Yes: Pools are worth it....

[TexasEd 8067]

7 hours ago, fluff said:

Anybody bought 5 gal jugs of chlorine from Napco in Luling? Thinking about running down there before summer and getting a few 5 gallon jugs.

Home Depot and Leslie’s has been hit or miss so thinking of going that route so I don’t have to worry…

My HD had 1 gal 7.5% jugs for $1 today.  Looked like fresh stock.  Only thing I know about stocking up on liquid is that it loses potency if stored too long.

[BTW 370]

Will someone please remind me of the website that has all the info about best practices for maintenance? Easy something pools, or something like that?

Also, I just got an updated statement from my contractor and it looks like we're only gonna be ~15% over the original bid, which I'm not really upset about because of all the shit we've changed/added along the way.

[freyguy 4279]

www.troublefreepool.com 

[kmac30 416]

North Houston area. Wife called a pool guy to come talk. Said they start at 75k. Should I show up for the meeting or find something better to do? They keep asking for budget and we don’t have a clue

[MonkeyDoughnut 10328]

9 hours ago, kmac30 said:

North Houston area. Wife called a pool guy to come talk. Said they start at 75k. Should I show up for the meeting or find something better to do? They keep asking for budget and we don’t have a clue

Show up and go through the process. I was unaware of how pool building really worked, but afterword it kinda makes sense.  They really do need a budget number from you if you have any chance of being happy with it.  It comes down to they can build one as lavish or as cheap as possible and of any size/shape, but your budget will let them tell you what they can give you in that range.  I'm of the mind there is no getting a "deal" in pool building, it's more of are you going to get what you want for what you are willing to pay.

If you are unsure of what to budget, get a higher budget number you are ok with and lop off 10%.  Have them tell you what they can do for that budget and what they what can do for 30% less.  You'll have to decide what you really are willing to pay for.  After a couple bids like this you will have a decent idea of what you will need to pay to get what you want and then can focus on which pool builder you feel most comfortable with in getting you there IF you decide you're willing to go forward.

Pool builders expect and know they are being shopped around and bids compared so they will tend to be as competitive as they need to be, keeping in mind good ones are likely full up and can ask more as they aren't desperate for work. 

We used Grand Isle Pools (they are in North Houston) and were very happy with them and super easy to work with.

[TexasEd 8067]

@kmac30 If you are too flakey with the budget or not considered a serious shopper they will ghost you.  If you don't want a pool just go into the meeting and ask a ton of questions and don't make any decisions.  Your wife will get the meeting and the builder will never call back and you won't be the bad guy.

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by TexasEd

[Yarbr 123]

On 1/11/2022 at 10:37 AM, El Tri said:

buying a house in Round Rock that has a pool but needs new plaster and equipment.

any recommendations on companies for this?

I have a call in to Cody, but did you find anyone? 

[El Tri 412]

11 hours ago, Yarbr said:

I have a call in to Cody, but did you find anyone? 

have one quote, waiting on a couple more

[BTW 370]

Status update. Tile is grouted, pool is prepped for plaster. Fireplace remodel is complete and decking is going down. Also equipment install is beginning:

[TexasEd 8067]

@BTW I'm surprised they are doing the deck before the plaster they will need to mask that deck off really well. 

Edited January 25, 2022 by TexasEd

[MonkeyDoughnut 10328]

2 hours ago, BTW said:

I've got some serious pool pad size / space / room to maneuver envy going on here...

[BTW 370]

46 minutes ago, TexasEd said:

@BTW I'm surprised they are doing the deck before the plaster they will need to mask that deck off really well. 

The pool contractor is emphatic that the plaster is the last thing that goes in.  In fact, he's strongly suggested that we get the landscape/grass installed before he plasters. He has been very meticulous and careful so far, so I'm not too concerned that he'll screw the deck up.  Also, we will probably wait to stain/seal the deck until everything else is done. 

[BTW 370]

38 minutes ago, MonkeyDoughnut said:

I've got some serious pool pad size / space / room to maneuver envy going on here...

Yep, we planned that area with that in mind.  The dirt inside the curb will get covered in decomposed granite to combat mud, and the galvanized poles will support a fence that will screen the equipment off from the rest of the yard.  We wanted enough room in there to store the pole net, brush, chlorine, some floats, etc.

