What to consider when building a new pool? Recommendations?

[TDTPool]

I'm meeting a builder to start finalizing plans next Wednesday and curious of things I hadn't considered, and should put into our discussions of design/pricing? I've told them my high level wants, walked the property, but I want to make sure I walk into the conversation with a pretty flushed out idea. Also would love some design ideas - We decided to do benches instead of stools since he told me ~1500 for bench, 4500+ per stool - Here is the rough idea I am thinking size wise.

Some common questions we've already discussed:

• Do we need an exit/entrance on 'deep side'?
  • I plan to have an embedded cover in that side so I assume no ladder
• How many steps from tanning ledge into pool?
• Should hottub be even with the steps?
  • He was explaining to me about the pump having a 'pool' and 'spa' mode and how spa mode would isolate the spa from the pool water; how does this work? It surely can't level the water that much without wasting?
• How many lights?
• Can benches have lights (without it being a PITA)
• How many jets/returns should I have?
• Is 6.5' deep enough?
  • I originally said 8 but that was an arbritrary number - I don't want a diving board. Pros/cons?
• I would like a water feature - maybe a wall on the deep end; is this a problem with the embedded cover (I dunno if it's called something else)
  • Will ALL water features attract bees/bugs or just ones with standing water (Rocks/etc) ? Those who followed my drama know I frequently have a bee infestation.

Also attaching the sitting/cooking area just in case any of you 'paradise havers' wanna chime in

 

[kimkats]

an exit/entrance on 'deep side'

The bench will provide that.

How many steps from tanning ledge into pool?

That depends on how deep the shallow end is. You do not want the steps to be higher than 10" each. Regular steps in a house has a 7" rise.

Is 6.5' deep enough?

This will allow for a cannon ball. You will not be allowed to dive into a pool this depth. Even if you don't want a board 6'5" is not deep enough for diving.

embedded cover

Do you mean an "auto cover" that sits in a box/well at the end of the pool? You push a button or turn a key to make it open and close? You will not want any kind of water feature on/over it if that is what you are getting.

The hot tub you pointed out is very neat VISUALLY but can be a pain in real life. The getting in and out is the top of the list of the pain. Then there is the keeping the moat around clean.

 

[Bperry]

I'm meeting a builder to start finalizing plans next Wednesday and curious of things I hadn't considered, and should put into our discussions of design/pricing? I've told them my high level wants, walked the property, but I want to make sure I walk into the conversation with a pretty flushed out idea. Also would love some design ideas - We decided to do benches instead of stools since he told me ~1500 for bench, 4500+ per stool - Here is the rough idea I am thinking size wise.

Some common questions we've already discussed:

• Do we need an exit/entrance on 'deep side'?
  • I plan to have an embedded cover in that side so I assume no ladder
• How many steps from tanning ledge into pool?
• Should hottub be even with the steps?
  • He was explaining to me about the pump having a 'pool' and 'spa' mode and how spa mode would isolate the spa from the pool water; how does this work? It surely can't level the water that much without wasting?
• How many lights?
• Can benches have lights (without it being a PITA)
• How many jets/returns should I have?
• Is 6.5' deep enough?
  • I originally said 8 but that was an arbritrary number - I don't want a diving board. Pros/cons?
• I would like a water feature - maybe a wall on the deep end; is this a problem with the embedded cover (I dunno if it's called something else)
  • Will ALL water features attract bees/bugs or just ones with standing water (Rocks/etc) ? Those who followed my drama know I frequently have a bee infestation.

Also attaching the sitting/cooking area just in case any of you 'paradise havers' wanna chime in


View attachment 527100
View attachment 527096

IMO I’d reconsider the auto cover. They have to drained in wet weather and I’m not a fan of complex machinery built into the pool.

 

[Newdude]

The bench will provide that.

I will retort Kim's mention of the bench, with Kim herself :

You do not want the steps to be higher than 10" each. Regular steps in a house has a 7" rise.

Our 18 inch deep bench is surprisingly akward to use to get out and I never would have seen that one coming. It works, especially in an emergency situation like an exhausted/injured swimmer, but it's not something you'd chose to do frequently. You wouldn't want to make the bench higher as it would defeat the whole purpose.

I no longer have little kids but the deep end ladder was really best for them. They make hinged ladders that flip up and out of the way of the auto cover.

Or consider a handrail near the bench area. Having something to steady yourself while taking the akward step out would help alot. The way I see it, knowing nothing about you, you either need it for your kids, or they're all grown and you need it for you.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

On standard pools with a 3 1/2 foot shallow end there are 3 steps. Your tanning ledge can be first or second step depending upon how much water you want on top of it.
Elevation of the spa is a personal choice.
Pool and spa mode are accomplished with automated valve system.Specific valves are turned to isolate the two vessels of water. Don’t quite understand the water wasting question .
Minimum of 2 lights in the pool and one on the reef step, 1 in the spa.
Yes to having lights on the benches with out being a problem.
Number of jets in the spa is a personal choice, I ask customers what they want from the spa, typically they ask for 3 back jets and one for the legs for at least 2 people.
Pool returns, one on each wall and one on the reef step.

 

[TDTPool]

Do you mean an "auto cover" that sits in a box/well at the end of the pool? You push a button or turn a key to make it open and close? You will not want any kind of water feature on/over it if that is what you are getting.

