Goodyear, AZ (EMR) O/B Pool Deliberations - UPDATE - Pool is Filled!

[thewolf56]

Our Baja step is 15". Our last one was 18". While it was great for my son to play in, it was a tad too deep to sit in. I like this depth. We have the plastic Adirondack chairs from Lowe's and I think they work great on there. My bum is in the water and I put my feet on a pool noodle. And sitting on the edge of the step the water hits me just right.

Thanks again, Niki for the link. Great info regarding the depth. I was leaning towards 15 (seems to be the max depth for a lot of the accessory tables and wife wants 18 because that is what she is used too. The Lowe's chairs are the ones I pointed out to her before (seem like a great deal), so using that as a frame of reference is extremely helpful.

 

[thewolf56]

The figure 8 design is great and with the added circular sun shelf makes it very appealing.
If you go with a 15" water depth on the sun shelf please ensure you have a small step to enter as others have done. If you add 5" from water level to top of coping that becomes a 20inch step which is a bit much for both small children and older folks.
Overall very nice backyard paradise.

Thank you for the feedback, especially on the steps. If we stay in this house until my youngest graduates high school, I'll be in my mid-to-late 50's, so being able to get in and out of the pool with ease is something we have to plan for (main reason we are planning for a hand rail). I think the 2 steps is currently for an 18" water depth baja ledge, so at 23", 2 would be necessary, but not sure how 15" will influence that.

 

[HermanTX]

Thank you for the feedback, especially on the steps. If we stay in this house until my youngest graduates high school, I'll be in my mid-to-late 50's, so being able to get in and out of the pool with ease is something we have to plan for (main reason we are planning for a hand rail). I think the 2 steps is currently for an 18" water depth baja ledge, so at 23", 2 would be necessary, but not sure how 15" will influence that.

I think it is your decision to make - don't wait on the PB to offer it. Find a ladder that has a step at around 20 inches and then step down from that to the ground and then go back up. A pool step can be any height you wish it to be, especially if it is just a step onto a large sun shelf from the coping.

 

[Nikilyn]

We have two steps into 15” but they weren’t made right. There was initially just one, but I thought it was too high of a step out of the pool after the deck was added, especially for our grandkids. We had them add a step (actually make part of the original large step a higher one) but it is very short, I think only 4”, and then a bigger one. I wish it was something I had realized earlier so it could have been fixed at shotcrete. I guess they thought we were getting a paver deck but we have concrete which is thicker, so they did the wrong step height.

 

[HermanTX]

We have two steps into 15” but they weren’t made right. There was initially just one, but I thought it was too high of a step out of the pool after the deck was added, especially for our grandkids. We had them add a step (actually make part of the original large step a higher one) but it is very short, I think only 4”, and then a bigger one. I wish it was something I had realized earlier so it could have been fixed at shotcrete. I guess they thought we were getting a paver deck but we have concrete which is thicker, so they did the wrong step height.

Thanks for sharing your real life set up. If you could, post a picture as that is easier to understand what you discussed.

 

[chiefwej]

I just went out and measured my shelf. We are very happy with the set up. Easy to get in and out, and works well for kids, dogs and adults. Including several seniors joining us for weekly water aerobics. Shelf water depth is 16”. Total from deck to shelf is 23”, with a step at 10” below the deck. Then there is a single step built into one corner of the shelf to bring you down to the shallow (3.5’) end of the pool.

 

[thewolf56]

I think it is your decision to make - don't wait on the PB to offer it. Find a ladder that has a step at around 20 inches and then step down from that to the ground and then go back up. A pool step can be any height you wish it to be, especially if it is just a step onto a large sun shelf from the coping.

Thanks, We mentioned we do not want anything over 9" high for steps (but lower would be better), but I just do not know the depth currently in the plan. I made the note regarding the depth and what it would look like at 15" in my feedback to the designer.

 

[thewolf56]

We have two steps into 15” but they weren’t made right. There was initially just one, but I thought it was too high of a step out of the pool after the deck was added, especially for our grandkids. We had them add a step (actually make part of the original large step a higher one) but it is very short, I think only 4”, and then a bigger one. I wish it was something I had realized earlier so it could have been fixed at shotcrete. I guess they thought we were getting a paver deck but we have concrete which is thicker, so they did the wrong step height.

