New Build in Macon, GA - COMPLETE!

[joynun]

Hi everyone! I recently discovered this site and have been ferociously reading and trying to absorb all of the great info here! We are set to break ground on our first pool in the coming weeks and we are super excited. We are a family of 4, with kids ages 7 & 10. We are building an 18x36 IG gunite w/ spa (yes, we know we want one ?) and tanning ledge, with Blue Surf/Desert Gold PebbleSheen. Trying to add pics of the back yard but it keeps saying files are too big ?. I don’t know how to shrink them?! Here are the renderings from the PB:




This is the info we’ve been given on the equipment and other details:
Main Pool Pump - 1.5 or 2 HP Hayward TriStar Pump
Filter - 600lb Hayward Side Mount Filter and Valve
Secondary Pump - 1.5 HP Hayward MaxFlo Pump (this will aide in running bubblers and waterfall from spa)
Heater - 400,000 BTU Hayward Heater
Booster Pump - Hayward .75HP Booster pump (will run Polaris pool cleaner)
Salt System - Hayward PL-Plus with a T-15 cell
Lights - Hayward Color Logic Lights
(3) 1.5” LED underwater pool
(1) 1.5” LED underwater spa
(2) LED bubblers in tanning ledge
AquaConnect System
2 skimmers
4 directional returns
Dual main drain
Polaris 280 automatic cleaner
Oklahoma flagstone coping
Colored concrete decking with salt finish

I think from reading on TFP we need more details on the main pump...is it SS/VS?? A question I would like to ask the experts here is: which type do we want/need? Also, I’m not sure what the filter or salt system they have listed is. Does anyone know if those look ok?

Thanks so much in advance for any help or advice!!

 

[JRo]

I have the sand color ledge/Caribbean going in. Not quite to the plaster stage yet. I love the look you have going here! I was afraid to do flagstone with SWG but I’ve heard mixed opinions. Good luck with your build!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Joy,

You want a large VS pump for your main pump.. This is because you will need to run your pump longer to generate the amount of chlorine needed by your pool..

The T-15 SWCG is one of the best saltwater systems out there...

Water powered cleaners, like your Polaris 280, are a little like using an old black rotary-dial phone, instead of a cell phone.. I suggest you scrap the 280 and get a Robot cleaner instead..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[joynun]

I have the sand color ledge/Caribbean going in. Not quite to the plaster stage yet. I love the look you have going here! I was afraid to do flagstone with SWG but I’ve heard mixed opinions. Good luck with your build!

We were told the OK flagstone is more resistant to the salt than say a Tennessee flagstone (also used very prevalently in our area)...hopefully they’re right ?. We were originally going to do the flagstone on our sun shelf too, but I was not convinced and it was a lot more $ too. Thankfully the hubs came around to the sand colored PS instead ?

 

[joynun]

Joy,

You want a large VS pump for your main pump.. This is because you will need to run your pump longer to generate the amount of chlorine needed by your pool..

The T-15 SWCG is one of the best saltwater systems out there...

Water powered cleaners, like your Polaris 280, are a little like using an old black rotary-dial phone, instead of a cell phone.. I suggest you scrap the 280 and get a Robot cleaner instead..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks so much for the info, Jim! I know most people here recommend a robot instead of a Polaris. I meant to put a note about that in my intro above. We need to talk to the PB about that.

 

[kimkats]

I can tell you HAVE been doing some reading! LOVE IT

I have been to your are of the world quite often! Love the area of Macon!

Pictures too big.............taking them on your phone? If so turn of the "high resolution" selection on your phone and see if that helps. You know I LOVE to see where a pool is going to go!

LOVE your design! Jim has you covered on the equipment! So lets talk about the BLING!!

Kim

 

[joynun]

I can tell you HAVE been doing some reading! LOVE IT

I have been to your are of the world quite often! Love the area of Macon!

Pictures too big.............taking them on your phone? If so turn of the "high resolution" selection on your phone and see if that helps. You know I LOVE to see where a pool is going to go!

LOVE your design! Jim has you covered on the equipment! So lets talk about the BLING!!

Kim

Thanks, Kim! I’ll have to try some not so “high resolution” photos tomorrow!

 

[joynun]

Here are some pics of our site:


Apparently the dog thought I was doing a photo shoot of him ?

I also forgot to include our inspiration pics for the waterfall earlier:

 

[kimkats]

What a pretty lot!!! LOVE it! Guessing that tree is going bye-bye though.

CUTE doggy!

That waterfall is going to awesome! Has your PB done any like this before?

 

[joynun]

What a pretty lot!!! LOVE it! Guessing that tree is going bye-bye though.

CUTE doggy!

That waterfall is going to awesome! Has your PB done any like this before?

Yep, we’ll be losing a few trees. Our PB has done waterfalls like this. Not sure quite how many, but from what we’ve seen hopefully they’ll do a good job!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Joy,

There is a very small difference between a great looking waterfall and a pile of rocks.. There are plenty of pics of waterfall failures on this site.. ?

If this were my build, I'd want to look at a couple of pools that your pool builder has already done, just to make sure what he can do..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[joynun]

Joy,

There is a very small difference between a great looking waterfall and a pile of rocks.. There are plenty of pics of waterfall failures on this site.. ?

If this were my build, I'd want to look at a couple of pools that your pool builder has already done, just to make sure what he can do..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Jim, I know what you mean. I’ve seen some photos that make you scratch your head ?. We’ve seen several pools by our builder with great stonework. They’ve been in business for almost 40 years and build a lot of pools in our area. I’m pretty confident they will be able to deliver what we’re looking for, but we’ll definitely be there overseeing each stone! Thanks for the advice!

 

[JRo]

Jim, I know what you mean. I’ve seen some photos that make you scratch your head ?. We’ve seen several pools by our builder with great stonework. They’ve been in business for almost 40 years and build a lot of pools in our area. I’m pretty confident they will be able to deliver what we’re looking for, but we’ll definitely be there overseeing each stone! Thanks for the advice!

My stone guy took me to the stoneyard and we hand picked each stone together based on looks and the shapes he would need. He even made sure to put my favorite stone in the most visible spot. Maybe ask if you can also?!?

 

[joynun]

After a couple of delays, dig day has finally come! Can’t wait to see what’s next!

 

[kimkats]

MUD! Lots and lots and lots of MUD is what is next LOL

Let the mud fun begin!

Kim

 

[kimkats]

Make sure to measure when they say they are done. Is it long, wide, deep, etc enough? Add about 8" for the steel, shell, and plaster!

Kim

 

[joynun]

It’s been a busy few days since Christmas! It’s really starting to look like a pool now!

 

[kimkats]

I would say so!!! I did not expect to see that! Looks great! Have you been bonding with it? aka watering it to slow it's curing?

It is time for YOUR set of links! The first set is how to get the best plaster job for a long lasting plaster that looks awesome! The second set is how to care for your pool when the plaster is done!

Plaster links:
Ten Guidelines for Quality Pool Plaster Best one of all
All Plaster Finishes Should Last 20 Years
Not All Color Pigments are Good for Pools How to pick a good color for plaster.
A Plastering 'Watch List' | Professional Watershaping | Watershapes
Trouble Free Pool
Trouble Free Pool

Pool care links:
Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule
Pool School - Recommended Levels

Bookmark these:
Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals
Trouble Free Pool
Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Now is also a good time to ask your PB what test kit he provides. Share here so we can fill in any holes.

Kim

 

[joynun]

Happy new year to everyone! Our stone guys have been busy for the past week. We really like how it’s all coming together!

 

[kimkats]

Oh man has he ever been busy!!!! So much done!!! How many days and people work was that?