Well am I glad I found this forum! I stumbled across it in the middle of my build while searching for pool maintenance information. As of the start of this thread, we have a pool in the ground that is to be started up today. In some ways I'm glad I didn't find ya'll before I started because sometimes not knowing what you don't know makes things easier (ignorance is bliss right?). I have a feeling if I had been here six months ago my pool budget would have been a runaway train. My background is construction management so I like technical things, methods, and problem solving. The planning and project itself is the fun part for me, the finished result is more for the rest of my family.
We finished building our house this spring. We left a neighborhood where the quiet community pool was literally next door so part of the deal was we had to take the pool with us. My wife and three kids basically live poolside during the season. She grew up a pool rat and a lifeguard and is still in love with lounging in the sun. We incorporated the pool concept into the design of the house in a few small ways. First a walk-out basement retaining wall was extended and wrapped-around to create a large more private and shaded area and utilities were routed around the open space. We used a sliding pass-through window at a basement wet bar so the kids can be served snacks and popsicles poolside. The basement bathroom was extended for a private changing area, quick access to a shower and all on tile through an extra sliding door. Flood lights were placed on the upper deck into the yard and the lower patio was over-sized.
I figured out that a fiberglass pool fit our needs best long before I chose a contractor but finding a fiberglass builder in our neck of the woods was a challenge. I lucked out when I found an experienced builder who moved from another area and is establishing their business with fiberglass here. They have been a great fit. We had originally planned to start next spring but the builder's schedule opened up at the same time my shop project stalled. I should mention I had been prepping the family for a pool two or three years from now...but surprised my wife with a pool contract on our anniversary in July. The kids had no clue until they came home to equipment digging in the yard : )
Our pool budget itself was not huge because our outdoor wishes the shop, hardscape/pavillion and other landscaping on 3 acres in addition to the pool. It's also not 100% completely turn-key because I am taking handling the concrete footer/collar, decking, dirt removal, hardscape and some other details. So we chose a 14'-6" x 28'-4" side entry model by Aqua Technics, an Australian company: https://aquatechnicspools.com/range/. Equipment is pretty basic, a single speed 1hp Jandy, CS200 filter, salt water chlorinator, single skimmer, 6? returns, 2 PAL lights with Commander control, and two deck jets. Had I dug in deeper before I built I am sure I would have upgraded to a variable speed pump and higher end controls and who knows what else, but I also like the simplicity and serviceability of what I got. Waterfalls, multiple pumps, and other such expenses were out of the budget. So I'll start with the pool area.
We finished building our house this spring. We left a neighborhood where the quiet community pool was literally next door so part of the deal was we had to take the pool with us. My wife and three kids basically live poolside during the season. She grew up a pool rat and a lifeguard and is still in love with lounging in the sun. We incorporated the pool concept into the design of the house in a few small ways. First a walk-out basement retaining wall was extended and wrapped-around to create a large more private and shaded area and utilities were routed around the open space. We used a sliding pass-through window at a basement wet bar so the kids can be served snacks and popsicles poolside. The basement bathroom was extended for a private changing area, quick access to a shower and all on tile through an extra sliding door. Flood lights were placed on the upper deck into the yard and the lower patio was over-sized.
I figured out that a fiberglass pool fit our needs best long before I chose a contractor but finding a fiberglass builder in our neck of the woods was a challenge. I lucked out when I found an experienced builder who moved from another area and is establishing their business with fiberglass here. They have been a great fit. We had originally planned to start next spring but the builder's schedule opened up at the same time my shop project stalled. I should mention I had been prepping the family for a pool two or three years from now...but surprised my wife with a pool contract on our anniversary in July. The kids had no clue until they came home to equipment digging in the yard : )
Our pool budget itself was not huge because our outdoor wishes the shop, hardscape/pavillion and other landscaping on 3 acres in addition to the pool. It's also not 100% completely turn-key because I am taking handling the concrete footer/collar, decking, dirt removal, hardscape and some other details. So we chose a 14'-6" x 28'-4" side entry model by Aqua Technics, an Australian company: https://aquatechnicspools.com/range/. Equipment is pretty basic, a single speed 1hp Jandy, CS200 filter, salt water chlorinator, single skimmer, 6? returns, 2 PAL lights with Commander control, and two deck jets. Had I dug in deeper before I built I am sure I would have upgraded to a variable speed pump and higher end controls and who knows what else, but I also like the simplicity and serviceability of what I got. Waterfalls, multiple pumps, and other such expenses were out of the budget. So I'll start with the pool area.
