Yes: Pools are worth it....

[Damor 1246]

I'll add that we did consider the infinity edge, but I'm very glad we didn't do it. The added expense and complexity were way more than I would have expected.

[Poolflood 845]

On 8/20/2018 at 12:39 PM, HouTex said:

I had to fire my GC several years ago when the guy took about 75% of my money and wouldn't/couldn't finish my pool.  He used my money to finish his prior project.  I was caught holding the bag.  My pool was stub-plumbed, gunited, and some of the electrical was done, but I had to do the rest.  I hope your pool worked out ok.  

When people ask me for a recommendation on a GC, I say go with a company that's been around a very long time.  Don't hire a guy in a pick up.  That, or make sure you pay about 50% at completion--but none of the guys I got bids from would do that.

No they won't.  There's too much upfront cost on the project.  70% by the time you get to gunite is typical.  What I will say is before anyone pays the gunite bill make sure your equipment is already in your backyard.  

[Poolflood 845]

3 hours ago, Damor said:

Yeah, you have to think about your needs and how you'd use it, but for us the tanning ledge has been useful.  But at our builder's recommendation we made it deeper (12") than most, so you can set a lounger in the pool instead of sitting on the surface if you want.  He also put in umbrella sleeves to add some shade, though we haven't gotten one yet.  We also plan on being in this house when grandkids come along, so that's a little more playable depth for little ones (for now, the new pup likes it).

That said, they do take up space, so I can see how they might be a waste for some people.

So I have a standard tanning ledge with 6in water on one side and an "adult" ledge on the opposite side with closer to 18" of water.

On ledges, skip the bubblers and skip the umbrella holder.  Waste imo.  

[HouTex 1939]

No they won't.  There's too much upfront cost on the project.  70% by the time you get to gunite is typical.  What I will say is before anyone pays the gunite bill make sure your equipment is already in your backyard.  

Exactly. Had I had the equipment I would have been close to break even. Knowing how these small pool builders operate I just wouldn't trust them with a pool build. They are constantly robbing the next project to pay for the last one. So long as you aren't the last project you might be OK.

[Poolflood 845]

11 minutes ago, HouTex said:

Exactly. Had I had the equipment I would have been close to break even. Knowing how these small pool builders operate I just wouldn't trust them with a pool build. They are constantly robbing the next project to pay for the last one. So long as you aren't the last project you might be OK.

Just do the research and if you go with a smaller builder make sure they are local and imbedded in the community.  The smaller guys will often pay more attention to your project.  You may never notice it but you'll get a higher quality project at the end of the day.

Edited August 21, 2018 by Poolflood

[Quagmire 2148]

So I have a standard tanning ledge with 6in water on one side and an "adult" ledge on the opposite side with closer to 18" of water.
On ledges, skip the bubblers and skip the umbrella holder.  Waste imo.  

Why do you think the umbrella sleeve is a waste? Use mine all the time, especially with the kid , keeps him from baking. Wouldn’t think it would add much cost, but I’m sure pool builders are robbers

[Poolflood 845]

Umbrella holder costs about 50$ all in.  It's personal preference - lol possible irrational pet peeve.  Few tanning shelves are large enough to properly accommodate. They're ugly.  If you have a small one and it's useful awesome. Most rarely get used.  

[Brew 3049]

On 8/20/2018 at 10:27 AM, mrhorn said:

We're in the process of bringing in contractors and hoping to start digging in December.  Our first pool and we pretty much know what we want.  What are some things that you wish you would've put in and what are some things that you have that you don't use / need?

Pay attention to the how the Sun affects where you are putting the pool, and then have them put some PVC sleeves in strategic places when they do the concrete. We can shade the majority of the shallow end in the morning and afternoon based on where we placed them which is good with small kids. Instead of a tanning ledge, have them put staggered width steps in. Every other step into our pool is 18 inches so that it is the place to sit rather than a tanning ledge.

