Starting the build process- looking at contractors / /Myrtle Beach area SC- Read the building steps But ? How to design ?

[jawMD]

Super excided to finally be able to build our swimming pool - but now i'm kinda -overwhelmed- I know roughly what we want- rectangle 15x30 concrete but - all the other options /so many add spa- get one later - bubbler / water jets ??how to decide ?
-even depth - will be site dependent as we are close to sea level? orig I wantd about 8 ft deep but was told water table is low here so most id prob get was 6 ft ? How do we go about interviewing for pool designers ? Ive set up one appt for Monday - but I want to make sure I;m prepared and asking the right questions .
Also is there a way to design the pool intakes to help keep pool cleaner ? someone was talking about some kind of bottom vent today at the dogpark- but didnt catch what it was called before he left .Any ideas on low maintenance or smart pool design for lower maintenance ?

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome to TFP.
Keep adding to this same thread so everything for your pool is kept together.
Please read the following

How to Pick a Pool Builder

We've tried to make that process easier for you with some Great Pool Builder tips, Advice, & Guide to follow when choosing a pool contractor for your build.

www.troublefreepool.com

Construction Best Practices - Further Reading

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Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

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Watering New Gunite and Concrete - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Plaster Installation and Maintenance - Further Reading

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Construction Archives

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Pool Care Basics

 

[kimkats]

Welcome to TFP! I would love to help you build your pool. It is kind of my thing!

Depth-you can go as deep as you want with a big enough wallet.

Ease of maintenance = TFP and you already found us. Using a good test kit and knowing what your pool needs is the main thing. Most of what you need for a pool can be bought at Lowes or Walmart. How neat is that??

"vent at the bottom" could be a main drain. It does draw water from the bottom of your pool and takes it to the filter. The water then goes out the returns into the pool. You will also have skimmers that are on the side of the pool in the middle of the water line. You do not have to have a main drain. There are a couple of reasons you might want to have one-heavy leaf fall. The main drain will keep the water moving if the skimmers get full of leaves. You know the environment the pool is going into.

Herman game you some wonderful links to get you started. Make sure to ask any and all questions you might have.

 

[jawMD]

This is what we went with - we had 4 different ppl come out- one sent back a build over 100k - the other didnt send anything back ? and the other person - doesnt do individual quotes- you kind of meet and he has a list of prices- and we liked him/ but we decided we liked the paver deck idea better /and he didnt do that - only did a concrete deck around . So we are excited to get started shortly and i will keep everyone posted on all the details as they happen . All equipment is Pentair - and he suggested a cartridge filter- which I have not used before -
already the tile for the fountain area- that rainbow looking stuff- is not available and ill have to pick an alternative-as it wont be avail for 3-4 months So i guess i will pick something else and post it back up

 

[HermanTX]

So we are excited to get started shortly and i will keep everyone posted on all the details as they happen . All equipment is Pentair - and he suggested a cartridge filter- which I have not used before

Thanks for keeping us posted. Continue to use this thread for all questions or updates throughout the construction and commissioning process.

A cartridge filter is great. Easy maintenance. If you have any spare money, it would be worth requesting a larger cartridge filter such as a 300sq ft as a minimum. It would reduce the time between cleaning the filter. If you had a sand or DE filter before, you may know that it had a setting to drain some water from the pool if needed. A cartridge filter does not. You may ask for the plumber to put in a 3-way valve between the pump and the filter to use as a quick drain feature if needed in the future.

 

[kimkats]

And he is off!!! Make sure to get model numbers for everything as there are many different sizes and such for each piece.

Tile and other picks. Make sure to pick 2 or 3 you like so you don't run into to this same thing with the pretty tile. I sure wish you could get it

 

[DSMinAtlanta]

I concur with what @kimkats said above about make and model. Ask them for the Pentair model numbers for every single piece of equipment so you know exactly what you're getting. I'd suggest getting an IntelliFlo 3hp VSF pump instead of the 1hp they have quoted. That way you can run it at a slower speed and it will likely be much quieter.