Thanks, Niki. That is very helpful.

 

[thewolf56]

I just went out and measured my shelf. We are very happy with the set up. Easy to get in and out, and works well for kids, dogs and adults. Including several seniors joining us for weekly water aerobics. Shelf water depth is 16”. Total from deck to shelf is 23”, with a step at 10” below the deck. Then there is a single step built into one corner of the shelf to bring you down to the shallow (3.5’) end of the pool.

Thank you! That is good information.

 

[thewolf56]

My step tile has similar iridescece to lightstream tile. I love it. One direction or looks just like greens and blues and the other direction you see pinks and golds and other colors. It was WAY cheaper too. We also have a turtle .

By the way, Niki, I showed the pictures of your tile and mosaics to my wife and she loved it, so there's a good chance we'll be going that route for the step tile. I thinks she wants a family of sea turtles for the pool floor, but haven't seen how that will look, yet.

Sent off my list of feedback and changes to the consultant yesterday (not all of it directly pool related), so I'll update when I see the changes.

 

[Nikilyn]

Glad she liked it!

 

[thewolf56]

Finally more forward progress on the design! Thanks for all of the original feedback.

After some back and forth between my wife and I and then with the consultant, I think we have nailed down our design. I have attached our current design, dimensions, and current equipment list. I don't think there is anything extraneous. Originally was not thinking about a leaf canister, but the amount of leaves and flowers we are now getting into our backyard from our neighbors' desert willows and bougainvillea is starting to pile up in the area.

Key changes from last design are:

• Widened grotto bench to 5 feet
• added microbrite led to grotto
• Moved over deep end bench away from planter
• added basketball hoop
• added a shallow end bench (may shorten it to 5' from current 6') while trying to maintain a swim lane

Let me know what you think! Once I approve this, we'll be able to start applying for permits and HOA approval!

POOL​
Perimeter​	96’ 6”​
Surface Area​	502.56 ft²​
Interior Area​	934.29 ft²​
Depths​	3’ 9” to 5’ to 5’ 9”​
Volume​	14,823 gallons​
Waterline Tile​	+/- 83’​
Coping Area​	+/- 83 ft²​
Steps and Bench​	57’ 8”​
Shotcrete​	25.7 yards³​
Rock Feature​	+/- 60 SF Grotto / Waterfall / Slide​

Equipment​
Pump - Filter/Pool​	1x​	Intelliflo VSF 3HP​
Filter – Main​	1x​	Cartridge 520​
Filter – Other​	1x​	Cyvlone​
Skimmer​	1x​	A&A Venturi​
Auto Water Leveler​	1x​	Aquastar 10”​
Salt System​	1x​	Pentair IC-40​
Drain – Pool​	1x​	Dual AVSC​
Suction Vacuum​	1x​	Vac Port ONLY​
Debris Canister​	1x​	A&A LeafVac​
Heater – Electric​	1x​	UltraTemp 140 Heat Pump​
Automation​	1x​	Pentair IntelliCenter​
Auto Controller​	​	incl. w/IntelliCenter​
Valve Actuators​	1x​	Pentair​
Lights – Pool​	4x​	MicroBrite LED​

 

[HermanTX]

Looks great. Also good equipment selection.
You may want to consider 2 skimmers. The Venturi type is noted as high performance, but 2 skimmers at opposite ends (the other one maybe between the grotto and deep water bench) helps pick up surface debris due to wind direction for example. If you decide on 2 skimmers, then have them independently plumbed back to the equipment pad.

 

[kimkats]

added a shallow end bench (may shorten it to 5' from current 6') while trying to maintain a swim lane

I like the overall design! Good job on thinking of the swim lane and such. I would make the shallow end bench shorter BUT on the hoop side. I see some stubbed toes if it is left that close.

 

[Nikilyn]

We have a Venturi skimmer, just one, and it’s fine. My husband was very opposed to 2 skimmers. Thankfully the one has worked out fine and it’s in the right spot for wind.
I agree with Kim on shortening the bench. I would put it on the other side of the hoop so people have a resting spot in that area. It’s placement now is so close to the Baja step I don’t know why you’d need it. The only other thing I would change is to make it deeper, at least 7’. Kids will be jumping off the grotto so deeper is better.

