Pool build in NM...need help

[HappySwimming]

Hi,

We are building a house with plans to build an inground pool shortly after we move in. Well the house is about 6 weeks from completion and I’m just now starting to look at ideas for the pool and found this website and now getting more excited about designing our pool.

Our home build supervisor, who does not build pools, thinks our lot would be perfect for an infinity type edge pool. I’m waiting on getting pool builders to the home site until we move in... but anything special we need to look for when thinking about an infinity edge pool?

We have no experience with pools, so everything will be new and a learning experience for us.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice, I’m so happy to have found this site!!

 

[Arizonarob]

Welcome to TFP.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Infinity edge pools increase the complexity of design, construction, and maintenance of a pool. Be sure to thoroughly research that and assure yourself you want that.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.

 

[kimkats]

You need to look out for your wallet LOL That is a pricey option but oh so pretty. Please share a pic of where you are thinking of putting this beauty! I have helped designed and help build (online) many a pool!

 

[HappySwimming]

I’m just starting researching and not sure if we’ll go that route, but maybe. Here’s some pictures of the backyard. I couldn’t add some because the file was too big... not sure how to fix that

 

[Desert Dog]

I agree, that is a pricey upgrade and can be a hassle to keep the basin clean. I opted to save $$ and a headache and just did a free standing wall. Those infinity edges do look awesome. I recently saw a pool on this forum, think in Austin where it looks like an infinity edge. The edge of the pool slowed in at a 45 degree angle. have never seen it before and wish I had. Probably looses some water over the edge though.

 

[kimkats]

How high up are you ? That is a very pretty view you have there! How far out past the fencing does your property go?

Kim

 

[Zezrum]

I'm not sure how far along you are in your home build, but you might consider having your pool builder give you input asap as some things may be easier/cheaper to take care of now during home construction rather than waiting until after you close and move in.

For example, roughing in the electrical to where your pool equipment will be located is possibly much easier and cheaper now than waiting until after construction is completed. Another example, if you plan on using natural gas to heat the pool, you may require an upgraded gas meter. Probably not difficult to swap out later, but an added expense that could be resolved now. Finally, consider other landscaping issues such as drainage, etc. now instead of having to redo later.

Good luck. I love desert views!

 

[HappySwimming]

After some research, I think we’re going to scratch the infinity pool and go with either a rectangle or L. So now working on that design.

We have over an acre but have to stay within our building envelope, which gives us about 25x60 feet to work with if it post, heres a picture of the house placement on the building envelope and the topographic map of the area.... there topo graph wouldn’t load

 

[HappySwimming]

How high up are you ? That is a very pretty view you have there! How far out past the fencing does your property go?

Kim

We are just over 5,000 feet elevation in the high desert. Our property actually goes down the cliff some, but the fencing is marking the building envelope so we’re suppose to stay within the fence.

From reading the forum, you’re one of the expert in design so would like to hear your thoughts on a rectangle or L design pool. TIA ??

 

[HappySwimming]

I'm not sure how far along you are in your home build, but you might consider having your pool builder give you input asap as some things may be easier/cheaper to take care of now during home construction rather than waiting until after you close and move in.

For example, roughing in the electrical to where your pool equipment will be located is possibly much easier and cheaper now than waiting until after construction is completed. Another example, if you plan on using natural gas to heat the pool, you may require an upgraded gas meter. Probably not difficult to swap out later, but an added expense that could be resolved now. Finally, consider other landscaping issues such as drainage, etc. now instead of having to redo later.

Good luck. I love desert views!

thank you for your recommendations, we do have a gas line for an outdoor grill and fireplace out there, and due to the terrain and limited access to the back we had another garage door installed on the back side of the garage so the equipment vehicles can drive straight through to get back there, so we did do some preparation, but I agree, we should start talking to the actual pool builder for what else may be needed that e haven’t thought of. Thanks again!

 

[kimkats]

I used your picture and drew a pool with my pool paint skills. I did not put any real notes on it as I need to ask some questions.

-Windows? where are they?
-door to outside-where?
-what are the different areas showing on the house?
-can you fudge any of the envelope?

I will tell you I think a L shaped pool is the best pool out there. It is the best of both worlds. You have the foot of the pool at 4' for fun games like Watermelon Ball (Look this awesome game up!) and the leg part is for swimming and jumping in and swimming down to the bottom of the pool. Now if you make the leg part 7' or deeper then you are really rocking it for diving for real!

Here is my starting idea:

We will work on it as I learn more about your yard and house.

Can you take a pic from a up stair window or such?

 

[HappySwimming]

I do like the L shape better, but really want an auto cover, so I’m taking that into consideration. We would pay a penalty for going outside the envelope, but both my husband and I agree if the best plan has us outside it, then it would be worth the paying the penalty.

it’s a single story home. There are double sliders from the living and dinning rooms that lead to the covered patio, the master bedroom is also at the back of the house. There is a door from there to the covered patio as well. Lastly the garage, there is a door to the back from the garage and a bathroom just inside of the garage that we would use as the pool bathroom/changing room for guess.

I see a lot of reformed pools that look beautiful with all the extra things like shelves, coves, etc, that I feel make the rectangle shaped pool boring ?

 

[kimkats]

OH my that sound nice. Is enough of the house done to take a pic and tell me what is what with the doors and windows? I can work with that.

 

[HappySwimming]

Not sure why some pictures say the file is to large to load, but others, taken the same way, load just fine ??‍
Do you know how I can fix this?

 

[kimkats]

Are you using your phone? If so take it off of HDR and see if that helps. If it does not we can do email

 

[HappySwimming]

Merged threads - TFP Mod

Hi all,

I couldn't figure out how to find my original thread so I had to start a new one. I'm still in the design and quote phase. Right now the builders in my area, just like most areas, are very busy, and I'm having trouble setting meetings for them to come out for quotes. I did meet with one and talked to another on the phone and have two different quotes, but they are quite a bit different from each other and I'm having trouble comparing.

With the help of you all and this forum, I think I can build a list of my needs and wants. My thought is to build this list and then email the list to the pool builders in the area to have quotes sent back to me. I'll go through those and pick the top two or three I think I can work with and then have them come out to the house for "interview". By doing this I can hopefully compare apples to apples and not oranges. Does this sound like a good idea?

Please help me build the list. This is what I have so far:

Design
L shaped pool 16 x 16 x 40 with the long end of the L going 4' - 5' and the short end being a diving well of 8.6'
stairs across the entire width of the shallow end
? maybe two bubblers on steps (one on each end of middle step)?
swim out seating in the deep end corners
no spa or Baja shelf

Equipment:
Pentair IC40 saltwater generator
Pentair IntelliFlo VS pump 011028 ?
Pentair IntelliCenter
Pentair Cartridge filter
Pool heating system - natural gas

Additional:
Intellibright Lights - thinking 3, on in shallow end, one at deep end and one in diving well?
Skimmers - not sure
Returns - not sure
Main drain(s) ??
will also request quote for diving rock and slide
No pool vacuum - will use Dolphin

Anything else I need to think of? What are your thoughts about emailing the list to pool builders for quotes before meeting with them?

Thanks in advance for all your help!!

 

[kimkats]

Here you are!! FUN times ahead!! SO glad you went with the L shape!! Can you draw out how it will situated around the house? How deep are you thinking for the shallow end? How deep are thinking for the diving well?

For the equipment list the size/model numbers so we know for sure what you are working with.

There is nothing wrong with the idea of showing the PB just what you want and letting them bid on it.