 

[ajw22]

Some comments on your plans:

• Get two skimmers. If you have one skimmer and it has problems then your pool will be shutdown. With two skimmers you can shut one off and continue to use the pool
• Skimmers should be placed facing into prevailing winds
• Get a 3HP Intelliflo3 VSF pump
• Get a larger filter - CCP 420 cartridge
• What is the "automatic control system"?
• Get a salt system cell that is at least 2X your pool volume - Intellichlor IC40 or IC60 cell
• What model color changing lights - Globrites? Microbrites? You want the new model Globrites manufactured in 2024

 

[jawMD]

so ...i finally got a job- so i went mia for a bit ...I am hopefull we will get all pool equipment info - but sadly it will be whatever it is - .We went with the one skimmer as theres not any leafy trees nearby- but some leaves have blown in . We are now at day 4 since it filled as they really worked quickly - and I was super happy with most everything that happened- other than the tile for fountain ...i did pick something ...but I feel that tile guy kinda had hard time with the edges...but this may be my bad as the tile I ended up picking was not always flat ...even thou it was pool tile and all ...it has a wave to the glass ....so overall I a happy ..... and so far the bubblers work and that's the only features that are on ...till we meet with the pool tech that comes and shows us how to work everything...but they asked us to brush pool at least twice a day for thirty days and we are still waiting on propane tank install ...but they told us not to heat it till the plaster cures ...
kid still went in the freezing water i'm hopeful that the heater and all will be installed by thanksgiving and that ill be able to fire it up and swim during hoilday christmas work break

ill post better pics when its not cloudy but i am soo happy we went with pavers and that we chose Bill /and Quality pools as they gave us constant communication- what was going to happen that week and also what would happen next ....now ...not knowing what the numbers or type of equipment it is ...is a bit annoying ...as I feel like maybe it should have been somewhere in the contract ...but we did know it would all be pentair except for the skimmer...but im unsure why I have two drains in bootom ,but ill be asking when pool tech comes out ..

 

[jawMD]

Some comments on your plans:

• Get two skimmers. If you have one skimmer and it has problems then your pool will be shutdown. With two skimmers you can shut one off and continue to use the pool
• Skimmers should be placed facing into prevailing winds
• Get a 3HP Intelliflo3 VSF pump
• Get a larger filter - CCP 420 cartridge
• What is the "automatic control system"?
• Get a salt system cell that is at least 2X your pool volume - Intellichlor IC40 or IC60 cell
• What model color changing lights - Globrites? Microbrites? You want the new model Globrites manufactured in 2024

so the pump is only 1 hp - so we will eventually have to switch that out while rereading all the material it look s like theres a separate pump for the features ...but its not here on site ?but i know 1 hp wont do all the things ....so the thats ...weird that its written that way ...for two pumps instead of one larger one ....the salt system is the ic40 ....the heater will be a propane 250000btu unit the waterfall is 18 ' wide / and the rays ...which we added have the shadow...but im wishing I had gone a size bigger with both...but unsure what the bubbler lights are ...and then theres two wall lights unsure of maker but the control board does control them ...but unsure of which model the control board is ... i will find out

 

[jawMD]

I concur with what @kimkats said above about make and model. Ask them for the Pentair model numbers for every single piece of equipment so you know exactly what you're getting. I'd suggest getting an IntelliFlo 3hp VSF pump instead of the 1hp they have quoted. That way you can run it at a slower speed and it will likely be much quieter.

they switched out the pool pump today with the IntelliFlo 3hp VSF pump ! It is so much better ! all the things are on now without any flow issues at all-except that second bubbler still does not bubble evenly with the other one -im hopeful we can adjust it so at least it looks the same - visually

 

[kimkats]

Are the bubblers on the same line/valve?