How to Build a Subcontractor Network You Can Actually Rely On
Your subs are the ones executing your builds. A weak sub network means missed schedules, quality problems, and callbacks that cost you money and reputation. Here's how to build one that holds.
Every pool builder has a horror story about a sub who didn't show up, did shoddy work, or disappeared mid-project. The builders who scale past those problems aren't luckier — they've built deliberate systems for finding, vetting, and retaining the right people.
The trades you need relationships in
- Gunite / shotcrete crew: the most specialized and the hardest to replace mid-season
- Electrical: pool-specific electrical work requires knowledge of NEC 680 — not every residential electrician has it
- Plastering / interior finish: quality varies enormously; your finish is one of the most visible things you do
- Tile and coping setters: underappreciated skill; bad tile work is obvious and expensive to fix
- Excavation: you may have your own equipment or contract this out depending on your volume
- Fence / barrier: many jurisdictions require pool barriers before final inspection
How to find good subs
The best subs are rarely found through Craigslist or cold outreach. They come through:
- Other pool builders (non-competing, in adjacent markets) — pool builders who aren't directly competing are often willing to share sub recommendations
- Supply house relationships — your equipment supplier knows who does good work because they see the callbacks
- Trade associations — PHTA, your state builder association, local chapters
- Walking job sites in your area and talking to crews whose work you like
Vetting before the first job
- Verify license and insurance — current, adequate limits, and workers comp if they have employees
- Ask for references from pool builders (not homeowners) — you want to know how they perform on a job site, not just whether a homeowner liked them
- Visit a job they're currently working on if possible
- Start with a lower-risk job — not your highest-profile project
Never use an uninsured sub. If a worker is injured on your job site and your sub doesn't have workers comp, that claim can come back to you. Verify current certificates of insurance before every season — not just when you first engage them.
How to retain the subs you want
The best subs have options. They work with builders who treat them well. What that looks like in practice:
- Pay on completion — don't make them wait 30 days for payment on a milestone they hit last week
- Give adequate notice — calling a sub the night before is disrespectful; confirm a week out and again the day before
- Have the job site ready when they arrive — steel inspection passed, site accessible, materials staged
- Don't nickel-and-dime on scope — if something fell outside the original scope, pay for it fairly
- Tell them when they've done good work — it's rare and they remember it
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