Core drilling to add additional pool light to new pool

[saralines]

My PB said 2 pool lights and 1 spa light would be enough for my 12x31 pool with integrated 5x7 spa. Unfortunately, the placement of one of the pool lights was poor - it is almost at the end of the deep end near my deep end bench, so the middle of the pool, where my stairs are located, is very dark. The attached photo is actually brighter than it is in real life (my cell phone lightens everything it seems). When I raised my concerns with my PB, he said that after the Pebblesheen is done with the 30 day curing, they can lower the water level, core drill, and add another light near the stairs. My questions for anyone who has done this - how clean and precise is this process? Does it compromise the integrity of the pool shell? Does it ruin the pebble finish at all?

I don't have a pool deck, but it would mean digging up our newly installed sod - but that is already ruined/dying by under-watering in preparation for plaster, and the Pebbletec installers walking all over it anyway (my PB insisted I put the sod in prior to plastering to avoid dirt in the plaster). I am trying to decide if it is worth it adding the light this way because it will be best for the future to have things perfect, or if I should find another solution. I do have a flood light I can try to switch to manual control, but I feel like that isn't the correct solution. I also attached daytime photos if that helps. Ignore the 2 different landscaping pebble - still trying to find the right gray stone mix.

 

[klanel]

I don't have an answer to your question but wondered if they make a replacement light assembly that can be pointed in more than one direction that could replace one of yours?

 

[KCNM]

I just had a new return line added to my pool. Because they had to fit the fixture head, they had to cut kind of like a pyramid shape. Then they used a water jet to put the pipe through under the deck. Then they sealed the area with hydraulic cement. Then the entire thing was plastered over. This all works out fine, because while there shouldn't be any leaks in the shell using that method, the shell is never meant to be waterproof anyway. That's why pools are plastered in the first place.

I would not feel comfortable putting a hole in the plaster and expecting it to be waterproof without *something* between the hole and the light to create a seal. But hopefully someone with some more direct experience can chime in.

I do have to say that the placement of the lights that are there seems strange. I agree with the PB that those two lights *should* have been enough, but not placed and pointed the way they are! How did they expect to get coverage with one light in the little niche next to the spa, and the other all the way on the other side, both pointing across the short-side of the pool?!

 

[joepaiii]

My PB said 2 pool lights and 1 spa light would be enough for my 12x31 pool with integrated 5x7 spa. Unfortunately, the placement of one of the pool lights was poor - it is almost at the end of the deep end near my deep end bench, so the middle of the pool, where my stairs are located, is very dark. The attached photo is actually brighter than it is in real life (my cell phone lightens everything it seems). When I raised my concerns with my PB, he said that after the Pebblesheen is done with the 30 day curing, they can lower the water level, core drill, and add another light near the stairs. My questions for anyone who has done this - how clean and precise is this process? Does it compromise the integrity of the pool shell? Does it ruin the pebble finish at all?

I don't have a pool deck, but it would mean digging up our newly installed sod - but that is already ruined/dying by under-watering in preparation for plaster, and the Pebbletec installers walking all over it anyway (my PB insisted I put the sod in prior to plastering to avoid dirt in the plaster). I am trying to decide if it is worth it adding the light this way because it will be best for the future to have things perfect, or if I should find another solution. I do have a flood light I can try to switch to manual control, but I feel like that isn't the correct solution. I also attached daytime photos if that helps. Ignore the 2 different landscaping pebble - still trying to find the right gray stone mix.

It won't compromise the integrity of the pool shell. If they use a core drill it will be very close to the size of the 1 1/2 inch (assume they are using mini LED nicheless lights) return pipe that they go in. Then they will likely either epoxy around that and plus add plaster to water seal the hole. I think that they do stuff like this fairly often. Of course things could go wrong but you will likely always notice the dark spot. So if they are willing to do it definitely get it done. Hard to have too much light in a pool.

 

[saralines]

I just had a new return line added to my pool. Because they had to fit the fixture head, they had to cut kind of like a pyramid shape. Then they used a water jet to put the pipe through under the deck. Then they sealed the area with hydraulic cement. Then the entire thing was plastered over. This all works out fine, because while there shouldn't be any leaks in the shell using that method, the shell is never meant to be waterproof anyway. That's why pools are plastered in the first place.

