Build starts next week! Advice on equipment, setup, ANYTHING!

[bmoreswim]

I'll post separately about autocover. I love ours and are glad you are getting one. I presume it will go on the right side of the pool? You don't want it by the main steps/shelf. That's sort of another reason to get a diving board. The cover end of the pool, even with a walkable stone cover, will not be a preferred entry location. One of our pool rules is no entering via the stone cover. And also no stepping on the dam wall. It's tile and slippery. With a diving board (recommend 8' to cover the autocover nicely) it gives you an easy way to have a rule that says only enter via diving board from that end. And we have a skimmer conveniently (and coincidentally) placed which is the end of the diving area on the side of the pool. It's where the diving well starts to slope up.

Side light - our pool rules:

Only enter by using the diving board on that end of the pool.
No stepping on the cover pit wall. (The rule doesn't include the word dam because little kids get confused).
No diving past the aforementioned skimmer.
No glass in the pool area.

That's pretty much it. Other stuff gets said, but the above are our go-to's

 

[SSharp]

Haha, I'll confuse you more. We have a sport bottom pool and while the kids would have liked the deep end, they are totally good with the sport bottom, which hubby and I built for OUR wants because the kids aren't going to be here forever.. It's a great lounging and gathering pool, tons of usable space, perfect for having a bunch of people over at once. Goods and bads on both sides. I don't regret our choice. Good luck on your build!

 

[jimmythegreek]

good point SSharp. I will add that any pool built should be built for the day to day needs of the family who lives there. the idea that you have to go crazy with features or huge lounge areas is nuts to me. The handful of times you have a party etc. you make do with what you have. I cant tell you how many pools go 50% or more over original budget on just "keeping up with the Jones's" remember the majority of guest you get in summer months for pool time dont have a pool of their own. kids are happy in a plastic swimming pool they adapt to whats there.

 

[drewbono]

kids are happy in a plastic swimming pool they adapt to whats there.

This is 100% true--our kids are having a blast right now in a tiny plastic swimming pool.

 

[drewbono]

We have a 3-8.5' diving pool. I'd certainly go 3.5' but also no less than 8.5'. It's still not hard to hit the bottom when diving deep (the wrong way). But also diving long and deepish you can hit the slope. If you do a diving pool, I'd go 9'+ since you have the length. "Loving" the comment above by @Newdude didn't seem to do it justice so I will repeat it in my words. I love swimming around in the deep end, treading water, etc. I also only get in the pool by diving from the board or side or pencilling in. That's how I use it and frankly that's a lot of what matters since kids grow up and move out. Generally its only adults who are deep-end averse. My wife walks around some and floats. She spends much less time actually in the pool than me. Or she is standing at the edge, leaning on a towel reading a book. Your kids are younger than mine but they already love deep ends. What happens when the neighbors get a new job or get divorced, etc. and those pools are no longer available. I think that not building what you know your kids will love may come back to bother you.

Check insurance of course. Ours didn't go up, but I did have to get new insurance because our umbrella carrier wouldn't cover the board. I had checked with our primary carrier and all was good. Then after completion I get a letter stating that I have to remove the board in 30 days or we get our umbrella policy cancelled (that won't work). So I re-placed everything and ended up saving money on better coverage. So there original umbrella carrier.

I can't see any good reason to get that pit. Massive overkill and creation of other issues. Electricity out during storm, uh oh. Though you may have a generator. Leaves, and all other debris, no thank you. And as mentioned, it's just plain unnecessary. Do however, plan for a nice enclosure or wall for the equipment to keep it out of sight. Pumps are quiet. You will hear it on higher speeds but nothing bad. Heater will make some noise but again not bad. Not enough to build a bunker. My pet peave when equipment is not at the house, is how most PB's only use metal posts to mount the automation, etc. It's so tacky and unprofessional. Equipment placement should be given the same forethought as the other aesthetics. I'll give your PB props for overthinking. Most underthink. Here's my equipment area, which is right next the deep end. I built the wall for them to use because I knew they wouldn't. The automation is actually on the visible side (between the shed and the wall). Could have done it the other way. The back has the pool light junction box. The front has the automation panel, electrical outlet, post light dimmers, autocover switch, and hose reel.

And don't forget to allow for storage of pool stuff. A shed of a 8 x 8 or 10 x 10 is a good size for it (bigger if you want to store furniture during the winter). Ours is good but was a cheap solution of two things, which doesn't look too bad, though probably the least good-looking thing in our pool area.

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• bmoreswim
• May 19, 2019

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• bmoreswim
• Jul 25, 2018

So, our thinking has evolved and we're now thinking of having a diving pool, but we're hoping to maximize the "usable" area that's below 5'. Right now this is what we've come up with. Thoughts? Not sure how long the deep area needs to be, especially if we get a diving board.

 

[drewbono]

I'll post separately about autocover. I love ours and are glad you are getting one. I presume it will go on the right side of the pool? You don't want it by the main steps/shelf. That's sort of another reason to get a diving board. The cover end of the pool, even with a walkable stone cover, will not be a preferred entry location. One of our pool rules is no entering via the stone cover. And also no stepping on the dam wall. It's tile and slippery. With a diving board (recommend 8' to cover the autocover nicely) it gives you an easy way to have a rule that says only enter via diving board from that end. And we have a skimmer conveniently (and coincidentally) placed which is the end of the diving area on the side of the pool. It's where the diving well starts to slope up.

Side light - our pool rules:

Only enter by using the diving board on that end of the pool.
No stepping on the cover pit wall. (The rule doesn't include the word dam because little kids get confused).
No diving past the aforementioned skimmer.
No glass in the pool area.

That's pretty much it. Other stuff gets said, but the above are our go-to's

I'm so glad you mentioned this because we hadn't thought about how the autocover will impede entering the pool. And yes, it's on the deep end of the pool. The only problem is my wife hates the look of diving boards...and I'm not sure 8.5' is enough for a diving board in our area. Seem to remember our PB saying something about 10', but maybe that's just his preference.

 

[bmoreswim]

So, our thinking has evolved and we're now thinking of having a diving pool, but we're hoping to maximize the "usable" area that's below 5'. Right now this is what we've come up with. Thoughts? Not sure how long the deep area needs to be, especially if we get a diving board.

View attachment 147349

Diving pool envelopes are mathematical in nature. If you Google it you'll get all the details but it's confusing. Your pool builder can tell you what is required to be an approved diving pool and if this, along with all the dimensions, fits the bill. I believe one of the requirements is to not have a slope steeper than 1' rise over 3' which is about what you have. Just going by my pool, I believe that it would be an approved depth profile. There are also width and other requirements.

 

[bmoreswim]

I'm so glad you mentioned this because we hadn't thought about how the autocover will impede entering the pool. And yes, it's on the deep end of the pool. The only problem is my wife hates the look of diving boards...and I'm not sure 8.5' is enough for a diving board in our area. Seem to remember our PB saying something about 10', but maybe that's just his preference.

It's just his preference. I believe the minimum is 8' but no reason to do that depth for better safety and your pool length. Here is summary information from S.R. Smith, probably the largest diving board manufacturer. https://srsmith.com/media/47241/06-052ansi-standard.pdf

 

[Ematicic]

With hindsight, how deep would you have gone?

I guess 8. with a 6 ft deep end i can always touch the bottom and too shallow for diving safe. Plus side, I have a heater that would not be as effective if it were that much deeper. Overall, love our pool though.