I'm totally new to pools have NEVER owned one. We are about to start talking to builders for an inground pool build. I am looking for recommendations and advice anyone could give from experience. We will probably be getting a vinyl liner inground (16x33ish) and are looking for biggest bang for the buck. I'm needing to know for future maintenance/ liner replacement/etc. Is there a shape/size I should pick that will help me in the future in regards to avoiding higher costs in repairs? Any advice from previous builds people regret not putting in the first time? I just wanna try to do it right the first time in this and will take all the knowledge I can get on all aspects of a new build pool. Thanks for any info.
If you were to build a new inground pool today advice.
- Thread starter Theduck816
- Start date
On equipment Insist on a SWG even if you buy it fro discount salt and let them install it. Seems most PB don’t understand then and will try and tell you they are bad 
Also skip pressure pool cleaners they push and get a basic dolphin s200.
Also skip pressure pool cleaners they push and get a basic dolphin s200.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,369
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Welcome to the forum!
Variable speed pump. Quieter, cheaper to operate.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
Variable speed pump. Quieter, cheaper to operate.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
There might even be a rebate available through your electric supplier for a variable speed pump.
Drainage. Make sure your pool builder talks drainage. He should put in some kind of drainage around the pool and also make sure that storm water runs away from your pool and not into it. Many builders may say you don’t need a drainage system if you don’t have a high water table but with a vinyl pool you should always have one to keep ground water away from the pool.
Also ask him what backfill material he will use. If you use excavation dirt for backfill you will have to wait for it to settle before adding your deck. You should not use the dirt for backfill. Use clean stone. You can have your deck poured right away and you don’t have to worry about settling.
Also ask him what backfill material he will use. If you use excavation dirt for backfill you will have to wait for it to settle before adding your deck. You should not use the dirt for backfill. Use clean stone. You can have your deck poured right away and you don’t have to worry about settling.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,475
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Construction Best Practices - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
How to select pool equipment - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
There are many pools that are considered standard. Any 2X1 rectangles, for example a 16X32, and some of the kidney/freeforms. The most common ones are 'off the shelf' when you need a replacement liner. Its not the end of the world to have a custom measured liner installed, but it does cost more. The same with the safety cover if you get one. If you modify the pool too much to be unique, they will have to make you a custom cover to fit it. It can cost a couple thousand on top of the couple thousand for the standard one. Your builder would be able to tell you which pools in your idea ballpark would be easier down the road.
On a budget do a rectangle standard size with whatever corner you like. 16x32 is a good pool and our most popular. Do not get white steps. Either colored stairs or liner over stairs if you wanna splurge a little. Do you plan on any water features or just basic pool
Jimmie48
Well-known member
Think about how you will use the pool not just what looks good in a picture. Depths are very important so keep that in mind as to how you intend to use it. Also if there are things you prioritize like water features or sun decks make sure you spend a little more if thats important....itll be worth it in the long run. Good luck!
Can't stress that one enough. This is one area that is most often ignored or overlooked. Then once all you beautiful hardscaping done it is often too late or too costly to install a proper fix. All aspects of storm water and ground water should be planned for to include deck drainage, roof water and ground water. These systems need to be planned for and installed very early in the process. If there is a availability to run the drainage to city drainage or daylight it is well worth the cost to avoid any type of a pump system.
Decking....
Figure out how much decking you will need for everything you plan to put there - tables, loungers, grill chairs etc. Then take that figure and double it. No one has regretted a large deck.
Figure out how much decking you will need for everything you plan to put there - tables, loungers, grill chairs etc. Then take that figure and double it. No one has regretted a large deck.
For a vinyl pool, typically not a huge price jump to make it bigger. If yoru yard can fit it, look to see price bump to increase to 36 or 40 in length. I have 18x40, love it.
Pool shape, I like an oval, or rounded with rectangle with at least 2 foot radius corners. This allows for better water flow. Rectangles can have poor circulation in the corners, and the corners prove a bit more difficult to brush/vacuum.
Pool placement. Go outside now, and track the yard shadows, and path of sun throughout the day. If possible, place the pool in a position that will give full sun from 10am to 4pm. This will optimize high water temp.
Heater, thnk about it you need one or not. Then learn about gas or electric. We choose to prewire for electric and make pad big enough for it, but have never bought one. Decided that it was not needed for our usage and sun availability.
