New build in Atlanta, GA - Nov 24

[lvanpelt]

After a lot of research and time reading through this forum and talking to 4 different pool builders (and getting formal quotes from 3), we're about to sign with our pool builder. Before we do, I would love to utilize all the collective knowledge on this forum and get your thoughts on our proposal and layout. Please see attached and let me know if we're forgetting anything or need to change anything or add additional detail into the contract anywhere. I live near Atlanta, GA. Thanks all!

 

[PoolStored]

Equipment looks good. Only comment I have is...where are they placing the skimmers? You want the skimmers to face the prevailing winds, so wind pushes debris to the skimmers.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Will your patio have a TV? If so, I would recommend placing the spa and shallow end so they can see the TV. Nothing cooler than watching a college football game from the shallow end of the pool, or watching a movie with the family after dinner in the spa.

The equipment looks good, but I noticed an in-floor cleaning system. Its a mixed bag on here for people that like them vs not. Just make sure you do your research and make sure its what you want vs. something the pool builder is adding to make more $.

 

[lvanpelt]

Good call on tv, I actually originally ran a cable and outlet between where the stairs will be and the door underneath my deck. I need to look at that again.

Thoughts on size of tanning ledge? Also, thoughts on 9x5.5’ vs a 7x7’ hot tub?

Regarding prevailing winds, it appears they typically blow west to east, so skimmers will need to be on wall closest to house (where the lights will be as well).

The infloor cleaner is an add on option we will not be including. We’re also planning on removing the real sod behind the pool and having more pine straw / natural area. I’m thinking we may want 2’ of turf back there behind the coping to keep everything separate, then add a stone edging in between.

 

[ajw22]

Are you getting the separate spa jet pump? I recommend it to ensure you get strong massage jets.

How many spa jets will you have?

This is the way my spa is setup...

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[lvanpelt]

I am not getting a separate pump. There will be 8 jets. I grew up with a standalone hot tub and still use one often, and kinda realized no spa connected to a pool is going to have anywhere near the same level of massage / jets as a standalone hot tub, regardless of the pumps. I could pay more and get a separate pump, but it still wouldn’t really do a whole lot with only one jet per seat… so instead this will be a nice little area to soak in hot water with some light jet action.

Thanks for sharing the diagram, just not sure the cost worth the benefit for me personally.

 

[pjt]

3.5' is a bit too shallow. 4' is a good depth for the shallow end.

6' is an awkward depth since it's too deep for people to stand, but too shallow for diving, etc.. I'd suggest 5' or commit to a true deep end.

 

[lvanpelt]

3.5' is a bit too shallow. 4' is a good depth for the shallow end.

6' is an awkward depth since it's too deep for people to stand, but too shallow for diving, etc.. I'd suggest 5' or commit to a true deep end.

thank you for the feedback. Will consider.

 

[kimkats]

Everyone has some good in put above for many of the things I would say. so I will address water depth. Make sure it is true WATER depth. Water depth should be from the bottom of the pool to the middle of the simmer opening/waterline tile. Some people measure it from the bottom of the pool to the bottom of the skimmer.

 

[dude47]

3.5' is a bit too shallow. 4' is a good depth for the shallow end.

6' is an awkward depth since it's too deep for people to stand, but too shallow for diving, etc.. I'd suggest 5' or commit to a true deep end.

I can second this, my buddy has a pool that goes to 6', mine is 8'. As an adult he does not like his 6' and he doesn't like letting his teenage kids dive in it.

 

[lvanpelt]

My concern is 3.5-7 or 8’ would be too steep of a drop or not enough shallow end to actually hang out. I think 6’ is just deep enough for kids to jump into and deep enough for me to float (but too deep to stand). Not sure that would work at 5’.

Am I wrong in how I’m thinking?

 

[pjt]

My concern is 3.5-7 or 8’ would be too steep of a drop or not enough shallow end to actually hang out.

Then I would suggest 5' for your "deep" end.

Not sure that would work at 5’.

I have 5' for my "deep" end, and we can safely jump in with no problems.

