Hello all, I just joined a few days ago, and find in this forum a wealth of information and expertise! My wife and I are just starting on the pool construction journey; our first steps are learning as much as we can, trying to define what we want, and doing some sketches.
We have a 1.7 acre parcel, so, plenty of room to add a pool. There is an HOA to contend with, so although we have flexibility, there are some constraints as well.
We currently have a portable spa, which we love, and use almost daily, year round. So one of the first questions is whether we plan a design with the spa integrated, or separate. It appears that most projects these days have the combo spa, and indeed, they are attractive, and easier to manage.
But we have gotten accustomed to saying "Honey, how about a hot tub?" and 3 minutes later, we are in hot, bubbly comfort. Heating the spa for 30 minutes or more (a lot more in the winter when the pool is not heated) would definitely be a change. And the contoured seats and strong jets sure are nice. I've never found a built in spa that I have found comfortable, they've had straight backs and seats, and i've found I've had to tense up in order to not get pushed from behind off the seat by the jet. But then again, a built-in, whether integrated or separate, is much more attractive than the big box sitting on the patio, with stairs to get into it. Perhaps something creative can be done to integrate it into the landscape, with wrap around terrace or something. But at this point, absent any quotes, we are leaning toward separate pool and built-in spa. Questions abound about what's the best way to heat both bodies of water efficiently. Gas? Heat pump? Both?
As for the pool itself, we're leaning toward a rectangle, 30x12, ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 feet deep. As we live in the desert (think Las Vegas climate) an automated cover to keep the water in during the day. and I suspect we won't even need heat in the summer. Blowing sand can be a problem in the spring, so the cover will help, and I am thinking about an automated in-floor cleaning system as well. Sanitation will most likely be via a SWCG.
So that's where the project stands at the moment. My thanks to all those sharing their experiences and expertise on the forum.
We have a 1.7 acre parcel, so, plenty of room to add a pool. There is an HOA to contend with, so although we have flexibility, there are some constraints as well.
We currently have a portable spa, which we love, and use almost daily, year round. So one of the first questions is whether we plan a design with the spa integrated, or separate. It appears that most projects these days have the combo spa, and indeed, they are attractive, and easier to manage.
But we have gotten accustomed to saying "Honey, how about a hot tub?" and 3 minutes later, we are in hot, bubbly comfort. Heating the spa for 30 minutes or more (a lot more in the winter when the pool is not heated) would definitely be a change. And the contoured seats and strong jets sure are nice. I've never found a built in spa that I have found comfortable, they've had straight backs and seats, and i've found I've had to tense up in order to not get pushed from behind off the seat by the jet. But then again, a built-in, whether integrated or separate, is much more attractive than the big box sitting on the patio, with stairs to get into it. Perhaps something creative can be done to integrate it into the landscape, with wrap around terrace or something. But at this point, absent any quotes, we are leaning toward separate pool and built-in spa. Questions abound about what's the best way to heat both bodies of water efficiently. Gas? Heat pump? Both?
As for the pool itself, we're leaning toward a rectangle, 30x12, ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 feet deep. As we live in the desert (think Las Vegas climate) an automated cover to keep the water in during the day. and I suspect we won't even need heat in the summer. Blowing sand can be a problem in the spring, so the cover will help, and I am thinking about an automated in-floor cleaning system as well. Sanitation will most likely be via a SWCG.
So that's where the project stands at the moment. My thanks to all those sharing their experiences and expertise on the forum.
but then again I wouldn't whack them with the lawnmower down there so maybe they'd last longer 
