Yes: Pools are worth it....

[TexasEd 8067]

That deck looks beautiful.

 

[Your Mom 4817]

Still slow going on mine too. I have tile in and still a bare concrete pool and deck. Waiting on the equipment to get hooked up, plaster, Sun Dek coating. 

[Poolflood 845]

17 hours 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.

Assuming the pony wall around is necessary due to elevation of yard and they're going to face and top with travertine.  That's going to jump the price.  And if you haven't,  confirm if both sides of wall are getting the same treatment ie splitface or something similar. 

[Dahobbs 17625]

I got a small pool going in now. Roughly 26'8" by 10'9". Limited room in the backyard, so that's all we could do. Gunite and tile are done. Equipment is mainly installed (heat pump, variable speed pump, and saltwater generator). Waiting on the cover guy to come out for the automatic cover. It's something we felt we needed with 3 small children and not enough room to put up a safety fence around the pool (at least, that wouldn't look really weird and cramped). We have a pre-existing outdoor covered patio and kitchen. I'm pretty amped for this summer. 

[kmac30 416]

Assuming the pony wall around is necessary due to elevation of yard and they're going to face and top with travertine.  That's going to jump the price.  And if you haven't,  confirm if both sides of wall are getting the same treatment ie splitface or something similar. 

So the wall on the near side is required and then on the back opposite side there is retaining wall. My yard slopes down and to the left from that POV. One side of wall is going to be face, the other will not be visible.

Last night my wife starts talking about moving. WTF. So I told her pool is on hold until she gets those thoughts out of her mind.

[Anastasis 23478]

30 minutes ago, kmac30 said:

Last night my wife starts talking about moving. WTF. So I told her pool is on hold until she gets those thoughts out of her mind.

[MonkeyDoughnut 10325]

1 hour ago, kmac30 said:

So the wall on the near side is required and then on the back opposite side there is retaining wall. My yard slopes down and to the left from that POV. One side of wall is going to be face, the other will not be visible.

Last night my wife starts talking about moving. WTF. So I told her pool is on hold until she gets those thoughts out of her mind.

I wouldn't hold off, you'll still enjoy the pool.

[LebongJames 1813]

Bought a house with a pool built in the 80s. We just started on a remodel. Adding a Baja shelf, new coping, decking, replaster with stone, new tile, new equipment and LED lights. It was a kick in the nuts on the price but still $80k less than building the same pool new.

I’m pumped for it to be ready for the summer.

Edited February 16, 2022 by LebongJames

[kmac30 416]

I wouldn't hold off, you'll still enjoy the pool.

No way I would get my money out of it. I’m about to squash this idea of moving.

[Dahobbs 17625]

6 hours ago, kmac30 said:

So the wall on the near side is required and then on the back opposite side there is retaining wall. My yard slopes down and to the left from that POV. One side of wall is going to be face, the other will not be visible.

Last night my wife starts talking about moving. WTF. So I told her pool is on hold until she gets those thoughts out of her mind.

This sounds familiar. 

[Amos Moses 795]

My backyard pool project started with excavation on January 5. I started filling the pool today - a mere 6 weeks after starting. Pretty happy with how quickly things progressed.

How long will it take to fill 15,000 gallons with two garden hoses? I’m expecting around 16 hours. But I was told there would be no math.

[MonkeyDoughnut 10325]

9 minutes ago, Amos Moses said:

My backyard pool project started with excavation on January 5. I started filling the pool today - a mere 6 weeks after starting. Pretty happy with how quickly things progressed.

How long will it take to fill 15,000 gallons with two garden hoses? I’m expecting around 16 hours. But I was told there would be no math.

Damn that's a quick build, obviously no hang ups or issues encountered, nice!

Without knowing your actual hose gals/per minute and to avoid math.. 16 hours or thereabouts would be accurate.

https://poolchemicalcalculator.com/Pool-Fill-Time-Calculator.html

[TexasEd 8067]

18 minutes ago, Amos Moses said:

My backyard pool project started with excavation on January 5. I started filling the pool today - a mere 6 weeks after starting. Pretty happy with how quickly things progressed.

