My "New" Pool in SCHERTZ, TX

[TexasRain]

Hello all you fabulous people!

Here are page #s and links for the different parts of my build:

Excavation: PAGE 4
Rebar & Plumbing: PAGE 5
Soil Injections: PAGE 6
Gunite: PAGE 8
Coping and tile: PAGE 9
Deck Poured: PAGE 10
Tile Border: PAGE 11
Sundek: PAGE 12
Blue Surf Pebblesheen: Starts on PAGE 13
Leak! : PAGE 17
Finished Backyard "RockScaping": PAGE 21

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We are in Schertz, TX about 25 miles NE of San Antonio.

We started planning for an inground pool in 2015 when we first bought our home, then the pool got put on hold so we could install solar panels on the house. We have put a lot of thought into what we want and thanks to TFP, the research is mostly all in one place!!

I have created multiple pool designs! I am a graphic designer and I am loving this design part!! I think we have finally agreed on a design that we ALL like, but would appreciate any suggestions. We have had 6 PBs come out to the house and 3 PBs that said they could do a virtual quote with my survey and a few pictures of my yard… We received 5 quotes back. Being ghosted by a PB, so 2020!

One PB stood out to us in a good way, he was not pushy and seems very helpful and honest with giving us all the info and stepping back to let us choose.

It's me, my husband, and our 2 daughters (10 &19). Us girls are a little vertically challenged (nah, we are just short! I'm 5'2")

We love the simple rectangle geometric design. A swim lane for laps. (Husband wants to get back to swimming for exercise) The sun shelf is for me! The girls only care if there is water in the pool.

I am super excited because my new job is a full time remote W@H position!! Whoo Hooo! I can be home and watch every minute of the build, I cannot wait! And then I'll be designing poolside!

Here are things we are planning on.

• Saltwater chlorine generator - Intellichlor (IC40)
• Size: 40'x 10'
• Sun shelf w/stairs outside pool dimensions: 12'x8', 14" water depth, shelf even with the 2nd step
• Pool depth: 4' - 5' (1st 20' shallow end = 4' / 10' of slope = 4'-> 5' / last 10' "deep" end = 5')
• Perimeter: 114'
• Area: 491 sqft
• Gallons: 13,868
• Tile swim lane - dashed line with waterline tile
• 3" Tile trim accent border around 3 sides of the pool with cut waterline tile
• Heater/chiller (plumb for now, add later)
• LED color lights (3 in pool, 1 in shelf) Pentair Globrites Microbrites
• Automation - EasyTouch P-4 EasyTouch 8 w/screenlogic
• Variable speed pump - Pentair VSF 3HP
• Cartridge filter - Pentair C&C 420
• 2 skimmers - Venturi
• Autofill & Overflow
• Robot cleaner

Adding a few pics of my blank backyard and pool design. I am in the process of refinishing the outdoor furniture (AKA the pile of wreckage on the patio) and that stick used to be a tree.

Thanks y'all!

 

[Texas Splash]

Hey neighbor. I'm right up FM78 from you towards Marion and work at the base myself. We're basically in the same backyard .... but I have a pool. Ha Ha. Sounds like you'll have one soon though, although you probably wish you had it now. It's crazy hot & humid. So your listing looks quite good. If at some point you can narrow it down more with brands and models/sizes that would be good to know as well. You'll need a good sized pad for all that stuff, so be ready for that too. We have lots of automation gurus here that can help you with that as well. Me, not so much. Have a nice evening. Stay safe and cool.

 

[TexasRain]

Hey neighbor. I'm right up FM78 from you towards Marion and work at the base myself. We're basically in the same backyard .... but I have a pool. Ha Ha. Sounds like you'll have one soon though, although you probably wish you had it now. It's crazy hot & humid. So your listing looks quite good. If at some point you can narrow it down more with brands and models/sizes that would be good to know as well. You'll need a good sized pad for all that stuff, so be ready for that too. We have lots of automation gurus here that can help you with that as well. Me, not so much. Have a nice evening. Stay safe and cool.

Hello!!
Yes, the base is basically in my backyard! I am hoping to be swimming by spring next year.... Thank you and I will keep everyone up to date when I know more!

 

[Msch99]

Not pool related, but my last name is Schertz. Maybe related to founding group across the pond, but not after my group came over.
We stopped there a couple years ago and got pics with the town sign.

 

[dprorie]

Hello all you fabulous people!

We are in Schertz, TX about 25 miles NE of San Antonio.