[fattyflattie 4639]

10 hours ago, BTW said:

The pool contractor is emphatic that the plaster is the last thing that goes in.  In fact, he's strongly suggested that we get the landscape/grass installed before he plasters. He has been very meticulous and careful so far, so I'm not too concerned that he'll screw the deck up.  Also, we will probably wait to stain/seal the deck until everything else is done. 

Mine was too.  We did the landscaping afterwards, though.  

[freyguy 4279]

The plasterers will wreck your backyard and likely leave a pile of acidic/plaster residue in the corner of your yard (yes I'm projecting).  Don't do any landscaping until it's all done.

[TwiceHorn 31511]

I'm sure it's been asked before, but I will ask again.  Looking at a house with a pool.  I assume a good home inspector examines the pool, any need for a separate inspection?
 

And what does a pool cost to heat/maintain a month?  I'm seeing about $100 or so, is that realistic?

[LosIllini 91]

21 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

And what does a pool cost to heat/maintain a month?  I'm seeing about $100 or so, is that realistic

I think Heat and Maintain are two different things.  Don't have a heater, so, can't comment on that.  But, my maintenance service here in Big D went up from ~$125 (which was above my threshold for pain, but, convenient) or so a year or two ago to $200 now (per company- chemical costs are killing them, and therefore, passed on and killing me).  Weekly cleaning, and this is a smallco/ family business. 

...Probably need to figure out how to do this myself.

[Okie State 3821]

I'm sure it's been asked before, but I will ask again.  Looking at a house with a pool.  I assume a good home inspector examines the pool, any need for a separate inspection?
 
And what does a pool cost to heat/maintain a month?  I'm seeing about $100 or so, is that realistic?

We just bought one with a pool and everyone told us to get a separate pool inspection. It was $130 I think.

[Gil Bang 25982]

Realtor here. Hire a pool inspector specialist. Don’t let the regular home inspection guy do it.

[Quagmire 2147]

Realtor here. Hire a pool inspector specialist. Don’t let the regular home inspection guy do it.

This, sold a house with a pool and the regular guy inspected it and noted some bs stuff , clearly he had no clue about pools

[Your Mom 4827]

Not much going on here on my front.  They poured my deck a few weeks ago.  Still waiting on equipment installation, deck coating, and plaster.  

Question on the equipment:  I recall a lot of folks having their stuff freeze up and break last year during the snowpocalypse.  Other than leaving it running at a low speed, what could have been done to prevent that?  Do people ever build a little enclosure around it?  Is that practical or worthwhile?

[BTW 370]

I had a lengthy convo with my builder this week considering the predicted freeze this week. His suggestion was that if it’s going to be below freezing for a protracted length of time and there is decent fear of losing power (thus your pumps can’t run) then you should turn all your equipment breakers off and drain all the pumps and lines as able.

[Dutchrudder 11146]

10 minutes ago, BTW said:

I had a lengthy convo with my builder this week considering the predicted freeze this week. His suggestion was that if it’s going to be below freezing for a protracted length of time and there is decent fear of losing power (thus your pumps can’t run) then you should turn all your equipment breakers off and drain all the pumps and lines as able.

This. Same way you handle any other pipes outdoors, sprinklers, water filter systems, sinks, etc. Get water out of the lines and avoid having problems. 

[Quagmire 2147]

Not much going on here on my front.  They poured my deck a few weeks ago.  Still waiting on equipment installation, deck coating, and plaster.  
Question on the equipment:  I recall a lot of folks having their stuff freeze up and break last year during the snowpocalypse.  Other than leaving it running at a low speed, what could have been done to prevent that?  Do people ever build a little enclosure around it?  Is that practical or worthwhile?

How long has your build been going? I’m 6 months in just got deck done and now just waiting on plaster. These fuckers love to blame Covid and supply chain shit .

[Your Mom 4827]

I'm at 5 months.  Deck coating, equipment, and plaster to go.

[MonkeyDoughnut 10328]

8 hours ago, Your Mom said:

Not much going on here on my front.  They poured my deck a few weeks ago.  Still waiting on equipment installation, deck coating, and plaster.  

