New pool build in Middle Georgia

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hpt84

Member
Feb 20, 2025
20
Middle Georgia
Just sign a contract for a 16x36 rectangular pool. We debated freeform vs rectangular and based on the pictures, since the pool is smaller, a rectangular is a better look. The shallow end is 3ft and the deep end is 8 ft with a diving board. We are adding a shelf and bench as shown below.

My first two questions, We have a small shallow end starting at 3 feet. Should I start at 4feet to have a bigger shallow end?

Second, I been debating between ozone/chlorinate vs salt generator. I leading toward the saltsystem for ease even though it will void my coping warranty from the builder. Anything I should look out for in term of pool equipment that could rust easily? Like handrail, ladder or diving board? I assume stainless steel is fine.

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hpt84 said:
The shallow end is 3ft
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That's way too shallow. Go with 4' for the shallow end.

hpt84 said:
We are adding a shelf and bench as shown below.
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I would suggest relocating/reorienting the shelf to create a swim lane along the entire length of the pool.

hpt84 said:
debating between ozone/chlorinate vs salt generator
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Definitely get the saltwater chlorine generator (SWCG). Skip the ozone/UV/mineral/tab feeder.

hpt84 said:
I leading toward the saltsystem for ease even though it will void my coping warranty from the builder.
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Why? Any chlorinated pool will have salt in the water. The salinity required to operate a SWCG is ~10% the salinity of seawater. What coping material are you contemplating?

Post as many details as possible about your build and proposed equipment. The more detail, the better. Here's some reading to get you started:

Construction Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

And welcome!
 
Hey hpt and Welcome !!! :wave:


hpt84 said:
We have a small shallow end starting at 3 feet. Should I start at 4feet to have a bigger shallow end?
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Thats entirely subjective. I would have built all deep end. The Mrs would have built all shallow end. I won 70% of the battle because i was going to use it 50X more, and we went with 12 ft shallow end in 40 ft.
hpt84 said:
debating between ozone/
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Add an expensive device that leaves no residual sanitizer, which requires you to fully chlorinate with bleach, which then doesn't need the expensive secondary sanitizer ? :scratch:

If you properly chlorinate, the Ozone device only sees sterile water and is entirely redundant.
hpt84 said:
We are adding a shelf and bench as shown below.
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I'm anti shelf and pro bench, but again, entirely subjective. :)

I went with an 8ft bench and I can sit sideways fully stretched and there is still room for 2 people to sit regular.

If I build again, the pool will be wider to accommodate a deep end bench on both long sides.
hpt84 said:
Anything I should look out for in term of pool equipment that could rust easily?
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Quality materials will last whether 'salt' (a misnomer) or chlorine. Poor quality materials will weather from the elements, with or without the pool.

Poor chemistry however, such as a low PH, will wreck quality materials / equipment.

As far as the SWG goes, I had one for 6.5 years and moved. I had my second SWG before I had a build contract for the new pool. It was that high on the priority list. 25 companies would have built me a pool but none of them could get a SWG. :ROFLMAO:
 
I used a saltwater system in the past for above above-ground intex pool and love it. The pool would rust over time due to it being just painted metal. I did some research and in general, as long as the ladder and hand rail are made of 316 SS, then I should be fine. Some people did mention that lower grade SS like 304 might have issues over time.

As far as the warranty, it is actually on their form that says the warranty on stone, pool finishing, and decking is void if we want a saltwater system. That was the case with multiple companies in this area. But this is a good company as they built other pools in my neighborhood.

As far as the pool layout with the shelf and bench, that is what my wife wanted. I'm not going to fight that battle. I'm actually ok with it, but I would have prefer to orient the shelf to have a longer swimlane. I will see about changing it from 3 ft shallow to 4ft shallow. We don't want it to be deep for the whole pool as we do have little kids.
 
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hpt84 said:
We don't want it to be deep for the whole pool as we do have little kids.
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They will be fish on week 3 and grow like weeds. 😁 Build the pool you'll grow into, not out of.

They also adapt like no other and will enjoy whatever you go with. Mine would get out my inground to go play different games at the neighbors above ground, then want to swim-swim again 30 mins later.
 
hpt84 said:
Some people did mention that lower grade SS like 304 might have issues over time.
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You might get slow slow rust buildup where the SS meets the waterline. I have a SS in-pool table support that I clean a couple times a season with BKF. Comes off in 30 seconds.

hpt84 said:
As far as the pool layout with the shelf and bench, that is what my wife wanted.
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You can still have all those things, just in a different location/orientation.

hpt84 said:
I'm not going to fight that battle.
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We've all been there. :)

hpt84 said:
I will see about changing it from 3 ft shallow to 4ft shallow.
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Great decision.
 
hpt84 said:
Sorry to hijack, but asking for myself personally. How do you know what saltwater cell is enough? is there a conversion rate for gallons of water to cell?
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Every cell has a rated chlorine generation capacity usually stated as pool volume.

Pool builders will try and sell you a cell equal to the pool volume.

We recommend cells be at least 2X pool volume although with larger pools cells are not big enough. There are ways to deal with that.
 
hpt84 said:
Sorry to hijack, but asking for myself personally. How do you know what saltwater cell is enough? is there a conversion rate for gallons of water to cell?
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Salt cells are designed around a 24 hour run for a given pool size thereby they don't last long enough. We here recommend 2 x pool capacity so a 20k pool needs a 40k cell.
 
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Cells being rated as 1X need to typically run 24 hours to produce the peak season FC. A 2X only needs 12 hours runtime, 3X for 8 hours, etc. A 1x may not keep up with leak demand in hot climates (on hot years) and supplemental liquid chlorine may be needed at times.

With a finite lifespan like a gas tank, pouring some out half as often makes it last twice as long. The upgrade cost is a fraction of the lifespan gained. Say, going 20k to 40k gets you 100% more lifespan for 20% more cost.

And then it'll save 12 hours of pump electricity too if you run a schedule with it and not 24/7.

The builder doesn't care about any of that usually, if they even understand it.
 
What do you think about what type of filtration? I always use a sand filter with my previous above ground pool and leaned toward the same. I got tired of taking out the cartridge and washing it every time. Now those were also cheaper cartridge filters. The possible side of cartridge from what i heard is between filtration as it can get the smaller particles.
 
hpt84 said:
The possible side of cartridge from what i heard is between filtration as it can get the smaller particles
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All 3 filters pick up crud. Then that crud then becomes the filter, trapping even finer crud. IMO the only question is how fast any of them get slightly dirty to then filter to your yard's crud's ability.

No matter which way you go, you want a large filter. Far too many times folks have a small filter and upgrade to a larger other system, blaming the old system for frequent cleanings. A bigger filter needs proportionately less cleanings
 
Work will begin on April 3. I'm responsible for getting my lawn irrigation piping cut/removed before installation and then rerouted after the pool is completed. I usually used my handyman, but unfortunately, he passed away two weeks ago. How much does it usually cost for this type of service? My pool contractor gave me his recommended guys to do that, and I just want to make sure I don't get robbed.
 

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