New pool build - please help review the contract and equipment

[Tax2023]

Hello All,

I have been a silent lurker here for so long. I have learned a great deal of things regarding owning a swimming pool and the responsibilities that go with it. It is now my turn to take your expert feedback on the contract and equipment. We have finalized PB and he has put together the attached for us.

One thing I noticed is Aqualink PDA bundle. It looks like he is giving Aqualink 3.0 PDA bundle. This includes the IQ30-RS upgrade kit with PDA system. I do not understand why he would not offer us Aqualink RS system instead. I am going to ask him but any feedback if we have to go this bundle route?

He also said he went to lot of pool courses all over the country and with latest technology the recommendation is to have 2 inch pipes on the suction side and 1 and 1/2 inch on the return side. I will make sure that he does plumb both the lines from skimmers independently. Any feedback on the pipe size?

Can you all please see if there is anything that doesn't sound right or wrongly worded? Also, we are stuck with 2 designs and would like to seek your feedback as both the designs. One design is with spa in the middle with 2 spillovers and another one is with spa towards the end with 1 spillover. If we move spa to the edge we gain some decking space but if the spa is in the middle we are worried that the space towards the pebble border will be unused. Spa with 2 spillovers looks nice though.

Thank you for your help! This forum has been a wealth of information for pool novices like me

 

[Jimrahbe]

Tax,

Everyone different of course, but I an not a fan of your stairs.. It will be close to impossible to swim laps as one end is all stairs.

Have you ever been in a gunite spa before?? If you have, then that is great!! If not, you really, really need to try one, before you buy one.

Good choice going with a saltwater pool..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[dfwnoob]

There's no reason to install a PDA system with iAqualink. Tell him you don't want that garbage.

IMO, I would not go Jandy at all due to how they handle replacement parts and selling to end users, but most builders only install one brand. On a new pool, if the builder gives you the option, I'd much rather go all Pentair.

Edit: also go SWCG now. Don't bother installing an inline chlorinator no matter what you do.

Edit of edit: sorry, I see the Aquapure on the build sheet now.

 

[kimkats]

Hi and welcome to TFP! Thanks for letting us help build your pool!

I will speak on the designs:
I like the one with the spa to the side. That does open up more decking space. That space can be used for TV watching and such.

I would NOT have grass with the stepping stones in it. That will end up being a maintenance nightmare down the road.

 

[Tax2023]

Tax,

Everyone different of course, but I an not a fan of your stairs.. It will be close to impossible to swim laps as one end is all stairs.

Have you ever been in a gunite spa before?? If you have, then that is great!! If not, you really, really need to try one, before you buy one.

Good choice going with a saltwater pool..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Yes we thought about not being able to do the laps. Here is another design PB proposed. We could opt to remove steps towards the spa and that should do it.

Yes, we were in the gunite spa before and love it.

 

[Tax2023]

There's no reason to install a PDA system with iAqualink. Tell him you don't want that garbage.

IMO, I would not go Jandy at all due to how they handle replacement parts and selling to end users, but most builders only install one brand. On a new pool, if the builder gives you the option, I'd much rather go all Pentair.

Edit: also go SWCG now. Don't bother installing an inline chlorinator no matter what you do.

Edit of edit: sorry, I see the Aquapure on the build sheet now.

Yes, I am definitely to ask to skip all this bundle thing and go with Aqualink RS route.

He does only Jandy for now and said it’s reliable. He also offered us to give free installation of replacement parts if needed. However, he should be still in business when things go wrong in few years .

No problem. We were dead set on SWCG from the beginning.

 

[Tax2023]

Hi and welcome to TFP! Thanks for letting us help build your pool!

I will speak on the designs:
I like the one with the spa to the side. That does open up more decking space. That space can be used for TV watching and such.

I would NOT have grass with the stepping stones in it. That will end up being a maintenance nightmare down the road.

My wife thinks the same too. I guess I will go that route to keep her happy. Happy wife happy life

Hmm, great point. We will rethink about the design. Thank you so much for your comments.

 

[laszlof]

They aren't specifying which aquapure, make sure you get the 1400. You'll get more life out of it.

