Starting a new build in mid-September in North Louisiana. Contract signed with an extremely reputable gunite pool builder in the area. I checked out several references beforehand. Initially was in the market for a vinyl pool, but the ability to customize as well as the turn-key nature of the gunite PB led us to choose gunite.
Multiple iterations of design options with PB has landed us on a 17 x 40 with an attached 6 x 14 tanning ledge. 6.5' deep end. No slide, diving board, or jumping platform. We will have two brick walls on the back side of the pool that will have 18" sheer descents which will provide the water feature that my wife and I are looking forward to!
We have three kids (7 to 11) who will be enjoying this pool with us.
I'd like to post some pics of the design and get any tips, insight, multiple sets of eyes, etc. I posted three pics which should give an overall idea of the build.
I do have a few specific questions on things we are torn on spending money for:
1) Do we incorporate a spa into the design? If we do, we would move the tanning ledge back to the area where the steps are. The reasons we WOULD get one is the overall look of the spa. I don't know if we'd end up using it or not. And at a rough upgrade cost of $15K to $20K, not sure if it's worth it. We would be able to relax on the tanning ledge. Having the large tanning ledge leads us AWAY from having the spa. But I wonder if the kids would enjoy the pool.
2) Do we include the Paramount PCC-2000 in-floor cleaning system? Our designer (who works for PB) has said that's the first place he would cut if we were looking to save some money or spend it in other places. He believes in the system since they send the design off and Paramount sends back with specs on where to put heads, drain, etc. And since we will have a separate tanning ledge and steps, I worry about what the Polaris/Dolphin will be able to get to. My wife (excuse me, my BOSS) says the main reason she would consider the IFC system is if it meant she did not have to spend time vacuuming or cleaning the spots the Polaris didn't reach. Our main concern - do we spend the $12K and enjoy not having to clean the pool as much or is this just really a sales gimmick?
3) Should we go ahead and put a heater in? We live in North LA - it's pretty warm beginning in early April and stays hot all the way through first part of October, but there are occasional times when a cool night may occur on the shoulders. Also, it can sometimes be in the upper 50s, low 60s even in January - and we have a couple birthdays in the winter-- thus that might be a pool party time. I'm thinking go ahead and bite the bullet and put in the heater.
Thanks in advance for any help. I'm looking at you @kimkats. I've seen how you've helped so many builds in the past!!!
Matt
Multiple iterations of design options with PB has landed us on a 17 x 40 with an attached 6 x 14 tanning ledge. 6.5' deep end. No slide, diving board, or jumping platform. We will have two brick walls on the back side of the pool that will have 18" sheer descents which will provide the water feature that my wife and I are looking forward to!
We have three kids (7 to 11) who will be enjoying this pool with us.
I'd like to post some pics of the design and get any tips, insight, multiple sets of eyes, etc. I posted three pics which should give an overall idea of the build.
I do have a few specific questions on things we are torn on spending money for:
1) Do we incorporate a spa into the design? If we do, we would move the tanning ledge back to the area where the steps are. The reasons we WOULD get one is the overall look of the spa. I don't know if we'd end up using it or not. And at a rough upgrade cost of $15K to $20K, not sure if it's worth it. We would be able to relax on the tanning ledge. Having the large tanning ledge leads us AWAY from having the spa. But I wonder if the kids would enjoy the pool.
2) Do we include the Paramount PCC-2000 in-floor cleaning system? Our designer (who works for PB) has said that's the first place he would cut if we were looking to save some money or spend it in other places. He believes in the system since they send the design off and Paramount sends back with specs on where to put heads, drain, etc. And since we will have a separate tanning ledge and steps, I worry about what the Polaris/Dolphin will be able to get to. My wife (excuse me, my BOSS) says the main reason she would consider the IFC system is if it meant she did not have to spend time vacuuming or cleaning the spots the Polaris didn't reach. Our main concern - do we spend the $12K and enjoy not having to clean the pool as much or is this just really a sales gimmick?
3) Should we go ahead and put a heater in? We live in North LA - it's pretty warm beginning in early April and stays hot all the way through first part of October, but there are occasional times when a cool night may occur on the shoulders. Also, it can sometimes be in the upper 50s, low 60s even in January - and we have a couple birthdays in the winter-- thus that might be a pool party time. I'm thinking go ahead and bite the bullet and put in the heater.
Thanks in advance for any help. I'm looking at you @kimkats. I've seen how you've helped so many builds in the past!!!
Matt
) will try to jump off them! If you want a water feature I would put it on the wall behind the shelf but then you would not be able to hear each other if sitting on the shelf.
