Getting started!!

[Everett_88]

This forum has been an amazing source of information. We signed our contract with the PB in Feb and break ground Monday 12/4.

I wanted to share our progress during the build through pictures and comments so I can get your feedback along the way.

16x30 IG vinyl liner salt water sport pool with auto-cover.

We plan to pour a large concrete deck (about 1400-1500 total sq ft) and have a 16x12 gazebo.

Our yard is at an odd slope as we have a walk out basement and live on the curve of a cul-de-sac so we will also have a 3-4' retaining wall to level out the side yard we are building on. Pictures along the way will help make this all make sense.

We are so excited as we have an almost 4 year old girl and a 1.5 year old boy who love to swim.

Here is the gear and design features. All gear is Pentair.
- Intelliflo VSF 3 HP with TouchScreen
- TA60 Sand Filter
- IC40 SWCG
- UltraTemp120 Heat / Cool pump
- 2x Microbrites w/ controller
- Concrete coping
- stadium steps
- bench/exit step on opposite side of pool

We are not doing automation, and we may regret that but we are passing for now.

Running 100A sub panel to the equipment pad as I have low voltage lighting I am doing for the retaining well, lots of electrical for the gazebo and future planning for an outdoor kitchen, etc...

I have two Sonos Amps and 4 Polk Atrium 8's that will be installed around the pool / gazebo area and there are 4 Polk Atrium 4s existing on the deck near by.

The gazebo will be the 16x12-barrington-gazebo

We bought Polywood furniture on black friday. two longer, two chairs with match cough, fire pit, multiple side tables and two adirondack chairs.

So far, we are having a blast buying and planning. Spending money like we have no budget. The American dream at work! Ha.

More to come! Please ask questions as I will likely learn something from the question's you're asking!

We hope to be done, short of the liner, cover and water, before Xmas.

 

[mknauss]

Will the Intelliflo have I/O board so you can control the lights and be sure the SWCG is off when the pump is off? That will give you some minor 'automation' using the Pentair app.

 

[Everett_88]

Will the Intelliflo have I/O board so you can control the lights and be sure the SWCG is off when the pump is off? That will give you some minor 'automation' using the Pentair app.

The lights will be controlled with the Pentiar Color Sync controller.

Not sure on the I/O board. I did read about the pump having that option but did not explore entirely as I knew it could be installed after the pool was built. The PB may be doing all that as it did tell me I don't have a need for an actual automation panel with my setup and he had a plan to make it all work.

 

[mknauss]

Regardless, you need something that will remove the power from the SWCG if the pump is not running. Do NOT rely on the flow switch. They fail. And the SWCG can explode. Does not happen often, but does happen.

 

[kimkats]

I see the two dinosaurs ready to get to work!!!

So I have to ask.............when are you planning on putting the liner and water in the pool? This is a VERY important question as the empty hole should not be left empty for too long due to damage done by rain and run off.

Liners need to be installed when the sun is shining and the air temps are at least 70. This allows them to stretch as needed to fit correctly.

 

[Everett_88]

Regardless, you need something that will remove the power from the SWCG if the pump is not running. Do NOT rely on the flow switch. They fail. And the SWCG can explode. Does not happen often, but does happen.

Am I correct to think that if the PB doesn't have a better plan to to rely on the flow switch than I can buy the I/O board after the fact and install and wire it up?

 

[Everett_88]

I see the two dinosaurs ready to get to work!!!

So I have to ask.............when are you planning on putting the liner and water in the pool? This is a VERY important question as the empty hole should not be left empty for too long due to damage done by rain and run off.

Liners need to be installed when the sun is shining and the air temps are at least 70. This allows them to stretch as needed to fit correctly.

Good question.

The plan to to have the structure built and than pop the liner in when we get constant 50-60 deg temps for a few days in a row in the forecast. Which, in Kansas, could be anytime, but certainly by March.

The PB plans to install the auto-cover using some struts that run on the track that will support the cover with the lack of water in the pool.

I like our PB and he seems quite trustworthy, great reputation. He has told me many times they build and drop liners all winter long but he will NOT do it if we are going to have temps below 50deg.

Thoughts?

 

[kimkats]

I am not following what you are saying...................So your PB will dig the hole then put the cover over it? Then when it gets to 50/60 temps he will put in the liner? or put in the liner then cover it with the cover without water in it?

The liner NEEDS sun and higher temps to stretch to fit. Your PB should know what the liner need to be put in properly. Just know what I have read and helped on which a couple/few pool builds (See my post count LOL).

 

[mknauss]

Am I correct to think that if the PB doesn't have a better plan to to rely on the flow switch than I can buy the I/O board after the fact and install and wire it up?

You need to check on that. It will take doing some significant rewiring. And warranty becomes a concern with modifications.

 

[Everett_88]

I am not following what you are saying...................So your PB will dig the hole then put the cover over it? Then when it gets to 50/60 temps he will put in the liner? or put in the liner then cover it with the cover without water in it?

The liner NEEDS sun and higher temps to stretch to fit. Your PB should know what the liner need to be put in properly. Just know what I have read and helped on which a couple/few pool builds (See my post count LOL).

Ha! Yea, looks like you're new to the group. Welcome! LOL.

The PB will dig hole and set the metal structure, pour the concrete collar, run all the plumbing and we will have all the electrical done. I will run all my speaker wire/low voltage stuff. The retaining wall and concrete decking will be pouring, including the coping. The auto-cover installed over the hole. All the equipment will be set in place on the pad.

The liner nor the vermiculite will be installed at this point of the build. The PB will come back when temps increase (sometime before March) and drop the liner on a sunny/warm day and at that point we will fill it and he will finish installing the equipment and the cover.

Once we are able to actually swim he comes back for the final "show us everything" and that is when we settle up on the final 1/3 of the payment.

Hope that explains it better.

 

[Everett_88]

You need to check on that. It will take doing some significant rewiring. And warranty becomes a concern with modifications.

Good feedback; I will check with the PB tomorrow as we get rolling.

 

[Everett_88]

Hole dug today and no issues encounter! The house drain tile and the sewer line were close, but we dodged both bullets!

 

[kimkats]

Now go out and measure it. Is it deep, wide, long, etc enough? Add about 7" for the shell and plaster.

 

[Everett_88]

Concrete collar poured yesterday! Electrical on Monday, I will run some low voltage conduit and conduit for speaker wire next week. Concrete group will form up the decking and we plan to pour ~1500 sq ft next Friday!

 

[Everett_88]

Here is my plumbing setup at the pool and will head to equipment pad from here. Any concerns?

From left to right:
Left side Skimmer (1.5”)
Main drain (2”)
Right side Skimmer (1.5”)
Returns (2” teed into 1.5” running to both sides)
Cleaner line (1.5”; will be plumbed as return for now but wanted the option to be there for future. Using robot for now)

 

[Everett_88]

Lots of progress since my last post! Sorry!

Pool equipment delivery and install on Monday. Will be plumbed in and electrical will be a month or so out.

Commence photo dump….

 

[Everett_88]

Photos

 

[wireform]

I guess with weather above the 50's the pb got going. I may not be seeing due to the picture angle but it's not very common in today's day and age to have one main drain so hopefully I can't see the second one.

 

[Everett_88]

I guess with weather above the 50's the pb got going. I may not be seeing due to the picture angle but it's not very common in today's day and age to have one main drain so hopefully I can't see the second one.

Yeah! We dropped it in the day we had 67* weather.

Yes, two main drains, just the angle.