I would not feel comfortable putting a hole in the plaster and expecting it to be waterproof without *something* between the hole and the light to create a seal. But hopefully someone with some more direct experience can chime in.

I do have to say that the placement of the lights that are there seems strange. I agree with the PB that those two lights *should* have been enough, but not placed and pointed the way they are! How did they expect to get coverage with one light in the little niche next to the spa, and the other all the way on the other side, both pointing across the short-side of the pool?!

RIGHT? I wish I understood while building what hole was for what, but I just trusted the PB, and he clearly didn't check and just trusted his electrician. As for which wall - I think they put the lights on that wall of the pool because from our deck, you wouldn't see the fixtures in the wall or have the light shining at you, and from the patio, you wouldn't have the lights shining at you, and also because that side of the yard didn't have any barriers so they could run pipes more easily. BUT they should have put the deep end one more centered between the stairs and the bench!

 

[saralines]

It won't compromise the integrity of the pool shell. If they use a core drill it will be very close to the size of the 1 1/2 inch (assume they are using mini LED nicheless lights) return pipe that they go in. Then they will likely either epoxy around that and plus add plaster to water seal the hole. I think that they do stuff like this fairly often. Of course things could go wrong but you will likely always notice the dark spot. So if they are willing to do it definitely get it done. Hard to have too much light in a pool.

Thank you. Would they add pebblesheen or just plaster? Is it just a tiny bit? Trying to imagine.

 

[joepaiii]

Thank you. Would they add pebblesheen or just plaster? Is it just a tiny bit? Trying to imagine.

Depends on the hole size... I would hope that they drill a core hole very close to the size of the pipe that would go through. If you look through the site others have mentioned doing something like this after a build. It is also one of the features of the nicheless light styles. I would think they can do it in a way that shouldn't be all that noticeable. I had a nail from the tileboard holder left in my pool that was rusting after pool fill. They dug it out and added some plaster. It is very hard to tell where they did it (I have pebblesheen blue surf).

Also check out this lighting guide -

https://www.jandy.com/-/media/zodiac/global/downloads/sl/sl4572.pdf

I would add the light somewhere in between the steps and the light at the deep end.

These are nicheless lights - correct?

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

It won't compromise the integrity of the pool shell. If they use a core drill it will be very close to the size of the 1 1/2 inch (assume they are using mini LED nicheless lights) return pipe that they go in. Then they will likely either epoxy around that and plus add plaster to water seal the hole. I think that they do stuff like this fairly often. Of course things could go wrong but you will likely always notice the dark spot. So if they are willing to do it definitely get it done. Hard to have too much light in a pool.

This type of work is done often on remodeled pools. The hole will be slightly over sized so the electrical pipe can be installed easily and then patched with a sealant for water tightness and plaster patched for looks but it will not match perfectly but you will only know, remember it will be under a few feet of water. Here is where I would have put the light during initial construction.

 

[saralines]

Depends on the hole size... I would hope that they drill a core hole very close to the size of the pipe that would go through. If you look through the site others have mentioned doing something like this after a build. It is also one of the features of the nicheless light styles. I would think they can do it in a way that shouldn't be all that noticeable. I had a nail from the tileboard holder left in my pool that was rusting after pool fill. They dug it out and added some plaster. It is very hard to tell where they did it (I have pebblesheen blue surf).

Also check out this lighting guide -

https://www.jandy.com/-/media/zodiac/global/downloads/sl/sl4572.pdf

I would add the light somewhere in between the steps and the light at the deep end.

These are nicheless lights - correct?

Thank you for the Jandy guides. Yes the lights are Jandy Watercolors Nicheless LED Lights "Hypercool" (good thing the garbage hasn't been hauled). Grey fittings. Pool perpendicular to house and lights placed on the wall so that they face away from the yard and the deck, so that was correct. But I don't think they are at the exact same depth - I will make sure at least the new one is the same as the one in the deep end I guess? I will measure the depths of the lights tomorrow!

Depends on the hole size... I would hope that they drill a core hole very close to the size of the pipe that would go through. If you look through the site others have mentioned doing something like this after a build. It is also one of the features of the nicheless light styles. I would think they can do it in a way that shouldn't be all that noticeable. I had a nail from the tileboard holder left in my pool that was rusting after pool fill. They dug it out and added some plaster. It is very hard to tell where they did it (I have pebblesheen blue surf).

