Wish you would’ve done…or not

[Holydoc]

I am loving our new SWG and currently would not change anything except maybe the steps. We have steps into our pool from the sun ledge but they have no rails. I can see in the future as we get older adding hand rails.

It is very important that you build the pool for you. As you read above, some people like to dive and want their pool deeper. We like to socialize and play games in our pool. Our pool has a constant depth throughout. We also placed seat ledges along the sides. This has been wonderful since you can sit there and rest after doing laps without actually getting your body out of the water. BTW... our golden retriever loves to walk those ledges too! The constant depth allows us to set up volley ball nets or water hockey goals and no team is at a disadvantage due to different depths. Also get a pool that is as large as you and your space can afford. SWG is a must. I personally love the cartridge filter system. If you are in a hot area like me, get some type of aeration in the pool to cool it off. We have waterfalls.

Ok, one item that we would not get again is the umbrella hole in the sun shelf. Once you place an umbrella in it, the umbrella is basically too short to be of much good. Use external shading.

Hope that helps.

 

[dfwnoob]

I did not build my pool, so I had no choice as to what occurred with it, but had I spec'd the pool I would have done the following things differently:

1. Outside of valves, NO Jandy equipment. Because of vendor lock in, I'm stuck using Jandy equipment if I want all the automation to work "fully". I cannot buy Jandy equipment like a VSP because they will not sell it to me. I wish wish wish I had Pentair automation from the same era because at least then I could more easily upgrade it to an Intellicenter and be able to buy new Pentair equipment without going gray market.
2. SWCG. Jug lugging is for the birds.
3. Deeper. I think at it's deepest my pool is 5'5 or so.
4. Bigger. You really can't swim "laps" in this pool unless you go across it diagonally, and even then, those would be some short laps.
5. Different plaster. I don't know what this stuff is called, but it feels like course sandpaper and it's really rough on the feet. The color is also the dullest ugliest grey.
6. Additional lighting niches. There's only one and it's not too bad, but I'd like more light in there at night. If I built one today I would STILL use the same old school Pentair/Amerilite niches because every one of the modern nicheless LEDs are hot garbage.