New Pool - Austin, TX - Build

[iamtexmax]

Hello all - Greetings - below is the pool that we are going to construct:


Materials Selection Included in Price of Contract. (Allowances include applicable local taxes)
Selection Location Material Notes/Allowances
Tile Pool Trim Tile MASNL1131/Delorian
Underpinning Exposed concrete Walls Underpin Grey underpin
Coping/Spa Veneer Athena 3cm Travertine Travertine Marble 16x24
Deck finishes New Patio
Existing Patio
Innov Dove Grey
Marble 16x24
Plaster All Basins Pebblesheen L1 Blue Surf
Raised Back Beam Glass Tile MASNL1131/Delorian

Pool/Spa Equipment Included in Price of Contract
Item Vendor Brand/Description Warranty through Manufacturer
Control Pentair Easytouch Pool 4P 3 years
Remote Pentair Screenlogic 3 years
GFCI Pentair 20A GFCI 3 years
Pool Pump Pentair 2HP 3 years
Waterfall Pump Pentair share with Pool 3 years
Filter Pentair FNS DE 60 3 years
Cleaner Pump Pentair .75 HP Booster 3 years
Cleaner Pentair Racer LS 3 years


Sanitizer 1 Pentair Inline Chlorinator 3 years
Water Sheers Custom 3x12” 1 year
Pool Light Pentair 3 Color LED 3 years
Sanitzer 2 Pentair UV 3 years
Transformer Pentair 300W 3 years
Plaster Pebblesheen Blue Surf 5 years

Pool/Spa Specification
Length x Width Max Dimensions ~33.5’x18.5’ Max
Raised Wall Pool +12”+18”+12”
Pool Water Area ~493sqft
Depth Pool 3.5’-4’-6’

Other Construction Notes
Bubbler

General Construction Specifications
Excavation and removal of dirt and rock at the time of excavation Yes
Roots Removed by Athena when inside perimeter of pool Yes
Permits and Inspections (excludes any form surveys or engineering drawings) Yes
Additional Lot Grading No
Steel Reinforcement of Pool Structure ½” steel Yes
Pool Piping from Equipment Pad to Pool: Schedule 40 Yes
Waterproof Shell Intrusions Yes
Pool Shell Gunite Yes
Pool: Set of Steps per plan Yes
Pool: Suntan ledge per plan Yes
Pool Raised Beam per plan noted above Yes
Pool: Bench Yes

Plumbing/Water Feature Specifications
Piping from Equipment Pad to Pool Schedule 40 Yes
Anti-Entrapment Drains: Pool 1 / 1WF Yes
Number of Pool Returns 4 Yes
Dedicated Cleaner Line Yes
Skimmers: 2 Yes
Manual Water Level Yes
Water Features Yes
Overflow: Run to daylight only Yes
Bubbler: Yes
Umbrella Holder in Beach No
Other No

Concrete Flat Work
Total All Concrete Flat work 662 sqft new concrete flatwork yes
Masonry Specifications
Install and Provide Trim Tile as per the materials specifications (Attachment 1) Yes
Install and Provide stone as per the materials specifications (Attachment 1) Yes
Install and Provide Plaster as per the materials specifications (Attachment 1) Yes
Install and Provide finish as per the materials specifications (Attachment 1) Yes
Install Mastic Control Joint Between Pool Coping and Patio deck Yes
Install Grey Coat underpinning on all exposed backside areas of structures (Attachment 1) Yes

- - - Updated - - -

We had the PB come this morning and lay out the pool - digging starts next week

- - - Updated - - -

This is what it should look like finished

 

[see_feel]

Good looking design. What made you go with inline chlorinator vs a SWG? About to start my pool build in the next 30 days so curious.

 

[iamtexmax]

My PB talked me out of the SWG - he said he would not warranty the stone

 

[kimkats]

LOVE the design! Very classic looking!

Now lets get down the nitty gritty:

-model numbers-you need to get model numbers IN writing for every thing. Share them here so we can go over them for you.

-Control Pentair Easytouch Pool 4P- more details please. IF this is what I think it is you will want to move up to the 8. You will run out of "room" fast if it what I think it is.

-Sanitzer 2 Pentair UV-skip this..........you get plenty of UV from the sun. It is good for indoor pools but not really necessary for outdoor pools.

-Manual Water Level -details please-Most people get a automatic water fill

-Unions and valves-you want unions of all pieces of the equipment AND "good" valves-there are some different kinds-pentair and Jandy to name two. Just so long as they are NOT ball valves. The TX sun will cause them to get brittle and break sooner rather than later.

So how is your payment schedule set up? Have you signed the contract yet?

Kim



-

 

[see_feel]

Kim all over it once again! The short time I have been here I greatly appreciate all you do!

 

[kimkats]

Kim all over it once again! The short time I have been here I greatly appreciate all you do!

