New Build, CA 95023 - From Dreaming to Pool.

It's been a little while.

Gunite shot.
Trenches backfilled.
Grading site for concrete.
12 Deck jets lines installed.
Ordered coping and tile. Hopefully 3-4 weeks for coping and tile installation.
Waiting on diving board!

Next - Pouring equipment pad soon and start on plumbing. Grading, base rock and steel for concrete patio.

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That looks great! Have you started bonding with it yet? aka watering it to help slow down the curing.

It is time for your set of links! The first set is all about what to do and ask about to get a great plaster job. The second set is all about how to care for your pool after you get the plaster.

Plaster links:
Ten Guidelines for Quality Pool Plaster Best one of all
All Plaster Finishes Should Last 20 Years
Not All Color Pigments are Good for Pools How to pick a good color for plaster.
A Plastering 'Watch List' | Professional Watershaping | Watershapes
Trouble Free Pool
Trouble Free Pool

Pool care links:
Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule
Pool School - Recommended Levels

Bookmark these:
Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals
Trouble Free Pool
Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Now is also a good time to start thinking about what test kit you are going to get. Test Kits Compared

Kim:kim:
 
Thanks all for the replies. Yes, It's going to be deep 10'6", with a 1 meter diving board.
Have you checked with your homeowners' insurance company about the diving board? It's the first question they asked about my pool. Some companies will not allow them and others charge a high premium.
 
Have you checked with your homeowners' insurance company about the diving board? It's the first question they asked about my pool. Some companies will not allow them and others charge a high premium.
They said there would be no change in premium for the pool with or without a diving board. I had a small temporary above ground pool last year that they came to check fencing on.
 

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Now getting ready to finalize plumbing. Here are some pics of the rough layout. If I'm missing anything, let me know.

Each line is a 2" home run from pool to equipment pad with a Jandy 2-2.5" 2 way valve for flow control/turning off.
Main drains on 3" lines to pad.
Deck Jets 1" home run from pool to pad with 1" ball valve for controlling each.

There are 2 pumps set up as follows -

3 Skimmers and main drain 1 join via a 3 way valve, so flow can be controlled between the 2. Then the output of this joins to the vacuum port via another 3 way valve. The output of this will then head to a check valve/flow meter and then into Pump1, which then feeds directly into the filter and then out to a check valve, inline chlorinator and to the 9 returns.

Main drain 2 heads though a check valve/flow meter into Pump 2. Output goes to a 3 way valve which splits between the 12 deck jets and 3 tanning ledge bubblers. The deck jets are split into 3 groups, each of which can be turned on/or off or adjusted via a 2 way Jandy valve not shown. There is then a separate ball valve on each deck jet line (1" individual runs) to the jet itself for flow control.

There are unions on floor showing locations.

You can see the 9 returns near the filter. Is there a preferred way to plumb a manifold of returns like this? As they all have their own valve they can be throttled or turned on or off. I wondered if a plumbing loop could be made here on the equipment pad. Maybe I'm overthinking this.

I have ordered the pentair pump keypad relocation kit so the pumps can be accessed more easily.





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Wow that is a lot of valves...

If you plan in install the valves horizontally (as the sweeps in the picture would indicate) then you are going to need some sort of support structure to hold them up, perhaps a uni-strut frame fastened to the pad. If you instead install the valves vertically with the manifold pipe directly above the assembly will be supported from the pipes in the ground.

Either way you are going to need some sort of support for the suction lines from the pumps.
 
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Wow that is a lot of valves...

If you plan in install the valves horizontally (as the sweeps in the picture would indicate) then you are going to need some sort of support structure to hold them up, perhaps a uni-strut frame fastened to the pad. If you instead install the valves vertically with the manifold pipe directly above the assembly will be supported from the pipes in the ground.

Either way you are going to need some sort of support for the suction lines from the pumps
Yes, this is a good point. I've been going back and forth on this. My preferred solution was to run them vertically. However, because I ran out of space and ended up with the deck jet lines in front of the main lines, I was concerned about access for them. Horizontally like this was my second choice but seemed clean and accessible. I do like the way they will be over the pad, protected and away from the dirt/string trimmer etc.
 
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Pool is now plastered (commercial quartz ultra blue) and filled. Trucked water in myself and also used hose. Metered both, and it seemed to be around 44,000 Gallons. Circulation pump plumbing finished. Deck Jet and bubbler plumbing next. 7 microbrite lights on one switch, and a single full size pool light on another. Next will be finishing fences, plumbing and still waiting on the diving board. Water is still green looking, it's taking a while to clear.

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Awesome build! Thank you for documenting it. I'm about to start on mine as well... and much like you, I do almost everything myself. I hadn't considered doing the plumbing, but after seeing you tackle it, I will consider it.

Question - Can you use standard PVC (schedule 40) with primer and glue for pool plumbing? Or is there a special type of PVC for pools? I seem to recall seeing PVC with bell ends, kind of like conduit, used for pools but I may be off.

Thanks again, hoping I can ask you more questions in the future!
 
You should start a new thread with your questions.
Question - Can you use standard PVC (schedule 40) with primer and glue for pool plumbing? Or is there a special type of PVC for pools? I seem to recall seeing PVC with bell ends, kind of like conduit, used for pools but I may be off.
Yes standard Schedule 40 PVC pipe, fitting, primer and glue are what is normally used for pools. When purchasing fitting be sure you are buying Schd 40 fittings and not "DWV" fittings. The latter are not rated for pressure.
If you buy your PVC pipe in the full 20' sticks from the supply house the lengths will have the bell ends.
 
To clear the pool, we ran the filter a lot and I had a pool guy start it up for me. I'll get up to speed on the chemistry soon and take over, but I've been so busy building it. Water is now clear. I've finished the plumbing and connected up the 3 bubblers and 12 deck jets. Everything has its own valve for adjustment and there are valves for each set of features also so you can turn them on/off or throttle them as sets (bubblers, side jets, other side jets and end jets). Waiting on diving board and I've got to finish the fencing for final inspection. Here are some more shots.

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