| crmsnidol |
My wife and I just did our third refi and this time took some cash out. We want to get a pool. She's content getting the least expensive above-ground round pool (around $9K total) while I think they're eyesores and I personally don't want to look out the backdoor and stare at the side of a pool.
We've looked into Gunnite but the least expensive package starts at $22K. A vinyl liner pool package locally for approx 16'x30' is $19K and fiberglass is anywhere from $18-22K for a package. Does anyone have real-world experience with the three types? The vinyl guys tell you they are easy to maintain, sturdy and softer on the skin and clothes than concrete (gunnite). The gunnite people tell you they last longer and are cheaper to maintain because you never have to replace the liner. The Fiberglass folks claim the longest warranty and lowest maintenance due to the non-porous nature of fiberglass not leeching alkalai into the water like concrete/gunnite does.
I've searched online and seen many companies selling each. I am leaning towards fiberglass but the negative scare tactice of the concrete and vinyl people claim that if installed improperly, the fiberglass will buckle in and the entire shell will nee to be removed to repair.
More questions I have are:
1. How should I pay for the contracting of the install? Should I hold back some until job is done or am I likely to hear that I need to pay all upfront for the supplies and equip rental?
2. What options are MUST-HAVES with an in-ground pool? We have a 4-year-old and are definintely getting a safety cover. My wife wants the Kool Walk concrete apron but I don't know what that costs or really gets me.
3. What questions should I be asking the contractor? I may be using www.waterworldpools.com for the pool purchase and install. I can't find much on the web about them other than a reference to them as a fiberglass installer in the South Jersey region.
The pic attached is recent. My yard slopes in the back so I just had 27yds of soil added to regrade the back against the fence that I had installed 18" high last year to allow for the regrade. The yard looks like a bomb hit it so it's a good time to have the invasive pool-install procedure done. I figure I can fit comfortably around a 16'x32' pool plus concrete decking.
Our budget including pool, install, equipment, concrete, cover, light and taxes is around $22K but I would like it to be closer to the $18K mark so I have some leftover for other house projects.
Any help you guys can give me is appreciated as always. |
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| crmsnidol |
| another shot of the back... |
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| DaleB |
All I can say it 'wow'.. Pools are nice. have had lots of experiencing maintaining existing ones, never had to have one installed.
My brother in law's ran almost $35K but it's a large free form.
You could get a superb lap pool for the under 25K price with all the goodies. It is just a long pool, retangular. Not what kids would normally want to play in..or a fairly small free form if you just want a pool to cool off in and are not much into extended swimming and/or diving.
Again, I am in central calif. labor costs vary, etc...so kind of hard to compare in that respect.
I wish you luck, I am sure other members could jump into the 'construction' concerns. |
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| crmsnidol |
Thanks Dale.
I'm hoping members who have gone through this can relate their experiences. All of the pool guys I've spoken to talk down each other and what I can expect from the "others" when it comes down to the final price including the excavation and cement (two of the bigger unknowns). I can't get 1/2 way into it and find the cost jumping another $5K. I don't want to sink all I have aside for just this one item. |
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| rvehock |
| A few years back I had a pool put in and I hired a local general contractor and had him setup all of the specific contractors to complete my pool. My general contrator knew all of the good local bonded contrators so I did not have to worry about the quality of their work. I paid most of the contractors cash so I saved a bunch of money. When the pool was completed, I had 17K into it and I figure it was worth at least 25K. |
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| mdxPirate |
I had a pool put in last fall and it was a fairly smooth experience. I got a fiberglass/ceramic composite pool manufactured by Viking Pools. All I can say is that in the Vegas heat, the pool is wonderful. I don't regret the decision for a second.
I haven't updated my website in a long time, but I do have pictures of the entire install process :
http://www.curtice.net/pool.htm |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
Thanks Dale.
I'm hoping members who have gone through this can relate their experiences. All of the pool guys I've spoken to talk down each other and what I can expect from the "others" when it comes down to the final price including the excavation and cement (two of the bigger unknowns). I can't get 1/2 way into it and find the cost jumping another $5K. I don't want to sink all I have aside for just this one item.
I am always put off by contractors that bad mouth others instead of standing on their own merits. I generally look for independents who really understand what it takes to get the job done right and don't try to sell you a lot of stuff you don't need.
Some of the best jobs I've had done (building, landscaping, etc.) have often been the cheapest because the contractor had low overhead, instead of a fancy showroom and sexy receptionist.
