So we are basically down to two builders (Cody and Ocean Quest) and are now trying to pick through their bids to find out which are the real contrasts between the bids and which are differences without distinction. If a few TFP's ITB folks could give me the benefit of their opinion, I'd really appreciate it.

Pool one:

POOL SPECIFICATIONS:

SIZE: 19’-0” X 25’-0”
AREA: 435 SQ. FT
PERIMETER: 88’-0”
-DEPTHS: 3’-6” TO 6’-0”
-TILE: 6” WATERLINE.
-COPING: NATURAL STONE WITH SAW CUT EDGE TREATMENT.
-INTERIOR FINISH: WET EDGE TECH. SATIN MATRIX – ALL COLORS INCLUDED.
-STEPS AND BENCHES: 18’ STEPS & 5’ BENCHES.
-LIGHTS: ONE LOW VOLT COLOR LED SOL POOL LIGHT.
-GALLONAGE: 15,455
-TURNOVER RATE: 2.14 HOURS @ 120 GPM.

SIZE: 6’-0” X 6’-0”
AREA: 36 SQ. FT
PERIMETER: 24’-0”
-RAISED 0” ABOVE POOL COPING/24” ABOVE LOWER DECK.
-DEPTHS: 3’-6”
-TILE: 6” WATERLINE.
-COPING: NATURAL STONE WITH SAW CUT EDGE TREATMENT.
-INTERIOR FINISH: WET EDGE TECH. SATIN MATRIX – ALL COLORS INCLUDED.
-JETS: QUANTITY 6 – WATERWAY THERAPY JETS.
-SPILLWAY: QUANTITY 2 – 9” STONE SPILLWAYS.
-STONE SPA VENEER.

STEEL:
-#4 (1/2”) REBAR TIED ON 10” CENTERS THROUGHOUT ENTIRE STRUCTURE.
-4 ROWS OF #4 (1/2”) REBAR TIED CONTINUOUSLY TO FORM A BOX BEAM.

GUNITE:

-PNEUMATICALLY APPLIED CONCRETE.
-12” BOND BEAM

PLUMBING:

-SCHEDULE 40 PVC 2”, 1.5” AND 1” PLUMBING THROUGHOUT.
-DUAL SDX MAIN DRAINS IN POOL – VGB COMPLIANT.
-TWO SURFACE SKIMMERS WITH EQUALIZER LINES.
-25’ GAS LINE W/ PERMIT.
-DEDICATED PUMP & PLUMBING FOR POOL CLEANER OF CHOICE.

DECKING:

-366 SQUARE FEET PATTERNED CONCRETE.
-25’ OF 4” DRAIN PIPE IN DECK FOR PROPER DRAINAGE.
-6’ PATTERNED CONCRETE STEP TREAD & RISERS.
-25 SQUARE FEET TURN DOWN BEAM W/ UNDERPINNING.
-CONCRETE PUMP INCLUDED.

EQUIPMENT:

-PENTAIR INTELLIFLO VARIABLE SPEED POOL CIRCULATION PUMP.
-PENTAIR MASTERTEMP 400K BTU NATURAL GAS HEATER.
-PENTAIR EASY TOUCH CONTROL PANEL W/ INTERIOR MOUNT CONTROLLER.
-PENTAIR FOUR FUNCITON SPA SIDE REMOTE.
-PENTAIR CLEAN & CLEAR PLUS 420 CARTRIDGE FILTER. (probably switching to DE)
-RAINBOW 320 INLINE CHLORINE FEEDER. (Going to do BBB)
-QTY. 1 – LOW VOLT COLOR LED SOL POOL LIGHT.
-QTY. 1 – LOW VOLT COLOR LED SAVI SPA LIGHT.
-QTY. 1 – LOW VOLT TRANSFORMER FOR POOL & SPA LIGHT.
-QTY. 6 – WATERWAY THERAPY JETS.
-POLARIS 280, OR PENTAIR LEGEND AUTO CLEANER WITH ¾ HP PUMP.
-DUAL SDX MAIN DRAINS.

INTERIOR FINISH:

-WET EDGE TECH. SATIN MATRIX – ALL COLORS INCLUDED.
-COLOR COORDINATED INTERIOR FITTINGS & MAIN DRAINS.