Yep, that is what I mean. Ideally something I just press a button or trigger an app, and it closes. And good to know about the water feature - It was my thought. Why don't you want a water feature over it, out of curiousity? My thought was in case it's left on when it's closed, but honestly that could happen anywhere. Splashback to the motor?

The hot tub you pointed out is very neat VISUALLY but can be a pain in real life. The getting in and out is the top of the list of the pain. Then there is the keeping the moat around clean.

Yea, sorry that image is actually not what we're thinking anymore, but the idea of a 'spill over' is what I liked. We decided to do a 7x7 at the shallow end of the pool, and using the other ~11' for the tanning ledge. So two sides would spill over; which is why I don't fully get the spa/pool mode ATM.
Something more like this (This would be in spa mode, and in pool mode the water covers the wall.) - I guess spillover isn't the right word in this case.

IMO I’d reconsider the auto cover. They have to drained in wet weather and I’m not a fan of complex machinery built into the pool.

Can you tell me more? This has been one of my staple requirements, but I'm coming in as a complete newbie. Do you just put a pump on them like a normal cover when it rains? (I dunno what I thought would happen when it rained; maybe that it would just flow off into the tracks and then into the water...?

 

[Bperry]

Can you tell me more? This has been one of my staple requirements, but I'm coming in as a complete newbie. Do you just put a pump on them like a normal cover when it rains? (I dunno what I thought would happen when it rained; maybe that it would just flow off into the tracks and then into the water...?

It’s just my opinion of complex mechanical stuff (auto cover) being tied to other big expensive stuff (a pool). They have motor and cables, etc that need maintenance and repair. I also didn’t like those TV’s that had a built-in VCR…

Do a search on TFP for “auto cover” and get an idea of the types of issues people have. Some people love them.

Here’s the pump discussion:

Auto cover surprises & disappointment

I was very excited to get an autocoder and eliminate the need for a fence and pictured easy operation. It's not installed yet and we are in the middle of construction. What I didn't realize was that I need to run a pump on the cover every time it rains? I noticed this so never shown on any spec...

www.troublefreepool.com

Will you close the pool in winter or need a safety cover in Georgia?

 

[kimkats]

It works, especially in an emergency situation like an exhausted/injured swimmer, but it's not something you'd chose to do frequently.

This is what I was thinking. Not usable day to day but good for safety if needed.

Why don't you want a water feature over it, out of curiosity?

I don't think you should put something as heavy as a water feature on top of the cover for the pool cover. The weight alone would cause problems. Then there is the factor accessing the box the cover is in when needed to service it.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Auto covers also can have a complicated vault.

 

[bmoreswim]

Autocover food for thought...

The first thing to consider with an autocover is the cost. Sometimes that makes it a no-go right from the get-go. Figure about $15K +/- depending on type of cover you have over the vault (cheaper metal or heavier/more expensive stone).

Next is what are your goals for the cover. Mine were a) peace of mind, b) heat retention, c) ease of use, and d) keeping leaf debris out in the early fall.

Then think about design. You can have water features on the pool with an autocover. What typically should happen is that the automation system will not allow the water feature to be turned on if the cover is not in the open position as told to to electronically by the cover itself. To do this, your electronics have to talk to each other via automation, which you will have anyway since you have a spa.

As for the on going expenses, yes, they can be. If ropes break, expensive. If you have a maintenance plan, EXPENSIVE. In reality, I've only had a few service calls in 10 years. A few up front under warranty, and one for broken ropes, like $800. The pit also needs cleaned from time to time and the cover itself can use a good scrub and coating of 303 Aerospace Protectant to keep it from aging so fast.

Regarding pumping off rainwater, yes, you set a cover pump on it and it removes 95% of the water. Some definitely gets left which you brush towards the pump to get it almost all off. I don't recommend opening it without doing so, because even the remaining water can be very heavy and stress the motor. It seems when that ever happens at my house, the cover likes to get off-kilter (out of square). It works itself back straight after a few openings.

When you go away, you close it, set the SWCG much lower and that's it. Your pH will rise but in the short term that's no issue. Otherwise, you'll come back to a spotless pool, properly filled pool, regardless, how how hot/dry/wet it was while you were away. And you'll know that no one was in your pool in the meantime, because you'll have keyed electrical box containing the switch.

It's a functional luxury that can be expensive to maintain, but might not be.

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• bmoreswim
• May 18, 2017

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• bmoreswim
• Oct 14, 2021

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• bmoreswim
• Jun 13, 2020

 

[TDTPool]

Autocover food for thought...

Thanks! That is useful feedback. I'm meeting a potential contractor Wednesday and gonna talk it through. His most recent pricing estimates are a bit higher than we discussed in person - My research has shown it'll be ~$20K for the cover in my area. Now I want to know about the ones that have a pump as part of it. Seems like it's automatic with the cover? But that seems weird.
Also been looking up what cleaning it looks like - For me, I am surrounded by trees, and would rather the leaves be on the tarp and blow 'em off, than in the pool and net. Then heat retention + chemical burn off is nice.

I don't quite know how it works with a pool with a same-level spa built in, but I assume it's fine with 'trapped heat' (Residual heat after use)