Question on the equipment:  I recall a lot of folks having their stuff freeze up and break last year during the snowpocalypse.  Other than leaving it running at a low speed, what could have been done to prevent that?  Do people ever build a little enclosure around it?  Is that practical or worthwhile?

BTW has the answer, the big issue was losing power and not being able to run the pumps. If pumps had stayed running not likely to have had issues.  Power loss, just open and drain anything you can, takes couple minutes and worth every penny.

[Poolflood 845]

On 1/28/2022 at 9:39 PM, TwiceHorn said:

I'm sure it's been asked before, but I will ask again.  Looking at a house with a pool.  I assume a good home inspector examines the pool, any need for a separate inspection?
 

And what does a pool cost to heat/maintain a month?  I'm seeing about $100 or so, is that realistic?

Svc is going to be 200/month for a while and on inspection - what G Bang says is correct

On 1/28/2022 at 11:04 PM, Gil Bang said:

Realtor here. Hire a pool inspector specialist. Don’t let the regular home inspection guy do it.

 

On 1/30/2022 at 11:39 AM, Your Mom said:

Not much going on here on my front.  They poured my deck a few weeks ago.  Still waiting on equipment installation, deck coating, and plaster.  

Question on the equipment:  I recall a lot of folks having their stuff freeze up and break last year during the snowpocalypse.  Other than leaving it running at a low speed, what could have been done to prevent that?  Do people ever build a little enclosure around it?  Is that practical or worthwhile?

What BTW says.  If looks like power is going to be out for an extended period of time, turn off breakers and open every piece of equipment you possibly can... chlorinator, drain plugs, pump lids, air relief... open everything like it's S Austin's mom.  

On 1/30/2022 at 12:10 PM, BTW said:

I had a lengthy convo with my builder this week considering the predicted freeze this week. His suggestion was that if it’s going to be below freezing for a protracted length of time and there is decent fear of losing power (thus your pumps can’t run) then you should turn all your equipment breakers off and drain all the pumps and lines as able.

 

On 1/30/2022 at 4:45 PM, Quagmire said:

How long has your build been going? I’m 6 months in just got deck done and now just waiting on plaster. These fuckers love to blame Covid and supply chain shit .

Ummm yeah.  Supply chain is a thing.  But it is getting dramatically better.  

On 1/30/2022 at 5:30 PM, Your Mom said:

I'm at 5 months.  Deck coating, equipment, and plaster to go.

If you're at deck but don't have equipment yet.... that may not be a good sign.  What's the excuse for that?  5 months from dig?

[JesusSweatDuck 17784]

Make sure you do all of the above and find your pump drain plugs. Easy to miss those and it will be costly if you do

[TexasEd 8067]

4 minutes ago, JesusSweatDuck said:

Make sure you do all of the above and find your pump drain plugs. Easy to miss those and it will be costly if you do

Some pumps have two drains. You can also open the clean out hatch. 

[JesusSweatDuck 17784]

Also, don't forget to relieve the pressure in your filter housing as well

[Your Mom 4827]

10 hours ago, Poolflood said:

Svc is going to be 200/month for a while and on inspection - what G Bang says is correct

 

What BTW says.  If looks like power is going to be out for an extended period of time, turn off breakers and open every piece of equipment you possibly can... chlorinator, drain plugs, pump lids, air relief... open everything like it's S Austin's mom.  

 

Ummm yeah.  Supply chain is a thing.  But it is getting dramatically better.  

If you're at deck but don't have equipment yet.... that may not be a good sign.  What's the excuse for that?  5 months from dig?

i’m probably using the wrong terminology. All the plumbing and electrical that runs to the pool is in place and the deck is poured. They’ve been delivering equipment sporadically but it’s all still in boxes and not hooked up yet.  We are currently one month behind schedule they told me to expect.  

[Poolflood 845]

6 hours ago, Your Mom said:

i’m probably using the wrong terminology. All the plumbing and electrical that runs to the pool is in place and the deck is poured. They’ve been delivering equipment sporadically but it’s all still in boxes and not hooked up yet.  We are currently one month behind schedule they told me to expect.  

If I had to guess you're getting Jandy.  I think they've been the farthest behind.

[TexasEd 8067]

My equipment will run full time on freeze protection mode if it gets down to 36.  I don't think water will run through the heater unless I turn the heater on so considering that.  Here is my checklist if power goes out.

