New member about to sign a contract - head is spinning
I'll keep this thread updated as we sign contracts and get underway. Our family of 5 - three kids 11 and under - want a recreational backyard pool.
Looking to build our first pool/spa and joined this website on a recommendation, we live in the Austin, TX area. We have received three quotes and get our fourth and final next week. Even without that fourth quote I am already locked up on the decision process, my brain just doesn't work with this many variable. When buying anything I get obsessed with balancing value vs what I want, but with so many different considerations with a pool it feels like I'm going to be picking someone on faith alone.
Updating 7/28: We chose option 3 from the builders below, and this is in their quote:
Pool and Spa
Pool 95' perimeter, 530 sq ft of water, 3.5' to 5.5', 16,000 gallon
Spa 8' round with bubbler, 6 jets, 2 drains
Small tanning ledge with bubbler, two bench seats of 6' and 8'
#4 grade 40 rebar throughout - single mat mostly but extra steel/mat where needed, 10" on center
All walls 8" to 10" thick
Shotcrete (wet mix through hose)
Concrete Pool Shell Protector CPSP
Tile allowance for pool and spa
2 drains and 2 skimmers in pool, 5 returns
QuartzScapes Tier III
Travertine 3 cm eased edge paver for pool and spa coping
Pentair Easy Touch 8 w/wireless transmitter and screen logic interface adapter
Pentair Intelliflo VS+ 3hp pump
Pentair 520 cartridge filter
Pentair Globrite lights (4 in pool, 1 in spa)
Pentair Racer Pool cleaner with booster pump (might replace with robot?)
Pentair UV system (no model details)
Rainbow 320 inline Chlorinator
Flush mount decor return fitting 1.5" with 3/4" opening
Pebble top covers for main drains, frame and ring color matching
340 sq ft of decking, 16" on center, spray decked
spray deck of existing patio being tied in
Poolmiser autofill with back flow prevention
Pentair Mastertemp 400K heater
Never lube 2" x 2.5" three way valves with clear view spring check valves
Ball valves to control suction and return valves independently
14' pool wall at 14" with travertine fascia and 18" travertine sheer
Maintenance kit and pool school
Swimming Pool and Spa with Travertine water sheer. - YouTube
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Original text:
One national builder, well reviewed and recommended designer, is the lowest of the three bids by $5K. mid sized pool (gunite) of the three at 433 sq ft, largest sq ft (400) of concrete decking, using flagstone, one bubbler on entry, jandy pump, raypak heater, 2 hayward colorlogic lights, includes a step down off our current patio to pool decking height, uses a "venturi injected power" type of in floor cleaning from A&A (which does not require a second pump), no robot, 1 skimmer. Cartridge filter, stonescapes and pebble pool coating, Ozonator only. Lowest price and a decent sized pool but equipment isn't my favorite since I've become pro-Pentair during research
Second national builder, well reviewed and recommended designer, is $5K higher in price, smallest sized pool (gunite) of the three at 387 sq ft, smallest sq (322) ft of concrete decking, using limestone, raised wall and 4' sheer with extra bench, all pentair equipment (pumps, heater, 1intellibrite light in pool and spa , controls, etc) throughout, includes two steps down off our current patio to pool decking height, uses Paramount PV3 in floor cleaning with 19 heads and a second pump to power it, no robot, 2 skimmers. DE filter, pebble sheen, UV and Ozone. also had deluxe therapy jets in spa, this pool is small but completely decked out from an equipment perspective - probably overequipped.
Thirdd builder is a smaller local company, well reviewed, is $6K higher than lowest bid and $1K higher than the other, largest sized pool (shotcrete) of the three at 530 sq ft, in the middle sq ft (340) of concrete decking, using travertine, raised wall and 18" sheer along with bubblers at entry and in spa, all pentair equipment (pumps, heater, 5 globbrite lights, controls, etc) throughout, includes decking that is level to our current patio, includes no in floor cleaning but does include a robot and 2 skimmers. cartridge filter, pebble sheen, UV and Ozone, the only one with an autofill. This is by far most square feet of water and travertine seems nicer to us than limestone or flagstone, but it's a smaller company and has no in floor cleaning
Sorry for typing that all out - it was good to consolidate it and see it summarized in front of me. But how do I pick? I think we like the last of those three, even though most expensive, because it's the bigger pool, uses travertine, and we like the idea of decking that's even with out current patio (it results in a 30" wall at back edge of pool though). But they are the smallest company and even though well reviewed they may not be around in ten years.
Thanks for letting me vent - I may throw a dart at the end of this.
