first timer about to sign, very very very nervous (DFW IG)

[riboflavins]

I am likely within 48 hours of making a yes no decision on my first family pool. After spending the last 2.5 months shopping around local pool builders, my wife and I have settled on a design and builder that we feel is best for us. I'd really like to solicit the good people of TFP on a couple of items.

1. Overall design reaction. I feel like I designed this pool almost exclusively from the 'birds eye' perspective. Aside from the 3D images included on this post, I just don't have 100 percent confidence I am doing the most with the money we are set to spend. Did I really screw this up and overlook something a pool veteran thinks I have to have or take off?

2. Design, material and price ($64,000).

I attempted to post what I understand to be the critical stats, but if I missed something, please let me know and I'll edit ASAP.

That's pretty much it. Based on my TFP education and related research I am highly unlikely to run into any new costs via reroutes (all safe based on a previous survey), dig time, and all of the electrical work and plumbing (backwash line, etc) is part of the PB contract. The only item(s) left for me to buy are a robotic cleaner[TBD], test kit and then I decide what pergola or solar-pergola expansion the wife wants (completely separate expense and project).




3D Album Link: HERE!

Pool Surface: 540 Sq Ft
Pool Size: 32'6"x16'6"
Gallons (est.): 17,181
Perimeter: 99' w/ spa | 94' w/o spa
Depth: 3.5 -5 - 4 'Volleyball' Style Depth
Plaster: [Undecided] Pebble Finish
Additions: 4' sun tanning ledge with a small section of steps shared with spa on entry side of pool, 2 additional bench areas @ 18" sitting depth

Spa: 7 Ft Raised Spa (12 inch) w/ 2-tier spillway and buffed white Lueders limestone surround

• 8 hydrotherapy jet (Polaris QT)
• 4" arm shelf/rest
• fountain/bubbler
• bi-level bench

Decking: Travertine 'tumbled ivory' @ ~600 Sq ft (a small portion is topping current patio, rest is new)
Coping: Lueders Stone ('chiseled' or 'sawcut') w/ rough-cut facade around the spa

Equipment:

• Jandy 60sq ft. DE Filter
  
• Jandy 2.0HP Variable Speed Pump
  
• Jandy JXI400 Natural Gas heater (400K BTU)
  
• Jandy PDA PS4 computer for pool and spa control via remote and phone apps
• 3 RGB LED remotely controlled (2 for main pool 1 for spa)
  
• Rainbow 320 Chlorine Dispnser
• Cleaner (TBD, but are planning to buy a robotic on own)
• 2 Skimmers
• 5 Returns
• 2 Safety Main Drains

 

[GaryT58]

I see one red flag. As I understand it the Rainbow 320 is a chlorine tablet dispenser. The use of tablets as the major source of sanitation is not recommended at TFP. Here is a good starter on the different methods on sanitizing your pool. In brief, using tablets as the main method means that you will need to empty pool water (potentially major amounts) at times.

We recommend with the use of plain chlorine bleach (not low-splash or scented) or a salt water chlorine generator (SWG). These let you adjust the chlorine level alone, without adding additional chemicals to the water (well chlorine alone can build up some salt over time).

--Edited ---

Some positives. I like your design. Good to go with variable speed pump, as you will be happy being able to save $ by adjusting it.

I always suggest looking at adding umbrella mounts near pool sitting areas. We have one as part of a built in table and its great to sit by the pool there, or in one of the built in loungers and have shade when you want it. My wife and I spend many evenings sitting with a drink and reading, or watching grand kids. Our 11' umbrella has a crank, so easy to put up and down.

If you lean toward a salt water chlorine generator, you should get one that is rated for 2x or so of you actual pool size. This is because you probably do not want to run 24/7 during peak heat. I have one rated for 52,000 gallons for my 19,000 gallon pool. Jandy makes ones as well, if you want to keep all in the Jandy family. Many here have them, and could offer you help on those and info on their automation as well.

Enjoy the process - it can be nerve wracking. But well worth it once done!

 

[pabeader]

Welcome to TFPC!
I'm sure that others will be along soon with many good things to say about your build plans. My comments are usually limited to equipment. I see that you have listed a Rainbow chlorinator. From your reading here, you probably already know that there is nothing wrong with using that for occasional chlorine addition while on vacation, but for long term, everyday chlorination, you will either use liquid chlorine (bleach) or a SWG.

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry for the repeated information. I guess great minds think alike.

 

[kimkats]

Hi! Oh what a fun but very scary time! I can tell you HAVE been doing quite a bit of reading! That will help you to know what to expect-mud and delays

I am for leaving the inline chlorination but NOT using it except for trips and such. I do not like floaters as they can get stuck and cause damage because of the concentration of chemicals being let out in that one spot. If you use the inline the chemicals are better distributed throughout the whole pool.

