Pettit requires one of the lowest deposits in Florida at only $3,000, then 75% on the day of pool excavation (with your deposit credited toward the 75% and 25% payments), then the last 25% after the pool looks beautiful, is clean and clear, and is working — but before final inspections — with a $500 withholding allowed. Whether you are buying fiberglass pools in Pasco County, Hernando, Citrus, Hillsborough, or Pinellas — New Port Richey, Spring Hill, Tampa, or Palm Harbor — that schedule keeps a large share of your money tied to visible progress in the yard, not to a big check on signing day.
Call 727-847-7665 or request a free estimate.
Stage 1 — $3,000 deposit to start the permit
Once you are happy with the proposal and layout, a $3,000 deposit is all that is needed to get started with the permit. That is intentionally low compared with many Florida pool contracts that ask for a large percentage up front. The deposit lets us assemble plans, file with the correct county or city office, and lock your place in the install queue. For timing context, see how long a pool permit takes in Tampa Bay.
Stage 2 — 75% on the day of pool excavation
On dig day, 75% is due. Excavation is the moment the project becomes real in your backyard — the hole is opened and the shell is on its way to set. Because fiberglass installs move quickly once permitted, make sure cash or loan draws are approved before excavation is scheduled. Waiting until the crew is on site to fund the draw is how dig days slip.
Stage 3 — Last 25%, with a $500 withholding allowed
The last 25% is due after the pool looks beautiful, is clean and clear, and is working — but before final inspections. You may withhold $500 until final. That holdback is there so punch-list and inspection items can close without you releasing every remaining dollar too early. When finals clear, the $500 is released.
Financing and what to confirm in writing
Many buyers fund the stages with a pool loan or home equity product. Pettit financing is advertised as Starting at $400 a month W.A.C. — see financing options for current programs. Before you sign, confirm on your contract:
- That the $3,000 deposit is shown as a credit toward the 75% / 25% payments
- Exact trigger language for excavation-day payment and for the final 25%
- That change orders (rock, stumps, long electrical runs, and similar) are written and approved first — see can my pool price change after I sign
- That warranty language matches our warranty page
Budget context: fiberglass pool cost in Tampa Bay. Compare builders with how to check a Florida pool contractor.
Why a low deposit still protects the project
A low deposit is only useful if the rest of the schedule is clear. With Pettit, the heavy payment lands on excavation day — when the hole is open and the shell is arriving — and the final share waits until the water is clean, clear, and the equipment is running. That pattern reduces the chance you fund a large percentage while the job is still only paperwork. It also means your lender or cash plan must be ready before dig day, not after. If a competing quote asks for a much larger deposit at signing, ask what work that money actually buys in the first thirty days, and whether unused deposit funds are refundable if the permit stalls for reasons outside your control.
Product pages such as the Splash 8×16 also note the $3,000 deposit as the amount needed to start the permit after you approve the flagged layout. Match that number to your written contract so the website and the paperwork agree.
Payment schedule FAQs
How much is the Pettit deposit?
Pettit requires a $3,000 deposit — one of the lowest deposits in Florida — to get started with the permit.
When is the next payment due?
Seventy-five percent is due on the day of pool excavation. Plan financing or funds to be ready before dig day.
When is the final payment due?
The last 25% is due after the pool looks beautiful, is clean and clear, and is working — but before final inspections — with a $500 withholding allowed until final.
Can I finance the pool?
Yes. Financing is available Starting at $400 a month W.A.C. See the financing page for current options.
Does the deposit go toward the contract price?
Yes. The $3,000 deposit is credited toward your 75% excavation-day payment and final 25% payment, so it is not an extra charge on top of your pool price.
Ready for a clear proposal?
Fiberglass pool installation across Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Hillsborough and Pinellas — including New Port Richey, Spring Hill, Tampa, and Tarpon Springs. Citrus County homeowners in Inverness, Crystal River, Homosassa, and Beverly Hills are welcome too. See our service areas hub for every city we cover from Port Richey.
Call 727-847-7665 or contact us online. Pettit Fiberglass Pools, 6651 Industrial Ave, Port Richey, FL.