New Build with Consultant

[banditgrrr]

I'm brand new here and just starting the design phase of my new pool. I have a relatively small backyard so the design was a bit of a challenge. I went to 2 different local companies and the quotes ranged from $38k to $62k. After some discussions and thought, I was referred to a pool consultant who assists with the project. They seem to feel the budget as an owner/builder would come in closer to $30k. This would allow me to add a few extras/upgrades. Just wanted to start this thread to document my progress. The plans are in engineering right now and then I'll be filing for permits to get started. Here's what I have on the build so far. If anyone sees any issues, please chime in.

1. Pentair VS3050 Pump
2. Pentair 2HP pump for water features (4 wok pots and bubbler)
3. Pentair gas heater
4. Pentair 420 filter
5. 3 Globrite LED pool lites
6. Pentair LED bubbler
7. EasyTouch 4 with remote
8. They specified an "A & A in floor cleaner" but I'm not sure I'm on board with this. I was told this would add ~ $4,300. With the size of this pool, I'm thinking it would be fine with a vacuum instead of an in floor cleaning system. Thoughts?
8. Plaster - I seem to be in the same boat as many others here. I do not want to go with standard plaster. I was thinking about maybe a colored quartz and if I can make it work with the budget, Pebble Tec or NPT's StoneScapes (2.5x the cost of quartz).
9. Decking - spray deck

Hoping to update pictures as the project starts which is still about a month away. I'll keep reading through the forum and appreciate any advice or feedback.

 

[kimkats]

Love your design! I can tell you have been doing some reading on here with the 3'5" depth! Nice job.

I would lose the two pots closest to the house. They make it look too "busy" in that area. As well as block the view of the pool from your windows. They also push your pH up from the aeration of the water. Keep the to on the back and the bubbler and you will have plenty of water noise and such.

I would love to see a pic of the real yard this beauty will be going in!!

Kim

 

[banditgrrr]

Thanks for the response. Those 2 wok pots were added to the side by the house because I have a bay window at my master bedroom there and they have to maintain a 5 foot distance from the house. The pool would have either needed to be "cut in" at that corner or something different to maintain the 5 feet.

 

[kimkats]

Got ya! I will get some others to look and give their input. I think it will be cleaner and better just as a cut in there due to the blocked sight line. @SuzfromTexas @RuralTexas @jimim @bdavis466 Design input please.

 

[RuralTexas]

Got ya! I will get some others to look and give their input. I think it will be cleaner and better just as a cut in there due to the blocked sight line. @SuzfromTexas @RuralTexas @jimim @bdavis466 Design input please.

Gosh, I love the retaining wall planting area with the two wok pots. I do think the two wok pots close to the house distract the plan. You would not want to block your view from the bedroom bay window.

 

[Jimrahbe]

B,

I would drop kick the in floor system into the Gulf...

I don't think an EasyTouch 4 will work for you.. The ET 4 has only 3 usable relays plus the pump/filter relay.

IntelliFlo pump... no relays
2 HP pumps... 1relay
3 globelights... 1 relay and transformer for each light you want to be individually controlled.. 3 relays
LED bubbler... 1 relay

If you want to stick with the EasyTouch I would go with the ET8... But, no matter what you should do yourself a favor and look a the new Pentair IntelliCenter.. Has many more option than the EasyTouch for not much more money

Either way, I would not get a Pentair remote.. Get ScreenLogic for the EasyTouch... the IntelliCenter comes with a similar system build-in.

If you just love 60's technology get the vacuum or pressure side cleaner.. If you would like to move into this century, you should look at the standalone robot cleaners that do not require your pumps to be run..

Also... how do you plan to chlorinate your pool.. I suggest saltwater.. if so, make sure you buy the EasyTouch or IntelliCenter with build-in salt system.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[SuzfromTexas]

Thanks for the response. Those 2 wok pots were added to the side by the house because I have a bay window at my master bedroom there and they have to maintain a 5 foot distance from the house. The pool would have either needed to be "cut in" at that corner or something different to maintain the 5 feet.

I heard my name called!

What an oasis your pool design creates! Great use of space.

I agree with what the others have suggested about the wok pots on the house side. I understand about the need for a 5' distance between pool and house. Wouldn't the two short stone columns under the pots work the same for that code without the pots?

Another plus for removing the 2 wok pots would be added seating. I have two about the same height, and someone is always sitting on them. It's bonus seating I hadn't planned on, and yours would be in the perfect spot!

Also from 4 years with my pool, water features are very noisy, and I still struggle with pH rise even though my plaster is no longer new. My next pool (in my next lifetime - lol!) will have some bubblers for dogs and kids to enjoy, and that's it! No sheer descents, spillway, etc.

Just my 2¢ worth.
Take care,
Suz

 

[Jimrahbe]

B,

I agree with Suz about the water features... If you are building your new pool to impress your neighbors than the more you have the better. If you are building your pool to swim in, then more than one is too many... Think living next to a freeway... The relaxing noise from a waterfall is fun for about 5 minutes.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[SuzfromTexas]

One more thing... I strongly agree with Jim R to ditch the infloor pool cleaner. You sound like you aren't sold on it anyway. It just isn't needed for the smaller pools. With the money you save, you can get a nice robot vacuum and spend the savings on the plaster you'd like.

A robot is the way to go - no booster pump needed or fiddley thing always going around in the pool taking up swim space like with a Polaris or similar. I have a Maytronics Dolphin robot, and it's fantastic picking up fine dust and sand that I can't even see.
Now, I'm done!
Suz

 

[banditgrrr]

I appreciate the responses. The consultant I'm working with said the Screen Logic is nice, but it does not work well with Android operating systems. Since I work for a company that standardizes on the Android platform, I do not have any IOS devices. I'll take a look at the IntelliCenter and see if that would be a better fit. I thought the connection points would be:


The pool will not be salt. I have friends who have them here (Las Vegas) and both they as well as the two pool companies did not recommend going with salt. They didn't give me specifics as to why.