Also, I'd go with 12w lights over the 6w. We have 3 of them installed in our 28x14 pool and it seems about perfect amount of light.

As others have mentioned, skip the Aqualink PDA. Also, get the Purelink power center and you can combine the aqualink RS and aquapure in 1 box. They make 2 of them, with and without a built in breaker panel. Search for "Aqualink Selection Guide" on Google, there's sheet with all of the options.

 

[Tax2023]

They aren't specifying which aquapure, make sure you get the 1400. You'll get more life out of it.

Also, I'd go with 12w lights over the 6w. We have 3 of them installed in our 28x14 pool and it seems about perfect amount of light.

As others have mentioned, skip the Aqualink PDA. Also, get the Purelink power center and you can combine the aqualink RS and aquapure in 1 box. They make 2 of them, with and without a built in breaker panel. Search for "Aqualink Selection Guide" on Google, there's sheet with all of the options.

Perfect, thank you so much for your comments. Aqualink selection guide is handy. We will select the items from the guide and ask the PB to install them.

 

[Newdude]

I'd just like to mention that y'all's helping out the tax man.

You're better people than me.


(Nah I'm just fooling Tax. Welcome !!!)

 

[Tax2023]

@All, any feedback on the return lines being 1 and 1/2 inch?

 

[Newdude]

any feedback on the return lines being 1 and 1/2 inch?

With multiple lines it shouldn't matter. The pump is more or less maxxed out with a single 2 inch pipe and two 1.5 inch pipes have slightly better flow than the singe 2 inch.

 

[BDY]

+1 on the grass stepping stones. You would need soaker lines laid between and around each stone as the grass needs more water due to the heat from the stones. (Ask me how we learned that the hard way in our front yard). Also you would either need a lawnmower going over the stones which then blows crud EVERYWHERE next to the pool or use a weed whacker which also throws stuff everywhere.

We went artificial turf for our walkway near the pool but I will warn you the artificial turf gets hot in the sun. It looks nice though and doesn’t get in the pool

 

[BDY]

Think about shade too - would you want shade for pool or deck, what type, and should you build anchors or structure into the deck now (esp if going with a sail which needs posts). That is the one area we totally missed on in our build … now we are retrofitting the best we can to add shade

 

[BDY]

Is the 3.5’ depth to waterline or tile? 3.5’ is shallow to be swimming per se if you intend to do laps

 

[Tax2023]

+1 on the grass stepping stones. You would need soaker lines laid between and around each stone as the grass needs more water due to the heat from the stones. (Ask me how we learned that the hard way in our front yard). Also you would either need a lawnmower going over the stones which then blows crud EVERYWHERE next to the pool or use a weed whacker which also throws stuff everywhere.

We went artificial turf for our walkway near the pool but I will warn you the artificial turf gets hot in the sun. It looks nice though and doesn’t get in the pool

Thank you for the tip. We plan to use artificial turf as well for the stones. Grass is tough to maintain with pool near by.

 

[Tax2023]

Think about shade too - would you want shade for pool or deck, what type, and should you build anchors or structure into the deck now (esp if going with a sail which needs posts). That is the one area we totally missed on in our build … now we are retrofitting the best we can to add shade

Love this suggestion and thank you for reminding about it. What type of anchors or structures do you recommend for future proof? We are not planning to put any shade right now but future proof it as you suggested.

 

[Tax2023]

Is the 3.5’ depth to waterline or tile? 3.5’ is shallow to be swimming per se if you intend to do laps

It’s to the waterline. My younger one is 5 yrs old and it’s mainly for her to get into the pool. Thank you for the suggestion though. We will visit one of the pools and reconsider the depth.

 

[Newdude]

My younger one is 5 yrs old and it’s mainly for her to get into the pool

In 2 years it won't matter for 20+years until there is grandkids.

Plus, my 5 year old took 2 to 3 weeks to go from a moderate swimmer to a full blown fish.

 

[ajw22]

Yes we thought about not being able to do the laps. Here is another design PB proposed. We could opt to remove steps towards the spa and that should do it.

Yes, we were in the gunite spa before and love it.

With these steps put in a handrail.

Everyone will be handicapped and need it at some time in their lives.