I'll keep this thread updated as we sign contracts and get underway. Our family of 5 - three kids 11 and under - want a recreational backyard pool.
Looking to build our first pool/spa and joined this website on a recommendation, we live in the Austin, TX area. We have received three quotes and get our fourth and final next week. Even without that fourth quote I am already locked up on the decision process, my brain just doesn't work with this many variable. When buying anything I get obsessed with balancing value vs what I want, but with so many different considerations with a pool it feels like I'm going to be picking someone on faith alone.
Updating 7/28: We chose option 3 from the builders below, and this is in their quote:
Pool and Spa
Pool 95' perimeter, 530 sq ft of water, 3.5' to 5.5', 16,000 gallon
Spa 8' round with bubbler, 6 jets, 2 drains
Small tanning ledge with bubbler, two bench seats of 6' and 8'
#4 grade 40 rebar throughout - single mat mostly but extra steel/mat where needed, 10" on center
All walls 8" to 10" thick
Shotcrete (wet mix through hose)
Concrete Pool Shell Protector CPSP
Tile allowance for pool and spa
2 drains and 2 skimmers in pool, 5 returns
QuartzScapes Tier III
Travertine 3 cm eased edge paver for pool and spa coping
Pentair Easy Touch 8 w/wireless transmitter and screen logic interface adapter
Pentair Intelliflo VS+ 3hp pump
Pentair 520 cartridge filter
Pentair Globrite lights (4 in pool, 1 in spa)
Pentair Racer Pool cleaner with booster pump (might replace with robot?)
Pentair UV system (no model details)
Rainbow 320 inline Chlorinator
Flush mount decor return fitting 1.5" with 3/4" opening
Pebble top covers for main drains, frame and ring color matching
340 sq ft of decking, 16" on center, spray decked
spray deck of existing patio being tied in
Poolmiser autofill with back flow prevention
Pentair Mastertemp 400K heater
Never lube 2" x 2.5" three way valves with clear view spring check valves
Ball valves to control suction and return valves independently
14' pool wall at 14" with travertine fascia and 18" travertine sheer
Maintenance kit and pool school
Swimming Pool and Spa with Travertine water sheer. - YouTube
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Original text:
One national builder, well reviewed and recommended designer, is the lowest of the three bids by $5K. mid sized pool (gunite) of the three at 433 sq ft, largest sq ft (400) of concrete decking, using flagstone, one bubbler on entry, jandy pump, raypak heater, 2 hayward colorlogic lights, includes a step down off our current patio to pool decking height, uses a "venturi injected power" type of in floor cleaning from A&A (which does not require a second pump), no robot, 1 skimmer. Cartridge filter, stonescapes and pebble pool coating, Ozonator only. Lowest price and a decent sized pool but equipment isn't my favorite since I've become pro-Pentair during research
Second national builder, well reviewed and recommended designer, is $5K higher in price, smallest sized pool (gunite) of the three at 387 sq ft, smallest sq (322) ft of concrete decking, using limestone, raised wall and 4' sheer with extra bench, all pentair equipment (pumps, heater, 1intellibrite light in pool and spa , controls, etc) throughout, includes two steps down off our current patio to pool decking height, uses Paramount PV3 in floor cleaning with 19 heads and a second pump to power it, no robot, 2 skimmers. DE filter, pebble sheen, UV and Ozone. also had deluxe therapy jets in spa, this pool is small but completely decked out from an equipment perspective - probably overequipped.
Thirdd builder is a smaller local company, well reviewed, is $6K higher than lowest bid and $1K higher than the other, largest sized pool (shotcrete) of the three at 530 sq ft, in the middle sq ft (340) of concrete decking, using travertine, raised wall and 18" sheer along with bubblers at entry and in spa, all pentair equipment (pumps, heater, 5 globbrite lights, controls, etc) throughout, includes decking that is level to our current patio, includes no in floor cleaning but does include a robot and 2 skimmers. cartridge filter, pebble sheen, UV and Ozone, the only one with an autofill. This is by far most square feet of water and travertine seems nicer to us than limestone or flagstone, but it's a smaller company and has no in floor cleaning
Sorry for typing that all out - it was good to consolidate it and see it summarized in front of me. But how do I pick? I think we like the last of those three, even though most expensive, because it's the bigger pool, uses travertine, and we like the idea of decking that's even with out current patio (it results in a 30" wall at back edge of pool though). But they are the smallest company and even though well reviewed they may not be around in ten years.
Thanks for letting me vent - I may throw a dart at the end of this.