Possible new build - Houston TX

[mattdf23]

Hello all,

I am new to TFP, and really appreciate all the information available here. My wife and I are looking to build our first pool, and as neither of us have ever owned a pool before, we would love any feedback/advice anyone has to offer.

We are nearly complete with the design phase, have received quotes/designs from multiple PB, and have settled on one we are very confident will provide us with a quality product. Our backyard is fairly small, and we want to maintain some deck space for entertaining, so our options were somewhat limited.

Our current design is an in-ground gunite pool (98 perimeter, 432 sq ft) with a 7' square spa, and a 7' x 8' tanning ledge (6" depth). Our current design has depth sloping from 3.5' to 5'. Finer details are listed below:

CUSTOM POOL PACKAGE INCLUDES: (32’ x 15’)
1. 98’ PERIMETER POOL W/ 1 ¼” EASED EDGE
TRAVERTINE COPING & BASIC 6” WATER LINE TILE
2. 450 SQ/FT. SPRAY DECK DECKING, 3/8” REBAR 16” O.C.
3. 9-11 RETURN LINES (VARIATION IN HEIGHT) & 3 BUBBLERS
4. 2 SKIMMERS with 2” SUCTION LINES ON 45* ANGLES
5. 2 ANTI-VORTEX MAIN DRAINS with 2” SUCTION LINES ON 45 ANGLES
6. STEEL DETAIL: 3/8” REBAR 8” O.C., 4 - #4, ½” REBAR ON BOND BEAM
7. GUNITE SHELL: 6.1 (SACKS/SAND) RATIO; 4000 PSI
8. POOL EQUIPMENT PAD, SHOT with GUNITE & STEEL REINFORCEMENT (3' x 12' pad)
9. ALL ELECTRICAL RUNS INCLUDED
11. OUTDOOR LIGHT AT EQUIPMENT PAD
12. HAYWARD ECOSTAR VARIABLE SPEED EE PUMP
13. HAYWARD C 7030 CARTRIDGE FILTER
14. HAYWARD UNIVERSAL LED POOL LIGHT
15. AQUA LOGIC CONTROL SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS AQUA POD REMOTE
16. HAYWARD AQUA VAC POOL CLEANER w/ GFCI OUTLET
18. AUTOFILL / OVERFLOW SYSTEM
19. HAYWARD AQUARITE SALT SYSTEM
20. QUARTZSCAPES PLASTER FINISHES: IVORY, BLUE, SUPER BLUE or MARINER BLUE
21. START UP KIT INCLUDING: NET, BRUSH, POLE, TEST KIT, HOSE AND
VACUUM ATTACHMENT
22. ONE MONTH FREE POOL MAINTENANCE

CUSTOM SPA PACKAGE INCLUDES:
1. 7’ SQUARE SPA w/ 18” BEAM, RAISED 12”, 3’ MAX DEPTH W/ 1 ¼” EASED
EDGE TRAVERTINE COPING, SPLITFACE STONE OR 6” BASIC TILE SPA
SURROUND AND 6” BASIC WATER LINE TILE
2. 7’ FLAT SPILL WAY
3. 8 HAYWARD MASSAGE JETS w/ PULSE-FLO & ADJUSTA-FLO HEADS
4. 2 ANTI-VORTEX MAIN DRAINS with 2 1/2” SUCTION LINES ON 45* ANGLES
5. HAYWARD H-SERIES 500,000 LOW NOX HEATER
6. SILENCER 2 HP AIR BLOWER
7. HAYWARD UNIVERSAL LED SPA LIGHT
8. PLASTER FINISH; BASE PLASTER
9. BULLNOSE BEAM ON INSIDE OF SPA WITH GLASS TILE




6” RAISED BEAM WALL………………………….…..………….……..…….
(Includes 6” Basic Tile / Splitface Stone Facing) ADD 12’ RAISED WALL
12” RAISED BEAM WALL………………………….…………….……..…….
(Includes 6” Basic Tile / Splitface Stone Facing) ADD 10’ RAISED WALL

GREAT AMERICAN WATERFALL SHEERS..………..………….12” (2); 36” (1)




18” TALL x 18” x 24” COLUMN.……………..…………………………….
(Includes Splitface Stone Surround & Travertine Cap) ADD 2 COLUMNS


