Hey everyone! I just signed up to the forums today because this website kept popping up when I did my research. I love forum sites and I hope to be a beneficial part of the community. Warning, long post mostly venting: We just purchased our house in central NJ in Dec. 2017. The pool was already closed when we viewed and purchased it, but the seller had proof of inspection/proper closure paperwork and the house was what we we were looking for so we went for it. I’m feeling a little crummy because we just opened the pool this Saturday and I should be grateful because everything went great. Even the heater, which is pretty old at this point, fired right up. The water was green, but not gross. Everything just went super smooth all things considered. The one caveat is the pool is old. Like from the 70s old. It has that large plastic coping around the side, no lights, and cheap looking steps. I feel bad because I’m sitting here moping and we could have uncovered the pool and welcomed a torn liner, a filter that didn’t work, a heater that wouldn’t start up, or a plethora of other problems. I researched replacing the coping and it’ll cost thousands because of how everything is connected - new liner, coping, and concrete deck. Having just purchased the house and done renovations (ie: gutted the kitchen) it simply can’t happen anytime soon. I guess I just hyped myself up that it would be so great and when I saw it in person it wasn’t what I expected. I know once we powerwash the sunken, but not cracked, concrete and put up the modern patio furniture things will be great. I’m just in the doldrums right now and giving myself a kick in the rear because I’m being silly. Here’s a pic of my oldie but goodie “vintage” pool (excuse her greeness, that’s literally a few minutes after the cover came off). Its literally older than me, but its “still got it!” Lol! (I hope the pic uploads well).
Newbie here, feeling a little ungrateful
- Thread starter Neotericisis
- Start date
ranger_ric
LifeTime Supporter
Pfffftttttt... That aint nothin..... A little Pool School and some dedication you will be crystal clear shortly.... Should'a seen my pool when I opened this year.. My son in law said buy another pool and turn this one into a bass fishery. That fishery is beautiful clean today...... Read and study for a day or so and come up with a plan and you will be swimming shortly... Good Luck .. Keep sending pictures of your progress.... We are here for you !
Awww thanks. Yes, its clearing up quite well. Its too cold to swim in NJ anyway (it was mid 80s last week and fell 20 degrees this week). I’ll be over the fact that my pool is a grannie by tomorrow and hopefully doing cannon balls by next week. July 7th is the first cookout!!
I hear you and SO understand!!! "Hey we have a pool! We can have pool parties! It will be so cool!" THEN you open to the green pool and decking in need of some major attention aka bleach 
We got ya covered! Here is a set of links I put together for new pool owners. It is a lot of info but once you start using it everything will make sense.
Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule
Pool School - Recommended Levels
Bookmark these:
Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals
Pool Math
Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
Once you get the decking cleaned up things will look a lot better.
So lets get that pool looking like a jewel...............I am hoping you have a good test kit on the way. If not here is the one I want you to get:
TF-100 Test Kit â„¢ Make sure to add on the XL as you will need the extra to get through the SLAM. The speed stir is a neat thing to have. It is not a must have but everyone that has one loves it.
SLAM: Pool School - SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain The most important part of the SLAM is M-Maintain. As in maintain the chlorine level at SLAM level as much as possible.
I know I threw a lot of stuff your way.......some of it is spending money BUT it will save you money in the end. Yeah I know the pool store will test your water for free BUT is it really free when you walkout with your arms loaded and wallet empty? Here is what we use in our pools: Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals Now don't go buy all of it. Right now all you need is the test kit and chlorine.
Kim
We got ya covered! Here is a set of links I put together for new pool owners. It is a lot of info but once you start using it everything will make sense.
Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule
Pool School - Recommended Levels
Bookmark these:
Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals
Pool Math
Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
Once you get the decking cleaned up things will look a lot better.
So lets get that pool looking like a jewel...............I am hoping you have a good test kit on the way. If not here is the one I want you to get:
TF-100 Test Kit â„¢ Make sure to add on the XL as you will need the extra to get through the SLAM. The speed stir is a neat thing to have. It is not a must have but everyone that has one loves it.
SLAM: Pool School - SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain The most important part of the SLAM is M-Maintain. As in maintain the chlorine level at SLAM level as much as possible.
I know I threw a lot of stuff your way.......some of it is spending money BUT it will save you money in the end. Yeah I know the pool store will test your water for free BUT is it really free when you walkout with your arms loaded and wallet empty? Here is what we use in our pools: Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals Now don't go buy all of it. Right now all you need is the test kit and chlorine.
Kim
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,212
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Clear water, power washing and attractive landscaping (lots of perennials and some shrubs for structure) and you will have an oasis!
Thank you all so much for the words of encouragement! I'm looking forward to bringing grannie (or should I say grandpop since its a Buster Crabbe pool LOL) back in style and learning the ropes, it's looking bluer already. I am ordering the test kit today and I've already got my landscaper geared up to powerwash that deck and put some greenery and love around the pool. I've been doing lots of lurking and this forum is awesome so far!
Don’t you know vintage is in? I love the shape... it is different! This pool will be awesome once you get it clean and clear. I’d go with mid century modern all around...
This makes my heart happy! I was SO hoping you would let us watch you transform that pool in to the crown jewel of a Grannie (Hey grannie's can be crabbe LOL)
Kim
Oh, I'll bet this pool will be flippin' AWESOME!! I am very curious how it will turn out within the next month or two. 