New Gunite Pool in Houston, Any Comment on this Design and Equipment?

[spoolboy]

We received the quote from our builder with the following information. It will be our first pool and no previous experience. Any comments on the design and equipment is appreciated:

Pool Specs: 331 Sq.Ft, Perimeter: 76’, Max width: 12’, Max length: 30’, Shallow depth: 3’, Deep-end depth: 5.5’, Approx. Gallons: 10000
Spa Specs: 32.5 Sq.Ft Raised12”, 4 spa jets, 1.5 spa blower
Coping: Travertine Sq. Edge & Moose Rock Boulders
SpaFacing: Travertine split face or Ledger Stone
Interior Finish: StoneScapes Mini Pebble White
Dec Specs: 463’ of spray deck, top existing patio with spray deck
Sanitizer: Nature 2 fusion-mineral-chlorinator
Cleaner: A&A infloor cleaning system
Lights: LED pool light, LED spa light
Automation: Jandy PDA 6 with I-Link
Water Feature: 7’ of 18”-24” high Weeping Rock waterfall
Filter: 460’Cartridge (Jandy)
Pumps: 2Hp Jandy Pool-Spa Pump, Booster for waterfall
Heat System: 399k Ray-Pac with gas run to meter
Other Specs: 5’ of deep-end beach, 58 Sq.Ft SunShelf 2nd step, (6)Are Drains,115’ pipe run to front, Surface Skimmer, 3 return jets, 2 umbrella – deck sleeves, 3.5’TierdStoneSpaSpillway

Any comments on the design and above equipment is appreciated. Also among above items, the ones that we are not sure:

• Water Feature - We are still thinking whether we need it or not?
• Type of cleaner? infloor, robotic, pressure-side, suction-side, ...?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

A smallish pool with a lot of space taken up with seating... it will greatly limit any swimming one might want to do. An alternative option would be to lessen the baja shelf to allow for a bit more swim lane....or lengthen the pool.

3' depth is very shallow, anyone trying to swim will scrape knuckles, and its just kinda an awkward depth to stand in.
Is 5' the water depth or wall depth- make sure to specify which you want to your pool builder so there are no surprises.
With these depths you may want to add a pool cooler also.

Don't get tangled up in minerals with that Nature2.....bad news all around. The copper it adds to the water will eventually make stains on your pretty pool surface, and can turn blond hair green.

A lot of people find those in floor cleaners to be a nuisance when they develop problems that are difficult to fix. A good robot is far cheaper, and probably doing equal or better job of cleaning for much less electricity use.

Otherwise, its a lovely looking pool.

Maddie

 

[kimkats]

What Maddie said ^^^^^^ She talked about what I was going to about the depths and no swim lane.

The 3' should be at least 3.5 and the 5.5 depth should be 5' or 6'. At least in 5' you can stand with your nose out of the water if you are 5.5 like I am. You can't really do a good cannon ball into that depth as you will hit your bum on the floor.

What are your hopes to use the pool for?

Kim

 

[JJ_Tex]

+1 on the comments from the ladies above.

What is the iron fence area in front of your spa? Is that some sort of courtyard? Is it visible from the street, or any other privacy concerns?

 

[spoolboy]

A smallish pool with a lot of space taken up with seating... it will greatly limit any swimming one might want to do. An alternative option would be to lessen the baja shelf to allow for a bit more swim lane....or lengthen the pool.

3' depth is very shallow, anyone trying to swim will scrape knuckles, and its just kinda an awkward depth to stand in.
Is 5' the water depth or wall depth- make sure to specify which you want to your pool builder so there are no surprises.
With these depths you may want to add a pool cooler also.

Don't get tangled up in minerals with that Nature2.....bad news all around. The copper it adds to the water will eventually make stains on your pretty pool surface, and can turn blond hair green.

A lot of people find those in floor cleaners to be a nuisance when they develop problems that are difficult to fix. A good robot is far cheaper, and probably doing equal or better job of cleaning for much less electricity use.

Otherwise, its a lovely looking pool.

Maddie

Thank you, Maddie, for your comment. We will lengthen the pool. Regarding the depth, the 3 and 5 feet are wall depth (not the water depth). I talked to the designer to change the wall depth to 3.5 feet and 5.5 feet (or 6', still not sure!). In that case, the water depth would be less than those depths. Which wall depth (5.5 or 6) do you recommend for the deep-end depth?

 

[spoolboy]

What Maddie said ^^^^^^ She talked about what I was going to about the depths and no swim lane.

The 3' should be at least 3.5 and the 5.5 depth should be 5' or 6'. At least in 5' you can stand with your nose out of the water if you are 5.5 like I am. You can't really do a good cannon ball into that depth as you will hit your bum on the floor.

What are your hopes to use the pool for?

Kim

Thank you, Kim, for your comment. I should mention that 3' and 5.5' are the wall depths (not the water depths). I talked to the designer to change the wall depth to 3.5 feet. But about the deep-end depth, the wall depth of 5.5' means the water depth will be less than it. In that case, do you still recommend the wall depth to be 6'?

 

[spoolboy]

+1 on the comments from the ladies above.

What is the iron fence area in front of your spa? Is that some sort of courtyard? Is it visible from the street, or any other privacy concerns?

The iron fence separates the existing patio from the backyard and the pool. The designer just draw it as an option for the kid safety.

 

[kimkats]

I am glad you know the difference between wall depth and water depth. So many are caught by that and disappointed by it. Look at the skimmer. Measure from the middle of the skimmer face to the top of the wall. How many inches of water you will lose?

Kim

 

[YippeeSkippy]

If you're seeking a shallow end to have 3.5 feet of water, you need to have the wall height at least 4 feet tall. Water height is usually about 6 inches below wall height top.

I am a firm believer in deeper is better all around. Its pretty rare to read of anyone regretting having a pool one can cannon ball into the deep end without bottoming out, or a 4' shallow end.

If you're thinking "well I have young kids" that doesn't matter. Kids grow, and once they master using water wings or the like they're all over the pool and hardly satisfied with just a shallow end. They learn to dive down with retrieving toys and play games like Marco Polo all over.

Maddie