What I would do different next time.

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jimim

Bronze Supporter
Jun 20, 2016
3,588
NE/Pa
I wanted to start a thread that only talks about what you would do different next time or talks about similar things during the build process. It was cover from the pool to decking to hardscape to pool houses or your overall scope of work done.

Also link your build to the post so others can review your build for ideas and tips.

There is a thread like this on a dedicated home theatre forum I participate on and it has grown considerably over the many years. It was one of the first places I started when I was learning about designing and deploying custom dedicated rooms. Especially my own which is a work in progress.

It was also a place when I was able to discover older builds that I would never have found due to them being buried.

I really hope this will help others and help give those new tot he site a place to start their pool building education.

Jim
 
What I would do different:

1. I would have added 2 more returns. right now i get good circulation but i feel that with 2 more for a total of 5 I would have been able to spin the water CW for 3 of them to one skimmer and the other 2 CCW to the other skimmer. Right now I spin the water from 1 return to 1 skimmer and 2 returns to the other skimmer. How my 1 return was placed I can't spin them all in 1 direction around the pool.

2. I would have checked the skimmers when the unite crew finished. Me and Raff both talked about this during tile. The walls of them were kinda wonky. He did well hiding it, but they aren't perfect. So in other words check everything. I know it is pretty much impossible, but we should have not forgot that one. Some might say just build it up with mud and then the tile, but he didn't want to use mud which could break down over years to level out the side walls. He wanted the tile to be on the unite shell as much as possible. So check every single penetration. Every skimmer. Every corner on benches and such.

Those are my 2 big things. As I get to know my pool better the list might grow, but right now that is it.

My active build:

New Northeastern Pa Build
 
I will have much more to add as we progress through our build but my contributions for now:

1. I wouldn't tell the bidding PB's that we are in no hurry to start. While we were in no huge rush to start since we began at the end of the season, once the process began, we became very anxious. Some of the PB's took us literally and it took them over a month to return designs and bids.

2. Adjust the payment schedule according to the scope of your project. Mine revolves around pool build milestones which are fine but the cabana wont start until after the decking is poured. At decking pour, I will have made the 4th payment which is a good portion of the total contract.

My build thread:

Ongoing Build in Sanger, TX
 
1. after a light burned out, it was only then that i saw that there was NOT enough cable to lift the light up out the pool. make sure you don't get hosed on this one by the builder.
2. get a large shallow end. i knew enough to do that after seeing the mistake friends made. think in terms of a good enough size for volleyball.
 
At least on more skimmer or two-four more return jets
A small light on the two tanning/play ledges
Low voltage lighting at the retaining wall
Spoke up when I stayed silent (ask lots of questions and make it right to your desire then and there)
No matter how good the PB hold back a small percentage until ALL work is done because getting them to come back is painful

All small things and in the end we love our pool and surrounding space!
 
I dont have a build thread.

1. Add a couple of more returns
2. Add jets on the steps with hopes the jets would keep the dirt blown off of them. Several jets!
3. the biggest thing I would do different is not worry so much. At the end of the day, its gonna be fine.
 
Divin Dave said:
I dont have a build thread.

1. Add a couple of more returns
2. Add jets on the steps with hopes the jets would keep the dirt blown off of them. Several jets!
3. the biggest thing I would do different is not worry so much. At the end of the day, its gonna be fine.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't worry about the steps. I have 2 returns there and they only move dirt down to the next step, lol. I think you'd need them at each step unless they make something with the intent of keeping the stairs clean. They are nice when the heater is on though. That area is noticeably warmer than the rest of the pool. Amen to #3. I was lucky and it was stress free for the most part but at the end of the day you'll be sitting poolside with a drink and can forget about getting to the finish line.

Do differently:
1) Create a build thread. I posted some pictures early on but it wasn't a real build thread that I followed through on. I learned later on that it's a great way to chronicle each step of the way and can be useful down the road when you forget details of where pipes are laid or how you dealt with unexpected obstacles, etc.

2) I would install an auto-fill. I didn't have it in the budget and if I did I would have said "I don't need that." You don't need it but it would be nice not to drag the hose over to fill the pool. I don't use a solar cover and I keep the pool at 86 so when it get chilly at night I lose a lot of water to evaporation. I know people have issues with them so I can't beat myself up over it. Dave, I see your's is disabled.

3) Get a SWCG.

4) Put at least one drawer in my grill area. It's 9'x9'so I have the room. I have the garbage built in and it's great. I didn't do drawers b/c the builder told me they would get water in them. He was right, water gets in the garbage pull out (but not much). But I'd still like it to store grill tools. Now I put them under the grill and it'd be nice not to have to bend down every time I wanted them. The water isn't much I just wouldn't store anything absorbent like towels.

5) buy the robot at the get go. wasn't in the budget but i wish it was :) Got a doheny's discovery and it is the best thing I did this year. I doubt I'll ever vacuum again.
 
Nectarologist,

u said water in the drawers? So ur cooking area isn’t covered I assume? Ur pull out garbage: is it a stainless unit? I have only seen doors and drawers in the stainless units. We have pull outs in our kitchen and in our bar area inside and we love them it’s great not having to have a garbage pail or recycle bin out in the open.