ADDITIONAL TRISTAR EE PUMPS……..……………….………..1 HP
(Includes all Plumbing & Electric Runs)

AREA DRAIN…………………………………….………...........................
ADD 120’ OF 4” AREA DRAINS =

DECKING OPTIONS (All Decking includes 3/8” Rebar)
OVERSPRAY 157’ OF EXISTING CONCRETE
ADDITIONAL 146’ OF SPRAY DECKING




TOE/TRIM TILE………………………………………………………..……………
(Includes Tile from the Basic Waterline Tile Selection and Installation)



I look forward to any comments!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Matt,

Welcome to TFP... A great place to find the answers to all your new pool questions...

Well, you took all the fun out of this job for me... I can't find anything that I disagree with on your build..

I like the design, I like the Saltwater, I like the Robot cleaner...

Good job!!!

Thanks for posting,

Jim R.

 

[Texas Splash]

Even right down to a light at the equipment pad. Nice. Welcome to the forum.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

My only concern is that shallow end being ...so shallow? First confirm that the 3.5 is the water depth and not the wall height. And then measure up your leg 3.5' and see how it lines up.

Personally since you have a large tanning shelf as well as stairs, both which kids and little people tend to congregate, I'd make the shallow end 4' and the deep end 5.5' or 6'. Shallow water can feel kinda swampy in the hot summer. Just a thought.

Maddie

 

[mattdf23]

It's my understanding it is 3.5' water depth, but I will certainly confirm this. I also agree with your 4' shallow end recommendation, but my wife is convinced she wants it shallow. The debate continues.

My other concern is the slope. The main body of the pool is only 24' long (15' wide), so I'd like to keep the depth transition as minimal as possible so its not as noticeable. We have no kids, so the pool's primary purpose is social and relaxation.

While not drawn in these current renderings, we most likely will extend a bench the entire length of the back wall with the water features to ensure plentiful seating.

Thanks for looking it over!

 

[Brentr]

You may want to consider seating where you can watch TV comfortably from the pool. We love to watch Nascar and movies when we are in the pool Look at the sig for our pool build.

 

[kimkats]

I like everything I saw and read! Nice job!

Do you know about these drains?:

http://www.poolfittings.com/

This is just one example. Do a search to see what you find and like the best. The channel main drain is also great as they don't stop the cleaner!

Kim

 

[ocmagnum]

Beautiful design Matt; congrats and good luck.

In case you are interested, we are currently building a fairly similar pool with similar dimensions (92 perimeter ft). Might help visualize things. Richmond TX new build; 2 days in and Gunite is already done

 

[mattdf23]

Beautiful design Matt; congrats and good luck.

In case you are interested, we are currently building a fairly similar pool with similar dimensions (92 perimeter ft). Might help visualize things. Richmond TX new build; 2 days in and Gunite is already done

Your build looks great. I particularly like the tile and the sunken spa. We are trying to decide between two different spa designs. One with a flat spillway, and one with negative edge spillways

https://imgur.com/a2UsrNn

https://imgur.com/zEQoKSm

 

[mattdf23]

Thought I would provide a status update. We did sign a contract with the pool builder mentioned in my original post. We made some minor modifications, particularly to the spa spillover (now going with reverse negative edge).

Construction began this past Thursday, with the dig completed in one day. Crews arrived Friday to complete the steel and plumbing stub outs. We are set for gunite on Monday if the weather allows. If not, it looks like it should be sunny by mid-week.

Some updated pictures are below. This is our first pool build, and my pool builder is at a national pool builders convention this week, so I would greatly appreciate any feedback or concerns. The only concern I have so far is the plumbing for the spa jets does not look level to me, but I'm not sure if this was intentional or not.

 

[kimkats]

Take your plans out with a tape measure. Add about 6" for the gunite and plaster. Is it deep, wide, long, etc enough? NOW is the time to tweak or change.

Spa-sure looks unlevel in the pics...............do you have a long level? This is also something I would measure to see what is what. Write notes so you can talk to your PB about what you find.

Kim

 

[Ranana]

I read to the bottom & BAM! No updates. How did it go? Have any photos to share of the finished product?