I am loving the steps into the spa. That is going to be very different. Are your thoughts you can walk up them to get into the spa from the pool?

I am a little worried about your light placement in the pool. It is good they are not facing the house BUT if you are going to have a TV by the house and want to sit on the bench across from it the lights will be in your eyes. I am thinking maybe putting the left light closer to the step/bench and the right light by the steps for the tanning shelf.

I love how the far bench is being built as a "bump out" instead of taking up room inside the pool.

The bench and step at the end is a very neat idea as well!

Who came up with this design? The more I look at it the better like it and I liked it at first glance! LOL

Bubbler in the spa. Is it for the visual effect or are you thinking it will be nice to have on when you are in the spa?

Sun shelf-do you plan on being able to put loungers or chairs on it? Have you measured to make sure it is wide/long enough for that AND for some one to move around them to get out of the pool? I really do not know but want to have you think through every thing before you sign.

I would LOVE to see a shot of the yard it is going in!

Kim

 

[Jimrahbe]

ribo,

Just wanted to say welcome to TFP...

When building a pool, the last thing people look into is the maintenance of a pool. I suggest you look into how you plan to chlorinate your pool now, so that, no matter what your decide, it can be added by the pool builder.

You have three basic options.. the Rainbow Dispenser using pucks (which is not suggested), a Saltwater Chlorine Generator (SWCG), or a Stenner Chlorine pump system.

Suggest you search this site and get the Pros and Cons of the three systems.

Thanks for posting,

Jim R.

 

[dgknight3]

I'm not very experienced with pools as mine was just completed but thought I would add this idea. If you want a spa for therapeutic value, consider changing the attached spa to just decking where you can add a separate spa. Not sure about the cost difference but the separate spa is ready to be used year round. And more economical to keep heated.
Other veterans on the site say similar things in other threads here.

From what I've read the Jandy equipment is top notch.
Also, look into salt water generator for pools, seems to be the prevailing way to go.

David

 

[espejo]

Great advice on the chlorine addition method. I started with a Stenner pump so if you plan on doing it I would ask the builder now to include a 2 inch T coupling which would allow you to add a Stenner later. If you never do add the Stenner or only during winter months then you can remove it and add a plug. You can pick up a coupling at Lowes for about $2.50 I switched to SWG and only use Stenner during the winter. In addition, to vacations, etc. the Rainbow chlorinator can be useful with pucks if you need to get your CYA up. Just be sure to monitor the CYA levels so you do not get too high.


I'm not sure these would be "new costs" and unless your contract has an allotment be sure to include a budget for re-routing any irrigation lines and landscaping even if it is just adding back some sod for now. Otherwise it looks great.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I would suggest making 4' the minimum depth (and that means water depth, not wall height). If you're not looking to do a deep end, you may notice that your shallower pool gets swampy feeling in that hot Texas sun. Also if anyone is actually swimming, you can drag knuckles on the floor at 3.5' sometimes.

So perhaps a 4-4.5-5.0 depth? That's *my* two cents

Yippee (who always thinks deeper is better!)

 

[joanniern]

Let's see some yard shots!

 

[Captain 776]

I see no value to using pucks, to me, pucks are for maintenance. If your water is well balanced, having pucks in there can help but you won't achieve a good chlorine level by pucks alone or raise your CYA From Zero. They dissolve tooooooo slowly. If you are going to try to reach a CYA of 50-70, I can't see that ever happening from pucks.
I am no expert nor do I profess to be one, my statements are based on my experience.
i will be interested to see what the experts say.......agree with me or not?

thanks

 

[kimkats]

I only use pucks when I am traveling. I do not have a SWG so I need some way to get chlorine into my pool. I do not like the floaters due to them getting stuck in one spot by the ladder so could cause problems to the liner in that area.

 

[jragan]

Equipment:

• Jandy PDA PS4 computer for pool and spa control via remote and phone apps
• 3 RGB LED remotely controlled (2 for main pool 1 for spa)
  

There is no "Jandy PDA PS4 computer for pool and spa control via remote and phone apps". There is Jandy PDA (hand held device, on-premises use only) and there is Jandy IAqualink (use your mobile device or computer to control
On-premises or remotely). They are not one in the same and one does not give you the other. So I'd suggest you have your builder itemize exactly what it is you're getting. I prefer iaqualink so I can control things remotely. I'd also suggest upping the panel from a 4 to a 6 or 8 for future upgrades (4 relays is very few for modern pools)

Also you should have him specify which brand of LED lights and model and seek feedback on those.

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

Also read a bunch of build threads!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk