HELLO FROM Port Washington, NEW YORK! My wife's dream come true!

[clbodner]

My wife an I are embarking on this journey after some long deliberations. She has been asking for a pool for the past 10 years and with 3 boys, we just didn't have the time or cash on hand to make it happen. Well, that day has finally come. This was not an easy decision. While the Gold coast of long island has plenty of land, I'm not one with the some acreage to spare. In Port Washington, I have an 1/8 of an acre for my entire lot. That being said, we are looking to "hardscape" our backyard (30x50). Patio, built in BBQ plus some seats, small fire pit, and a dipping size pool based on the size we have to go with (13x28?) In this tight of a space I want to make sure its done right the first time. Not a lot of room for error.

1- I have had a 2 quotes that came in saying we must use 3500 PSi pourerd concrete base to ensure no movement for the pavers, while 2 others said they would use RVC for pavers. Not sure If I should wait as well for soil to settle? Just do it right away if i can? It happens to be super sandy here on the north shore.

2- One PB said I should definitely do Gunite as its not that much more expensive. he quoted me only $6K more for Gunite vs. Vinyl. Sounds like it could be shoddy work if thats his costs?

3- We have a ton of kids around here(40 kids on my block alone) and we are contemplating using a automatic cover. Is it worth the extra $12000 they say it will cost to put in?

4- Pool Pavers - I have gotten quotes from a number of people and I have 900 square feet. We want a contemporary/casual look. Any advice on Techo Bloc vs. Cambridge vs. Marmiro or (any others)? Nothing is decided yet.

5- We are still getting quotes so any recommendations will also help. Been on Yelp, BBB, Houzz, AngiesList, as well as friends. Trying to soak in as much as I can before signing the dotted line. I don't want to be that one horror story.

6- We are SO excited we cannot sleep at night and are just jumping around the web for ideas. Some quotes we had were way above budget so looking to see if we are in over our heads!

Came upon this website on was on for like 4 hours, when I was like, Why I am not joining this forum. Thanks in advance for all your advice/help/support!!

 

[JVTrain]

Welcome to TFP!

Sorry it took so long to get a response. It's busy around here this time of year!

1 - Waiting for a season can help the backfill around the pool settle naturally and more completely but if proper fill is used and compacted well, you can immediately install pavers or concrete. The sandy soil should actually be an advantage for settling more evenly and quickly versus a clay soil base.

2 - I do like the look of gunite pools more than vinyl overall but vinyl liner appearances have gotten better in the past few years with many patterns and color options that are pretty great. Vinyl can be a little more trouble free as CSI is less important to maintain all the time and start up is virtually none for vinyl versus likely a year to fully start up plaster properly. Your call here on your budget and what you like best.

3 - I would LOVE to have an autocover. Makes winterization and keeping summer heat in much easier. Is it worth $12K? That depends on your budget. I'm not sure on the lifetime of these covers as well for replacement/maintenance. Do a search on the forums here to see if you can view some discussion.

4 - Not my area here...

5 - That's good. You've found the best pool forum on the internet for pool owners. Educating yourself about pool builds, equipment and most importantly, pool chemistry can save a lot of headaches and money in the long run. Be sure to invest in a proper test kit before the pool is installed and spend some time in Pool School here. Pool School - Pool School

6 - It's exciting as well as a lot to take in at first. Look at and review some of the pool build thread to get some ideas and tips on what to do, what not to do. Under Construction

Good luck!

 

[clbodner]

Thanks for the info. I appreciate the feedback. There are so many options and so many ideas I am overwhelmed. We have begun to narrow down the contractors. In due time Ill have more info on specifics on the pool and overall build.

 

[JVTrain]

Thanks for the info. I appreciate the feedback. There are so many options and so many ideas I am overwhelmed. We have begun to narrow down the contractors. In due time Ill have more info on specifics on the pool and overall build.

As you get more specifics on your build when you make some initial decisions on pool surface, etc., create a new thread in the Under Construction forum, even before the build starts. If you post the details of the pool build estimate and plans, including equipment, chlorination and possible automation, you can get some specific advise on those items to help narrow down the details so you'll be happier with the pool.