• Shut off breakers
• close drain lines to main drain and skimmers (equipment is below water level)
• open pump tops and take out drain plugs
• open SWG cell
• Open filter top and drain at bottom
• open heater manifold and drain

I have already drained my auto fill line and brought liquid chemicals into the house.

[TexEx15 17547]

4 hours ago, TexasEd said:

My equipment will run full time on freeze protection mode if it gets down to 36.  I don't think water will run through the heater unless I turn the heater on so considering that.  Here is my checklist if power goes out.

• Shut off breakers
• close drain lines to main drain and skimmers (equipment is below water level)
• open pump tops and take out drain plugs
• open SWG cell
• Open filter top and drain at bottom
• open heater manifold and drain

I have already drained my auto fill line and brought liquid chemicals into the house.

What’s the reasoning for opening SWG cell? As long as water is drained from pipes it should be fine.

[Quagmire 2147]

Swear these pool builders can’t get anything right. Back when they started out pool in September they made my wife sign a code compliance form about having an anti climb fence . We are on a corner lot so only share 1 fence with neighbor.

Since the shared fence had the finished side facing towards our yard the neighbors side had the horizontal cross members the code says they would have to install a board on the cross members at a 45 degree angle to prevent kids from climbing it.

So I email the pool builder back in September and ask if it applies to us , he responds No saying we are outside city limits and it doesn’t apply . Ok good, otherwise I wanted to talk to my neighbor about it .

So yesterday they tell me they are coming to put our fence back up. Well unknown to me they went into my neighbors yard and installed the boards on his horizontal cross boards.

Get a text from my neighbor and he’s all pissed off, which I get . So I explain to him I asked about it months ago and they told me it wasn’t required , I talked to builder and they tell me it is required now, that old inspector used to let it slide but new one won’t . Also tells me it’s required for inspection and after that could be removed.

So I apologize to neighbor tell them about removing it later on, neighbor is still grumpy saying there will be nail holes etc if it’s removed. Ok will get those fixed etc. guy won’t drop it saying he’s doing a refinance and is worried about the appraisal now since the fence looks different on one side (I’m like wtf)

Freaking annoyed , had I known they were doing it would have stopped them and had the conversation with neighbor first.

[MonkeyDoughnut 10328]

1 hour ago, Quagmire said:

Swear these pool builders can’t get anything right. Back when they started out pool in September they made my wife sign a code compliance form about having an anti climb fence . We are on a corner lot so only share 1 fence with neighbor.

Since the shared fence had the finished side facing towards our yard the neighbors side had the horizontal cross members the code says they would have to install a board on the cross members at a 45 degree angle to prevent kids from climbing it.

So I email the pool builder back in September and ask if it applies to us , he responds No saying we are outside city limits and it doesn’t apply . Ok good, otherwise I wanted to talk to my neighbor about it .

So yesterday they tell me they are coming to put our fence back up. Well unknown to me they went into my neighbors yard and installed the boards on his horizontal cross boards.

Get a text from my neighbor and he’s all pissed off, which I get . So I explain to him I asked about it months ago and they told me it wasn’t required , I talked to builder and they tell me it is required now, that old inspector used to let it slide but new one won’t . Also tells me it’s required for inspection and after that could be removed.

So I apologize to neighbor tell them about removing it later on, neighbor is still grumpy saying there will be nail holes etc if it’s removed. Ok will get those fixed etc. guy won’t drop it saying he’s doing a refinance and is worried about the appraisal now since the fence looks different on one side (I’m like wtf)

Freaking annoyed , had I known they were doing it would have stopped them and had the conversation with neighbor first.

why didn't they just turn the fence around and not have to add the cross members?

[Quagmire 2147]

why didn't they just turn the fence around and not have to add the cross members?

Right that would be the other option too, of course they didn’t tell me they were gonna do this in the first place. I’m guessing it’s a lot cheaper to add one board down the fence line then to remove and reconfigure the fence .

[TexasEd 8067]

16 hours ago, TexEx15 said:

What’s the reasoning for opening SWG cell? As long as water is drained from pipes it should be fine.

so the housing wont split.  It is actually in one of the lower pipes and water would pool in that pipe if I did not open it.

