Hoosier Family's Pool Adventure: Planning and Building Thread

[ELMitz]

I would be hesitant to put a tanning shelf in a vinyl pool. I don't know that I've ever seen it done before, but could be wrong. You won't want to put any chairs in it, for fear of tearing the liner. And an umbrella sleeve is probably not a good idea either, if you slip with the umbrella and tear the liner, also no good.

I have seen numerable examples of tanning shelves in vinyl pools so I know they are an option. What I have not seen are umbrella sleeves nor bubblers in them. I can easily envision potential issues with the installation of both. I too have wondered about putting chairs in the pool on the vinyl.

 

[Veccster]

I know our builder has done vinyl tanning shelves. They can put an orange-peel finish on that section so it's less slippery. On that note....make sure they do this on your steps and benches as well.

It was recommended that I limit the number of holes that have to be cut into the liner. They are typically your leak points. I didn't even do a main drain in mine for this reason. Umbrella sleeve would worry me. Perhaps you can put an umbrella sleeve in the concrete next to your pool and find an umbrella that pivots over the area you want to shade?


Is concrete not an option? Have you spoken to any companies locally that do them? They are not as common in cold weather so less companies do it. But there are many on here in freeze / thaw climates that have concrete / gunite pools. I'm only asking....I'm in Pittsburgh and went vinyl.

 

[ELMitz]

I know our builder has done vinyl tanning shelves. They can put an orange-peel finish on that section so it's less slippery. On that note....make sure they do this on your steps and benches as well.... Perhaps you can put an umbrella sleeve in the concrete next to your pool and find an umbrella that pivots over the area you want to shade?

Good advice!

Is concrete not an option?

No, there are five PB in our market: One specializing in fiberglass pools and the remaining four all do vinyl -- one of those does polymer walled the other three steel walled. After interviewing and reference checking we went with one of the steel walled contractors. Though the polymer wall builder made a strong case for his technology given the higher than average water table on our property.

 

[bmoreswim]

Just a thought on the umbrella sleeves on a vinyl shelf. The wind will be blowing the umbrella, which will cause pretty good pressure to be exerted on the top ring of the sleeve, just where it meets the vinyl. I could see this as a good spot for leaks, more so than a protrusion with no pressure on it would have.

 

[kimkats]

No bubblers BUT deck jets could be a good alternative!
Pentair MagicStream Laminar Deck Jet 580001T. Pentair 580001T. Swimming Pool Deck Jet.

You can also this this simple waterfall:

Google

Of course this is my fav!!!

https://www.zulily.com/p/underwater...g730&catargetid=120191330005481451&cadevice=c

Kim

 

[Veccster]

I wanted goodies and an doing deck jets, waterfall and slide. With full automation for that wow factor. Can't wait to turn on the deck jets while my wife is standing pool side...unaware of my intentions

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[bmoreswim]

Be sure to place her just so.

 

[ELMitz]

Be sure to place her just so.

​

 

[kimkats]

I wanted goodies and an doing deck jets, waterfall and slide. With full automation for that wow factor. Can't wait to turn on the deck jets while my wife is standing pool side...unaware of my intentions

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

Be sure to place her just so.

​

Just you three wait! I will find a way to get a hold of your wives and let them know just how BAD you are thinking about being! Add that to all of the other times you HAVE been "bad" you will be in TROUBLE! LOL



Kim

 

[bmoreswim]

[emoji56]

 

[joanniern]

When they start digging your pool and your trenches it would be smart to dig some to where you think your pool house will be and put conduit in for gas/electrical/water then later you won't have to tear up your expensive deck to pull those. When your plumber comes out you can just ask him straight out if he'd take a little cash to throw in the conduit for you.

To be honest, if I were in your situation (and I'd love to be because your house is gorgeous!) I would put the pool equipment to the back or side of where I imagined the pool house would be. It won't make building a pool house any harder by having the equipment there. It would only make it easier since they could pull wire for the house through the conduit used for the pool electrical. And water would already be by the pumps to tap in to too...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ELMitz]

I like the ideas Joanniern, thanks!

 

[ELMitz]

Update: I received the contract from the builder today. Nowhere in the contract did they list any of the specific equipment they would be using just very generic descriptions. The contract also did not include any drawings, plumbing descriptions, etc. When I called him and asked for more specifics he got noticeably irritated calling me one of those "specification buyers" (whatever that means.)

I'm not feeling at all comfortable now even though they came highly recommended... now to see if I can get back my deposit.

 

[kimkats]

RUN!!! If he is already acting like this??????? Yes you want to know what you are paying for and how much you are paying. I bet he gets the cheapest he can get and uses that even it if is too small or not right for your pool. My guess is he has a stock of all of the same stuff he got at a big discount.

I am sorry........time to move on.

Kim

 

[Uncle Salty]

If he's giving you attitude at this point of the process I would look elsewhere. I just got my builder to give me his basic price for the size I was interested in and countered back with my list of equipment/upgrades I wanted and went from there.

Salty

 

[ELMitz]

View attachment pool quote.pdf

For your viewing pleasure. This is a bid from another vendor -- identifying features redacted to protect the innocent... I'd be curious what your opinions are on both the equipment, contract and the drawings of the pool.

 

[joanniern]

Just a quick glance at design. My friends have a very similar shape and I like it. Compared to your other plan it is a little different - it's not mirrored from the center but it does have more swimming area. Your wife wants a sun shelf though right? You know anyone can do any design. You could ask the new builder to do the one you liked.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ELMitz]

While we like the mirrored aesthetic of the inspiration photo, you are correct that it significantly reduces the swimmable area. By elongating the pool from 40' to 44' and putting the stair & shelf(shelves) along the shallow end instead of the side, we free that space up for fun (we have six kids that love to do the basketball/volleyball type pool games).

My bigger concern is in the depths of the pool, also, is 8' sufficient depth for a diving well and is their enough of it? Does the tapering of the deep end start too soon or end too early, etc?

Also, is the shelf too big/small? We have never been in a vinyl pool with a shelf, though we have seen plenty, so we have no idea what a good usable space/size is? Because we cannot put chairs on the shelf (or can we?) it seems it could quickly become unusable space except for a great kiddie/baby pool area...

 

[bmoreswim]

8' is minimum depth for diving. We went 8 1/2' and 9' obviously provides a little more headroom. But actually, the deepest part is not usually the problem area from what I hear, it's the slope. The longer the deep-end, the better. Ours is 5' deep 19' away from the diving wall. I wouldn't want it any less than that. And I wish ours was 5' deep ideally about 22' - 24' from the diving wall. But to do that you do need 44' in length, which you have. But usually people want a long shallow end and make the slope be kind of tight, which is the more dangerous option. But it's all relative. Educated diving is safe diving (in a safely designed pool of course).

 

[ELMitz]

8' is minimum depth for diving. We went 8 1/2' and 9' obviously provides a little more headroom. But actually, the deepest part is not usually the problem area from what I hear, it's the slope. The longer the deep-end, the better. Ours is 5' deep 19' away from the diving wall. I wouldn't want it any less than that. And I wish ours was 5' deep ideally about 22' - 24' from the diving wall. But to do that you do need 44' in length, which you have. But usually people want a long shallow end and make the slope be kind of tight, which is the more dangerous option. But it's all relative. Educated diving is safe diving (in a safely designed pool of course).

That is almost exactly what the PB said...