New pool build in Charlotte, NC-Please critique and advise

[Amoney]

Hi, everyone!
We are in the finalizing stages with our PB. We have gone through the design process with three PB’s and feel very comfortable with the PB we’ve chosen. He’s come well recommended from several sources and has been very accommodating to our requests/questions. We will be new pool owners and are trying to do our homework. This site has been extremely helpful! So, here are the specs and the design. Would love to know your thoughts before we finalize the contract. Thanks!

Custom Pool = Max. Width 20’-6” x Max. Length 39’-6”
• 700 Square Ft.
• 108’-5” Perimeter Ft.
• 3’6” to 7’ in Depth
• Engineered Steel Reinforcing throughout Pool Structure
• Shotcrete Structure – (minimum 4,000 PSI)
• All Plumbing within 50’ of Pool
• Travertine Bull-nose or Flagstone Coping (standard colors)
• 6” Band of Frost Proof Tile at Water Line
• PebbleSheen Interior Finish
• 41’-4” of 24” tall, 2’ 0f 16” tall, and 2’ of 8” tall raised bond beam flat veneered with TN fieldstone
• 3 pool steps, (2) 6’ pool benches, and 86 sq.ft. sun-shelf
• 4 Low Volt LED Color Pool Lights
• 50 SF Spa (8’ inside diameter) level with deck but 24” above pool with (1) 6’ wide forward spillover into pool / 31’-6” perimeter
• 8 Therma-Jets
• 2 H.P. Air Blower
• 1 LED Spa Light
• 400,000 BTU Electronic Ignition Gas or Propane Heater (will heat spa and/or pool)
• (1) 1 HP Jandy Stealth Pump for Pool
• (1) 2 HP Jandy Flo-Pro Pump for Spa
• Jandy Cartridge Filter
• Jandy SWG
• Return Lines as needed
• Skimmers as needed with Leaf baskets
• Bottom Main Drains in Pool
• Bottom Drains in Spa
• Jandy PDA-PS6 Handheld Controller

 

[AndyTN]

Looks beautiful and good luck with everything. Is there a reason you are only having the deep end built for 7 feet? For swimmers, anything deeper than 6 feet is going to make no difference since you can't touch but for kids/adults jumping into the pool, you will want it to be at least 8 feet or more. My deep end is 8 feet and I have to put my hands out when diving because I easily get to the bottom and I wish it was built 9 feet deep. I would either make everything 3.5-5 feet or make your deep end at least 8 feet. You don't want someone diving into only 7 feet and kids will easily reach the bottom as they get taller. Your raised deck 2 feet above the water is going to invite a lot of cannon balls and the additional height will increase the speed when someone hits the water surface.

Also, are you getting a variable speed pump for the pool? Since you are building new, I would get a VS pump which will pay for itself over a few years with electricity savings. Also, the VS pump on low speed/RPM is very quiet and I hate hearing the sound of my single speed pump.

 

[kimkats]

LOVE the design!! There is a good swim lane which wonderful to have!

I was also going to talk about the depths....my take is the 3'5" slope to the 7'. I would do the shallow at 4'. This will give you a better water depth and lessen the slope to the deep end.

Return Lines as needed
• Skimmers as needed with Leaf baskets

I do NOT like the wording-as needed?? what does that mean? This will have a major impact on your plumbing and equipment pad set up. You want the "good" valves such as pentair. NOT the ball valves found in the big box stores.

At least 4 returns but feel with the shape 6 would be better and TWO skimmers.

Bottom Main Drains in Pool
• Bottom Drains in Spa

Have you seen these? Channel Pebble Top Drain Covers — Color Match Pool Fittings So pretty and cleaners and such do not get stuck on them!

Kim

 

[Amoney]

LOVE the design!! There is a good swim lane which wonderful to have!

I was also going to talk about the depths....my take is the 3'5" slope to the 7'. I would do the shallow at 4'. This will give you a better water depth and lessen the slope to the deep end.


I do NOT like the wording-as needed?? what does that mean? This will have a major impact on your plumbing and equipment pad set up. You want the "good" valves such as pentair. NOT the ball valves found in the big box stores.

At least 4 returns but feel with the shape 6 would be better and TWO skimmers.


Have you seen these? Channel Pebble Top Drain Covers — Color Match Pool Fittings So pretty and cleaners and such do not get stuck on them!

Kim

Looks beautiful and good luck with everything. Is there a reason you are only having the deep end built for 7 feet? For swimmers, anything deeper than 6 feet is going to make no difference since you can't touch but for kids/adults jumping into the pool, you will want it to be at least 8 feet or more. My deep end is 8 feet and I have to put my hands out when diving because I easily get to the bottom and I wish it was built 9 feet deep. I would either make everything 3.5-5 feet or make your deep end at least 8 feet. You don't want someone diving into only 7 feet and kids will easily reach the bottom as they get taller. Your raised deck 2 feet above the water is going to invite a lot of cannon balls and the additional height will increase the speed when someone hits the water surface.

Also, are you getting a variable speed pump for the pool? Since you are building new, I would get a VS pump which will pay for itself over a few years with electricity savings. Also, the VS pump on low speed/RPM is very quiet and I hate hearing the sound of my single speed pump.

Thanks for the insight on the pool depth. If we go 8’ the price of the pool goes up significantly, so we were trying to avoid that. Any concern for young ones with a 4‘ shallow end?
I haven’t seen those drain covers, they look interesting! Do I need to be asking for a particular style of drain if we wanted to add those later?

 

[kimkats]

Any concern for young ones with a 4‘ shallow end?

Kids grow fast and stay big longer than they are little.............build the pool for what they will be instead of what they are now.



Main drains like this cannot be added later without major work. The best part about them is they are level with the pool floor. This enables them to catch more stuff and NOT catch the pool cleaner.

Kim