How long will it take to fill 15,000 gallons with two garden hoses? I’m expecting around 16 hours. But I was told there would be no math.

like MonkeyDonut said it depends on the fill rate.  Mine is 18,500 and took 2 days.

[Quagmire 2147]

My backyard pool project started with excavation on January 5. I started filling the pool today - a mere 6 weeks after starting. Pretty happy with how quickly things progressed.

How long will it take to fill 15,000 gallons with two garden hoses? I’m expecting around 16 hours. But I was told there would be no math.

Bastard , mine started September 10 and still waiting on plaster

[Your Mom 4817]

17 hours ago, kmac30 said:

No way I would get my money out of it. I’m about to squash this idea of moving.

I think he meant you’ll enjoy the pool after your wife moves out. 

[Amos Moses 795]

Bastard , mine started September 10 and still waiting on plaster

Oof. That seems longer than one would hope.

[Your Mom 4817]

1 hour ago, Amos Moses said:

My backyard pool project started with excavation on January 5. I started filling the pool today - a mere 6 weeks after starting.

I don’t really like you right now. 
 

[TexasEd 8067]

Mine started digging Dec 9 2020 and I did not have water until July 27, 2021 and the cool deck spray was in September 2021.

[Dahobbs 17625]

1 hour ago, Quagmire said:

Bastard , mine started September 10 and still waiting on plaster

 

27 minutes ago, TexasEd said:

Mine started digging Dec 9 2020 and I did not have water until July 27, 2021 and the cool deck spray was in September 2021.

I signed the contract for mine in October 2020. We had issues with Centerpoint, including getting our overhead electric service drop buried and an unmarked gas line that just ended in the middle of our yard for no apparent reason. 

[Amos Moses 795]

My pool builder told me while he welcomes referrals he didn’t want me to tell any of those parties how quickly my project moved, lest they have unreasonable expectations about their own build. He said for whatever reason we jumped 3 other projects he had going at the same time. Good fortune I guess.

[BTW 370]

1 hour ago, Quagmire said:

Bastard , mine started September 10 and still waiting on plaster

Mine started around the same time as yours ... also waiting on the hook-up of some of the equipment, then plaster

[Poolflood 845]

1 hour ago, Amos Moses said:

My pool builder told me while he welcomes referrals he didn’t want me to tell any of those parties how quickly my project moved, lest they have unreasonable expectations about their own build. He said for whatever reason we jumped 3 other projects he had going at the same time. Good fortune I guess.

County and no HOA?  Depending on municipality inspections can be a drag.  Not weeks worth, but a drag.  

[kmac30 416]

My pool builder told me while he welcomes referrals he didn’t want me to tell any of those parties how quickly my project moved, lest they have unreasonable expectations about their own build. He said for whatever reason we jumped 3 other projects he had going at the same time. Good fortune I guess.

Aren’t you in the houston area? Care to DM the builder?

[MonkeyDoughnut 10325]

I went to start looking to restock my pool shock (calcium hypochlorite) and chlorine for the season... damn it's still through the roof. Over 3 times what I was paying last year and most places are sold out.. cost to own a pool has gone up significantly... I do it myself, can't imagine what the pool guys charge now. 

[Fudbelty 2788]

I went to start looking to restock my pool shock (calcium hypochlorite) and chlorine for the season... damn it's still through the roof. Over 3 times what I was paying last year and most places are sold out.. cost to own a pool has gone up significantly... I do it myself, can't imagine what the pool guys charge now. 

Mine is up to $178mo

[fattyflattie 4639]

On 2/17/2022 at 1:35 PM, Amos Moses said:

My backyard pool project started with excavation on January 5. I started filling the pool today - a mere 6 weeks after starting. Pretty happy with how quickly things progressed.

How long will it take to fill 15,000 gallons with two garden hoses? I’m expecting around 16 hours. But I was told there would be no math.

Nice. My took just under 10 weeks. Was happy with that. 

