New Build In Ventura County, California

Re: New Build In Ventura Solar Question

calb said:
I keep hearing different things about Solar Heating. I have bids for $4,000-$5,000 from reputable companies. I hear people say that a decent cover works just as well, or that you have to run your pump a lot more for solar which eats into any gas savings. Just not sure whether to add solar or not. Would really love your opinions. Thanks.

I don't have a pool but did research the heck out of it recently, including solar heating.

So until someone else chimes in I might as well share what I found:

-Most setups combine the solar plumbing with your preexisting filtration system. You don't see a significant increase in cost because the water was already being moved for filtration. The solar plumbing just adds to the distance it has to travel. So if you set up your pool with a variable speed pump and are running it at a low speed to turn over the water in your pool you aren't adding much to the existing work load of the pump.

-ROI on solar heating is short. Sometimes even 2-3 years

-Not sure if it gets "too" hot where you are or if you are overly sensitive to water temps but it is also possible to use the solar panels in reverse to cool the pool. If this is something that interests you then make sure you discuss it with your installer. It is not standard.

Good luck!
 
Question about Low Voltage Lighting

I will post updated pictures soon as our project is coming along. But need your help!

Our PB is getting ready to pour our patio. For low voltage lighting wires he has NOT run them through any conduit. Seems to me it would make sense to have in conduit to be able to easily fix in future if needed without jackhammering out the patio. But he insists this is burial wire and that it makes no sense to use conduit. He says the wire is designed to be buried and will work forever. He says this is standard.

Thoughts? Thanks.
 
Those low voltage wires are fine without conduit, but it isn't a good idea to lay them under concrete without an alternative path. They'll get cut (my dog likes to chew on them) and you'll need to run a new wire eventually. Most masonry contractors will run an extra 3 or 4" drain pipe between the yard and any planters in the decking to allow for the addition of sprinkler pipe or LV wiring.
 
NO! You are correct; if it's not in conduit it can't ever be replaced!! The wire may be suitable for direct burial, but it's still s stupid idea. The added cost for the conduit is small.

I have a non-functioning convenience outlet (inconvenience?) that I can't fix, because somebody was cheap and/or lazy.
 
OK trying to play catch up here on updating and adding pictures. Work travel has set me behind and I have to suggest to anyone building a pool that if you can avoid travel during the process it will help a great deal. While away, decisions come up that aren't easy to make and/or the PB moves forward on something that isn't exactly right and you can't stop it in time.

At any rate, shotcrete day was a real highlight as you can really see the pool design come together:
 

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And then the coping as well as construction of the equipment wall and BBQ. The coping is Adobe color sandwash...it looks white here but they spray on and then blast off the white color (not sure what it is or why?):
 

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I've been delayed in posting new pics, so here is where things are at...we are waiting on stone to arrive to finish the small wall that includes our water descents. After that is done, the pebble sheen can go in and we can get things wrapped up. The equipment is in. Feels like things have slowed down a bit over the past week or so, but obviously the holiday also got in the way. Hope to be finished in 7-10 days....or sooner. We are more than ready to be done with all of the decision making!
 

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