[mrhorn 1467]

Interesting to hear all the negatives about a tanning ledge.  To be honest that is one feature that the wife and I wanted was to have an area to sit a chair in and chill.  The builder will put in 5 umbrella holders and we've got those placed just right as our backyard faces West.  We do have a 10 year old oak in the back that will be about 10 feet from the edge of the pool.  The builder recommends taking it out so we won't have problems with it later on.  We do have a neighborhood oak directly behind it that gives shade as well.  Any ideas on what to do with the young oak?  I would hate to tear it out.

[HouTex 1939]

Just do the research and if you go with a smaller builder make sure they are local and imbedded in the community.  The smaller guys will often pay more attention to your project.  You may never notice it but you'll get a higher quality project at the end of the day.

I agree that the smaller guys can pay better attention and they can deliver a higher quality product. I did my research and I obviously felt comfortable enough to pull the trigger with my GC. But I still got burned.

[Poolflood 845]

6 hours ago, HouTex said:

I agree that the smaller guys can pay better attention and they can deliver a higher quality product. I did my research and I obviously felt comfortable enough to pull the trigger with my GC. But I still got burned.

Yeah didn't mean to imply you didn't research.  Unfortunately there are many many instances every year of pool companies that fuck up.  If you don't mind saying who was the company?

[Poolflood 845]

7 hours ago, mrhorn said:

Interesting to hear all the negatives about a tanning ledge.  To be honest that is one feature that the wife and I wanted was to have an area to sit a chair in and chill.  The builder will put in 5 umbrella holders and we've got those placed just right as our backyard faces West.  We do have a 10 year old oak in the back that will be about 10 feet from the edge of the pool.  The builder recommends taking it out so we won't have problems with it later on.  We do have a neighborhood oak directly behind it that gives shade as well.  Any ideas on what to do with the young oak?  I would hate to tear it out.

Have an arborist come out and inspect.  Young oak ten feet away really shouldn't be an issue.  Costs about 3k for inspection, treatment, pruning etc.

I'm building next to a 100 yr old oak right now.  Keeps me up at night.  I give the old girl 50/50 chance.

[Chet Steadman 940]

How much are y’all spending on average per year for maintenance, supplies, etc?  

[Hefeweizen 5444]

How much are y’all spending on average per year for maintenance, supplies, etc?  

Way more than when I had salt.

Probably 50 per month on bleach and acid. Another 50 in electrical.

If I run the heater on the pool in the winter is about an extra hundred per month for weekends only.

I have a sinking fund for pool and deck repair that will need to be done in about two years.

[HouTex 1939]

On 8/22/2018 at 8:10 PM, Chet Steadman said:

How much are y’all spending on average per year for maintenance, supplies, etc?  

My salt pool was extremely low cost--once you factor in the capital cost of the salt water chlorine generator.  In 2010 the generator cost about $800 IIRC.  The cell will last several years but it eventually will need to be replaced.  The salt was less than $50 at start up and then it was about a $5 bag of salt each year depending on the rainfall.  After that, it was just adding a quart or so of acid every two weeks or so to keep the pH in range (the SWCG naturally causes the pH to slowly rise).  I probably spent about $15 per month on pool supplies after the initial cost of the SWCG.  And with the Polaris, my pool was always clean.  It was so easy to maintain I didn't need a pool service.  We sold the house in 2015 and I really miss the pool and the spa.

Once thing to remember about a salt pool is that you need to be careful with soft flagstones around the pool.  The salt can eat it up.  I had hard stone coping around my pool and I sealed it every year.  I had no issues.

[Quagmire 2148]

What sealant did you use? Did you do it yourself ? Need to do mine

[HouTex 1939]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Miracle-Sealants-32-oz-Impregnator-Penetrating-Sealer-511-QT-H/100076375

[El Tri 412]

we've decided to build out a pool/spa and covered patio. Located in Austin

so far we're having Texas Pools & SPa, Denali Pools, California Pools, and Allied Outdoor Solutions coming out to give us budgets.

any other companies i should contact?

