Something You Wish You had Done was...

[Stevep2002]

We are nearing the point of selecting our pool builder. So, I wanted to through a simple question to everyone:

What is something you wish you had done during the pool build that you didn’t?

(i. e. More swim space, more decking, vs, tanning ledge, more space between fence and decking, electrical outlets, anything).

It can also be something you added that you don’t use or regret installing.

We have been researching for two months and have gained so much information. I want to see if there is anything I can’t think of regarding our pool build.

I hope to be posting a proposal from our hopeful PB soon.

Thanks

 

[Newdude]

More pool and more patio. No matter what you have, you'll get used to it and have enough people over one day to wish you went bigger. But that also adds more cost to the project.

Things that didnt work out for us. The heater, hot tub and solar cover. They all worked very well, but we never felt like swimming when the air was cold so the operating costs of the heater weren't justified. The cover worked great too but was more physical work than we wanted when we just wanted to run down and jump in the pool. And the hot tub (stand alone) sat so often that i eventually unplugged it because it wasnt worth the $80 month electric. Even though they didnt work for us, I dont regret any of them. If i hadnt gotten them i would have constantly wanted them and would have bought them the first chance i had. Now that i know better at least i dont wonder about it.

 

[thomasandanita]

i wish i would have built it years ago.
i wish i would have added bubblers in the splash deck.

 

[AimeeH]

definitely deeper shallow end. I think ours is 3.5 feet. at least 4 would be much nicer for us. And as a previous post said......we DO NOT regret pouring lots of concrete. 10 feet out on the "L" end and several feet from the end of the "L" making a lot of patio space inside that "L."

 

[Divin Dave]

Put jets/ return on the steps.

 

[Stevep2002]

Put jets/ return on the steps.

Any particular reason why?

 

[Mr Bruce]

The house came with the pool so I didn't have a choice. But...

1) More skimmers and returns. I only have one of each. This by far is #1
b) A skimmer on the east side, that the wind blows toward.

2) A tanning ledge and corner seats. I like jumping in the deep end but you either have to stand in the shallow end or sit on the steps.

3) The pool equipment (pump/filter/SWCG) elsewhere. It's right beside the pool and blocks the view from the sliding door.

 

[Mr Bruce]

Any particular reason why?

For me because it would blow debris off. Robots have a hard time getting the steps. You have to manually brush it into the pool for the robot to get it (1st world problem!)

 

[AimeeH]

I agree with paying attention to your wind direction with placement of skimmers. I have a dead corner where if I'm not brushing enough, the algae starts in that dead corner that doesn't get water movement as well.

 

[Divin Dave]

For the same reason Mr Bruce said. Dirt gets on the steps and you have to manually brush it off. Every. Single. Day. Jets or some strong returns would help to keep the dirt blown off of em.

Also a 2nd good reason is I spend a lot of time sitting on my steps just chillin and having a refreshment, and I would like to feel the water coming out of the jets while I'm sitting there.

3rd good reason, if you are considering a Vinyl pool. Viny pool steps usually aren't "inside" the main body of water. A pool needs good circulation through 100% of it to help keep chlorine circulated and to prevent algae. A vinyl pool steps is prone to get algae in the steps area because of poor water circulation in them.

Any particular reason why?

 

[Stevep2002]

definitely deeper shallow end. I think ours is 3.5 feet. at least 4 would be much nicer for us. And as a previous post said......we DO NOT regret pouring lots of concrete. 10 feet out on the "L" end and several feet from the end of the "L" making a lot of patio space inside that "L."

Shallow end sounds like us. We have gone from traditional pool to sport (3.5-5-3.5) and now back to traditional (3.5-6.4)

Decking is tricky. We don’t want to add a ton of concrete because our driveway is in the rear of our home. But, we know we need to have enough and stage it accordingly.

 

[Stevep2002]

i wish i would have built it years ago.
i wish i would have added bubblers in the splash deck.

We are debating one or two on a 10x10 circular ledge. Don’t want bubblers to be under the chairs.

 

[Stevep2002]

More pool and more patio. No matter what you have, you'll get used to it and have enough people over one day to wish you went bigger. But that also adds more cost to the project.

Things that didnt work out for us. The heater, hot tub and solar cover. They all worked very well, but we never felt like swimming when the air was cold so the operating costs of the heater weren't justified. The cover worked great too but was more physical work than we wanted when we just wanted to run down and jump in the pool. And the hot tub (stand alone) sat so often that i eventually unplugged it because it wasnt worth the $80 month electric. Even though they didnt work for us, I dont regret any of them. If i hadnt gotten them i would have constantly wanted them and would have bought them the first chance i had. Now that i know better at least i dont wonder about it.

We have increased our pool size for that very reason. Our kids will only grow physically and so will their friends.

 

[Newdude]

And so will your/their circle of friends. Year after year, you'll gain more than you lose. Our 4th of july party ballooned to 80 people this year. It was more like planning a wedding.

 

[Coach_1]

I would agree with making your pool bigger than you think. When we were looking at buying our house I thought that pool was way too big. But when you get a bunch of people in it it shrinks pretty fast. Also add a couple of sitting areas. Ours had 2 4ft seats and works great. As mentioned above we have a 4ft shallow end and it’s great for our teenagers.

I wish I had a deck, patio or pergola on the side opposite the covered patio. That’s the only thing I’d add to mine.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

I regret not putting valves at the pad on every pipe to and from the pool.

 

[Chickinvic]

The heater, hot tub and solar cover. They all worked very well, but we never felt like swimming when the air was cold so the operating costs of the heater weren't justified.

We are the opposite. We swim from May through much of October here in Ottawa. I LOVE the heater. It rarely ever kicks in during the actual hot summer months, but it is worthwhile to extend the swimming season to about 5.5 months. We are in it almost every night.

 

[Uncle Salty]

One thing I regret not putting in is a diving board. Only thing that I wish I didn’t put in is the PH Sense and Dispense, total waste of money and a huge disappointment.

Salty

 

[Saturn94]

1. Run power to the shed by the pool while everything was dug up.
2. Skimmer at the east end. Debris tends to get blown there.
3. Larger equipment pad to give more space to work on/around equipment.
4. I might not have included a light. We almost never use it (attracts bugs!) and had to recently have a leak repaired there. The only time it’s used is to see all the spiders that need to be scooped out before a night swim (eek!!). Hmmm....maybe it is a good thing to have after all....lol.
5. Remove trees near the pool (what a mess!). It would have been much cheaper removing them before building the pool.
6. Had it built years before we did. We talked and hesitated for years before having it done. All those years of pool bliss missed!



Edit: forgot one......I would have gone with a solid cover rather than a mesh cover. With the solid cover spring opening is much easier, and never green no matter when I close or open.

 

[Chickinvic]

4. I might not have included a light. We almost never use it (attracts bugs!) and had to recently have a leak repaired there. The only time it’s used is to see all the spiders that need to be scooped out before a night swim (eek!!). Hmmm....maybe it is a good thing to have after all....lol.

You're braver than I. I can't be in dark water and absolutely need the light on since I am a scaredy cat. I think watching Jaws as a child ruined me for life when it comes to swimming in dark water lol (and yes, my logical brain knows my pool isn't the ocean).