Thoughts on my pool equipment install

I understand perfectly. Knowledge is power. I don't want to go into this stupid.
Do they EVER use dirt around a FG pool? It's a gravel base and they backfilled about a 3rd up with gravel.
They're saying that's what Barrier Reef recommends. Does anybody know if that's true? If they're lying I need to know.
 
Ask to get a copy of the Barrier Reef Installation Manual and see for yourself what it says. Then verify it with calls to Barrier Reef.

Do builders backfill with dirt? Sure. Do some pool owners have problems with soft spots on the bottom and bulges in the sides of their FG pools? Sure!

Gravel is always better then dirt even if Barrier allows it.
 
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+1 to asking the manufacturer. I'd skip PB and go right to them. If it's true, you can keep the embarrassment to yourself without being awkward. Lol.

Sadly I don't believe it's true with what we've seen from this guy.
 
Ask to get a copy of the Barrier Reef Installation Manual and see for yourself what it says. Then verify it with calls to Barrier Reef.

Do builders backfill with dirt? Sure. Do some pool owners have problems with soft spots on the bottom and bulges in the sides of their FG pools? Sure!

Gravel is always better then dirt even if Barrier allows it.
Great minds. That's the plan I came up with too. Barrier Reef will never take my side against one of their dealers, I don't even think that they have a phone number listed on their website. But I was going to ask to see the documentation, definitely!
 
+1 to asking the manufacturer. I'd skip PB and go right to them. If it's true, you can keep the embarrassment to yourself without being awkward. Lol.

Sadly I don't believe it's true with what we've seen from this guy.
Before I signed the paperwork I asked for references, which I called and which were glowing. I've reached out to those people to ask how he backfilled their pools.
We'll see what they say.
 
Before I signed the paperwork I asked for references, which I called and which were glowing. I've reached out to those people to ask how he backfilled their pools.
We'll see what they say.
References for Black Reef or the specific Pool Builder you are using?
 
Before I signed the paperwork I asked for references, which I called and which were glowing.
My old man used to check references for security clearance requests. He go to someone's house and ask them which neighbors he could ask questions about them. Then he'd skip those and go ask the other neighbors.

I guarantee you that the people you talked to didn't get this involved in their build. It's a GREAT thing that you're doing, being educated and thorough, but it's not the norm. People who didn't would be ignorantly happy with lackluster / over priced for what it does equipment or sub standard build practices.

References are always nice, but they only tell you so much. I'm like my dad. I don't even want to talk to the people who things went well for. Lemme talk to the people he had problems with. I'll keep an open mind because I expect them to be overly unhappy. Lol.
 
All that's true but I don't know ALL the people he's built pools for. I asked for 4 references, talk that length to three of the four (one didn't return my call), and went and saw one of their pools. I don't think I necessarily have a bad builder. Does he want to save money on the build, sure. The issue is he's so busy building pools he hasn't done enough to educate me on the process. So now I'm in TFP school. Make sense?
 
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Barrier Reef Pools LLC
Timmonsville SC
(843) 326-7138
(210) 551-9852


One of those numbers should work.
 

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Personally, I would skip all those confrontational situations and tell him you want 57 rock. Courtesy and reasonableness just might prevail instead of WW III

Do you have financial leverage? That encourages flexibility greatly.
 
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Personally, I would skip all those confrontational situations and tell him you want 57 rock. Courtesy and reasonableness just might prevail instead of WW III

Do you have financial leverage? That encourages flexibility greatly.
I agree. I still owe the last payment. I'm not going to throw down on the guy. I'm not shy. I've got no problem getting in someone's face who deserves it but I need his buy-in to get the project done.
 
Everyone here has been extremely helpful with my pool build.
The equipment guys coming this morning (sorry for the late notice, but I just found out) I want this equipment to be right.
The electricians are here right now.
Here's what's setting on the pad now, what should I tell him I want? Thoughts?

Here's the email I sent him last week that prompted today's meeting.
So you can track my thinking so far. I forgot to include the heat pump but I'll take that up with him today.


Let's start with what I want to accomplish...
  1. I want to set up different pump automations. (run times and speeds).
  2. I want to be able to control and automate the SWG.
  3. I want to be able to control the lights.
  4. I want to be able to control the bubblers.
  5. I want to do everything from my phone & computer on demand
Make sense?
Questions…
  1. Will the current system allow me to do the five things above?
  2. How many animations are possible with a Superflo pump?
    1. My understanding is that every individual automation is retrofitted with a relay on a Superflo, and this pump has a limited number of relays.
    2. It's also my understanding that because the Intelliflo has its own onboard computer that relays aren't needed, which makes this pump much more flexible and future proof.
    3. My concern is I'll run out of relays before I run out of automations. Can you explain this?
  3. Can I control the Superflo on the fly remotely? (phone & computer), or does this also need additional relays?
  4. Does the Superflo work with the Pentair Home app in the exact same way as it does with the Intelliflo?
  5. Does the Pentair Home program calculate GPM with a Superflo? Does it with the intelliflo?
  6. On the phone, you said that Pentair was coming out with a 1.5 HP intelliflo soon and that I could swap the pumps out when it's available. Can you explain that and tell me what it would cost?




PXL_20230215_214953776.jpg
 
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The pool company owner dug the hole and then left and let his crew backfill. They put gravel on the bottom of the hole but backfilled the pool with dirt. I've told my Builder that's incorrect and he's disagreed who's right?
 
who's right?
I've seen it vary. Stone is certainly more ideal and recommended, but in my case they used sand. I'm sure others have just packed-in dirt, but dirt, just like sand, it is not as stable and more prone to erode and can shift much easier. Dirt is just not as stable. If they can do gravel, that would be best. See the link below for more info. You may also take a look at the manufature's installation manual. It may be specific.

 
It's a Barrier Reef pool. Does anybody have access to the Builder install manual?
So far I could only find some generic install info on their various websites. While you would think most FG installs are fairly similar, you might have to call them directly to see if they ID anything specific for supporting base material.
 
It's a Barrier Reef pool. Does anybody have access to the Builder install manual?
There are a couple installation manuals linked in the Wiki provided above. Not that manufacturer, but a fiberglass pool is a fiberglass pool.

Tell the builder you want to see the Barrier Reef documents.
 

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