 

[.ben]

You’ve clearly done your homework. I do have a few comments:

1. Make sure (in writing) the depths are to the water depth.

2. I don’t see toe tiles listed for the ledge, bench, and steps. These are for aesthetics and safety (IMO). You don’t want someone accidentally stepping off the ledge.

3. How much are they charging for the robot? You can maybe save a few hundred dollars by purchasing the robot yourself.

4. Will you have a suction port? Even with a robot, I prefer also having the option to run an inexpensive suction side cleaner or manual vac. Cost for suction port should be small.

 

[jonpcar]

My concern is 3.5-7 or 8’ would be too steep of a drop or not enough shallow end to actually hang out. I think 6’ is just deep enough for kids to jump into and deep enough for me to float (but too deep to stand). Not sure that would work at 5’.

Am I wrong in how I’m thinking?

@Ivanpelt, jumping in the pool (and games based on this) is my grandkids’ number one thing to do in the pool. However, I would caution having a submerged ledge/bench anywhere near the area where they do this.

 

[TheNameIsSam]

My concern is 3.5-7 or 8’ would be too steep of a drop or not enough shallow end to actually hang out. I think 6’ is just deep enough for kids to jump into and deep enough for me to float (but too deep to stand). Not sure that would work at 5’.

Am I wrong in how I’m thinking?

Our pool is 15' x 35' with a depth of 3.5' to 6'. The Baja Shelf is 6' x 15'.

If we could have made our pool longer, we would have made it deeper as well. One thing I definitely did not want was a steep drop. As a kid, steep drops in pools scared me. With our pool, everyone can safely and comfortably walk towards the deep end without worrying about a sudden drop. Several people have actually mentioned to us how they like that there was no sudden drop.

The kids love jumping in the deep end, we just make sure they don't dive straight down. So far we haven't had any issues but obviously as they get bigger, that can change. I however have to be careful when doing a cannonball otherwise my butt will hit the floor. There's no way I'd want to try it at 5'.

 

[lvanpelt]

Our pool is 15' x 35' with a depth of 3.5' to 6'. The Baja Shelf is 6' x 15'.

If we could have made our pool longer, we would have made it deeper as well. One thing I definitely did not want was a steep drop. As a kid, steep drops in pools scared me. With our pool, everyone can safely and comfortably walk towards the deep end without worrying about a sudden drop. Several people have actually mentioned to us how they like that there was no sudden drop.

The kids love jumping in the deep end, we just make sure they don't dive straight down. So far we haven't had any issues but obviously as they get bigger, that can change. I however have to be careful when doing a cannonball otherwise my butt will hit the floor. There's no way I'd want to try it at 5'.

Thank you, those are my exact thoughts!

 

[lvanpelt]

Well we finally have an approved permit. Now on to the fun part. We met the builder at the local NPT warehouse today to start making our selections, I would love any thoughts! We picked out tile, coping, pebble, and the spa surround.

We’re leaning towards Tahoe pebble with navy ceramic tiles and grey coping with a natural stone surround for the spa.

Anything we should consider?? Thanks!

 

[JJ_Tex]

Sandstone can be hit or miss with pools. Some people have good luck, but others report issues with it flaking off in layers. You can see from your sample the layers. While not the end of the world if it does start to flake off and end up in your pool, I would at least explore other options at this point.

Use the search feature at the top for "sandstone flaking" and you will see many posts with mixed reviews of sandstone.

 

[AndyMac1]

For your spa surround, I just literally ran into a snafu on my pool build last week regard the ledger stone we had picked out. The tile supply store, where we picked out everything didn't mention to us that we had picked out a slate stone. When the pool builder picked up the product last week, they discovered it and called us to not recommend it. They recommend a quartz or a travertine.
We had to start over on the spa surround, and were super bummed as we couldn't find exactly what we wanted.

 

[ajw22]

...with a natural stone surround for the spa.

Anything we should consider?? Thanks!

I recommend smooth ceramic tiles for the spa walls that get water on them. It is the easiest surface to keep clean from waterline scale that gets on spa walls. Rough natural stone is difficult to clean.