[Horns99 155]

Mine is up to $178mo

$200 - taking it over myself


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fudbelty 2788]

I’m actually considering that as well.

[PantsTent 2002]

I'm just over a year of pool ownership.  I probably spent $200 on chemicals the whole time.  I do have salt chlorinator but do it yourself guys.  Avoid the pucks and other shit that will eventually cause your CYA to be too high.

 

[Okie State 3821]

Where's a good resource to learn how to DIY?

[Dahobbs 17625]

17 minutes ago, Okie State said:

Where's a good resource to learn how to DIY?

Troublefreepool?

[Quagmire 2147]

Yep, really not hard to do it , no way it’s worth 200 a month . Probably 30 minutes or your time

[TexasEd 8067]

I’m doing salt water generator as well and after initial balance I am using half a gallon of acid per month and nothing else. 

[Fudbelty 2788]

Our pool was built in 00’ and it’s chlorine. I fully admit to being lazy, but saving $180 seems worth it. How hard is it really?

[fattyflattie 4639]

7 hours ago, TexasEd said:

I’m doing salt water generator as well and after initial balance I am using half a gallon of acid per month and nothing else. 

Same.  

[TexEx15 17545]

2 hours ago, fattyflattie said:

Same.  

Third

[Poolflood 845]

Just an fyi re SWG.  One of the main rare earth metals used in SWG is ruthenium.   Although the price has dropped recently its almost double what it was 12 months ago.  Unit price has gone up accordingly.  

[BayouBill 835]

Anyone here have experience with Anthony & Sylvan pools? We're getting quotes and designs right now and our initial leaning is towards them in regards to overall price point and design.

[MonkeyDoughnut 10325]

On 2/19/2022 at 12:09 PM, TexasEd said:

I’m doing salt water generator as well and after initial balance I am using half a gallon of acid per month and nothing else. 

 

On 2/19/2022 at 8:00 PM, fattyflattie said:

Same.  

 

On 2/19/2022 at 10:12 PM, TexEx15 said:

Third

 

Ya'll have convinced me now is the time to add one... might pay for itself over this season (at least a large chunk of it)

[kmac30 416]

Couple questions on design:

Is there a specific area the equipment needs to go? Closer to deep end? Closer to spa?

Is there a preference to having spa on deep end or on shallow?

Decking options - concrete or travertine? Those two seem to be the only ones. Am I missing anything?

[JSB 677]

1 hour ago, kmac30 said:

Couple questions on design:

Is there a specific area the equipment needs to go? Closer to deep end? Closer to spa?

Is there a preference to having spa on deep end or on shallow?

Decking options - concrete or travertine? Those two seem to be the only ones. Am I missing anything?

Tumbled marble pavers are another one I looked at. a bit more than travertine. 

[Amos Moses 795]

Couple questions on design:

Is there a specific area the equipment needs to go? Closer to deep end? Closer to spa?

Is there a preference to having spa on deep end or on shallow?

Decking options - concrete or travertine? Those two seem to be the only ones. Am I missing anything?

Equipment should go where you can make it easy to access utilities, imo. Where does your electric and gas come into the house? Put it on that side to reduce the routing expense. And where it’s out of the way. The plumbing from the equipment gets figured out whether it’s close to spa or deep end.

We did spa near shallow. Probably doesn’t matter, but if you have kids remember you’ll want line of sight that isn’t blocked by the spa, especially into the deep end.

We did travertine coping and textured spray deck. Lots of options depending on the look you want and your budget.

[kmac30 416]

So I have 2 quotes right now. Both our spa in deep end. One has it on the east side of the yard, other has it on the west. There are ways for it to be hidden either way. My electric comes into the house closer to east. Main gas is closer to west, but I have a line running to my generator on the east that pool guy thinks they can use.




Top pool is 17x38, 7x8 spa. Bottom is 15x35, 7x7 spa.

