their PoolMath calculator and read their ABC guides before your plaster startup.
Visit TFP Forum →
r/pools on Reddit
FREE
Active community with real homeowner experiences. Good for local contractor recommendations and build-specific questions. Search before posting — most questions have been answered.
Visit r/pools →
NEC 680 — Pool Electrical Code
REFERENCE
The National Electrical Code Article 680 covers all pool electrical requirements. Your electrician must know this cold. If they can't speak to bonding requirements, keep looking.
Read NEC 680 →
Facebook Marketplace
FBMP STRATEGY
Set up saved searches for your equipment list. Check weekly. New-in-box pool equipment appears regularly at 40–60% off retail. Search: brand names + "new" in your metro area.
Open Marketplace →