New pool build in DFW

[FM_Pool]

Hi All,

I have been stalking this site for a while and I want to thank you for all the inputs.

We finally decided to pull the trigger on a new pool (first time) after talking to several PBs. We selected a PB who was transparent with us (not necessarily the cheapest) and who was good in communication as well.

We will be going over the nitty gritty details with PB this weekend. I wanted to get you thoughts on the pool design and equipment overall. Am I forgetting something to include?

It's a basic rectangular pool without a spa - but have included a couple of water features like a waterfall from a short raised wall and a couple of bubblers in the tanning ledge.

Pool Dimension: 12 X 34 (cannot be wider than this due to restrictions of a small backyard), 92 perimeter and 408 sq. ft
Mini Pebble finish with Travertine Coping and Spray deck
Arbor and Kitchen are not included in this phase of the project but we may add it a year or two later

Jandy Equipment

Pump	Jandy Var. Speed E pump #VSSHP270DV2A
Filter	580 Cart. filter #CV580
Automation System	iAqualink bundle 4 pool only with salt #IQ904P w/ Trueclear
Sanitation	Truclear Salt System
LED	3 X Nichless LED hydrocool 24w #JLU4C24W100
Waterfall	2 X 12 sheer decent #1201C
Pool Cleaner	Skipped polaris. Will buy a Dolphin robot

Appreciate your thoughts and response on this.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

-Don't forget to have a GCFI outlet placed near the pool for your robot.... your cell phone charger...etc.

-A spigot near the pool is handy too for watering flowers, rinsing the deck off of spilled margherita and stuff like that.

-3' is entirely too shallow. No fun to stand in, and kinda awkward to sit in, and you can't swim in it without scraping knuckles. I'd suggest if you want such a shallow pool you do a sports type 4'-5.5'-3.5' putting the deepest part in the middle.

-If you do choose to do such a shallow pool be aware that you may need a chiller in the hottest part of summer. Shallow pools in hot climes feel swampy warm come July and August.

I'm glad you've joined in posting- we want to follow along with your build. Welcome to TFP!

Maddie

 

[FM_Pool]

-Don't forget to have a GCFI outlet placed near the pool for your robot.... your cell phone charger...etc.

-A spigot near the pool is handy too for watering flowers, rinsing the deck off of spilled margherita and stuff like that.

-3' is entirely too shallow. No fun to stand in, and kinda awkward to sit in, and you can't swim in it without scraping knuckles. I'd suggest if you want such a shallow pool you do a sports type 4'-5.5'-3.5' putting the deepest part in the middle.

-If you do choose to do such a shallow pool be aware that you may need a chiller in the hottest part of summer. Shallow pools in hot climes feel swampy warm come July and August.

I'm glad you've joined in posting- we want to follow along with your build. Welcome to TFP!

Maddie

Maddie - Thank you for the quick response.

- We do have a couple of GCFI outlets in the covered patio area and I see that the PB has also included a couple of outlets near the equipment pad. So I think we should be good there

- Spot on the spigots. We do have two spigots on either side of the backyard for watering our garden

- Regarding the depth - I just went with the whatever the PB recommended. I like your idea of the sports pool.
Does having a sports pool mean we'll have less pool area with shallow depth? I think I see your point - we already have a 6' tanning ledge and we probably need to maximize the rest of the swimming area.

- True. TX summer is like 11 months and then we have maybe one month of Fall/Snowcalypse. We are going with a lighter color like Acqua white for this reason. I also probably need to make the pool a bit deeper as well.

 

[wreckem]

Your pool is similar to mine except I have a spill over spa.

Mines 13x38(including the 13x6 tanning ledge). My depth is 3’6”, 5’, 4’. If I could do it again I’d do 4’, 5’6”, 4’. My plaster is a light blue. I have extra equipment pad space incase the pool gets to warm. After this first year I’ll get a chiller installed it need be.

 

[FM_Pool]

Your pool is similar to mine except I have a spill over spa.

