New Pool Build in Birmingham, AL...feedback welcomed!!

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aaronhawk008

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Jun 12, 2018
19
Birmingham, AL
Hello everyone...I am a soon to be pool owner and I'm looking for any advice I can get on my build. Please don't hesitate to comment!

I am currently interviewing 3 PB's in my area. They are all reputable builders, but I am pretty analytical so the process of picking out everything I want has been a struggle. The hardest decision has been the pool size as I have gone back and forth between 16'x28' to 18'x30' and also the size of the spa being 7' or 8'

Below is an outline of what one of the builders has quoted me...any changes or suggestions you all would recommend?

- 18'x30' free form gunite pool w/ tanning ledge (3.5 to 5.5 depth throughout pool)
- Raised 7' spa w/ stone veneer and spillover
- Shell of pool to be 1/2" rebar tied to 10" centers
- 6"x6" standard water line tile
- 266,000 btu natural gas heater for spa
- 1.5hp pump and filtration system (Jandy) for pool
- 2hp motor for spa
- 2 LED lights w/ transformer (Jandy) for pool
- 1 LED light for spa
- Commercial grade skimmer w/ dual main drains and 2 returns
- All plumbing
- Grounding grid
- All excavation
- All permits
- Automatic cleaner (Polaris 9350 Robotic)
- All electrical
- Gas plumbing
- Hauling off spoils from digsite
- 5' concrete around border of pool

I am looking to possibly do stamped concrete as well.

Any advice/help in direction or what is quality versus maybe not typical would be great. I am open to any and all suggestions as I have never built a pool before. The only experience I have is researching and reading articles on this forum over the past month.

Thanks and I am looking forward to hear all the feedback!
 
Yea...I think I am definitely going bigger. Does anyone have any suggestions on the actual pool equipment? I read where I need a 400,000 btu heater for the spa, but my PB put a 266,000 in the quote.

Also I read where I should go with a multiple speed pump versus a regular one.

I just want to make sure I go into this getting the right equipment that way it is easier to maintain and more cost effective in the long run. Plus I want to make sure my PB isn't trying to put in the cheapest equipment with the high margins.
 
I vote bigger. What ages will be using the pool? Little kids? teens? Ours is 18 by 40, but the tanning ledge and steps are at one end so it really makes it about 34 swimmable length and I wish we'd made it longer. We did 3.5 to 5 to 4.5 feet so we could play volleyball. If I could do ours over I'm not sure I'd do the raised spa, I might do it level, and I would definitely add a small step into the spa if your builder didn't suggest it. My cousin did that with hers and it is really nice. And you can sit up on it if you need to get up out of the hot water for a bit. It's also great for little kids to sit up on. I'll see if I can find a pic of it.

and yes I'd think you'd want a variable speed pump.
 
Hi and THANKS! I love helping to build pools! Lets get this party started! :party:

MODEL numbers for all equipment!

Pump-It needs to be at least a 2 speed.
Filter-what size and kind? DE, sand, cartridge?
Heater-what brand?

How are you going to chlorinate the pool? I suggest SWG as seen in this link: Pool School - Salt Water Chlorine Generators

2 returns? That does not seem to be enough for that size pool. I would want at least 4.

Plumping-make sure the skimmer and main drain have a home run for each of them back to the pad with "good" valves such as Jandy. NO turn ball valves as they will get brittle over time and break.

Unions-on all equipment so you can service or replace as needed.

Did you know you do not have to have a main drain? Just something to think about. The new codes make the safer but it is ever safer without them.

Can we see where this pool is going to go?

Kim:kim:
 
sham said:
I vote bigger. What ages will be using the pool? Little kids? teens? Ours is 18 by 40, but the tanning ledge and steps are at one end so it really makes it about 34 swimmable length and I wish we'd made it longer. We did 3.5 to 5 to 4.5 feet so we could play volleyball. If I could do ours over I'm not sure I'd do the raised spa, I might do it level, and I would definitely add a small step into the spa if your builder didn't suggest it. My cousin did that with hers and it is really nice. And you can sit up on it if you need to get up out of the hot water for a bit. It's also great for little kids to sit up on. I'll see if I can find a pic of it.

and yes I'd think you'd want a variable speed pump.
Click to expand...

Just me and my wife we are in our 30’s. I’m sure we will have a bunch of friends over from time to time as well. Most of our friends either have young kids or none at all. I definitely will be adding 1-2 steps into the spa. My other question is about the spa. Is 7'x7' big enough or 8'x8’? I don’t have a very big backyard. Thanks for the advice and input!
 
kimkats said:
Hi and THANKS! I love helping to build pools! Lets get this party started! :party:

MODEL numbers for all equipment!

Pump-It needs to be at least a 2 speed.
Filter-what size and kind? DE, sand, cartridge?
Heater-what brand?