[rage-a-holic 4732]

I used Texas Pools and Spa. They weren't the best but weren't the worst either.

[Bill Clay 48]

6 hours ago, El Tri said:

we've decided to build out a pool/spa and covered patio. Located in Austin

so far we're having Texas Pools & SPa, Denali Pools, California Pools, and Allied Outdoor Solutions coming out to give us budgets.

any other companies i should contact?

We used Athena. Very happy.

[Yarbr 123]

So far I've called Athena, Cody, California, Denali, A&S and Blue Haven and only got a response by California with whom I'm meeting next week. How long until the other fuck sticks contact me? Granted, it's only been a day and a half, but I want this thing done by May.  

What kind of time frame am I looking at, initial meeting to splash down? I figure this was plenty of time to get it done by swim season, but now I don't know what to think since I cant get another returned call.

[rage-a-holic 4732]

25 minutes ago, Yarbr said:

So far I've called Athena, Cody, California, Denali, A&S and Blue Haven and only got a response by California with whom I'm meeting next week. How long until the other fuck sticks contact me? Granted, it's only been a day and a half, but I want this thing done by May.  

What kind of time frame am I looking at, initial meeting to splash down? I figure this was plenty of time to get it done by swim season, but now I don't know what to think since I cant get another returned call.

It depends on the size of the pool you want, features, access to your backyard, weather, etc.

Mine took fucking forever because they could only fit a Bobcat into my backyard. In Austin, you're hitting solid rock after about 4 feet, so a deep pool means weeks of jackhammering.

[Yarbr 123]

I'm in Austin (Brushy Creek) and replaced my fence so I know these guys are going to hit some pretty solid shit at about 2-3 feet.  Access is also an issue with 5 foot build lines, my access is 10' minus the space my and my neighbor's compressors take up, add a smaller backyard so I'm guessing only one bobcat as well.

Just thought I was a big baller ready to scratch a big check, but it seems they don't want my money. I'm a homebuilder and if my agents took 2 or 3 days to get back to a potential customer they'd be fired.

[rage-a-holic 4732]

Give Texas Pools and Patios a call. I went with them because they were the only company that came up with a good design, worked with me on changes and didn't try to talk me into a cookie cutter rectangle/kidney shaped sport pool. My backyard access and impervious cover restrictions were too much of a PITA for most of the bids.

[obigbo 8]

We used Fielder Pools here in Austin.  Small company but have been building pools for a long time.  The owner did our design and was onsite a lot.  We had about 3" of soil and the rest rock.  They brought in a big backhoe and a huge air hammer and knocked it out if 4 or 5 days.  Loud as hell but quick.

[El Tri 412]

we signed up with Denali as did my best friend. I'm waiting for loan application to finish with RBFCU to break ground. Hoping to have that done in next 2 weeks and break ground.

my buddy's is going fairly fast. broke ground in december and they've finished gunnite coping and water tile. 

I called a bunch of companies and got a call back only from Texas Pools and Patios, Denali, KB custom pools, California pools, and Allied outdoor solutions.

Got final designs and estimates from the first 4. went with denali due to design and price. ran into a shit-ton of issues with designs because of impervious coverage limitations

Edited January 16, 2019 by El Tri

[Yarbr 123]

Good to hear, Denali called this morning and is coming over this evening.  I wonder if these guys see my addy as Austin and say fuck it cause they don't want to deal with the city? Thing is I'm in a MUD so no COA, thank god.

[Yarbr 123]

Thanks rage, they called me back and I set something up, dude was very knowledgable.

And holy shit have some things changed since I was taking care of my folks pool 25 years ago. Anyone have the automatic in-floor cleaning and circulation system? Seems pretty badass, but is it worth it? Also is the robot cleaner worth it?

[Bevo 13877]

1 hour ago, Yarbr said:

Thanks rage, they called me back and I set something up, dude was very knowledgable.

