Las Vegas - Pool, Spa & Sunken Kitchen | We have water!

[Brian420]

Well… After months, and months, and months of planning, coordination, HOA, and county permits we finally broke ground a week and half ago. I’ll be updating the thread with pictures as time progresses but it’s been a long time coming to get going!

After waiting nearly 45 days for the permit, we got the permit on the 14th and excavation started on the 16th. They wrapped up excavation Monday this week the 27th. The plumbers showed up today, two days later, and started moving along. I’ll snap a few pictures in the morning of today’s progress.

Needles to say I’m happy see the progress and the quick follow-up from the PB.

Pool Size / Spa Size

• 37’x16.5’
• Perimeter 135’
• Depth 3.5’ - 5’
• Spa - 9x6
• Gallons - 16k
• Wet Deck 1 - 10’x16’
• Wet Deck 2 - 10’x7’

Build Specs

• 2 Skimmers - requested and confirmed plumbed separately
• 1 Main Drains
• 4500 psi shotcrete
• 3 36” sheer decent water features
• Pool Finish - Finest Finish Radiant Fusion (color TBD)
• 4 Barstools
• Decking - 24x24 Porcelain Pavers

Equipment

• Pump - Pentair IntelliFlo 3.5 VSP
• Water Feature Pump - Pentair VSP
• Filter - Pentair 520
• Automation - Intellicenter
• Pool / Spa Lights - 11 Pentair Microbrite
• Heater - Pentair Mater Temp 400,000
• SWG - Pentair IC40
• Cleaning System - A&A IFCS (I know a lot of folks on here aren’t fans, but that’s what we preferred to go with after speaking with several friends and family members who have pools)

 

[ferretbone]

That's going to look nice. Man you guys have a lot of rock out there. I like that 360 spa, I've never seen that.

 

[Brian420]

That's going to look nice. Man you guys have a lot of rock out there. I like that 360 spa, I've never seen that.

Thanks! We worked in revisions and the design for three to four months.

 

[Brian420]

Plumbing is two days in and here is what it looks like.
Is it typical the spa jets are that close? The four on the back seem close together.

 

[arg]

I'm getting quotes for a build in N. Las Vegas right now. Who are you using, and how has the experience been?

 

[mknauss]

I'm getting quotes for a build in N. Las Vegas right now. Who are you using, and how has the experience been?

Welcome to the forum!
Please use Start Conversation to discuss pool builders, etc.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

You need to sit in front of the outlets side by side with adults and see if you have any space in between you. I don’t see an air lock on the top of the manifold. Qurious on the distance between the main pump and the first valve ?

 

[an1vrsy]

Beautiful design! Just saw this build thread today. You’ll be done and ready by next spring. That was the timing for my build, Sept 22 - Mar 1.

I can only imagine with the length of your excavation, you hit caliche. But that is past now and the build will continue to progress. Do you plan on having your soft water hooked up to your auto-fill? Since we have hard water here in Las Vegas.

One suggestion, take copious amount of photos for your records. Where each pipe run goes, etc. Down the line, you may want to refer to your construction photos. Good luck.

 

[Katodude]

So….

You are in good hands with all the pool folks here.

However, let me make a few suggestions on your kitchen.

Side Burner. We use that almost more than the grill. Anything smelly now gets cooked outside. Also steaks get final sear in a cast iron pan on the side burner.

Warmer Drawer. Great for food while you are cooking. Also great for towels. Nothing better than a hot towel when you come out of the spa. We have 2 in outdoor build. One in the kitchen and one in the firepit.

Item I dont have, but wish I had if there was room. Griddle!!! You can cook a lot on a griddle. Just ask @Brentr

Extra item if you want to go over the top. Pizza Oven.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I would upsize your salt cell to a 60. You can't go wrong having more than you need. If you buy it yourself you can upgrade for $10

Saltwater Chlorinators/Chlorine Generators | Discount Salt Pool

www.discountsaltpool.com

 

[Brian420]

You need to sit in front of the outlets side by side with adults and see if you have any space in between you. I don’t see an air lock on the top of the manifold. Qurious on the distance between the main pump and the first valve ?

I’ll have my wife head out there with me to see how spacing is.

As for your pluming questions, I’m lost. Total newbie on what everything is and what to look for.

 

[Brian420]

Beautiful design! Just saw this build thread today. You’ll be done and ready by next spring. That was the timing for my build, Sept 22 - Mar 1.