How are you going to chlorinate the pool? I suggest SWG as seen in this link: Pool School - Salt Water Chlorine Generators

2 returns? That does not seem to be enough for that size pool. I would want at least 4.

Plumping-make sure the skimmer and main drain have a home run for each of them back to the pad with "good" valves such as Jandy. NO turn ball valves as they will get brittle over time and break.

Unions-on all equipment so you can service or replace as needed.

Did you know you do not have to have a main drain? Just something to think about. The new codes make the safer but it is ever safer without them.

Can we see where this pool is going to go?

Kim:kim:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply back...I will get all model numbers today, one of the BP’s I interviewed told me he is a Jandy Pro Edge Dealer so I am guessing it is all Jandy equipment. BP says the filter is a sand filter.

I will find out today what will be used to chlorinate the pool (Obviously I am a serious beginner at knowing all of this stuff). BP has given us an option to go with a salt water pool for $1200 more than original quote.

I will post a pic of a drawing I configured where I would like our pool to sit in our yard...

Thanks again for trying to help!
 
Finally I received a quote from the last PB I was thinking of going with for our first pool. Below are the quotes from the 2 PB’s I have narrowed it down to. Please let me know if there is anything you see that might be out of the norm or if anyone has any suggestions on adds or deletes from the total list.

Any advice would be great!!!

Quote #1

- 18'x28' free form gunite pool w/ tanning ledge (3.5 to 5.5 depth throughout pool)
- Raised 7' spa w/ stone veneer and spillover
- Shell of pool to be 1/2" rebar tied to 10" centers
- 6"x6" standard water line tile
- 266,000 btu natural gas heater for spa
- 1.5hp pump and filtration system (Jandy) for pool
- Salt System (Jandy)
- 2hp motor for spa
- 2 LED lights w/ transformer (Jandy) for pool
- 1 LED light for spa
- Commercial grade skimmer w/ dual main drains and 2 returns
- All plumbing
- Grounding grid
- All excavation
- All permits
- Automatic cleaner (Polaris 9350 Robotic)
- All electrical
- Gas plumbing
- Hauling off spoils from digsite
- 5' concrete around border of pool

PB from quote #1 gave me a price of $84,500. This PB did not itemize out each job and piece of equipment.


Quote #2

- 18’x28’ gunite pool with tanning ledge
- LED light and transformer
- 1 skimmer
- 2 main drains
- 25” Jandy sand filter
- Jandy flo pro 1.5HP
- Polaris 280 cleaning system
- .75 Booster Pump
- 2” PVC
- Dual Timer
- Jandy never lube valves
- Concrete decking (w’ Stain and personalized cuts in the joints)
- 8’x8’ spa (w/ 8 jets)
- 400,000 BTU gas heater

PB from quote #2 gave me a price of $77,000.

After reading this over, is there anything missing or anything that isn’t necessarily needed? Also, it seems like it is so difficult to get any of these pool builders to give me an itemized list of everything and this has been the same across the board for all 4 original quotes that I received from the top 4 recommended PB’s in the area. They just seem to like to give me the total number and thats it.

Thanks for taking a look!

Aaron
 
Aaron what you need to do is write/type these out so they are side by side with like items by each other. That way you can see who is offering more/less. I see one says two lights, the other one light. One talks about the never lube valves (good stuff there!).

Then we will work on the equipment. There is such a wide variety offered. We have to make sure you are getting the best size for your pool. I wonder if you show each PB the list we come up with if they will then give you their ideas? Let them know you are picking between them and you are giving them a chance to win your business.

Kim:kim:
 

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Aaron welcome to TFP :wave: Here are a couple of things to also think about.
1. Plan on as much space as possible. We have 1600sq of pavers and wish we had more. You will be quite surprised how much space a couple of lounge chairs, a table and 4 chairs take up. Personally I would concrete your whole back yard as I hate doing yard work.
2. Pre plan for future summer kitchen. Lots of great experiences are spent with the family cooking out doors and swimming in the pool.
3. Pre plan for installation of big screen TV. We personally love the outdoors and spend 90% of out time in our back yard.
4. Think about the orientation of your pool in relative to the sun.
Hope this helps and congrats on your new pool build. Exciting times ahead:cheers:
 
Well it could be easier if you just trusted without verifying but then you may not get the best bang for you buck. Most pool builders are not used to the owners having any kind of clue about what is what. Do what works best for you. We will support you no matter how you want to move forward.

Kim:kim:
 
Bigger as long as you are left with ample space.

No SWG??

Only 1 skimmer and only 2 returns?

2 speed pump as a minimum!

Equipment pad light should be added.

Equipment model numbers would be very helpful and actual pics of existing space. PB has not provided a better drawing than what you have provided?

Best of luck and welcome toTFP!
 
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