 

[thewolf56]

Looks great. Also good equipment selection.
You may want to consider 2 skimmers. The Venturi type is noted as high performance, but 2 skimmers at opposite ends (the other one maybe between the grotto and deep water bench) helps pick up surface debris due to wind direction for example. If you decide on 2 skimmers, then have them independently plumbed back to the equipment pad.

Thanks Herman,

We have been debating 2 skimmers. Prevailing winds are all over the place with us not being too far from a mountain range on one side and some rather large hills on the other.

 

[thewolf56]

I like the overall design! Good job on thinking of the swim lane and such. I would make the shallow end bench shorter BUT on the hoop side. I see some stubbed toes if it is left that close.

Thanks Kim,

We might make it a little shorter on both sides and move the basketball hoop a little closer to the planter. Right now, the bench would cause a shadow with the microbrite.

 

[thewolf56]

We have a Venturi skimmer, just one, and it’s fine. My husband was very opposed to 2 skimmers. Thankfully the one has worked out fine and it’s in the right spot for wind.
I agree with Kim on shortening the bench. I would put it on the other side of the hoop so people have a resting spot in that area. It’s placement now is so close to the Baja step I don’t know why you’d need it. The only other thing I would change is to make it deeper, at least 7’. Kids will be jumping off the grotto so deeper is better.

Thanks, Nikki,

I don't have any experience with venturi skimmers, so glad to hear it works well for you. We're not completely opposed to 2, but with snakes, sonoran toads, kangaroo rats, scorpions, and all sorts of other creatures I do not wish to discover in a skimmer here, I just don't know if I want another big hole to collect those things.

For the bench, we wanted it directly across the ledge for conversations and as a closer step to the slide (we will also put some stepping stones along the back wall to use the deep end bench). We have been in a few pools with the bench right across the baja ledge and it has been nice for adults to just sit across from each other and talk while the kids swim around.

For depth, 7 feet is a little problematic for us. Our lot was basically blown out of the side of a granite hill, so it will most likely be a hard dig from as little as a foot. Hard digs around my immediate neighborhood were 5k to 8k for 5 foot depths, so 6 feet is going to be expensive enough. Also, the pool I helped build for my mother (when I was a teenager, about 25 years ago) was a 7 foot depth. I remember wishing it was 8 feet deep. It always looked from the surface that it was deep enough to dive, but wasn't and with a shorter pool, I worry about the depth profile. Hers was a similar length, but a 3 foot shallow end and the profile always seemed a little steep for my liking. I think even with 7 foot depth, kids jumping off the grotto is dangerous. It's easy to tell a 2 year old and 7 year old not to do something like jumping off the grotto, but middle school + years and friends worry me for that reason.

I've also heard it is easier to keep those deeper pools cooler out here in AZ, so in that regard, I do wish I had more space to have a deeper pool. No matter what, there is a compromise in selecting the depth based on our space (and budget).

 

[Nikilyn]

With a hard dig I completely understand. We are p against the San Tans but our neighborhood was once a citrus grove so our dig was easy. I actually thought the dirt looked like cocoa powder when they were digging. Since we do live in the shadow of the desert mountain I was worried about critters. And our neighborhood Facebook page tells me that was a real concern. We live in the middle of the neighborhood though and those things don’t seem to get to us, thankfully.

 

[thewolf56]

With a hard dig I completely understand. We are p against the San Tans but our neighborhood was once a citrus grove so our dig was easy. I actually thought the dirt looked like cocoa powder when they were digging. Since we do live in the shadow of the desert mountain I was worried about critters. And our neighborhood Facebook page tells me that was a real concern. We live in the middle of the neighborhood though and those things don’t seem to get to us, thankfully.

Our community is on the base of the other side of the Estrella mountains from Phoenix, and our neighborhood is on the outskirts of the community. We actually saw snow on one of the peaks for a few days 2 winters ago. The hill our street was cut into is pretty much the border between 2 cities, but it is pretty much open desert on the other side of the hill. I haven't seen a rattlesnake up close, yet, but the FD just removed one from our neighbor's back yard 2 doors down last night. Critters are definitely a real concern out this way, but it is always fun to show my daughters the less dangerous wildlife when the animals visit (like a roadrunner that makes a regular visit to our courtyard).