As /u/Winger 03 said, decking. Try to preplan where you might put your pool and pool furniture. Take a rope or extention cord, and trace a perimeter of the pool. Then go out and place furniture in teh grass (use boxes or whatever else if you dont have any furniture) along the pool. Use another rope or extention cord to trace a perimeter of concrete decking all the way around the pool. Make sure that people have room to walk around furniture without having to go in the grass. Envision someone sitting on the decking, with feet in water. Can you walk around them easily without going into the grass?
Decking part 2, where are people going to put their stuff? I have been in way too many pools that were not preplanned, and everyones pool bags end up piled up and in the way, or getting wet.
Decking part 3, remember that you will need to cut the grass still. Dont leave little islands of grass that you cant get the mower into. Dont leave strips of grass to narrow have a mower go over. And no hard corners, round the corners as they are more of a pain to cut.
Decking part 4, go buy some little flags, and/or cans of yard marking spray paint. Dont be scared to try to mark the edges you have traced with a rope. This will allow you to live with teh shape/layout for a few days, making sure you like it.
Hardscape. Lots of pool builders want to simply put in a 16x32 rectangle, 3 foot of concrete around 3 sides, 6 feet on the shallow end, and call it a day. But a great pool includes not just the pool, but the decking/landscape/etc around the pool. Think of amazing hollywood pools you might see on tv. Sure the infinity edge pool is awesome, but what tends to be awesome, even if you dont realize itif the way that the surrounding area is just as amazing. COvered porches, tvs, lighting, plants, etc.
Pool cover. You are in Kansas City, you will need to have a winter cover. This could be $1k plus, and should last a decade or longer.
Costs. Your pool project cost will balloon quickly if you dont preplan all of the indirect costs. Sure there is the pool, and the decking, but you have other costs. Fencing around the pool. Electrician costs. Permits. Pool cover. Will your home owners insurance increase rates due to pool (some do some dont). Yard improvements such as necessary french drains, etc. Once the pool is done, who is responsible for the final grade of the yard? The yard will need to be landscaped and/or have grass seed planted. Will you need top soil brought in. Pay attention to your PB quote, and what is and is not included. You actual cost can quickly get to be 25% to 50% more that the pool itself.
A liner shoudl last 7 years minimum, and might last 10+. Just budget $1500 to replace and install the liner. Typically the liner will fade in color first,ultimatley ending up pure white if it lasts long enough. Then it will fail. The most likley failure is that on the sunniest side of the pool, along the water level, you will end up with a horizontal tear. A lot of people will r\note that at the end of a season, the liner is getting faded, they will schedule a liner replacement in the fall or early spring before it ever tears. The worst thing that can happen is having yoru liner tear in May/June. Pool workers are slammed, and you might end up with a 6+ week lead time to order a liner, have it delivered, and have someone have time ot install it. Before you know it, you can almost lose an entire season.
Oh, and opening and closing yoru pool every year. Opening is pretty easy, most homeowners shoudl be able to do this on their own. CLosing is a bit more challenging, but still can be DIY. You need to drain the lines properly and winterize equipment to prevent freeze damage in winter. Most pool techs might chrage 200 to open and the same to close.
Hope this list helps.
Pool shape, I like an oval, or rounded with rectangle with at least 2 foot radius corners. This allows for better water flow. Rectangles can have poor circulation in the corners, and the corners prove a bit more difficult to brush/vacuum.
Pool placement. Go outside now, and track the yard shadows, and path of sun throughout the day. If possible, place the pool in a position that will give full sun from 10am to 4pm. This will optimize high water temp.
Heater, thnk about it you need one or not. Then learn about gas or electric. We choose to prewire for electric and make pad big enough for it, but have never bought one. Decided that it was not needed for our usage and sun availability.
As /u/Winger 03 said, decking. Try to preplan where you might put your pool and pool furniture. Take a rope or extention cord, and trace a perimeter of the pool. Then go out and place furniture in teh grass (use boxes or whatever else if you dont have any furniture) along the pool. Use another rope or extention cord to trace a perimeter of concrete decking all the way around the pool. Make sure that people have room to walk around furniture without having to go in the grass. Envision someone sitting on the decking, with feet in water. Can you walk around them easily without going into the grass?
Decking part 2, where are people going to put their stuff? I have been in way too many pools that were not preplanned, and everyones pool bags end up piled up and in the way, or getting wet.