And holy shit have some things changed since I was taking care of my folks pool 25 years ago. Anyone have the automatic in-floor cleaning and circulation system? Seems pretty badass, but is it worth it? Also is the robot cleaner worth it?

Robot is worth it. in-floor cleaning generally is not as it is expensive to plumb and there are more things that could break.

[El Tri 412]

On 1/16/2019 at 12:06 PM, Yarbr said:

Good to hear, Denali called this morning and is coming over this evening.  I wonder if these guys see my addy as Austin and say fuck it cause they don't want to deal with the city? Thing is I'm in a MUD so no COA, thank god.

No, it's just that pool builders are busy as fuck right now. everyone trying to get their pool built by summer, including me. 

no on in-floor cleaning, yes on robot. it's only $200 more than the polaris vacuum, cleans the walls, and you won't need to run the pump for it to work.

i'm also having a gabled covered patio built and those guys are busy as fuck too. home improvement business in austin is booming

 

[freyguy 4368]

On 1/18/2019 at 9:33 AM, Yarbr said:

Thanks rage, they called me back and I set something up, dude was very knowledgable.

And holy shit have some things changed since I was taking care of my folks pool 25 years ago. Anyone have the automatic in-floor cleaning and circulation system? Seems pretty badass, but is it worth it? Also is the robot cleaner worth it?

In-floor jets sound nice, but they'll run you abt the same cost as adding a spa.  So always go with the thing that will have a better chance of getting you laid.

[Armybrat 41400]

On 1/15/2019 at 3:19 PM, Yarbr said:

So far I've called Athena, Cody, California, Denali, A&S and Blue Haven and only got a response by California with whom I'm meeting next week. How long until the other fuck sticks contact me? Granted, it's only been a day and a half, but I want this thing done by May.  

What kind of time frame am I looking at, initial meeting to splash down? I figure this was plenty of time to get it done by swim season, but now I don't know what to think since I cant get another returned call.

Heh, I’m in Brushy Creek MUD too. In my back yard the soil is about 6” deep before hitting rock in places. Hope you don’t have a cave under your yard.

[troph 25225]

Thanks rage, they called me back and I set something up, dude was very knowledgable.

And holy shit have some things changed since I was taking care of my folks pool 25 years ago. Anyone have the automatic in-floor cleaning and circulation system? Seems pretty badass, but is it worth it? Also is the robot cleaner worth it?

 

I have the in floor system and no other cleaning system and I like it - a lot. Makes for a super sleek design. However if you have any amount of leaves dropping into your pool the in ground system will frustrate you. It’s good to move dust and small particle dirt etc around on the floor and can facilitate cleaning over all but it’s lousy at moving leaves so those end up needing to be removed manually. My pool is on the top of a hill with most trees below it so I don’t have any leaves except 2-3 weeks when the fall elm behind my bedroom that is similar elevation to the pool drops it’s leaves. And my pool company comes once a week so they deal with it. And what I get is a pool with no hoses or vacuums or anything else, just clean lines. I’m likely building a new home soon and will have a similar set up - on a hill with even less trees around so I’ll do the same set up again.

[SHOOTER12 8886]

On 10/3/2018 at 10:55 AM, El Tri said:

we've decided to build out a pool/spa and covered patio. Located in Austin

so far we're having Texas Pools & SPa, Denali Pools, California Pools, and Allied Outdoor Solutions coming out to give us budgets.

any other companies i should contact?

Don't know whether they have an Austin location, or do work in Austin, but Gary Pools has always kicked ass for me.  When we had our first custom pool built in San Antonio we had major access problems, rock from 1' down, just about every hardship you could imagine.   They built the exact pool design I drew up, no extra fees for rock excavation and never had a problem with any changes or additions I came up with.

[SHOOTER12 8886]

On 1/18/2019 at 9:33 AM, Yarbr said:

Thanks rage, they called me back and I set something up, dude was very knowledgable.

