Hello everyone!
I'm Derek and work just started on my pool renovation today! Of course, I have some questions. I'll try to keep is somewhat concise as these shouldn't be anything out of the ordinary, but I want to start off right since everything will be nice and new.
A little background: I had a pool at my previous house. It was a 19k, SWG, sand filter pool and it could not have been easier to maintain even though the plaster was pretty old. The new house has the pool described in my sig but was in need of replastering and other work. Well, there turned out to be more wrong than just the plaster (leaks, non-functional drains, "repainted" hot tub, etc), so we decided to renovate. On to the questions...
1. Pool Cleaner - Had a polaris at the previous house, have one now. Never really like them and the current one probably just needs to be replaced (never had luck rebuilding them either). Seems like the S200 / Warrior is the go-to recommendation here. Is it really as easy as plugging it in and dropping it in the pool? I do have some concerns since I have 2 small benches, but the polaris never really got those spots anyway. I also have no trees in my yard, but my neighbor has a magnolia tree that will soon be trimmed to the property line. Is it that much better for the extra money? Anything else to consider?
2. Plaster - We decided to go with Durazzo, a polished marble finish. Would that be considered the same as plaster as far as the forums are concerned? I'll probably have lots of questions so just want to make sure. Anything else I need to consider with this finish? We went with it for what we thought was only a little additional cost for a much nicer, (hopefully) more durable finish. Too late now, but interested to hear any thoughts on it.
3. Pool Lights - I made the mistake of just adding some LED color-change pool lights to the pool wish list... They quickly came off since they wanted $3k for the 3 spabrite replacements (1 in spa, 2 in pool). I did, however, find some aftermarket LED color change bulbs for a spabrite on a "florida sunseeker" website. Does anyone have experience with any kind of aftermarket LED bulbs? Are they as easy as "changing a light bulb" (I know there is a gasket that will need to be replaced too)? At about $100 each, I am thinking of just getting one for the hot tub as a test and then maybe buying more if it works.
4. Test Kit - I was already planning on ordering the TF-100 soon. Since it's a newly renovated pool, should I go with the XL option? After the issues I had with this pool previously, I am a little afraid, so I will probably be testing quite a bit in the beginning. Also not sure if I will need to test more since it's a new "plaster", which I think affects the pool chemistry more. Also planning on getting the Speed Stir and maybe even the PH meter. Thoughts on the package that includes the whaletail wall brush? Mine is pretty shot.
5. DE filter - Currently not a fan, but the pool was in serious need of an overhaul, so I'm willing to give it another try with everything working correctly. Paired with the variable speed pump, my plan is to just let it run slowly all day. Pool guy offered to take the DE filter and replace it with a cartridge filter, but I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I know it would be easier, but I know the FNS plus is a nice filter and I just recently bought a whole new grid assembly.
6. Chlorine - Probably should have put this one first... SWG would be my ultimate goal, but I figured it wasn't necessary to get the pool back in working order, but I did not enjoy dealing with chlorine when the pool was previously working (again, not efficiently at all). I was also using pucks, and cal-hypo... I was also relying on pool store readings. Shockingly, I had trouble keeping it level... I have learned the error of my ways. Going with a good test kit, I already watched videos about how to use the test kit, and going to give liquid chlorine a try. Anything else I should know? Can I still use pucks to maintain CYA or would that be too inaccurate? Pool was previously going through Chlorine at an alarming rate. I hope all of the updates (to the pool and my own knowledge) will help keep things a little easier to maintain.
I think that's it for now. Really looking forward to learning more about this "hobby" and hoping it can become more fun and less of a chore with a little work and some help from all of you. Thanks in advance for any help and I can't wait to learn more!
I'm Derek and work just started on my pool renovation today! Of course, I have some questions. I'll try to keep is somewhat concise as these shouldn't be anything out of the ordinary, but I want to start off right since everything will be nice and new.
A little background: I had a pool at my previous house. It was a 19k, SWG, sand filter pool and it could not have been easier to maintain even though the plaster was pretty old. The new house has the pool described in my sig but was in need of replastering and other work. Well, there turned out to be more wrong than just the plaster (leaks, non-functional drains, "repainted" hot tub, etc), so we decided to renovate. On to the questions...
1. Pool Cleaner - Had a polaris at the previous house, have one now. Never really like them and the current one probably just needs to be replaced (never had luck rebuilding them either). Seems like the S200 / Warrior is the go-to recommendation here. Is it really as easy as plugging it in and dropping it in the pool? I do have some concerns since I have 2 small benches, but the polaris never really got those spots anyway. I also have no trees in my yard, but my neighbor has a magnolia tree that will soon be trimmed to the property line. Is it that much better for the extra money? Anything else to consider?
2. Plaster - We decided to go with Durazzo, a polished marble finish. Would that be considered the same as plaster as far as the forums are concerned? I'll probably have lots of questions so just want to make sure. Anything else I need to consider with this finish? We went with it for what we thought was only a little additional cost for a much nicer, (hopefully) more durable finish. Too late now, but interested to hear any thoughts on it.
3. Pool Lights - I made the mistake of just adding some LED color-change pool lights to the pool wish list... They quickly came off since they wanted $3k for the 3 spabrite replacements (1 in spa, 2 in pool). I did, however, find some aftermarket LED color change bulbs for a spabrite on a "florida sunseeker" website. Does anyone have experience with any kind of aftermarket LED bulbs? Are they as easy as "changing a light bulb" (I know there is a gasket that will need to be replaced too)? At about $100 each, I am thinking of just getting one for the hot tub as a test and then maybe buying more if it works.
4. Test Kit - I was already planning on ordering the TF-100 soon. Since it's a newly renovated pool, should I go with the XL option? After the issues I had with this pool previously, I am a little afraid, so I will probably be testing quite a bit in the beginning. Also not sure if I will need to test more since it's a new "plaster", which I think affects the pool chemistry more. Also planning on getting the Speed Stir and maybe even the PH meter. Thoughts on the package that includes the whaletail wall brush? Mine is pretty shot.
5. DE filter - Currently not a fan, but the pool was in serious need of an overhaul, so I'm willing to give it another try with everything working correctly. Paired with the variable speed pump, my plan is to just let it run slowly all day. Pool guy offered to take the DE filter and replace it with a cartridge filter, but I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I know it would be easier, but I know the FNS plus is a nice filter and I just recently bought a whole new grid assembly.
6. Chlorine - Probably should have put this one first... SWG would be my ultimate goal, but I figured it wasn't necessary to get the pool back in working order, but I did not enjoy dealing with chlorine when the pool was previously working (again, not efficiently at all). I was also using pucks, and cal-hypo... I was also relying on pool store readings. Shockingly, I had trouble keeping it level... I have learned the error of my ways. Going with a good test kit, I already watched videos about how to use the test kit, and going to give liquid chlorine a try. Anything else I should know? Can I still use pucks to maintain CYA or would that be too inaccurate? Pool was previously going through Chlorine at an alarming rate. I hope all of the updates (to the pool and my own knowledge) will help keep things a little easier to maintain.
I think that's it for now. Really looking forward to learning more about this "hobby" and hoping it can become more fun and less of a chore with a little work and some help from all of you. Thanks in advance for any help and I can't wait to learn more!