Thanks again for the participation guys!
 

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Bumped this thread:

What the PB did wrong:
Click to expand...

1) Next time I would have a separate controller for the 2 jets in the steps. At present, I have a Pentair valve that controls 4 returns on the yard side. The other side is 2 returns and 2 step jets. There is limited flow to the step jets. Next time I would have 3 shut off valves. One for 3 returns on each side of the pool and one extra for the jets in the pool to create a whirlpool type of action.

2) This is not necessarily wrong, but an added benefit. I would have placed padding on the walls on the pool. Downside is that if you have a cut in the liner (I have 2 of them). One showed up out of nowhere and the other was done by the PB (long story). After a few days you will see rust show through and you can patch up. Padding will not show cuts as there will be no trace evidence.

3) A sacrificial zinc anode should be installed with every pool, not matter what type of system you have. Thanks to Chem-Geek, I did this later on. They do not care and do not have the intelligence to look ahead.

4) I will update and modify this section if I think of something else.

What the PB did right:
Click to expand...

1) Installed 8 return jets. 6 in the pool and 2 in the steps. Installed 2 skimmers. 2 main drains (but this is code). Isolated returns in 2 sections and also skimmers and main drains in separate sections with Pentair shut off valves. Used Pentair valves with locking pins instead of other shut off valves. Circulation is not a problem and I never have to brush the pool. Have circulator rotating heads.

2) For a steel wall, they had a support system that kept the walls from moving that is embedded in concrete. In addition, they used 6" schedule 40 white PVC as extra supports in between the wall supports. This protects the 3' around patio base. Although the concrete walls are probably a better design and used by fewer people. If I had to do it all over again, I probably would have spent even more money and bit the bullet and had a gunite pool installed.

3) I will update and modify this section if I think of something else.


If anyone wants pictures, then PM me and I will send separately of anything in this post. Too many pictures I took while construction was happening.
 
Not a lot with the actual pool as we are very happy with the final product. Perhaps a lower elevation as it would have made landscaping a lot easier. One of the PBs suggested this but we didn't go with them.

1. Specify EXACT model numbers of equipment that I was getting in the contract (cost me several thousand).
2. Itemize extra charges discussed in person in the contract (cost me several thousand).
3. We had no PM from the PB. I should have specified a visit by the PB after each phase with me for inspection.
4. If possible, hold back some money until the final county inspection. A significant amount like $5000.
5. Specified in the contract the condition of the property after the job was done like grading, removing debris, etc.
6. Heater bypass plumbing.
 
PoolGate:

Don't get me wrong. There was a lot of headaches during the construction. PB get away with asking for $25 as the last and final payment. By law, a homeowner does not pay the contractor in full until passed inspection. Quite honestly you are at the mercy of the PB. The contract they type up provides you absolutely no recourse anymore. What helps a consumer is the internet.

In my area, engineering and drainage is a big deal. I lost a lot of ground by the PB not explaining what really needed to be done. They are only pool builders and have no idea on anything else. Now when I get involved with a pool company because someone asks for help, I tell them how to build a pool. One pool company was fired up front about a year ago because they did not want to do what I recommended for my friend.

I also put a bypass for my heater (installed 3 years later), but really not need as the exchange is titanium and NJ weather is usually on the colder side. Everything else you post makes a lot of sense. Very few PB will go above and beyond to help you. Most PB build great pools. What stands out is when, not if you have a problem, how they will handle things. My salesman was trying to talk me out of DE filters, did not discuss a salt system, and they installed a FROG system, which is now sitting on the side as it has been cut out.

There is so much more, but as this thread continues I will comment further.
 
jimim said:
Nectarologist,

u said water in the drawers? So ur cooking area isn’t covered I assume? Ur pull out garbage: is it a stainless unit? I have only seen doors and drawers in the stainless units. We have pull outs in our kitchen and in our bar area inside and we love them it’s great not having to have a garbage pail or recycle bin out in the open.

Thanks again for the participation guys!
Click to expand...
Right Jim, the area is not covered (as in a roof) but the counter covers the drawer. So water can drip in the top of the where the pull out meets the frame. It's a stainless steel unit (with a plastic pail inside). Pic is below before it was finished but you can see the garbage drawer on the left. The grey facing is just the protective paper it ships with. Under the grill now has doors and I store grill tools under there.

28256349841_24f9256097_z.jpg
 
Erdons said:
2 more returns, a bubbler/light on my Baja step, another skimmer, light in shallow end, spillover spa...
Click to expand...

do you only have 1 skimmer now or 2 and thought you might need 3 due to the size of the pool? also do you have a spa now and wish you designed it diff or don't have a spa and wish you did add one?

jim
 
-Would have made the depth 3.5/4/5' or 3.5/4.5/5' instead of the 3.5/4.5/5.5' we went with.

-Would have continued the bench we have in the shallow end to go all the way underneath our water feature, adding about another 15'.

Other than those, can't think of much we would have changed without throwing in a bunch more $$ for heater, spa, etc., since we were on a budget.
 
Just a couple of things we would do different.
1. Put pool light facing away from the house.
2. Added more space around the pool, we already have 1800 sq ft and wished we added more.
 

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