Hi, everybody.
After a lot of research (by my wife, I'm more of a procrastinate-then-wing-it kind of guy), our family decided the best option for our budget and yard plans is a DIY installation of a partially-buried Saltwater 8000 12' x 20' oval. I am reasonably handy and my wife doesn't mind some hard work. I wanted to run our plans by you guys and ask a few questions about specifics.
The Plan
The Questions, in no particular order
Thanks in advance.
After a lot of research (by my wife, I'm more of a procrastinate-then-wing-it kind of guy), our family decided the best option for our budget and yard plans is a DIY installation of a partially-buried Saltwater 8000 12' x 20' oval. I am reasonably handy and my wife doesn't mind some hard work. I wanted to run our plans by you guys and ask a few questions about specifics.
The Plan
- My wife has already done an awesome job at picking out a pool and all the equipment. The warranty does cover burial up to 27", which is the depth we intend to use.[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- The pool and equipment order has been placed. It's headed toward us now and should arrive Thursday or Friday.[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- We've already secured a dig ticket and building permit from the local codes folks.[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- On Thursday, a Bobcat guy, no, the Bobcat Man, will be out to excavate and level the surrounding area. I've read the manufacturer's instructions and know the required dimensions for the install.[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- After the pool arrives, we start the installation. I am going to be reading the installation instructions, watching videos, and reading everything I can find about AGP installs.[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- We've got a decent understanding of the installation process and fully understand that it needs to be level, level, level. I do have a couple questions below.[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- I plan on running power myself. I've got a better than average understanding of residential wiring, but I don't consider myself expert. This will include the installation of an outdoor subpanel; we have other things we'd like to electrify outside. I'm going to put a 240V/60A panel in about 100 feet from the main. By my reckoning, that means a lot of 10/3 UF-B. (Copper is expensive. Yikes.) I have read up on the bonding needed for pools and their equipment, but I welcome any tips in this area.[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- After the pool and power are in, we're putting up a fence around the pool with extra space for a hammock, fire pit, cooking area, and patio.[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- The rest is cosmetic (e.g. pavers, landscaping).[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
The Questions, in no particular order
- Our manufacturer's instructions include a two-foot-wide band of crusher run around the perimeter of the pool. However, the installation video on the reseller's site just includes digging out the area under the supports/cantilever with a paving stone under the support base. They level the interior with sand and make sure to cover the cantilever. I'm leaning toward not putting the crusher in. We're having the excavation done professionally, our dirt is very dense (especially two feet deep), and honestly the manufacturer's instructions were either translated poorly or put together by someone with little attention to detail. Thoughts?[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- I know I need to level/square everything I possibly can at every step. I know I cannot be OCD enough about this. How much time is a transit level going to save me over a long board and bubble level, line level, or both? I'm thinking I need to rent or borrow a transit.[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- I don't have the specifics with me right now, but I'm fairly sure our pump is 1.5 HP. We're going saltwater. How many amps am I looking at, roughly? I can provide more detail when I find the links my wife diligently sent me. (Sorry, baby.)[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- What was the thing you figured out toward the end of your installation or even after that would've saved you hours of frustration, hundreds of dollars, or months of heartache?[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
- How crazy are we, very crazy or the most crazy? I feel like some of our finest moments have been the result of biting off more than we could chew at the time.[/*:m:33l7d2mc]
Thanks in advance.