My last pool was about 15 years ago. I did not like the Caretaker system and I had and that's why I don't want an in floor with this pool. The only thing I know about is the side suction on the pool connected to a hose and a vacuum. The robot cleaners would not require any suction?

 

[mknauss]

You will need a system to add chlorine. SWCG is by far the easiest. I cannot fathom why anyone in our area would not want one. I go on trips of up to two months and the chlorine is added for me by the SWCG. pH must be controlled but that can be done every week or so or can be automated.

Other option is to use a Stenner type pump and tank for liquid chlorine. You will need to refill it every week or so.

 

[Jimrahbe]

B,

Mark this day on your calendar.. Not going with saltwater will come back to be the worst decision you ever made, pool wise...

Our job is to provide the best advice we can... Your job is to decide what advice you want to take.. and what advice you want to throw away.

Edit.. You must be working with idiots as ScreenLogic integrates perfectly with Android!! I have it on my phone and have never had a problem.. While it works fine on my phone, I tend to use it on my PC as it just makes sense for my operation.. Here are a couple of screenshots to wet your whistle...

Spa page.JPG

• Jimrahbe
• May 28, 2019

ScreenLogic Spillover button

View media item 1963

Home page.PNG

• Jimrahbe
• Mar 28, 2018

Schedules.PNG

• Jimrahbe
• Apr 15, 2017

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[jimim]

That’s a pretty cool design! Very exciting times ahead of you!

Everyone has already said everything I would say.

Those pots are really expensive too. I like suz idea to loose em for more seating.

I did zero water features for what others said. Ph rise. I just didn’t want to deal with it.

Robot. Plug it in and whip it into the pool. So easy. I haven’t vac’ed my pool once since I got it. Zero!

Salt. Salt. Salt. Ya just get salt. I couldn’t imagine keeping my chlorine level proper during the dog days of summer. The chlorine drop would be too hard for me to manage cause I would never use pucks.

I run screen logic on 3 touchscreens on my walls that are android. No issues. I also use it on iOS. No issues.

 

[banditgrrr]

Thank you all for the feedback. I just called the designer and told him to leave the Screen Logic in place. Thanks @Jimrahbe

A question came up about the heater. He's asking if I want to go with a Pentair heat pump (approximately $4,000 or a Pentair 400,000 BTU gas heater (approximately $2200 for the heater and $750 for the gas line). I live in Las Vegas and just looking to extend pool use a couple additional months a year. Advice on cost vs benefit of a pump vs gas heater?

Pool size will be roughly 9,000 gallons according to the plans.

 

[mknauss]

I use our gas heater and a solar cover to swim in March/April and October. Does not need to run much each day to bring the temp back to 85F.

I think our natural gas price will be more reasonable in the long term versus our electric rates. Especially with recent decisions to require renewable levels.

 

[JJ_Tex]

I'm curious on this Pool Consultant. Is this a 3rd party you have hired? What is their role and have they done any consulting?

I vote ditch the consultant and become a TFP supporter

 

[Jimrahbe]

B,

Keep in mind that ScreenLogic only works with the EasyTouch or IntelliTouch... If you go with the new IntelliCenter, you will not need it, as it is build in..

Also, just to make sure, Don't let then sell you an EasyTouch "lite". It has no load center, only 4 programs, and very limited functions... You can tell because it is cheap and has an "L" in the model number such as PL4 or PSL4...

And finally.. Makes sure you do not buy any pump with the SVRS option... It is a safety feature that is not needed with dual main drains and can cause intermittent pump action..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[banditgrrr]

@JJ_Tex The consultant is actually a licensed general contractor and owns his own company called Desert Bloom Pools. He will be pulling the permit under his GC license so if there's any issues, I have recourse through the Nevada Contractors Board. He charges 10% to manage the project which is pulling the permit, compiling the quotes from subs, scheduling, handling city inspection, etc. I travel frequently for business so it's worth the 10% to me to have someone managing the project so that it goes smoothly with minimal delays. The designer I'm using is from MyPoolPlans (dot) com. The plans have been easy but they're giving me a few options such as pump heater vs gas heater which I need advice on.

@mknauss Since you're relatively local with the weather, I'll probably take your advice and go with gas. From my understanding, the heat pump helps raise temp during summer months but doesn't typically extend the swim season. My goal is to be able to extend the swim season an extra month or two. With a 9,000 gallon pool with a max of 5 1/2 feet, I'm assuming it would not take much to increase the temp. I'd potentially be looking for a cover but It's probably something I would have to cut as it's a non-typical design.

@Jimrahbe Once I get back to the designer to confirm my heater option, he should be sending me the equipment list. I'll make sure it's not a Lite model. Right now it's only noted on the plan as an "EasyTouch 4 with Screen Logic."

Just contributed as a TFP supporter. I greatly appreciate all the advice.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Gotcha... I was reading the consultant as an additional 3rd party to your PB.

 

[Newdude]

I think our natural gas price will be more reasonable in the long term versus our electric rates. Especially with recent decisions to require renewable levels.

I agree that NG is most likely the safest bet to remain stable. Hurricane Katrina however taught us all how knocking out oil in the gulf could make everything else skyrocket. NG and electric included. With the current weather trends throwing 'once in a lifetime' storms at us every other year, and the global unrest in the current state of the world, it really is a crapshoot.