Potential New Pool Owner - Questions Before Starting To Get Quotes

We went with an 8ft bench on the patio side. When it's just us, we'd rather look at the backyard than the house. With company 2 people can sit sideways with their legs fully extended and chat with folks on the patio.

Irs a little akward to use to get out because it's a really big step, but it does work and we prefer it 100X over the ladder we had at the old place. Just not having to take it out and store it every winter is worth it. Then it looks much nicer also.

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Nice pool, I really like the orientation of the bench.

What are the dimensions of your pool?

What did you use for the pool entry steps. It looks like you went with the prefabricated steps instead of vinyl covered. I have heard this works a lot better (less chance of vinyl issues)?
 
What are the dimensions of your pool?
20X40 with a 12 foot shallow end. I wanted more pool and the shallow end of these is uncomfortably low. If i went deeper i needed custom steps, but. 👇
What did you use for the pool entry steps. It looks like you went with the prefabricated steps instead of vinyl covered.
Yeah they are fiberglass. I was worried about the dogs ripping the liner on the stairs. The bench is a thicker material as the stairs would be, but I still wouldn't trust them seeing a squirrel on their way out and digging in for traction.
 
Another vote for a bench versus ladder. I have multi-level benches in the deep end on both sides. One side is enough and I would not put it the length of the end for sure. It interferes with the hypothetical swim lane - whether for you or someone else. Our benches have a shorter section on deep end wall that is 36" deep (versus 18" deep for the bench). I call them standing benches. I would increase them to 42". They allow folks to stand in the deep end and drink a beverage or play catch with someone in the shallow end.

Regarding the depth of the deep end. Ours is 8 1/2' deep. 8' is obviously minimum. Anything above that is insurance. I've touched the slope on ours when diving before. "Dive shallow" is the rule. The more likely "issue" is hitting the slope, versus the bottom of the deep end, so how far back you push the slope is more insurance - which lessens the shallow end (everything is a tradeoff). There is an envelope, or required area, which includes the slope as well, but you can always expand that. Our pool is 5' deep 19' from the deep end wall. So I have 19' more in the shallow end (1/2 the pool) that is standable for most people.

 
For the pool cleaner, I was thinking about this back in 2022. Is this still good or is there something better?
Polaris Vac Sweep 380 including booster pump
I like my 380 with booster and been using it for 20+ years.

Others will tell you why robots are better.
 
Nice pool! What did you use for the steps from the tanning shelf into the pool (vinyl or something else?
Do you like the two tiered bench in the deep end (verse all one level)?
Thank you... the steps are built into the pool (shotcrete, plaster). Yes, I like the two tiered, otherwise it's a very large step to get out of the water. The bench is about 14" water depth, plus the coping, tile, so it would be a 20" step out of the pool without it.