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24 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, June 3, 1986 Be careful looking for a back yard pool Unless they are really in the market for backyard swimming holes, consumers should choose pool builders carefully. Unfortunate families have lived with ugly and hazardous holes on their properties for months, while battling to get contractors to finish the pools. - "Some people have had holes dug during the spring of one year, but the pool hasn't been finished until midsummer the next," says Rober- ta Allan of the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Rela- tions (MCCR). '"The builders just keep making excuses. Sometimes' it's more than a matter of pro- crastination. Some unethical con- tractors start up dozens of jobs at the beginning of the season, grab as much money as they can from customers, then go out of business.' The only way to avoid this pro- blem is to be sure the builder's in- tegrity by getting recommendations from past customers. People who already own pools cannot only point you to a good con- tractor, they may offer some insight into what the purchase will mean to your lifestyle. There is a certain amount of work and expense involved in maintain- ing a swimming pool. Pools may raise property values, but general- ly the increase doesn't cover the in- itial investment. Also, should you decide to selll the house, the market will be limited to people who want a swimming pool in the backyard. '"'After weighing all these factors, if you still want to go ahead, visit your local municipal office to find out what bylaws may affect the pro- ject," Allan says. "You should also ask how and when to apply for any necessary building permits." Then get at least three contrac- tors to quote on the job and pick a company. If you haven't done so, get references from the chosen firm and check them out before signing. Once satisfied the contractor is reliable, examine the contract carefully. It should set out all costs for materials, labour and optional equipment. To protect yourself, get sizes, brands and qualities of materials listed. Insist that the con- tract also include a completion date. If the contractor refuses to commit to a specific date find one who will. Although a written completion date may help motivate the com- pany to get your pool done on time, some firms might still pro- crastinate. Consider asking a lawyer to include a clause in the contract penalizing the company a certain amount of money for each Engine problem slows up Rivet Despite some technical problems that reduced his speeds, Mike Rivet managed a credible 14th place finish in the second race of the Players Challenge series held Sunday at Mosport. Coupled with a 6th place finish in the first race two weeks ago, Rivet, driving the Dennis Anderson IROC Camaro, now stands 8th overall in points in the Players Challenge. The technical problems were with the air injection system, and this prevented Rivet from hitting top speeds on the straights at the Mosport track. His 14th place finish was due mainly to his skill in taking the car in and out of the tricky cor- ners on the Mosport track. Racing team manager Mike Rysiecki said after Sunday's race that the technical problems will be cleared up in time for the next stop in the Players Challenge Series this summer: the Grand Prix track June 13-15 in Montreal. Rivet is looking forward to Mon- treal as the Grand Prix track is one of his favourites and he knows it well from racing in the Honda series last year. He's hoping that a good per- formance there, as part of the Labatt's Grand Prix weekend, will move him even higher in the Players Challenge point standings. Rivet's car, an '86 stock Camaro Z IROC, sponsored by Dennis Anderson Chev Olds of Port Perry, along with Lightning Video of Markham, is attracting con- siderable attention here in Port Perry. At the Mosport races last weekend, a large number of Port Perry and area residents were on hand for the Players Challenge, and many of them stopped by to wish the team good luck. And a week ago, CFTO TV's Glen Cochrane (with a lot of help from en- thusiastic students at Port Perry High School) did a feature on the racing team and the efforts to raise money for the Hospital for Sick Children telethon. The next race for Camaro's and Pontiac Trans Am"s in the Players Challenge series at Mosport will be the weekend of June 28-30 as part of the president's trophy race. Residents upset y (From page 1) said each unit would have about 800 square feet, with two bedrooms, and the building would be 1.5 stories high. The front of each of the units would face south, he told the meeting. About eight people attended the meeting to express their objections. Mr. Kemp said many more are op- posed to the building and would have attended the meeting if it were held later in the evening. After hearing the presentation by Mr. Latreille and the objections raised by nearby residents, council deferred a decision on whether to allow the application. Mr. Latreille said that if approv- ed, the six units would be rented. He noted that there is a very strong de- mand for rental accommodation at this time in the Township. The land is currently zoned '""holding" with a residential designation in the Nestleton hamlet plan. To allow the six-plex, council 'must re-zone the land to RM4. LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS? Look here! .. Where consumers in need shop for the professionals in business! CALL 888-7383 for INFORMATION day completion is delayed. The contract should also state who is responsible for repairing any-pro- 'perty damaged during pool construction. i Keep deposits to about 10 percent of the total cost of the job, Allan advises. Construction costs are normally paid in installments, called payments, as each phase of work in finished. Details must be set out in the contract. Under the Construction Lien Act, buyers must hold back 10 percent of each progress payment until 45 days following substantial completion of the project. This ensures you cannot be held liable if the contractor fa to pay suppliers or subcontractors. Get details about all warranties offered on equipment and workman- ship included in the contract. If the pool has a liner, insist it is purchas- ed from a manufacturer with local service facilities. Liners can be damaged and it can be expensive to ship them to the United States or another province for repairs. . Pool construction contracts sign- ed in your home can be cancelled by sending a registered letter to the company within two clear working days of the signing date. For more information about home renovation contracts and other con- sumer issues, contact the Consumer Information Centre at 555 Yonge St., Toronto M7A 2H6 -- (416)963-1111 or toll free at 1-800-268-1142. Ontario residents with an 807 area code may call the Toronto number collect. The Canadian Spa and Pool Association/Ontario Swimming Pool Association is also an excellent resource. For information on pools contact the association at Suite 305, 6303 Airport Rd., Mississauga, Ont. LAV 1R8 -- (416)671-1990. Consumers who feel they have been unfairly treated by a contrac- tor should contact the nearest Con- sumer Advisory Bureau of the ministry. Cartwright basketball teams fi ida ios a i Wd 4 The Cartwright Central Public School junior girls basketball team were finalists in the Durham Central tournaments this year. At front is (from left) Tracy Malcolm, Sabrina Cummings, pin (absent). Michelle Morton, Michele Cummings, Leslie The Cartwright Central Public School junior boys basketball team recently came home from the Durham Central basketball tournament with the pennant, against seven other teams. At front from left is: David Weir, Bryce Green, Lee Gon- Harvey Friede. MacKenzie (and at back), Vanessa Sorley, Christie Gordon, coach John Hinch, Susan Kyte, Jennifer Lee, Marian Reitano, and Tanya Map- nerman, Chris MacCleod, Jody Logan, Andy Wilson (and at back), Andrew Frew, Jeff Kemp, Randy Gardner, Keith Reid, Jeremy Cock, Chris Bryant and Cory Wilson. At centre is coach