I can only imagine with the length of your excavation, you hit caliche. But that is past now and the build will continue to progress. Do you plan on having your soft water hooked up to your auto-fill? Since we have hard water here in Las Vegas.

One suggestion, take copious amount of photos for your records. Where each pipe run goes, etc. Down the line, you may want to refer to your construction photos. Good luck.

We actually didn’t hit caliche, thankfully! The entire backyard was backfill with the elevation of the neighborhood. I asked the excavation crew and they just simply said it’s a large pool and had more details then most.

I asked the PB about hooking up the soft water and they said they don’t do that.

Thanks for the advice on the photos! I’ll be sure to have it all documented.

 

[Brian420]

So….

You are in good hands with all the pool folks here.

However, let me make a few suggestions on your kitchen.

Side Burner. We use that almost more than the grill. Anything smelly now gets cooked outside. Also steaks get final sear in a cast iron pan on the side burner.

Warmer Drawer. Great for food while you are cooking. Also great for towels. Nothing better than a hot towel when you come out of the spa. We have 2 in outdoor build. One in the kitchen and one in the firepit.

Item I dont have, but wish I had if there was room. Griddle!!! You can cook a lot on a griddle. Just ask @Brentr

Extra item if you want to go over the top. Pizza Oven.

We just finalized all the kitchen equipment, and this was one area I was pretty excited and picky about. We ended up ordering an entire Lynx kitchen. 42” grill, power burner, cocktail center, slew of doors, drawers, and a pantry. I thought about the warming drawer and couldn’t see us using it so we passed on it, but now you have me thinking twice With the power burner we can also use it as a griddle, it wouldn’t be the biggest at 20”x24” but it would be big enough. M

I would upsize your salt cell to a 60. You can't go wrong having more than you need. If you buy it yourself you can upgrade for $10

Saltwater Chlorinators/Chlorine Generators | Discount Salt Pool

www.discountsaltpool.com

During the planning phase I read in several places we should have a salt cel that is twice the size in gallons. The pool is approximately 14,000-15,000 gallons. Should I still potentially look at changing it?

 

[an1vrsy]

I asked the PB about hooking up the soft water and they said they don’t do that.

During my owner build, my plumbing contractor also told me that they do not do soft-water hookups. What I had them do is, using the same trench already dug to get to the house's electrical panel, the autofill line is ran all the way to the side of the garage where the soft-water tank is closest. The PB's plumbers will also put in a back flow preventer and cap the pvc at that point. They are done.

Then you hire a regular plumber to add a split to the soft-water system's copper piping then run it along the garage wall to the outside wall, punch through the garage wall then connect the dissimilar piping (copper to the capped pvc). Now your autofill is plumbed to soft-water. If you are going to do it... during construction is the best time to do it.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

picture #1: distance between pump and valve
picture #2: I was unable to find these on your spa plumbing picture

 

[Brian420]

picture #1: distance between pump and valve
picture #2: I was unable to find these on your spa plumbing picture

So the distance only a few inches. Is that of concern?

The PB stopped the house today and we were discussing the distance of the spa jets, which they thought was a smidge close. I asked about an airlock but they were sure what I was describing. Probably my lack of pool plumbing knowledge.

 

[Brian420]

Plumbing wrapped up last night! PB said the first inspection is scheduled for two weeks from now so rebar should begin fairly quickly.

 

[Brian420]

Well, we’ve had a two week delay. After the plumbing was finished and I had concerns over the spa jets it’s taken some time to get the plumbers back. The should be back today and rebar hopefully beings tomorrow or Friday!

 

[Brian420]

The plumbers came back moved the spa jets and rebar is complete!

Everything appears to look ok, but I noticed that the sunken kitchen is supposed to have drainage, sump pump, and a water line for the sink. The first picture is the engineering plans relative to how it looks today. I’m going to talk to the PB tomorrow, but I figured there should be plumbing in there before the shotcrete vs after. Is there something I’m missing or not understanding correctly?

 

[BigPapaSmurf]

The plumbers came back moved the spa jets and rebar is complete!

Everything appears to look ok, but I noticed that the sunken kitchen is supposed to have drainage, sump pump, and a water line for the sink. The first picture is the engineering plans relative to how it looks today. I’m going to talk to the PB tomorrow, but I figured there should be plumbing in there before the shotcrete vs after. Is there something I’m missing or not understanding correctly?

Agree completely. Drainage line is needed and what about the water lines for the sink and ice maker as well as the drain line for for both?