We started planning in 2015 when we first bought our home, then the pool got put on hold so we could install solar panels on the house. We have put a lot of thought into what we want and thanks to TFP, the research is mostly all in one place!!

I have created multiple pool designs! I am a graphic designer and I am loving this design part!! I think we have finally agreed on a design that we ALL like, but would appreciate any suggestions. We have had 6 PBs come out to the house and 3 PBs that said they could do a virtual quote with my survey and a few pictures of my yard… We received 5 quotes back. Being ghosted by a PB, so 2020!

One PB stood out to us in a good way, he was not pushy and seems very helpful and honest with giving us all the info and letting us choose what we want.

It's me, my husband and our 2 daughters (10 &19). Me and the girls are on the shorter side (nah, we are just short!)

We love the simple rectangle geometric design. A swim lane for laps. (Husband wants to get back to swimming for exercise) The sun shelf is for me! The girls only care if there is water in the pool.

I am super excited because my new job is a full time remote W@H position!! Whoo Hooo! I can be home and watch every minute of the build, I cannot wait! And then I'll be designing poolside!

Here are things we are planning on. We are meeting with the awesome PB again tomorrow so I should have detailed equipment info from them to update this list.

• Saltwater chlorine generator
• Size: 40'x 10'
• Sun shelf w/stairs: 12'x7', 12"-16" water depth, shelf even with the 2nd step
• Small 1st step in shelf
• 4 Steps: 8.5" - 9" rise, 15" tread
• Pool depth: 4' - 5'
• 2 bubblers on shelf
• Tile lane marker
• Heater (maybe a chiller?)
• LED color change lights (2 in pool, 1 in shelf)
• Automation (want to control everything separately with my phone- lights, water features, temperature, etc…)
• Variable speed pump
• Cartridge filter
• 2 skimmers
• Channel drain (need to ask PB about this)
• Robot cleaner

Adding a few pics of my blank backyard and my pool design. I am in the process of refinishing the outdoor furniture (AKA the pile of wreckage on the patio) and that stick used to be a tree.

oh and if you are bored... you can order the little flags and marking tape/ribbon on amazon!! LOL

Thanks y'all!

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Hey there, neighbor. I’m in Cibolo! We’re building a pool as well...about 7 wks in and 2-3 more to go. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[TexasRain]

Hi,

Right now PB has an EasyTouch p-4 and screenlogic for us. (NOT the lite version) we don't have a lot going on in our pool to control. Question is: should we still upgrade to 8 or intellicenter? What all can I control with it? Salt, Pump, future heater, lights (we have no spa or water features), (maybe future landscaping lights?) will the p4 be enough? We do like technology smart things....but is that enough reason to upgrade?

Thanks

 

[Texas Splash]

Question is: should we still upgrade to 8 or intellicenter? What all can I control with it? Salt, Pump, future heater, lights (we have no spa or water features), (maybe future landscaping lights?) will the p4 be enough?

@Jimrahbe can you help with this one?

 

[Jimrahbe]

We do like technology smart things....but is that enough reason to upgrade?

TR,

There is no major reason to upgrade from the EasyTouch P-4... The IntelliCenter is a better system, and it has a number of advantages, but for most people, the EasyTouch with ScreenLogic will work just fine.

Here are some things to think about.. The 4 in P4 is the number of relays that come with the unit..

The IntelliFlo pump does not need a relay to operate
The IntelliChlor SWCG MUST use the pump/filter relay
Each light that you want to individually control will need a relay and transformer.. So if you want each light to be a different color the you will need 4 relays.. If you want all the lights on at the same time, and at the same color, then one relay will do.
I suggest a light over the equipment pad, that will take a relay
If you ever want to add landscape lighting controlled by the EasyTouch, that will take a relay
Heaters and most water features do not need a relay.

A P-4 will do the job, but you just have to understand how the lights will work.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[TexasRain]

A P-4 will do the job, but you just have to understand how the lights will work.

Thank you! I think I saw there is a P-8 version, I'm thinking that could be safe considering we don't know everything we plan to add down the road. And don't want to be stuck with only 4 relays. Plan on having the lights all be on one. No disco parties at my house! Unless the Intellicenter isn't too much of an upgrade $$, then I will go that route.

 

[Jimrahbe]

TR,

The IntelliCenter should be about the same price as an ET-8 with ScreenLogic.. The IntelliCenter has its own built-in ScreenLogic-like system.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[TexasRain]

What are some things that would need to be done to plumb for an electric heater/chiller if I want to add one later? And does anyone have suggestions of a good one? We will have Pentair equipment and automation, so will want it to work with everything.