Decking part 3, remember that you will need to cut the grass still. Dont leave little islands of grass that you cant get the mower into. Dont leave strips of grass to narrow have a mower go over. And no hard corners, round the corners as they are more of a pain to cut.
Decking part 4, go buy some little flags, and/or cans of yard marking spray paint. Dont be scared to try to mark the edges you have traced with a rope. This will allow you to live with teh shape/layout for a few days, making sure you like it.
Hardscape. Lots of pool builders want to simply put in a 16x32 rectangle, 3 foot of concrete around 3 sides, 6 feet on the shallow end, and call it a day. But a great pool includes not just the pool, but the decking/landscape/etc around the pool. Think of amazing hollywood pools you might see on tv. Sure the infinity edge pool is awesome, but what tends to be awesome, even if you dont realize itif the way that the surrounding area is just as amazing. COvered porches, tvs, lighting, plants, etc.
Pool cover. You are in Kansas City, you will need to have a winter cover. This could be $1k plus, and should last a decade or longer.
Costs. Your pool project cost will balloon quickly if you dont preplan all of the indirect costs. Sure there is the pool, and the decking, but you have other costs. Fencing around the pool. Electrician costs. Permits. Pool cover. Will your home owners insurance increase rates due to pool (some do some dont). Yard improvements such as necessary french drains, etc. Once the pool is done, who is responsible for the final grade of the yard? The yard will need to be landscaped and/or have grass seed planted. Will you need top soil brought in. Pay attention to your PB quote, and what is and is not included. You actual cost can quickly get to be 25% to 50% more that the pool itself.
A liner shoudl last 7 years minimum, and might last 10+. Just budget $1500 to replace and install the liner. Typically the liner will fade in color first,ultimatley ending up pure white if it lasts long enough. Then it will fail. The most likley failure is that on the sunniest side of the pool, along the water level, you will end up with a horizontal tear. A lot of people will r\note that at the end of a season, the liner is getting faded, they will schedule a liner replacement in the fall or early spring before it ever tears. The worst thing that can happen is having yoru liner tear in May/June. Pool workers are slammed, and you might end up with a 6+ week lead time to order a liner, have it delivered, and have someone have time ot install it. Before you know it, you can almost lose an entire season.
Oh, and opening and closing yoru pool every year. Opening is pretty easy, most homeowners shoudl be able to do this on their own. CLosing is a bit more challenging, but still can be DIY. You need to drain the lines properly and winterize equipment to prevent freeze damage in winter. Most pool techs might chrage 200 to open and the same to close.
Hope this list helps.
mguzzy
Gold Supporter
All the suggestions so far are spot on... Here's one to throw at you as well. Is the pool going to be a part of a overall landscaping project? sometimes I've seen people have the PB do a minimal deck around the pool and have a larger patio connect to it. OR sometimes its better for the PB to do a larger deck. The point I am making is if you are having landscaping done at the same time sometimes the landscapers are cheaper at concrete patios than the PB and sometimes not. So get quotes for both.
I forgot liner color. Hard to decide. If at all possible, either form your possible PB, or from a liner supplier, try to get a 1 foot sample of the vinylliner material. Then if possible, find a nice pool owner who will allow you to put the liner underwater in their pool. This will allow you to look at what a liner will actually look like underwater.
Definitely larger deck! After it was poured I freaked out a bit and thought it was too much concrete. But after putting up the furniture, umbrellas and even room for our corn hold set. It was the perfect amount of decking for people to have room and move around!
I 2nd that, our pool deck is our whole backyard and I love it.
I also 2nd drainage, the orig deck started leaking at the house and cause water in the basement..WE had that section replaced and the concrete guy built it so the water has a low spot ( maybe 3" lower ) and all the water runs off the deck. Unless your looking for it you don't even notice it
Skip any foo-foo spa things cause they're uncomfortable to sit in (hard flat cement!) and don't offer all the features a good stand alone hot tub does. And you can use a stand alone year round where as an inground pool spa will get closed in the winter.
Don't skimp on depth!!! Don't be timid thinking the kids are small now..... they grow! And love to dive and cannon ball. If you can swing it a deep enough pool (min 7') even without a diving board is fun!
Maddie
Don't skimp on depth!!! Don't be timid thinking the kids are small now..... they grow! And love to dive and cannon ball. If you can swing it a deep enough pool (min 7') even without a diving board is fun!
Maddie