New Pool - Tampa, FL - All Done

[bluewater813]

Hi,
We are signing the contract for our new Friday. We've gone through quotes and design sessions with 6 builders refining our dream pool as we go and learn. Would love to get a sanity check to see if there's anything we are missing or should be aware of as we kick this project off. Our pool is roughly a 17x34 pool (612 sq ft) with a 7' round spa. It has a rock grotto waterfall with a 6x12 sunshelf and will have a Pebbletec finish. The builder we selected quoted us the following Jandy equipment:

- 400,000 BTU Heater
- 2.7hp Pool/Spa Pump
- 1.65hp Auxiliary Pump for Water Feature
- 250 sq ft filter
- Salt Chlorinator
- 1/2 hp blower
- 4 LED lights (spa, grotto and 2 in the pool)
- 2 LED bubblers
- Aqualink Automation System

My questions are whats missing? We are obviously spending a pretty fair amount of money, are there any feature(s) we should be considering? Also what kind of experience have others had with Jandy equipment? I priced out the equivalent Pentair equipment from an online pool supply store and it was around ~$5k less than the builder's Jandy equipment, is the price difference worth it, quality-wise or should i let the builder know we are going to supply our own equipment?

We are open to any thoughts, comments, recommendations, etc as we get going!

Thanks and cheers!

 

[bluewater813]

Sorry forgot....pool depth is sport style....6' in the middle...4' at the grotto end and 3.5' at the spa end

 

[jorge18]

IMO, that filter is way too small for the pool size. I'd ask the pool builder to upgrade that for sure.

 

[bluewater813]

Contract is officially signed...on to permitting...attached is our final design...pool roughly 42.5x 16.5 with a 7' spa, a 12x6 sun shelf and a waterfall/grotto. Standard blue granite pebblesheen for the finish. We added a bunch of boulders, umbrella holder and upgraded the deck and coping to tumbled travertine. We are excited and can't wait for the 'guberment' paperwork to be done. In the mean time, I have to deal with the fence and irrigation system in preparation for the big dig.

 

[bluewater813]

A month later...permits are submitted and are in review. We are fortunate that the county we live in has been turning permits around in 2-3 weeks assuming no issues. Fingers crossed!

 

[kellyfair]

Hey neighbor! Will watch your build with interest!

 

[bluewater813]

Finally got permits approved....took two revisions....meeting with the project manager to officially kick off the real work Monday morning!

 

[Slapulator]

Congratulations!

 

[bluewater813]

Finally starting....they are scraping the yard today and doing the layout...dig planned for Thursday assuming the weather cooperates.

 

[kellyfair]

Yay!

Your grass looks much better than mine!

 

[bluewater813]

Yay!

Your grass looks much better than mine!

Not anymore

 

[bluewater813]

Started layout today and then paused to do some dewatering...impressive amount of water that’s being pumped out from the back yard..the dig is delayed until next week due to the potential of a tropical storm...hopefully it fizzles and/or stays away

 

[kellyfair]

Ok, my grass now looks better than yours! LOL

Keeping an eye on the cone!

 

[bluewater813]

After a brief tropical storm pause....The shape is starting to come together

 

[bluewater813]

Day #1 of dig....5 dump trucks hauled off....probably 1-2 more trucks left to haul if I had to guess

 

[kellyfair]

Moving right along!

 

[bluewater813]

Rebar is done and inspection passed. Concrete coming in the next day or two...we had a ton of water pressure issues and cave ins even with the well points...which added time....

Questions :
1. by my measurement from the top of drain assembly (accounting for concrete and pool finish) to the top of the sun shelf rebar is 6’6”...the pool depth is planned for 6’ so it looks like we may have wound up with a deeper pool (were not complaining if so)...I assume maybe because of all the issues they had with water and digging??? Is this normal/common?
2. they also didn’t rebar frame the stairs or swim out...pool builder said they would shoot them solid gunite and add rebar as they go...seems weird to frame the whole thing but not those Thoughts?

 

[JayRi]

Wow that’s gonna be great. They just started in our pool. Dug our today and rebar tomorrow. We’re also in the 813. Apollo Beach here.

 

[kellyfair]

Back in the corners of my mind, I recall threads where stairs and such were formed with gunite. Hopefully some who knows this stuff will chime in.

 

[JayRi]

Back in the corners of my mind, I recall threads where stairs and such were formed with gunite. Hopefully some who knows this stuff will chime in.

I asked our builder about that. They dug ours and I noticed they left the bench on the deep end formed with dirt. But on the low end it was completely dug. He said they form all steps and seating ares (we’re putting a conversation area in ours) with rebar when it’s on the low side.