Wife likes the flat pool aspect of the bottom, the spa orientation of the top, extra decking of top. She also likes the mini ledge of the top pic. She’s not a huge fan of the retaining wall being part of the pool on the top pick. But our yard has a pretty decent slope, so wall has to fit somewhere. Guy with bottom quote didn’t include patio and walkways in his quote, which is a little annoying.

Quotes on both of these, high. But extremely close. More bang for the buck with the top one.

Any pros/cons I might be missing?

[TexasEd 8067]

11 minutes ago, kmac30 said:

So I have 2 quotes right now. Both our spa in deep end. One has it on the east side of the yard, other has it on the west. There are ways for it to be hidden either way. My electric comes into the house closer to east. Main gas is closer to west, but I have a line running to my generator on the east that pool guy thinks they can use.




Top pool is 17x38, 7x8 spa. Bottom is 15x35, 7x7 spa.

Wife likes the flat pool aspect of the bottom, the spa orientation of the top, extra decking of top. She also likes the mini ledge of the top pic. She’s not a huge fan of the retaining wall being part of the pool on the top pick. But our yard has a pretty decent slope, so wall has to fit somewhere. Guy with bottom quote didn’t include patio and walkways in his quote, which is a little annoying.

Quotes on both of these, high. But extremely close. More bang for the buck with the top one.

Any pros/cons I might be missing?

I like the usability of the top space better regardless of which side is deep/spa.  The bottom looks like it has a way to get in the spa from the pool.  Make the spa seating deeper. up to your arm pits at least. Add a bench under the spa overflow on the top one and you are set.

Edited March 3, 2022 by TexasEd

[MonkeyDoughnut 10325]

3 hours ago, kmac30 said:

Couple questions on design:

Is there a specific area the equipment needs to go? Closer to deep end? Closer to spa?

Is there a preference to having spa on deep end or on shallow?

Decking options - concrete or travertine? Those two seem to be the only ones. Am I missing anything?

Best equipment placement is as far from pool as possible (out of sight / less noise) balanced with closeness to electric/gas connection points (cheapest install). Noise isn't much an issue as can be put behind fence/boxed/shrubs etc too.

no spa preference, ours if on corner near shallow end. Our preference was closest to exit from house and so could see full pool from patio structure.

decking - weighed both concrete and travertine too (cost vs look/heat) and chose travertine. Very glad we did, I think I would have regretted spending so much overall and not getting travertine as well.

 

Both your design pictures look awesome. Can't go wrong and will mainly be personal preference. Agree with TexasEd about bench seating near spa. 

[GottaB 594]

If you have kids, the spa near the deep end becomes a diving platform if it is raised at all

[fattyflattie 4639]

9 minutes ago, GottaB said:

If you have kids, the spa near the deep end becomes a diving platform if it is raised at all

Ours use the back wall for that. But we have an area they can slide in and out of the spa with ease, with a ledge on the other side for them.  Our spa is in the deep end.  We have pretty good visibility everywhere, but added a couple of ring cams just in case.  More in case a neighbor kid or something wanders over, at least we’ll get a notification. 

[kmac30 416]

One more for today. I believe both are 3.5-6 ft. Is that deep enough? Gut tells me deeper. My kids at 10/8/8.

[TexEx15 17545]

On 3/3/2022 at 10:42 AM, kmac30 said:

Couple questions on design:

Is there a specific area the equipment needs to go? Closer to deep end? Closer to spa?

Is there a preference to having spa on deep end or on shallow?

Decking options - concrete or travertine? Those two seem to be the only ones. Am I missing anything?

I recommend the spa on the deep end because kids will want to jump from spa to pool. Also, I recommend the spa bench be a “U” rather than all the way around. I would leave open the side of the spillway. See the attached picture from when ours was being filled. It gives you more leg space and I bet you will rarely have so many people in the spa you need the extra seats.

 

[TexEx15 17545]

19 hours ago, kmac30 said:

One more for today. I believe both are 3.5-6 ft. Is that deep enough? Gut tells me deeper. My kids at 10/8/8.

Don’t go less than 4 in the shallow end. 6 feet is plenty for jumping in but not for head first diving. We did 4-6.