[kmac30 416]

Just got our first design back from builder #1. Their software is crazy. Look just like my yard and house. I think I was more impressed with that than anything.

About design, do we need a shelf? I have 3 kids, oldest about to be 10. I’m more concerned about building places for them to jump off of than sit in 6 inches of water (or however deep they are). Am I missing something?

What else do I need to look out for?

[fattyflattie 4639]

1 hour ago, kmac30 said:

Just got our first design back from builder #1. Their software is crazy. Look just like my yard and house. I think I was more impressed with that than anything.

About design, do we need a shelf? I have 3 kids, oldest about to be 10. I’m more concerned about building places for them to jump off of than sit in 6 inches of water (or however deep they are). Am I missing something?

What else do I need to look out for?

We did but don’t use it. It’s for people with babies imo. That said, the other option was 15’ long steps. So we built a smaller ledge in hopes who ever buys the house someday has small kids. 

[TexasEd 8067]

2 hours ago, kmac30 said:

Just got our first design back from builder #1. Their software is crazy. Look just like my yard and house. I think I was more impressed with that than anything.

About design, do we need a shelf? I have 3 kids, oldest about to be 10. I’m more concerned about building places for them to jump off of than sit in 6 inches of water (or however deep they are). Am I missing something?

What else do I need to look out for?

Shelf is for the women to sit on and drink white claw.  Was my wife's #1 must have.

[MonkeyDoughnut 10328]

18 hours ago, kmac30 said:

Just got our first design back from builder #1. Their software is crazy. Look just like my yard and house. I think I was more impressed with that than anything.

About design, do we need a shelf? I have 3 kids, oldest about to be 10. I’m more concerned about building places for them to jump off of than sit in 6 inches of water (or however deep they are). Am I missing something?

What else do I need to look out for?

We have shelf and don't use it at all. Dogs occasionally will walk through it.  It does house some bubbler fountains, but if doing again I would not have it unless I was just starting to have kids.  Wife really wanted the "resort" type chairs that sit in water too... not cheap... just another thing for me to clean and move while sweeping pool plus taking in and out during freeze season.

[TexasEd 8067]

2 hours ago, MonkeyDoughnut said:

We have shelf and don't use it at all. Dogs occasionally will walk through it.  It does house some bubbler fountains, but if doing again I would not have it unless I was just starting to have kids.  Wife really wanted the "resort" type chairs that sit in water too... not cheap... just another thing for me to clean and move while sweeping pool plus taking in and out during freeze season.

My thought exactly.  IMO the shelf is a waste of space and the pool robot can't clean it so I have to manually brush it.

[kmac30 416]

Also, what is a normal size? I think we said 12x30. Is that ok? Should we go bigger (wider)?
We are making a list of what we like and don’t from the first render.

[Poolflood 845]

57 minutes ago, kmac30 said:

Also, what is a normal size? I think we said 12x30. Is that ok? Should we go bigger (wider)?
We are making a list of what we like and don’t from the first render.

12 is awful narrow unless it's a space/easement constraint. 

80' perimeter is common.  If you can go bigger.  That's what she said

[fattyflattie 4639]

4 hours ago, kmac30 said:

Also, what is a normal size? I think we said 12x30. Is that ok? Should we go bigger (wider)?
We are making a list of what we like and don’t from the first render.

I was squeezed in width at 14’ and wish I had been able to go another foot or two. I ended up 14x37 iirc (made up for width with some length) 

[kmac30 416]

Got the initial quote and it seems pretty steep for this 15x35 3.4-6ft pool, 7x7 spa. Travertine deck.

I have a couple people coming next week to talk.

[GottaB 594]

That looks fancy.

My guy literally broke our graph paper.

[fattyflattie 4639]

1 hour ago, kmac30 said:

Got the initial quote and it seems pretty steep for this 15x35 3.4-6ft pool, 7x7 spa. Travertine deck.

I have a couple people coming next week to talk.

I’ve got the same specs, maybe a bit more ft2 on the travertine decking, but not the wall around it. Prices upthread if you want to bounce something off of. 

[BTW 370]

Very slow going on my project.  The deck is finally in, waiting for a non-windy day to stain it.  I think we're waiting on the plumber to hook up the pool equipment so we can plaster ...