New Build - Damascus, MD

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PoolGate

PoolGate

Gold Supporter
TFP Guide
Jun 7, 2017
9,979
Damascus, MD
Pool Size
29000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Jandy Aquapure 1400
I think I will get my build thread underway. The permit hopefully will be issues within a few weeks and they will start within days of that.


The PB came out today and marked the pool area. We moved it a bit to better flow with our yard and to avoid the septic line (in orange on the right side in below pictures) and the sprinkler system which may or may not be salvaged. We also added 50 square feet of pool for a cost of $1500. I wanted a bigger sun-deck and to push out the sides a bit more. The PB told me he hates laying out the pool lines because everyone says it looks small. Lol he is right! Orange lines on the bottom of the picture are where we are extending it the white lines are the original design. He did also say he will add 2 returns to the bottom of the deep end with a bypass to direct all water to those returns as suggested on this forum for like $200 more. The picture lines are the water's edge so add 4 feet for basic deck and coping. Also that one plum tree on the left by the stairs will be removed. It is very shallow anyway.

Pool Build - 2017 - Google Photos
 
Permit submission - Check!

Can't wait to see the progress for you. Nice backyard, a couple acres? Is there also going to be just the 4' of hard surface on the house side as well? We do enjoy having the larger deck space house-side.

Do you have a picture looking from the yard to house to give us that perspective?

When you have a chance, please complete your profile signature with key build details, size, equipment, brands, etc.
 
I added 2 new pics including one from the yard to the house. Yard is 1.4 acres but looks like more since there are no fences between most lawns in my neighborhood. It'll be 4ft on the backside (away from the house) but the side closest to the house will be almost all (if not all) deck. Also behind the diving board will be more deck.
 
What a great space. Folks are definitely going to want to follow this one and you will get lots of help. Welcome to TFP...now get the signature line going with all the details, get a TF-100 test kit and most of all become a member so you can load lots of pics. You will be glad you did PoolGate!
 
Looks like my HOA is giving me some excrement. They want me to have a "professional" survey done to ensure all pool elements are within my property. The pool is 40ft from the property line so no where near the line. There was a survey done when the sprinkler was put in well before I moved in and markers were placed on the property but I don't have anything official on that. Hopefully that is enough for them. In addition, the architectural request was submitted on a form that is an official survey! It included all lot boundaries and latitude and longitude of lot lines. When I was president of this HOA (2 terms) I had one pool to approve and did it in 10 minutes. Adjacent neighbor notification and a licensed pool builder plus a general review of the plan was all that was needed. This is why HOAs are universally hated!
 
Ha! Yeah let's see if some common sense sets in once they take another look. Or have them out for lemonade and a looksee in person. Some times people can be snots by email but in person they are quite reasonable.
 
Pool has been HOA approved! But... We want to change the way the fence is designed so I am going to submit an addendum and have adjacent neighbors sign off again. Hopefully that is no issue.
 
i'm so glad we don't live in an HOA development. I wouldn't get away with half of what I do prob. I mean my house is completely overbuilt but we just move pretty slow and like do do things our way.


glad u are good to go though!
 

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So officially my pool is approved by the HOA as designed. One check off!

Still waiting for the county permit! :grrrr:

Also seems like there is some good news with our sprinkler system. I had planned on having the system destroyed or at least partially disabled when the pool went in but when I went to look at it (I actually just turned it on for the first time this evening) I saw that there are no sprinkler heads anywhere where the pool will go. Further, it looks like the heads surrounding this area don't actually go through the area (the pipes). Could it be that when the sprinkler was installed that someone actually considered that a pool might go in that very spot one day? Anyway the sprinkler company is coming out tomorrow to hopefully confirm what I now think is how it was designed. This will be great if the case!
 
kimkats said:
That is a bit of good news for sure! BUT don't go counting your chickens until they are hatched. Pipes seems find a way to get under a shovel no matter where they are :roll:

Kim:kim:
Click to expand...

