Design concepts for pool in Prosper, TX

Brianlitt

Active member
Apr 21, 2020
34
Texas
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
My wife and I have decided to get a pool for our family. I have 18,16,9,4 year old children. We have a fairly small backyard in depth and are focused on getting a good amount of swimmable area, but also really like the idea of a table. I know nothing about pools to be honest.

Could I get some feedback on these designs?

First design:
12x30 (For some reason the other guy says we can only fit 11' so i'm slightly concerned the first will actually end up as an 11x30
Jandy 60sq ft DE filter, upgraded polish 3900 with brushless pump

Second design
Note we would actually go with a removable table.
Are we trying too hard to maximize pool and it comes off looking clumsy?
15’6” wide at the deeper end. That 15’6” part of the pool is 20’ long. The 11’ wide part is 12’ long.
FNS Plus DE, Nature2 Fusion System, Pentair Racer LS

IMG-0029 (1).JPG
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Welcome to TFP.

What is the depth of the pool going to be?

I like the larger design. It uses the space in the yard. With the smaller design I think the leftover space is wastep and not useable.

On pool equipment...

I don’t know what “upgraded polish 3900 with brushless pump” is.

Get model numbers for all equipment.

Nature2 Fusion System is not recommended. Read Nature2 Fusion - Further Reading
 
With those age kids I'd make the pool larger all around. I'd take some of all that patio space and give it to the pool.

Think friends over, vollyball games, lap swimming, diving if deep enough.... Personally I'd lose the table if it impedes anything else pool size wise.

Maddie :flower:
 
The patio is already built. So with that in mind the second one is more appealing to you? I would think i could still get a volleyball net to go for that second one..
 
i built a sports pool (shallow pool) and had dreams of wonderful volley ball games. I anticipated that with 8 adults/teenagers we could play 4 v 4 on a regular basis with friends. My pool is 18'x40', the shallow end is 3' deep, the middle area under net is flat and 3.5' deep, the deep end is 4'. my dreams turned out not to be true. It is surprising how little most folks can move in 3.5-4' of water. The only time we've had a successful volleyball game was with 16 adults/teenagers. Kid's generally 10 years and younger either don't have the arm strength, coordination or experience to hit a ball to any particular spot while in the pool. I've tried all types of balls, the most successful being the ones about the size of a basketball but light weight plastic (small beach ball). Our pool is vinyl so while that is good on the feet you have little traction. I'm 6'1" and can cover about a ~8'x8' area of the 4' deep part of the pool. That would mean I would need 6 of me to cover 1/2 the pool. In 3' I can cover more area and we could cover 1/2 the pool with only 4.

If I could do over I would ditch the volleyball idea and have put in a real deep end for shallow diving. I and the kids dive in the 4' deep area but we don't let guests do it. I've also had several dads just randomly jump in the pool at parties and do a cannonball (thank god) and they impact the bottom fairly significantly. If you do want to have a net i'm extremely happy with mine, I have stainless steel pipe inserted into the pool deck with SS covers for when the net is not actually put up. The net uses SS pipe with a top cap. The ropes supporting the net are Kevlar and I can tighten the net such that I can hang on it with one hand and it only pulls down a few inches. important because kids will be climbing pulling up on it when you aren't lookin' even after you tell them not too LOL.
 
Do you have an existing TV on your patio, or plan to have one? If so, I would make sure you can see that from your spa and the table area.

Also, welcome... always good to have another Prosper person on here.
 
For depth i was thinking 4-5.5-4. I'm not really sure honestly. I know my kids (while little) will jump from hot tub to pool while they are young whether i like it or not.

As for TV i'm not really sure of my options. I have a TV on the patio but definitely would not be visible from table - may have to be creative there.

Which design seems better? Is the "all the pool that can fit" approach better?
 
I like the stair placement of the 2nd one as it flows much better with people going in/out of the back door and covered patio.
I also like the width of the 2nd one on the other end as the funky corner in the 1st takes away swimable space and doesn't give you anything patio wise.

Good luck with your decision. For full disclosure, we used the 2nd builder, but I honestly do like his design better (but I like the colors in the 1st one better). Don't be afraid to get more bids if you are not completely happy with the designs or ask for revisions.
 
I like the stair placement of the 2nd one as it flows much better with people going in/out of the back door and covered patio.
I also like the width of the 2nd one on the other end as the funky corner in the 1st takes away swimable space and doesn't give you anything patio wise.

