The Big Squeeze - Central Florida Pool Build

[gingrbredman]

the Intellicenter seems a little overkill

It really is not overkill at all, but can understand why PBs want to use their tried and true workhorse, the ET. The Intellicenter is the newest automation, but some PBs do not have a lot of experience with them, and they know how to install, setup, and maintain an ET system so there is no need even exploring a newer option. Yes, the Intellicenter is more of a robust system, but overkill it is not. That all being said, you probably will not be disappointed in the performance of the ET system with screen logic. There are supply chain delays in even getting Intellicenter systems, so that, with your PBs preference of the ET seems like a solid plan.

when Pentair's servers go down (as the do often) you can not control your IC systems internally or externally via app, PC etc. With an ET system with SL you still can.

I connect to my Intellicenter locally through my Pentair app 99.9% of the time, and really wouldn't even notice if the Intellicenter servers were down. At home, I never would need to connect to my IC through the online servers.
Once in a while, I may check my app while I'm not at home for temps, or whatever, but never noticed having an issue connecting, maybe I am just lucky that when I try and connect from outside my home, the servers were up.

 

[bbqjosh]

Hello TFP!

First time pool owner here. Started the process of soliciting quotes around Thanksgiving last year. Every PB in this area (and most others) were slammed. We waited to get our last quote from one of the most established PB in our city. They spent the most time onsite, were better priced, and had the most confidence about integrating a new pool into our existing backyard features (summer kitchen/bar and fire pit), hence, the big squeeze. We signed our contract with them in early March with a goal of breaking ground May 2022.

Our existing back patio has a 15' diameter concrete fire pit and seating with stone veneer located 27' off the back of the house. Adjacent the house is an L-shaped summer kitchen with matching stone. The area is currently screened with pavers. To maximize pool size, the screen will be removed and we won't be adding one back. We're not in love with the existing red colored pavers so ~1100 sqft of those get the boot as well. House is plumbed for gas. Backyard has full southern exposure with no trees so FULL sun. Attached are some renders I made after we signed the contract and I got realllly excited playing with the software until the wee hours of the morning.

General specs and colors:

• Final pool size is 14' x 20' rectangle with an adjoining 10' x 10' sun shelf.
• Depth goes from 3' to 5'.
• Interior finish is SGM Diamond Brite Blue.
• Pavers will be Flagstone Pavers Panorama Demi in White/Pewter
• Waterline tile is 6" NPT PTL-37-9653 GRN-MULTI/GRANITO

Here's the equipment so far:

• Intellichlor +
• Easytouch 4 w/ QT II
• 400,000 BTU gas heater
• Intelliflo pump w/ CC RP 150 filter
• Poolmiser autofill and overflow
• Ecopool in-floor circulation
• Ozonator (not sure of brand yet)
• Globrite LED (1) in deep end
• Deck jets (2)
• Rollaway pool fence around entire pool

Things we're still mulling over:

• Bubbler in sunshelf - we're leaning this way. I'd like to go LED.
• Deck jet positioning - both firing into pool from deep end or the back long side?
• DB finish color - blue vs. super blue vs ...
• Robot vacuum?
• Additional pool light and positioning?
• Add attached pergola overhanging sun shelf - now or later?

More to come!

Hello BJohn,

My comments:
When I cannonball into my 6 ft pool, I can hit my bum on the floor. The cost of going to 6 ft is zero even if the pool builder wants to charge you more. The only issue might be the slope with a 20 ft length but the PB can let you know if that is an issue.
I know you have a fire pit so you are thinking about the gas heater. My neighbors who have gas heaters are agitated by the loaning of the tanks and few gas suppliers. You will have to pay for gas and delivery fees. Also, I think you are tied into the gas company that installs the tank for a while. I went with an electric heater and I am happy with it. It extends the seasons and probably heats 1 degree per hour used. I understand gas if more efficient. I have solar electric panels to help offset the cost of the electric use.
I see you have a PVC fence around the backyard. Is the pool fence necessary? Seems like you can sub in a $200 float alarm to pass inspection and your other fence serves as the barrier. I see most people that have pool fences don't use them after some time and then you have a bunch of holes in your deck.
I agree with the others about the Globrite, ozone, and in floor cleaner as not needed. I started with 5 Globrites and ended with 1 Intellibrite. My neighbor has 20ish Globrites in their pool (excessive) and just recently spent around $2k replacing lights after 3 years.
For the filter, it depends on how much debris you expect. I have the RP 200 and I clean it every 3 to 6 months just because it makes me feel better. I never even get a quarter of the way up the pressure area to where it is indicating I need to clean it. I have a screen enclosure so I only get sand from the deck when it rains, some smaller flies that get in time to time and some centipedes that sneak in.
For the deck jets, I would put them where you have the least foot traffic and also where you will hang out less in the pool. I have 4 deck jets and I put them on the backside of the pool. The kids like playing with them. I would also demand CMP deck jets over any name brand. They are the same and cost less.

 

[Bjohn]

Thanks for the feedback @gingrbredman PB is definitely more comfortable with ET system but was more than willing to do the Intellicenter.

@bbqjosh depth has been something we've gone back and forth on a bit. Nobody in the immediate family is over 6ft so we think we'll get more use out of the whole area with 3' to 5' depth. I've been measuring and pacing off every pool we've been in since we signed the contract! My in laws large pools in their community and every vacation house we stay at have been 3 to 5' depths and its been nice being able to use the entire area. My friends pools that are deeper see limited deep end use so that kind of sealed the deal for us.