Ahhhhhh shucks.....see if I save them money on this then I get to help them spend money on that LOL :slidehalo:

Kim

 

[iamtexmax]

Thank you for responding - contract has been signed - they hope to start digging next week...

I will ask my PB model numbers for all the major items

Yesterday I found out from my PB the 2 HP pump is a Fixed speed pump - I requested for a 3 HP VS Intelliflo pump - he told me that would cost me more - he also said he would need to add a (special) breaker and an automatic valve so that it can be controlled by Screen Logic (for the water features (3 sheer waterfalls and bubbler)) - so again cost

Can you give me more details or throw some light on Control Pentair Easytouch Pool 4P vs 8 (I don't even have a clue what that is for)

(all the equipment I put above I copied and pasted from my contract)

 

[iamtexmax]

Replies from my PB:

1. Price is $840 for VS pump
2. Did you want to separate out the Waterfall add $200
3. I will remove UV $-950
4. Easytouch 8 is more than ET4 $add $636
5. you fill by hand if you dont want an automatic waterlevel (min 2x week you will have to fill it)
6. I can upgrade you to lube free valves at cost of $250 for this job

Equipment:

Attached image (note: lights are color not white - he changed that)

​

 

[kimkats]

From Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Pentair-520543-EasyTouch-4-Function-Automation/dp/B0082N4ILE
and
https://www.amazon.com/Pentair-520703-EasyTouch-Single-System/dp/B002FQIZBI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528415778&sr=8-1&keywords=Control+Pentair+Easytouch+Pool+8P&dpID=419mE6yYKQL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

The 4 only controls 4 things. The 8 controls 8 things..............light, heater, pump, SWG=you are done at 4. I will let you decide on this one.

He has a manual water leveler listed on your first post about it. My question was how do you fill with it? You sure do not want to have to drag a hose over to your pretty pool to add water.

You do NOT want a single speed pump!

Kim

 

[iamtexmax]

Hello all - we got a surprise this morning - the driver showed up with a bobcat and started digging (our PB had said that the dig would only start next week) - and the marble coping also arrived

 

[kimkats]

Let the MUD begin!!!! Nice surprise for sure!!

Kim

 

[iamtexmax]

Update - Day 3 - Digging is almost completed - we did not hit any rock (PB is surprised) - someone from an Engineering company came out and took a sample of the soil (PB Supervisor worried it is clay like - expandable) - he was telling me they will have to put gravel - should know test results tomorrow

 

[kimkats]

Some people put a drip irrigation system around their houses and pools for this very reason in your neck of the woods. It keeps the ground from moving quite so much.

Kim

 

[ctrav]

Nice build and welcome to TFP. No single speed pump! 2 speed minimum and if you go that route it should not add much to bill if anything. SWG's rock but lots of builders balk at them yet an awful lot of folks have them with all types of stone. In the end a personal choice...

If you eliminated the cleaner pump and upgraded to a robot price would probably be negligible...just a thought!

How many skimmers and pool returns?

 

[iamtexmax]

@ ctrav - 4 returns - 2 Skimmers

Update - Am travelling and got a call from my PB - he says the engg company took a sample of the soil yesterday and say its all dirt - he says our house was built slightly higher than other houses so the house builder had thrown a lot of dirt - text message from him - "we saw some concerning artifacts of the dig towards the bottom that has sent red flags. The engineer took a sample - it turns out that you are sitting on a pile of fill and not natural material for the pool site - outcome this dig is not considered a normal install any longer. My engineer wants us to over dig the pool and base it back in layers to the correct depth formation. Engineer wants us to double steel the entire structure also. I have to get you the $ to do this."

My wife spoke to him over the phone and he estimates will take an addition $8-10 K (my budget is totally blown)- I am really not happy (they are going to take measurements this weekend and give me a quote on Monday)

What do I do? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!

 

[kimkats]

Second opinion! That is one eng. thinking. I would see about finding an independent eng. see what he has to say. You should be able to get a copy of the soil paperwork so you don't have to pay for that again.

 

[ctrav]

Ouch that hurts and a second opinion is for sure in order. Good you have at least 4 returns and 2 skimmers....

 

[ESW]

Interested in hearing outcome

 

[LeighHop]

Oh man, what a total pain. I'm so sorry.

 

[CentralTexian]

May I ask what pool builder you are using? You can PM me if you prefer. I'd also like to ask what your quotes came in at as I am about to build in the Austin area as well, but understand if you'd prefer not to share.

I do admit I'm a bit skeptical regarding what they've told you. I'd be very surprised a builder in this area would use a lot of fill on what appears to be a flat lot in a flat area, and I also see patterns in the cross section that look natural to me. At most I would say a couple feet of fill but would still be surprised if thats the case. I hope things turn out well but am surprised you are being hit up for this much additional money, is there any way to get a second opinion? Good luck!