 

[Jimrahbe]

TR,

Basically, the pump sucks water out of the pool and into the filter.. then out of the filter and into the heater/chiller.. then out of the heater/chiller and back to the pool.

You just need to tell the plumber to pretend he is installing the heater/chiller and run the pipe like there is one.. At the point were the heater/chiller is going to be, just join the input and output pipes together.. You could run that way forever, if you never install a heater/chiller, but would have the option to install one later if you wanted.

You just need to make sure the equipment pad is big enough for the heater/chiller you want to add...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[TexasRain]

It's Robot buying time!!

I see all the recommendations for the Dolphin S200. Is there such a thing as a smart robot? (Can control on your phone) Or does it not matter? So robots...you plug it in, drop into the pool, and it just goes? Does it follow a pattern at all or do you program it some way? How deep would the water on a shelf need to be for it to get up there to clean?

 

[Jimrahbe]

TR,

Robots do not normally do shelves or steps.. You just brush them off into the pool..

I have used remote controlled robots and ones without the remote.. Let me put it this way.. I have a robot that I bought about 6 years ago.. The robot is still in use today, but the remote was used once and put on the shelf..

I use the S200 because it has no bells and whistles... I don't want to drive the cleaner around, I just want it to clean my pool, which it does without any bells or whistles.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[chemsales]

Just an add on about preparing for an eventual heater/chiller. My pad is built 18” above the sand. Is it about 40“x60”. When the pump and CC420 filter were on it, it looked spacious. They put my Ultra Temp 120 HC on it this weekend and it took up a chunk of space. Aside from the pre-piping definitely account for the space needed on your pad.

 

[jark87]

And does anyone have suggestions of a good one?

We have a Hayward gas heater and Glacier chiller, not a combo heat pump unit. The Glacier works off of evaporation, like a swamp cooler, so it is very inexpensive to run. From what I’ve been told, heat pumps that have a chiller option are like running your AC all day, but I don’t have any personal experience with one. The Glacier works great! My pool has stayed right around 80 this summer. Warmest it has been since installation of chiller is 85.

 

[Jimrahbe]

@jark87

Give us an idea on how noisy the Glacier is.. The pics I have seen show a huge motor at the top and I assume a pretty high amount of operating noise.. I have no idea if that is true or not.. Tell us about yours..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[jark87]

@jark87

Give us an idea on how noisy the Glacier is.. The pics I have seen show a huge motor at the top and I assume a pretty high amount of operating noise.. I have no idea if that is true or not.. Tell us about yours..

Thanks,

Jim R.

It’s not the motor but the fan that causes the noise. Hard to describe - kind of like a deep hum. You can hear it from a good distance, but it’s more of a white noise. Our equipment sits behind a fence section and we have a table on the other side of that fence, probably no more than 15 feet from the Glacier. We sit there often and really don’t notice it, but not because we can’t hear it, but because it kind of blends in. We can hold normal conversations, but if I turned off the chiller, you’d definitely know the difference. If standing right next to the chiller, you’d have to speak much louder than normal, but not shouting loud.

That’s probably not much help. It’s just a noise that’s hard to describe. A large industrial fan might be the closest thing to it.

Edit: I just realized that you’re in Bedford. You’re welcome to come check it out if you’re interested in installing one. I had seen one in Leslies, so I had a sense of how big it was, but never saw one in action until I had mine.

 

[Sparks22]

It’s not the motor but the fan that causes the noise. Hard to describe - kind of like a deep hum. You can hear it from a good distance, but it’s more of a white noise. Our equipment sits behind a fence section and we have a table on the other side of that fence, probably no more than 15 feet from the Glacier. We sit there often and really don’t notice it, but not because we can’t hear it, but because it kind of blends in. We can hold normal conversations, but if I turned off the chiller, you’d definitely know the difference. If standing right next to the chiller, you’d have to speak much louder than normal, but not shouting loud.

That’s probably not much help. It’s just a noise that’s hard to describe. A large industrial fan might be the closest thing to it.

Edit: I just realized that you’re in Bedford. You’re welcome to come check it out if you’re interested in installing one. I had seen one in Leslies, so I had a sense of how big it was, but never saw one in action until I had mine.

How do you think the noise compares to an HVAC condenser unit that sits outside the house?

 

[jark87]

How do you think the noise compares to an HVAC condenser unit that sits outside the house?

Very good comparison. Combined noise of pool pump and chiller are probably on par with AC unit.