Regarding gas, our house is already plumbed for it so no tank needed, just a new line. Plumbers are coming out Saturday to give quote for fire pit line, heater hook up, and fire pit insert install. Not quite sure what kind of $$ to expect for gas line runs.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Have you measured up your leg to 3'? Its a very awkward height for pool water. Not much one can do in it other than sit, but not very far. Might be like sitting in a kiddy pool.

Maddie

 

[kimkats]

The depth should be at least 3.5' so you can do a full crawl stroke. Anything less than 3.5' you risk scraping your knuckles on the floor of the pool.

 

[Bjohn]

Have you measured up your leg to 3'? Its a very awkward height for pool water. Not much one can do in it other than sit, but not very far. Might be like sitting in a kiddy pool.

Maddie

Good advice. I've spent the last week measuring the whole family - twice. Surprising how low 3ft is. Doesn't get over me or the wife's waist. Thinking back to the 3 ft pools we've been in, we end up on our knees with the water at our chest. I'm going to inquire about changing that to 3.5 ft and keeping a 5 ft deep end.

Also looking at going deeper in the sun shelf, from 6" to 9" even though that may risk the bubbler. If we go 9" depth we'll need a 1st step down and I'm ok with that. With a 10 x 10' shelf I think we could sacrifice a foot or so for that first step.

Increasing the shelf depth may also allow us to install a microbrite in the step riser as opposed to relying on the LED bubbler (Globrite) for illumination.

Thoughts?

Also got the natural gas hookup quote for the heater with retrofit burner install for the fire pit (~100' pipe run). $2350 for everything.

Will include pics of current backyard setup once I get the weeds under control...they're taking over with all this rain!

 

[kimkats]

I like everything you are thinking!

 

[Bjohn]

Change order in and detailed below. Pic of current patio setup as a starting point. Screen and pavers will be removed.

• Switched from one Globrite to three Microbrites, two in pool, one in sunshelf. All facing same direction, away from the house
• Added Screenlogic 2
• Nixed the LED bubbler.
• Depth is now 3'6" to 5'
• Sun shelf depth changed from 6" to 9"
• Added step that runs the width of the sun shelf. Will be ~7" high to match step height from pavers while allowing water coverage on finish.
• Added extra step from shelf to pool, three total at ~8" riser
  

 

[Bjohn]

The time has finally arrived! Broke ground last week after removing the existing screen enclosure and pavers.

Dig set for this Tuesday!

 

[kimkats]

Almost a full year from your last post! I am glad it is finally happening!

 

[Bjohn]

It's been a long wait! We knew there would be a slight delay, fortunately our builder started right when they said they would. I'll keep this thread updated with the progress and I'm sure I'll have a ton of questions throughout the process

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Please do!

 

[Bjohn]

We got hit with a few rain delays that pushed our dig back to this past Monday. Initially Ian was set to hit just northwest of us. By Tuesday the track changed and was showing it coming right over top with 15+ inches of rain. We were worried everything would cave in. We ended up much more fortunate than our neighbors to the south. No damage here and no cave ins.

Forms and rebar should go in next week!

 

[kimkats]

Let the MUD/DIRT begin!!! SO glad to hear not cave ins!

 

[Bjohn]

Progress! Steel should wrap up next week then our first inspection. We're excited.

I've got a ton of questions about fire pit burner pans since we're running a gas line over while everything's torn up, but ill create a new thread for that.

 

[Bjohn]

All initial inspections passed, skimmer placed and steel for swimout finished. Just waiting on gunite scheduling.

 

[Bjohn]

Well, we've got part of a pool...They shot for basically 6 hours straight today then cleaned up to return tomorrow. Still needs all of the steps shot in and the entire sun shelf.

Not sure how concerned to be about the multi-day shoot. Seems like some people in past threads think it's just fine and others were very concerned. I took a bunch of pictures showing exactly where they stopped for the day. The gunite crew took pictures as well without me even saying anything.

Anything else I should do or ask about?

 

[kimkats]

Several have been concerned but it will be fine and there is no reason be worry about it. When they are done then you can start bonding with it aka watering it.

 

[Bjohn]

Several have been concerned but it will be fine and there is no reason be worry about it. When they are done then you can start bonding with it aka watering it.

Thanks for the reassurance! After my last post, I found the construction best practices further reading and it stated the same. So, I'm feeling better now.

I'm actually looking forward to watering it! After almost two years from our initial estimates it's really nice to have a visual of what it will look like.

 

[Bjohn]

The rest of the pool was shot today and finished up around 2:30.

Everything looks pretty good (to my untrained eye) with one exception...the south side of the square sunshelf has a 5.5" beam while the north side is 11"+. It seems like the forms were off a bit and they originally would have oversized the sunshelf on the east side but adjusted by adding more gunite to that wall. For some reason, they offset the north/south walls by 2.5" as well. The south wall with 5.5" beam does have quite a bit of material below the form board pushing out (almost even with outside of form) so the true wall thickness is probably closer to 7".

Since this is in the sunshelf, where water depth is 9" is there any reason to be concerned? Any concern for depth of the rebar on this wall? I'm assuming it's covered by 1.5 to 2" of gunite. Tagging @AQUA~HOLICS since I've seen you chime in on other bond beam questions before