SF Bay Area New Pool

[Rwmiller80]

My wife and I just signed our contract to get a new 15'x30' gunite pool built in our home in San Jose. We have a small lot and are working to optimize our entertainment and recreational space. Details of our pool:

Updated 7/11/19 based on latest plan:
Overall size 15' x 30'; 14,300 gallons
Depth 3.5' to 6'
Built in 5.5’ x 5.5' spa (we have tried others and want one in our pool) located at shallow end. 5 jets with air injection
Full length stairs along shallow end by spa
Bench along entire length of pool
Badu Stream 2 swim jet system
18" back wall with 6' water feature
Full automatic cover
5 returns, 2 skimmers, 2 bottom drains
Solar Heat
Hayward equipment:
Heater: 400k BTU, natural gas
Pump: TriStar VS950 2.7 HP variable speed
Filter: 525 sq ft cartridge
Chlorinator: TurboCell T-Cell-15 SWCG
OmniLogic Control System
Lighting: Hayward ColorLogic 320 LED (3 in pool, 1 in spa)
Cleaner: Now TBD (robot cleaner to be purchased later based on great feedback)
Finish: Maui Blue fine pebble plaster
White Travertine Pool Coping and decking to match

The PB is preparing the detailed plans to submit for permits. It looks like our construction period will be late summer / early fall. Just in time to let it sit all winter (unless we get some nice California days).

Have been learning a lot from this forum and look forward to sharing our pool construction saga. Thanks for all your help.

Bob

 

[kimkats]

OH YEAH! A new pool to help build!! SWEET!!!

I CAN tell you have been reading! The depths you listed AND the comment about wanting the in pool spa! You knew what we would say! LOVE IT!

I LOVE your design! Going to be some nice times in that pool!

Can you guess what I am going to ask for next??? If you guessed a pic of where this sweet pool is going you are correct!

Kim

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Ditch the Polaris 280 and get a robot instead. They work under the cover just fine and do a far, far better job while at it.

Maddie

 

[Rwmiller80]

Thanks for your input Maddie.
How do you run the wire to the robot if the cover is closed? Are you saying leave it slightly open and run it through the gap? I was seriously looking at a robot and would like to go that way if feasible.

Bob

 

[YippeeSkippy]

The cord only needs an inch or so, so yeah, leave the cover open an inch. Just make sure the retracting end of the cover is closest to the power outlet.

Maddie

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

Or, if you happen to have a skimmer in a good spot, you could run the power cord through the skimmer to the robot. I am always amazed by the number of suicidal bugs which get in through the < 1" of gap between the cover and the shallow end.

 

[Rwmiller80]

Or, if you happen to have a skimmer in a good spot, you could run the power cord through the skimmer to the robot. I am always amazed by the number of suicidal bugs which get in through the < 1" of gap between the cover and the shallow end.

That is a great idea. We have a skimmer very close to the shallow end / GFCI plug that may work perfectly.

Bob

 

[santacruzpool]

I run our robot cord in one corner of the pool where the cover almost always has trouble closing tightly anyway. Our cover bar is never perfectly aligned and tight to the coping it seems - which gives me a perfect spot for the cord. When I close the pool I rarely get the cord trapped or pinched by the cover bar, so it is almost always 3/4" open on one corner - luckily it is the corner I prefer to run the robot cord thru.

The skimmer idea sounds like a good one as well - I just wonder how it would effect/interfere with the weir door. I could see having a hook above the door that held the cord above it.

I had another idea recently of adding a 1" curved notch in the coping at the corner where the cord would enter. I have seen a weather strip type option for our cover bar to apparently help it seal to the coping better. Having that extra weather strip/seal would help prevent the large amount of bugs that end up dead along that end - however that strip might be a hassle with the robot cord so I haven't looked into it...

 

[Rwmiller80]

Well we have changed our contract to dump the Polaris 280 and pump and will get a Dolphin robot when the pool is complete. We are now waiting on the final plans to go forward with the permit. Want to put equipment in the side yard which is adjacent to the street but city code has requirement for rear yard. Looking to maximize the patio size. I have included our site layout with equipment on the side. Thoughts?

We also started taking down some trees to prep for the pool. A yard picture is included so you can see the small space we have to work with.

Bob

 

[kimkats]

That yard will be all pool for sure! NO more yard work for you!!! I like your design!

I do want to talk to you about the 5' depth. Take a tape measure and see where it will it the shortest adult in the house. For me at 5'5" I would not be able to stand in 5' comfortably. Just something to think about. Oh and make sure the depths are WATER depths.. Water depth is measured from the floor to the middle of the skimmer opening.

Are you going to have to get a variance for the equipment to be on the side? I can see why you would want it there so it might be worth it. Just make sure you have an opening from the back yard to the equipment AND a light by the equipment just in case you need to get do something there at night or quickly from the pool.

Kim

 

[Rwmiller80]

Thanks Kim. The depth in the site plan is wrong - going to 6 feet. The idea of the yard is pool, patio for entertaining and green around the side for privacy.

A variance costs $4,000 to file and not sure we would get it. Plus not sure how long it would take.

Bob

 

[Snikwah]

AND the comment about wanting the in pool spa! You knew what we would say! LOVE IT!
Kim

kim, why would having the spa inside the pool be beneficial?

 

[kimkats]

kim, why would having the spa inside the pool be beneficial?

To me and some others it is not beneficial nor as comfy. If I had an in ground pool I would not have a spa in it. I would have a hot tub/spa right by the pool so I could hop from spa to pool depending on want. We always "talk" to a new pool builder about the +/- of having an attached spa just so they are aware of the some different thoughts. If you want it then get it we just want you to think about it first so you can make an informed decision.

 

[Snikwah]

To me and some others it is not beneficial nor as comfy. If I had an in ground pool I would not have a spa in it. I would have a hot tub/spa right by the pool so I could hop from spa to pool depending on want. We always "talk" to a new pool builder about the +/- of having an attached spa just so they are aware of the some different thoughts. If you want it then get it we just want you to think about it first so you can make an informed decision.

Ah...ok. I read your comment wrong. I definitely needed some sleep.

 

[Rwmiller80]

We definitely went back and forth with the spa based on the comments here but, in the end, decided to keep it in. I really appreciate all the information I am picking up as a soon-to-be pool owner.

bob

 

[OGSW20]

Great design! I keep seeing more and more pools in this configuration, including mine ?

 

[mguzzy]

What size turbo cell are you getting. The spec you have doesn't indicate the size. Make sure you get a cell that is rated for twice the size of your pool. Nothing worse than having a SWG that can't keep up.

 

[Rwmiller80]

I have already taken that advice - we are putting in a Hayward T-Cell-15 sized for 40,000 gal while the pool is around 14,500 gal.

 

[ILoveGrits]

I haven't been around here enough to know what the norm is, but why only 2 returns? We inherited our 30'x15' and it has 4 returns - two spaced out on each "long" side. We've got the eyeballs adjusted to create a clockwise motion to help skim efficiently.

 

[Rwmiller80]

I think you are mistaking the lights for returns. The plan I posted doesn't show the details that includes returns. I should see the more detailed plans later this week.

Bob