Well you certainly are prophetic! The irrigation guy just left. He toned out the control line for the sprinkler which also traces the main water line. It goes directly down the centerline of the pool. So he told me where to dig and what to cut and said it will be probably $2500 to redo all of the damage plus add 3 new zones within the pool area. So probably that is what we will do. Always something and that something usually costs money...
 
Yeah............I am SO sorry to be right on this :( There was one build where the plans clearly show the power line following the survey lines............nope.....it went right through the middle of the yard!!!! Thank goodness the digger was being careful just in case. THAT could have been bad :shock:

Kim:kim:
 
OK - I got a list of the equipment we are getting. Does this look ok? Someone mentioned a controller. Doesn't look like there is one - which one should I get? Do I need any upgrades from the below? Now is the time to do this!

http://www.jandy.com/en/products/filters/cv
http://www.jandy.com/en/products/pumps/single-two-speed/flopro
http://www.jandy.com/en/products/heaters/jxi
http://www.nature2.com/pool-products/nature2-fusion-soft
http://www.jandy.com/en/products/lighting/watercolors-led
http://www.jandy.com/en/products/water-features/sheer-descent
 
What model numbers are they proposing? I say proposing because you should approve the final equipment selections.

You don't want the Nature2 Fusion Soft system. Get one of the Jandy saltwater chlorination systems instead. The Nature2 will introduce metals like silver and copper to your pool. This is bad in the long run. Think green hair and stained plaster.

Those in the know here recommend Raypak gas heaters over any other brand. And in a stroke of pool luck, a heater doesn't need to be the same brand to still work well with automation or controls. They are a simpler design than the competition and just seem to work well, and repair easily over time.
 
bmoreswim said:
What model numbers are they proposing? I say proposing because you should approve the final equipment selections.

You don't want the Nature2 Fusion Soft system. Get one of the Jandy saltwater chlorination systems instead. The Nature2 will introduce metals like silver and copper to your pool. This is bad in the long run. Think green hair and stained plaster.

Those in the know here recommend Raypak gas heaters over any other brand. And in a stroke of pool luck, a heater doesn't need to be the same brand to still work well with automation or controls. They are a simpler design than the competition and just seem to work well, and repair easily over time.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I knew absolutely nothing about pools when I signed the contract and hadn't yet found this forum. I was not told anything about the equipment other than "a heater" and "a saltwater pool". So I was taken advantage of. Lesson learned. I'm sure I will be paying for it "upgrading" my equipment to what I probably could have negotiated into the same price before I signed the contract ($62k + $3k since I added 100 sq feet to the pool).

I am getting "credits" for what I have but they are not entirely adequate. I am also being charged what appears to be above retail for the "upgrade" equipment. I think this is because I got them to throw in 2 water features for "free" and they knew they could get me back with the change orders. Am I better off just taking what I contracted for and replacing all of the equipment once it is installed? Maybe I can sell the original stuff? At this point I need to "upgrade" the SWG and pump at least (I am only getting a single speed pump) and also need to add a controller. He already told me to "upgrade" to a 2 speed pump (NOT a variable speed) was $1000.
 
Ok. Yeah, no need to stress over what's done. I'm a little better at knowing what is best up front versus how to move forward from your current point. Let's see what some others recommend. Certainly reselling is an option during replacement as is changing before installation. But the pump and Nature2 are things to change quickly one way or another.
 
bmoreswim said:
Ok. Yeah, no need to stress over what's done. I'm a little better at knowing what is best up front versus how to move forward from your current point. Let's see what some others recommend. Certainly reselling is an option during replacement as is changing before installation. But the pump and Nature2 are things to change quickly one way or another.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify - I haven't gotten anything yet my build is waiting for permits to be approved. So now is the time for me to change equipment. Any recommendation you can give would be greatly appreciated. Definitely treat this is an "up front" installation. It looks like my builder standardizes on Jandy but they seem to have decent stuff.
 
Were you able to make some spec changes? Or do you have follow up questions? Now is the time to ask. The more specific your questions the better the advice.
 

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