Help us design our new in-ground pool!

[71Corvette]

My wife and I are in the planning stages of a new pool build. I have a strong construction background so we're planning this as a DIY project using a liner pool system. We live in Southern Maine and ground breaking will be this spring. Here are a few initial details:

• We're leaning toward a lagoon shaped pool along the lines of what's shown on this plan. https://poolwarehouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/16-X-34-X-25-X-LAGOON.pdf
• Flat bottom to provide a consistent 4' water depth. We're on the shorter side and prefer to float\wade\lounge rather than tread water.
• We'd eliminate the exterior pool steps in favor of a liner-over step system with a tanning ledge.
• We're debating adding a swim out in one of the coves to provide a second seating/lounging area.
• The pool surround / patio will likely consist of CIP concrete coping with a paver patio.
• We're thinking about strategically placing some sleeves/inserts in the patio / coping for pool umbrellas.

We're looking for general recommendations and advice as we start getting into the planning process. For instance:

1. We're totally on the fence regarding the sanitation system. Chlorine, salt water, UV, Ozone, etc...
2. Selecting a pool pump and filter system.
3. Advice on pool lighting (approach and lighting type). I'll add that we nearly fell over when we saw how much the LED pool lights cost.
4. Suggestions for pool cover options. Not sure how best to address a pool cover for free form pool.
5. We're contemplating a solar heater to help keep the pool temperature up.

Generally, we want to avoid finishing and saying "We shoulda, coulda, woulda......".

The pool will be located in our backyard just beyond our gazebo. I've attached a few photos of our backyard and gazebo area. Obviously, modifications to the landscaping will be needed.

Let us know what you think and what you'd suggest. We're all ears!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

We're totally on the fence regarding the sanitation system. Chlorine, salt water, UV, Ozone, etc...

SWG ... Pentair Intellichlor

How many gallons in the pool?

Selecting a pool pump and filter system.

Pentair Intelliflow3 with IO Board and display screen

Pentair CCP 420 cartridge filter

Advice on pool lighting (approach and lighting type). I'll add that we nearly fell over when we saw how much the LED pool lights cost.

You can go wild on pool and landscaping lighting. That is a whole design into itself.

https://cdn.fluidrausa.com/-/media/zodiac/global/downloads/jandy/lighting/sl4572.pdf?rev=742e3fc3d6c5450fa01e472a36c792a8

We're contemplating a solar heater to help keep the pool temperature up.

I do not think solar pool heating is very practical as far North as you are. Consider a Heat Pump.

Construction Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

How to select pool equipment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Solar Pool Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[71Corvette]

Thanks for the welcome and for sharing all the links. It looks like I have some reading to do, nice to have some good resources to go on.

I estimate the pool will be about 25,000 gallons.

For the solar heating, my thought was to simply help boost the pool temp a few degrees as I'm questioning the practicality (and appearance) of a solar cover. We do get some pretty strong sun from May through September so I was hoping it may be of some benefit. I'll dig into the link you provided.

Thanks again!

 

[ajw22]

With a 25,000 gallon pool you want a SWG cell rated for 40K or 60K.

 

[kimkats]

adding a swim out in one of the coves

Yes do! Better to have and not use often than wishing you had added it..............shoulda for sure!

sleeves/inserts in the patio / coping for pool umbrellas.

I say no on the sleeves. Instead get good cantilever umbrellas as they are movable. The sun and planet moves so much it is much easier to move the umbrella.

UV, Ozone

Here is just one thread about the above:

UV/Ozone - Wish I Would Have Known

Our pool (outdoor) is almost completed, water goes in on Friday. I am at work and was making some notes to get ready for everything I will have to learn (we are first time pool owners). I was just reading this in the UV description: "UV, in combination with a sanitizer, is very nice for use...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[71Corvette]

Good point on the umbrella, I'll have to look into the cantilever options. Perhaps they've come a long way since I've last looked at them. Thanks for the link on the UV/Ozone, interesting reading!

 

[bmoreswim]

For heating, you'll fight a battle losing heat overnight without using a solar cover. It's the evaporation from wind and cool nights that saps the heat. Folks often underestimate the square footage of solar needed to effectively heat a pool. Sounds like for a 25K pool, and only 4' deep, you'll have a lot of surface area, which is the key factor for evaporation. I'm not suggesting either heating system, but rather to just ensure you size appropriately and account for maintaining the heat you add. We are in MD and use no supplemental heating system, but we have an autocover so in the May/early June and Sep/early Oct period I close it every night and during many days too to conserve heat.

We've been happy with two large LED lights on the house side of the pool facing away. Ours are Hayward but reliability has theoretically improved on all brands over the years. The more fixtures you have, the more potential for early failures is my take (and just my take). Others haven't been so lucky with their lights, but I suspect we hear more about the failures than successes.

Overall my recommendation is to keep things simple, but certainly go with the proper Pentair automation system for the equipment recommended above. By simple I mean keeping things like deck jets, waterfalls, etc. to a minimum or have none. They can look cool, but so does a properly designed setting. They are just more potential points of failure. Focus on getting the bones right. As I get older, I have less tolerance for things not working and the effort needed to get them working. Making things as simple as possible (not simplistic) is my goal on many topics these days, balanced by our other desires of course..

Shade is a great topic. I too would be in favor of a large moveable umbrella(s). I put in sleeves for umbrellas and never used them, though that's partially because we ended up putting in a pavilion, which I highly recommend. Umbrellas are always wanting to take off if they are the simple kind. We do have some regular umbrellas in our chaise lounge area, but they must always be monitored for going airborne. I use a rubber bungee cord with a 5 lb. weight on it hooked to the ribs of each to provide some small ballast. For our pavilion, we also added some Coolaroo sun shades which work well to keep the later afternoon sun from intruding on the pavilion space, though again, they can only take so much wind before they get rolled up as well.

SWCG no doubt. There's no other choice to consider for simplicity. 40K unit lasted 7 years on our 27K pool. Pool area storage is also nice and we've added several varieties over the years.

You have a beautiful setting. I look forward to watching its progression.

 

[71Corvette]

Another great response and advice. Thanks!

You make a good point regarding surface area to volume. Our house is southerly facing so, conceivably, I could set up a significant solar system on our roof that would be nearly equal to the surface area of the pool. Definitely something to think about!

I'm definitely leaning away from any deck jets, bubblers, or anything of the sort. I may add some sort of natural water feature later, but not as part of the initial build. I'll install the plumbing to start and connect later if\when needed.

We do have our gazebo for shade, but I think portable umbrellas will be the way to go. I'm definitely moving away from inserts.

Based on the advice here I'm definitely leaning toward a salt water system. I researched the Pentair Intellichlor system and it looks great, the question in my mind is how much additional automation I should add in. I'm definitely open to the ideas of others here.

I painted out a few rough pool shapes with landscape paint. Small, medium and large lagoon shapes. The small was definitely just that, while the large seemed to dominating for the yard. I think we'll probably arrive at the mid-sized option which measures about 18'x36'x28'. I got a sample dig sheet and the area is just under 726 SF so at 4 FT depth it would be just under 22k gallons.

I've built a few quotes online to help me get some budgetary numbers. I'm using that to build some all-in costs. It's safe to say I'm getting a bit of sticker shock. Even as a DIY project I'm seeing myself pushing above the $50k mark which is more than i had hoped. As with all things, the scope and scale of the project has grown as I've dug into it.

I'm sure I'll have plenty more questions. If I do, I know where to ask them. Thanks again for all the great advice so far!