Mines 13x38(including the 13x6 tanning ledge). My depth is 3’6”, 5’, 4’. If I could do it again I’d do 4’, 5’6”, 4’. My plaster is a light blue. I have extra equipment pad space incase the pool gets to warm. After this first year I’ll get a chiller installed it need be.

nice idea. Will check with PB if we can do 4-5-4. Anything else you wish you’d change?

 

[wreckem]

nice idea. Will check with PB if we can do 4-5-4. Anything else you wish you’d change?

You already took care of the other one. The booster pump and pressure side cleaner. The other thing is I have globrites and not microbritres but you wont have that issue since you are using Jandy. I discovered the site to late to make some changes that were suggested.

 

[TexasRain]

We left space for a heater... will definitely add that on later this year, so we can swim earlier, our pool has only got to 78 degrees so far. They also make heater/chiller combos. We will decide after the summer if we need the chiller part or not. Our pool is 10’x40’ and water depth is 4’-5’ with half the pool at the 4’ water depth. My 10year old and husband have both been swimming and like the depths. The shelf is for me I’m not much of a swimmer.

 

[FM_Pool]

We left space for a heater... will definitely add that on later this year, so we can swim earlier, our pool has only got to 78 degrees so far. They also make heater/chiller combos. We will decide after the summer if we need the chiller part or not. Our pool is 10’x40’ and water depth is 4’-5’ with half the pool at the 4’ water depth. My 10year old and husband have both been swimming and like the depths. The shelf is for me I’m not much of a swimmer.

My PB recommended not to add a heater if we don’t have a spa but I did tel him just leave some space on the equipment pad just for this if I change my mind after one or two pool seasons.

 

[FM_Pool]

@all - anything else I need to change in the equipment or the pool design?

 

[FM_Pool]

Anyone recommends the steps as shown vs steps through the width of the entire pool? I realize that we might lose swim space in the latter option but is it safer?

 

[wreckem]

Anyone recommends the steps as shown vs steps through the width of the entire pool? I realize that we might lose swim space in the latter option but is it safer?

I think that is going to come down to personal preference and not so much safety. My pool builder originally only had it on half the width and I’m sure most pool builders will design it as such unless you specifically ask for full width. I personally went full width on mine because I think it looks better.

 

[DallasSocFan]

I'm guessing if you are in DFW, you are now having trouble with permit turnaround, so maybe this isn't too late to mention.

If you have a darker, shallow pool in this area, especially if it has west exposure, the water may get to an uncomfortably hot 90 or so degrees in the peak of summer. I know a few people who don't get in their "party pools" because they are too warm in the peak of august/spetember.

I myself have an 3.5-8 foot deep white plaster pool and it will peak out at 82 degrees on the west side of our house.

 

[FM_Pool]

I'm guessing if you are in DFW, you are now having trouble with permit turnaround, so maybe this isn't too late to mention.

If you have a darker, shallow pool in this area, especially if it has west exposure, the water may get to an uncomfortably hot 90 or so degrees in the peak of summer. I know a few people who don't get in their "party pools" because they are too warm in the peak of august/spetember.

I myself have an 3.5-8 foot deep white plaster pool and it will peak out at 82 degrees on the west side of our house.

Good point.
We’re thinking of the going with the aqua blue mini pebble which should be on the lighter side. Our pool would be south facing too.
Do you think we should go with a lighter finish than aqua blue?

 

[DallasSocFan]

Good point.
We’re thinking of the going with the aqua blue mini pebble which should be on the lighter side. Our pool would be south facing too.
Do you think we should go with a lighter finish than aqua blue?

I would bet that is a family decision and not based on temperature. Just be aware that it may be something you have to deal with. Better to know now then hit August and be upset at yourself or your builder.

 

[Marc1310]

Anyone recommends the steps as shown vs steps through the width of the entire pool? I realize that we might lose swim space in the latter option but is it safer?

Hi fellow DFW Texan. We have almost the same design. We did take the steps the length of the pool. So sundeck. Then 2 16ft long steps. Added a bit of cost. Not crazy cost, $1200. It will work best for our daughter as she is still young