The tribe has spoken

[schmoopie]

I appreciate the amazing and quick advice you all give. I have made the switch over to salt water thanks to you all. Question. Is their a best brand or something I should ask for? I did ask for a double size and I am told the one they are putting in is for 40k gallon pools and mine is (well that's another question,) I'm not sure now that I added another two feet to the width. Again, based on yall's advice making it now 36x17 from 36x15 which, according to the original paperwork, made it 102 perimeter surface area 528 and depths of 3.5-4.5 and 6. Any idea on how many gallons that might be?

Second or third question... based on suggestions here I am going robot for cleaner. Best one? Also, the bid currently has a Polaris 280/3/4 booster pump. Do I still need that with the robot?

Finally, pebble tec...I have read it all and went with PT over pebble sheen because of fear of mottling. My biggest fear is how rough it might be. I assume brushing a bunch at first will help but my kids hate rough pools and I hate what my kids hate so can anyone put my mind at ease and saying it will not be rough.

Oh and curious if I need a Stenner pump as I don't see it on my bid.

Appreciate it and FYI I am a video producer and am documenting every step from dig to adding water with things I have learned and hopefully helping others as you all do so generously. I'll keep you posted. Dig has been postponed twice due to rain.
Thanks again.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum! :handshake:

For pool volume, I used your 36' by 17' with 4' average depth. Comes out 18300. Start with that. When you start adding chemicals you can narrow it down based on what you add vs what PoolMath says your results will be.

I would suggest you get an IC60 SWCG. But the PB will probably say IC40. That is OK, but you will need to run your pump 12 hours or so a day in summer.

You do not need the booster pump if you are getting a robot. It is best if you buy the robot directly, not through a pool builder.

I have no comment on Pebble Tec. I have been in one pool with it and it was rough. But do not take that as the final answer.

You do not need a Stenner system. Most pool builders have no idea what they are to begin with.

I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.

 

[Jimrahbe]

pie,

You need to have your pool builder take you to couple of pools that he has done with pebble. And feel them...

Even though I got the smoothest form of pebble (not polished) and it is about like 80 grit sandpaper.

I don't mind it, as I spend a lot of time swimming and floating and not much time walking around in the pool, but if I had a choice, I'd want something smoother.
Not sure if I told you or not, but you do NOT want the SVRS option on the IntelliFlo.. The IntelliFlo is the best pool pump ever, the SVRS option, not so much.

You do not need a Stenner...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Dirk]

I have mini pebble. It's rough. I had plaster. I miss it. I went and saw and walked around in many pools, here's what I did wrong: I saw 20 or so different pool surfaces, all at my plasterer's showroom. They had three or four pools that each had multiple surfaces. Pretty cool. Great for comparing. I felt them all with my hands. I walked on all of them with my feet. All felt OK, I picked the one with the smallest pebbles.

Fast forward to getting in my pool for the first time: some disappointment. What I didn't realize, is how much tougher skin is on your hands and feet than anywhere else. Elbows, knees, [forgive:] bare tushes, are all much more tender. Sitting on pebble is not comfortable. I haven't scraped myself, but the first time I went down on my knees I realized it would be very easy to. 80 grit sounds about right. You can touch it, stand on it, no problem. It's when you drag across it that you realize how rough it is.

Like Jim, I mostly swim and float, so it hasn't been a big deal. My kids never noticed between pebble and the old plaster. But they mostly swim, too, and we don't play basketball or volleyball so haven't given pebble a true step/walk/run test.

Point was: do go see and feel pebble for yourself, but put your elbow to it, and your knees, back of your thighs on a bench or step, to get a real feel for it. Good luck!

Wecome to TFP!

 

[PoolguyinCT]

I don’t like Stenners, but that’s me.

Competent builders & service techs surely know what they are. We call them rollers or peristaltic.

Stenner is just a brand, quite overpriced too.