Also check out this lighting guide -

https://www.jandy.com/-/media/zodiac/global/downloads/sl/sl4572.pdf

I would add the light somewhere in between the steps and the light at the deep end.

These are nicheless lights - correct?

 

[saralines]

This type of work is done often on remodeled pools. The hole will be slightly over sized so the electrical pipe can be installed easily and then patched with a sealant for water tightness and plaster patched for looks but it will not match perfectly but you will only know, remember it will be under a few feet of water. Here is where I would have put the light during initial construction.

Thank you. Is this where you would have put it if I was having an additional light, or where you would have put it if only one light in that section? So if I am going to do it, would you place it directly under where my first side filter is (visible in the morning shade photo)? I will try to take a better photo of the wall with all the filters/lights/etc. in it tomorrow morning and post it. I want to get this right.

I don't know if my builder is going to charge me and how much, but in your opinion, is this an I pay for the light, he pays for the work situation because he should have placed the other one in a better place? Or he pays for it all? Or I pay for it all?

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

This is where I would locate the light ( yellow ). You will have shadowing on the far side of the steps but that’s normal. It would be fair for you to pay for the light and the builder pay for installation. Here’s are some pictures of a well lit pool (20’ X 40’). 7 lights on the reef step and 4 in the pool.

 

[saralines]

This is where I would locate the light ( yellow ). You will have shadowing on the far side of the steps but that’s normal. It would be fair for you to pay for the light and the builder pay for installation. Here’s are some pictures of a well lit pool (20’ X 40’). 7 lights on the reef step and 4 in the pool.

Oh, that is beautiful lighting! Thank you for your help and input.
I measured my lights:
-deep end light is 5' from end of pool and 16" beneath water line. It is under one of my 2 side filters.
-shallow end light is 6 1/2' from other end of pool and 24" beneath water line
-spa light is centered in spa and 33" from water line
I think where you marked is approximately where my other filter is, so I could put it under the filter to mirror the other ones, 16" beneath waterline? I think that is approximately 5' from spa wall. Or is it too close to steps and need to be below the return (or above - have to measure the depth)?

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Personally I would have the light installed so it is evenly distanced and mirrors the other light. You will have shadowing no matter what in regards to the steps so have the lights look even to the eye.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I agree with Aqua-Holics on the spacing.

Sorry, I have to diverge from the original subject for a second, what is that SS doo-dad that looks like a hose reel, hanging on your pool wall between your skimmers?

--Jeff

 

[saralines]

I agree with Aqua-Holics on the spacing.

Sorry, I have to diverge from the original subject for a second, what is that SS doo-dad that looks like a hose reel, hanging on your pool wall between your skimmers?

--Jeff

Oh, that big, ugly, protruding ring? It is a Badu Imperial Swim Jet. I decided to include it because I wasn't sure if 31' would be sufficient for swimming laps and I thought it was better to have it just in case. I did swim laps in my pool one day and it was perfectly fine length (yes, I turned a lot, but I could get several strokes in before turning). If I had realized how it would look (I didn't do enough research) I may have gone with form over function and skipped it. It was supposed to be placed in the shallow end wall (where the house is) but there was supposedly not enough room for the swim jet plumbing there, although there is a jet on that wall of my spa. The pool is only a few inches from the existing patio though, so I believed the PB, although he should have thought of that in advance. So he placed it on the side with the filters, lights, and returns so that if you are on my deck or in my yard, you don't see that wall. I haven't tried it out yet, beyond having the PB turn it on to test it. It is pretty loud. My kids will enjoy playing on the current, even if I don't end up using it for laps - but I will try it out tomorrow when it is supposed to warm up a little.

PB came to change the return fittings so they are less noticeable in dark gray, and put something darker to cover the vacuum hole since I don't have a vacuum for now. He suggested putting the new light next to the other fittings, but I said let's make it even with the other under the filter. He said okay, but we should place the light slightly higher/shallower than the other one, even with the return fittings, since it is the shallow end. But I will make sure they do it the same depth as the other one when they come to do it after the plaster has cured for visual symmetry, if you all don't agree with his reasoning.