Pool No. 2

General Specs
Pool Dimensions: 16' x 34'
Pool Perimeter: 100 ft
Pool Area: 477 sqft
Pool Depth: 3ft x 4.5ft x 6ft
Spa Dimensions: Custom Shape
Spa Perimeter: 22 ft
Spa Area: 38 ft
Spa Raised: 18 inches from deck.
Spa Depth: 3.5ft
Total Gallons: 17,073

Steel and Gunite:
Pool Shell: 1/2 inch Grade 60 Steel Rebar on 10 inch Centers, both ways.
Pool Bond Beam: 1/2 inch Grade 60 Steel Rebar X 4
Additional: N/A
Concrete: Dry Mix Gunite rated to a minimum 5000 PSI
Thickness: Floor and Walls to be minimum of 8"-10", Out of Ground Beam to be 12"

Plumbing and Electrical

Pool Pipes: Upto 2 1/2 inch Schedule 40 PVC.
Returns: (5) Directional Inlets, Looped for even pressure.
Skimmers: (2) Pentair, Indepenendently plumbed for optimum control.
Drains: (4) AquaStar drains, VGB compliant.
Spa Pipes: 3 inch Suction, 2 1/2 inch Return Schedule 40 PVC
Spa Jets: (6) Water/Air directional jets.
Spa Air: 1.5 inch dedicated air line.
Fill Line: N/A
Overflow Line: included
Cleaner Line: (1) Independently plumbed
Gas: 22 ft of Gas line with hookup included.
Electrical: Hookup from exterior sub-panel, bonding by Electrical Code (UL).
Includes all required circuit breakers and GFCI, etc

Decking
Reinforcement: 3/8" Rebar 16" On Center, 4" Crushed Base
Deck Material #1: 561 sqft of Brushed/Salt w/ Color
Deck Material #2: N/A
Topping: N/A
Steps: N/A
Turndown: 50 sqft of 6 inch beam included
Deck-O- Drain: 59 ft
Drainage Pipe: N/A
VB / Umbrella Sleeves: N/A
Retaining Walls: 105 sqft total - see plan for details

Equipment
Main Pump: Pentair IntelliFlo VS-3050 (Variable Speed)
Pump #2: N/A
Pump #3: N/A
Filter: Pentair Quad DE 100
Heater: Pentair MasterTemp 400k - NG
Blower: Blower - Polaris QT 1.5HP
Cleaner: Pentair Kreepy Krauly platinum w/ booster pump
Control Box: Pentair EasyTouch PS-8
Remotes: Wireless 8 Function
Sanitizers: Rainbow In-Line Chlorinator
Pool Lights: (1) Pentair AmeriLite 300w 12v
Spa Lights: (1) Pentair AquaLight Spa 75w 12v

Interior finish is Pebble Tec

We are leaning toward number one, mostly because he gave us the design we love even when we thought we wanted a freeform. I've checked references and they are good for both companies so if everything else is equal, I will probably go with number one. The issue is whether there are substantive differences in the equipment or plumbing of the pool that would make one better than the other. Is a 6' square spa sufficient for 4-6 adults? What size plumbing for suction and returns is best for a 6'-7' square spa? Is it standard practice to "loop" all the returns so that pressure is even from the first jet to the last. Is a blower on a spa worth the added noise? Is the controller for Pool 1 substantially different than Pool 2?

Thanks so much.

Did not even look at your specs because you gave no price.

But, 6' spa is good for 3 normal adults without stretching out. Pump: 1 hp should be plenty.

That's all I can contribute.

Can "Number One" do PebbleTec for you?

To me the different surfaces are "substantive differences".

Lana

The prices are $57k for no. 1 and $55.5k for no. 2 but to get the same interior finish and LED lights on No. 2 make it $58k. No. 2 is a larger pool with more decking (but salted instead of stamped) which may come into play, but I am wondering more about the items in my last paragraph. Is 3" suction and 2.5" returns that much better than a smaller diameter piping in the hot tub? Is a 6' square spa too small for 4 adults? Is a blower necessary for the spa looking at the equipment for the first pool? Our electricity is about to go up

As for the interior finish, the Wet Edge Technologies Satin is comparable to the Pebble Sheen and the second company's upgrade from their basically white pebble tec is to the same Wet Edge Tech finish. Thanks for the replies

In my limited opinion, 6' (which I own) will definitely be crowded with 4 people. I would go 8' and feel much better. I have had 3 guys in the spa and it's not bad but the step into the spa takes up the room for a fourth person.

Yes, getting the larger pipe in a spa is important. The cost is really insignificant in the big picture, and smaller piping too often leads to wimpy jets and unhappy spa owners.