Good luck with your decision. For full disclosure, we used the 2nd builder, but I honestly do like his design better (but I like the colors in the 1st one better). Don't be afraid to get more bids if you are not completely happy with the designs or ask for revisions.

Thanks for validating that second design. I feel the same way - the colors aren't righ twith
Welcome to TFP.

What is the depth of the pool going to be?

I like the larger design. It uses the space in the yard. With the smaller design I think the leftover space is wastep and not useable.

On pool equipment...

I don’t know what “upgraded polish 3900 with brushless pump” is.

Get model numbers for all equipment.

Nature2 Fusion System is not recommended. Read Nature2 Fusion - Further Reading

I was guessing 4->5.5 -> 4. Any recommendations? I wonder if pool volleyball is a pipe dream like someone else mentioned.

I meant upgraded pool Polaris 3900.
regsrding Nature Fusion do I just tell them I need A different Solution? Which one do you recommend?
 
I like the stair placement of the 2nd one as it flows much better with people going in/out of the back door and covered patio.
I also like the width of the 2nd one on the other end as the funky corner in the 1st takes away swimable space and doesn't give you anything patio wise.

Good luck with your decision. For full disclosure, we used the 2nd builder, but I honestly do like his design better (but I like the colors in the 1st one better). Don't be afraid to get more bids if you are not completely happy with the designs or ask for revisions.

Will the second builder change the colors for me or do I get what they give me? I have a few other bids going as well.
Did you receive the Nature Fusion system or did you have them swap it? Any other advice?
 

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Will the second builder change the colors for me or do I get what they give me? I have a few other bids going as well.
Did you receive the Nature Fusion system or did you have them swap it? Any other advice?
You should have total flexibility on colors and get to pick out your specific tile, plaster color, decking materials, etc.
I had him swap out the fusion system for a salt water system. Also look at getting him to swap out the polaris for a robot.

He is really good and would recommend him, but I would still get at least 3 total bids to help you figure out what you want.
 
regsrding Nature Fusion do I just tell them I need A different Solution? Which one do you recommend?

You do not want any system that adds minerals to your pool. Minerals add metals to your pool that lead to staining and green hair.

You need to decide how you want to chlorinate your pool. Pool Builders do not understand or ignore the long term maintenance problems caused by using Trichlor tablets. You can read...


We recommend a SWG as the best way to chlorinate your pool. Many Texas builders do not like them. But we have hundreds of Texas members here who use them.


You can use liquid chlorine to chlorinate your pool. Either you adding chlorine daily to your pool or an automated solution like a Stenner pump. Either way you will be making trips to get the liquid chlorine.

If you use Trichlor tablets you will find your CYA rising and you will need to drain your pool of water every few months to keep your CYA level manageable.

I suggest you read ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
 
Regarding SWG - my wife doesn’t want a “salt water pool”. I did a quick google and it seems like these SWG aren’t really ‘salt water’, they just do some salt -> chlorine stuff. This resembles a chlorine pool far more than a salt water pool right? Is this a relevant concern or are we just overly concerned about the words “salt water” in the name?
 
Right, they both use chlorine just a salt water pool makes its own while you have to add it on a chlorine pool. If she is thinking ocean water, its not even close to that salty. Just call it a chlorine generator if she is worried about the name.

Mine probably would have never noticed it was actually salt water, but she did say she likes the way it feels. The other cool factor is that it is easy to up the chlorine. If I do a test and it is low on chlorine, I pull out my phone and change the output and I'm done. No adding pucks, shock, liquid chlorine, etc.
 
As JJ said, a "salt water pool" is the same chlorine pool as if you used Trichlor tablets or liquid chlorine.

Even if you use liquid chlorine it will add aboyt 2 ppm of salt for every 3 ppm of chlorine. In about 2 years the water will have as much salt as a "salt water pool'. Just no one ever test for it to know it.
 
You should have total flexibility on colors and get to pick out your specific tile, plaster color, decking materials, etc.
I had him swap out the fusion system for a salt water system. Also look at getting him to swap out the polaris for a robot.

He is really good and would recommend him, but I would still get at least 3 total bids to help you figure out what you want.
What do you mean swap Polaris for robot?
 
I got another design concept today and would love feedback on this. In a lot of ways a table area placed here makes more sense.

Thanks for any feedback!pool3.jpg
 
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