And holy shit have some things changed since I was taking care of my folks pool 25 years ago. Anyone have the automatic in-floor cleaning and circulation system? Seems pretty badass, but is it worth it? Also is the robot cleaner worth it?

Yes, and yes....and the longer you have the pool, the more worth it that it will be.

 

Edited January 22, 2019 by SHOOTER12

[Yarbr 123]

On 1/15/2019 at 4:10 PM, rage-a-holic said:

Give Texas Pools and Patios a call. I went with them because they were the only company that came up with a good design, worked with me on changes and didn't try to talk me into a cookie cutter rectangle/kidney shaped sport pool. My backyard access and impervious cover restrictions were too much of a PITA for most of the bids.

Signed the contract with these guys today, will report back when they're done. Thanks man.

 

[Native Horn 3581]

Anybody here had a pool long enough so that it had to be re-plastered/surfaced?  Looking for recs for a friend here in Austin.  TIA

[Yarbr 123]

Have a friend that used Clear Solutions with great success.

Edited January 24, 2019 by Yarbr

[JimmyHoffa 1188]

[Bevo 13877]

How much should a new plaster job cost using pebbletec or a pebbletec knock-off? The pool is approximately 40x16 with a hot tub. I am in Cedar Park.

Edited February 11, 2019 by Bevo

[Dbeasy 15593]

Heh, I’m in Brushy Creek MUD too. In my back yard the soil is about 6” deep before hitting rock in places. Hope you don’t have a cave under your yard.

That house is a block from my daughter’s.

[Yarbr 123]

About 4' down and no cave. Good to go.

[El Tri 412]

On 1/16/2019 at 11:56 AM, El Tri said:

we signed up with Denali as did my best friend. I'm waiting for loan application to finish with RBFCU to break ground. Hoping to have that done in next 2 weeks and break ground.

my buddy's is going fairly fast. broke ground in december and they've finished gunnite coping and water tile. 

I called a bunch of companies and got a call back only from Texas Pools and Patios, Denali, KB custom pools, California pools, and Allied outdoor solutions.

Got final designs and estimates from the first 4. went with denali due to design and price. ran into a shit-ton of issues with designs because of impervious coverage limitations

we finally got CoA permit approved two weeks ago and loan closing last week. Dig commenced two days ago and they're making good progress.

construction supervisor said we should be swimming by memorial day

[Buzzrock 15136]

Subscribed

[Buzzrock 15136]

Moving in to our new place this week.



Saltwater pool and spa. BGE will he installed tomorrow. Pool system came with a friend:



Pressure gauge is maxed out. I backwashed the filter and a lot of gunk came out but the pressure stayed the same. I’m guessing busted gauge?

Pump is running all the time and showing an error, so I left a message with the previous owner’s pool company. Intend to do all the maintenance myself but I’d like a once over and a walk through the controls.

There’s a remote which makes me wonder how hard it would be to switch to a smartphone app.

[Buzzrock 15136]

Frog removed. Pressure gauge replaced. One of three pumps isn’t pulling water so I’ll have to figure that out. Also need a new water temp sensor, no big deal.

 

But...

 

The breaker that controls that third pump is arcing and smoking. Not good. Burn marks on the bus. Likely need a new controller. I’m sure that’s cheap.

 

Pool life!

 

[Hate 20247]

Yeah, I just dropped $1000 on replacing a motor and fixing a leak. Hopefully that’s all for a couple of years.

[orange dream 1295]

4 hours ago, Hate said:

Yeah, I just dropped $1000 on replacing a motor and fixing a leak. Hopefully that’s all for a couple of years.

yes, I'm sure it will be

[ZB'Tejas 597]

Pool weather is almost here but damn the water is still cold and I'm too cheap to run the heater.

 

Does anyone have an automatic pool cover? Any tips on getting them serviced and places in Austin that do it?

[Gale Snoats 246]

Any recs for Barton hills area? In the hills and will be on a slant - have had people tell me that’ll make it more expensive and others tell me won’t really matter. Anyone know?