New from Texas - Pool/Spa/Covered patio build

[jcwett]

Hi all,

We live in between Houston and Galveston. Looking at doing a 28' x 18' rectangle, marble coping, luna quartz plaster, with a 12" raised 7' x 7' heated spa (6' long stacked stone spillway). Spray deck all around the outside of pool. Volleyball style - 3.5ft, 5ft, 4ft. Also a 6ft long tanning ledge (within length of pool) with 3 bubblers. 3 umbrella/volleyball holes on outside in deck, one in tanning ledge. No raised walls or fountains. Got 6 quotes and narrowed down to one company and in final stages before signing contract. All Pentair equipment (IntelliCenter I5PS, 3hp vsf pump, clean clear 520 cartridge filter, 400k heater, CMP Ultra Inline Chlorinator, Lighting- IntelliBrite ARC Series, Multi-Color LEDs 2 pool & 1 spa).

3 year warranty all materials and workmanship, parts and labor (including cleaner), electrical and plumbing, and equipment
Lifetime warranty on structural.

Couple of questions -
1. Optional Robotic cleaner Pentair prowler 920 is included for $1k. Recommend yes or no?
2. Should we switch from quartz to pebble for $1.5k? We have 3 kids under 10.
3. Looking at my survey, where would you put the equipment pad? A- would require fence move. B-Current selection by pool builder, requires swapping gate and outer panel when they put everything back. C- blocks walking pad from door, and potentially replacement of A/C unit in corner? D and E both are close to pool and make deck look crowded. But these and C have advantage of only 1 privacy fence needed. Could maybe move to other side of house so closer to gas meter, but then needs super long plumbing/electrical run instead and there is a hose bib between the gas line and the fence so not a ton of room. That lower wall on the right side of house below the fence is all windows so no go there either.
4. Am I going to hate myself for not having the hardiboard painted on the side of the house before having the pool put in? (I would contract out either way)

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Consider location-A, for a few reasons, the equipment will be length wise to the view from the pool and less noticeable even if a fence is built to hide it.
When the equipment pad is placed against a permanent surface (house) all the electrical boxes can be installed to a solid surface, not secured to metal poles or a 4X4 without as much stability.
Equipment pad set ups can be busy looking and produce noise, having them installed farther away from the pool within reason should be considered.
The cost of moving the fence will be minimal and having the equipment placed in a secure location should be money well spent. Also if this is selected, have the concrete pad below the door removed during excavation so the plumbing/electrical trenches can have better access to the equipment pad.

 

[sblfilms]

Hello, I am in Pearland, practically neighbors!

My only suggestion on location is to put the equipment as reasonably far away from the pool as possible. This was not something I considered, and honestly there wasn't a better location for mine, but when it's really going it is a bit of a noisy annoyance. I'm actually planning to build a stone wall around it to try and dampen the sound a bit.

 

[jcwett]

Thanks, I'll try to go with A and move the fence. For the pool design, do you think I should make the tanning ledge less wide, and have a little swim lane in front of the waterfall/bench? I'm worried that the 6' x 18' ledge is taking up too much of the pool, and only leaves a 18' x 22' area for swimming and volleyball? Maybe cut the tanning ledge down to 6' x 12', which leaves 6' where the pool is 3.5' deep along that back wall.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Shortening the bench all depends on how you plan on using the bench/pool.
That would give you more area to swim/float around but not as much for playing volleyball, that would need to be a shorter distance from, front to back and most Ledge Lounges need up to 6’ (as in your drawing) so you can walk in front of them with the back side against the coping.