But you need a written contract with time constraints built-in. I don't know NJ law, but in CA we are quite well protected as long as we get a licensed contractor. Beyond that the best thing to go for are personal referrals. |
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| hockeyplayer |
| My question would be....Is one able to make back the money put into a pool if house is sold? I doubt it. I live in a subdivision with 2 Olympic sized pools. An ideal situation IMO. I do realize that not everyone has this availability. Juts seems like alot of money for a "luxury" that may not get used as much as one would think(I may be wrong though) I notice you live in NJ. I am not savy on the weather in NJ but would imagine the pool would need to be winterized and would only be used for 4-6 months a year?? How much does one need to increase his/her house insurance if a pool is built?? If any...I don't know?? When will the "children grow out of it"? I am not discouraging a pool in but thought I would just play "devil's advocate" for once. Good luck and hope it works out for you. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by hockeyplayer
My question would be....Is one able to make back the money put into a pool if house is sold? I doubt it. I live in a subdivision with 2 Olympic sized pools. An ideal situation IMO. I do realize that not everyone has this availability. Juts seems like alot of money for a "luxury" that may not get used as much as one would think(I may be wrong though) I notice you live in NJ. I am not savy on the weather in NJ but would imagine the pool would need to be winterized and would only be used for 4-6 months a year?? How much does one need to increase his/her house insurance if a pool is built?? If any...I don't know?? When will the "children grow out of it"? I am not discouraging a pool in but thought I would just play "devil's advocate" for once. Good luck and hope it works out for you.
Again, this may be regional, but as long as acess to your property is limited by locked gates, and legal height fencing, liability is not a problem and should have little affect on insurance premiums. More important is the owner's supervision and responsibility when they are at home.
With regards to usage and energy costs I can tell you gas heaters will drive your energy costs up very fast. We had a couple of solar panels and depended on solar covers to get the pool comfortable the 4 months out of the year we used it.
Also, it is not much of a factor when it comes to selling your home either. Pools add some value on newer homes, but as the home ages they become less of a factor
I can only relate my own experiences. Your mileage may vary.
:4: |
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| A6MDX |
Do you have any friends or neighbors with pools? If they have a postiive experience with their pool installer, talk to them. At least you won't get someone who is unknown. Maybe even talk to independent pool maintenance people and find out what thier experiences are frommaintaining all of the different types of pols.
Most pool contractors in this area allow you to hold back money for certain mielstones in the pool building phases. If I remember correctly, ours was initial payment, payment after decking, payment after gunnite and payment at turn on. Ours was gunnite.
Anothher recommendation is to get a salt chlroination system. It's more expensive but easier to maintain and it's easy on the skin. One of my daughters has psoriasis and she can't swim very much in a pool that has a regular chorlination system but the salt system is much gentler on her skin. |
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| paul123 |
| Presently. I'm looking to upgrade to a home with about an acre of land and an inground pool. I've been making inquiries about both types. I trying to go with the inground with Gunnite, from what I've been hearing it the most costly but better in the long run. The downside to the inground is that it will require opening a permit and getting a C/O with the town to have installed and increase your taxes. The above ground in most cases will not require a permit and C/O. Be sure to check with you're township to be sure. You don't want to have a constractor install the pool to find out that you have to remove because it doesn't meet the town code. If you go above ground see about building a deck around the pool above level. Also take a good look at the different filters, and go with the best you can afford. It will save you time and money down the road keeping the pool clean. Also remember you may have to hire a pool boy to start the pool every season unless you've very handy. Most cases you will only have to pay once a year at the begining of season. the cleaning you should be able to do yourself. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
Again, this may be regional, but as long as acess to your property is limited by locked gates, and legal height fencing, liability is not a problem and should have little affect on insurance premiums. More important is the owner's supervision and responsibility when they are at home.
With regards to usage and energy costs I can tell you gas heaters will drive your energy costs up very fast. We had a couple of solar panels and depended on solar covers to get the pool comfortable the 4 months out of the year we used it.
Also, it is not much of a factor when it comes to selling your home either. Pools add some value on newer homes, but as the home ages they become less of a factor
I can only relate my own experiences. Your mileage may vary.
:4:
I appreciate the devil's advocacy and the excellent advice. I've spoken to neighbors who have Gunnite packages but no one I know has dealt with fiberglass. The referrals I'll be given by the pool installers will no doubt be 100% positive otherwise they wouldn't be named as referrals.
NJ is more temperate than most people think with very high humidty. Pool season is from approx mid-May to mid to late September so about 5 months. We have no plans to buy a heater or spa so there won't be any cold-weather swimming.
I already called the township on taxes and found that they would be exactly $151 more a year on a 14 x 30 inground fiberglass or Vinyl because they are permanent. We already have a 6' privacy fence with lockable gates so homeowner's insurance reqs should be easily met. I haven't contacted them about an increase if any.
As far as cost-effectiveness of a pool, sure it's a lot of money and work and I'm well aware that you never get your money back when selling the property. We may never have the chance to do it again and with my daughter and her 9 cousins all being under the age of 7 and within 15 miles of our home - there will be a lot of use over the next 8 or 9 years. Sure, I envision a time when the kids don't want to be around the old people and we'll spend our nights relaxing by the pool but also know that probably won't happen just like when people buy exercise bikes and treadmills - they sit for years unused. Our wanting a pool is based in keeping the kids close and supervised and making our backyard a more desirable place to spend time and entertain. If I was looking for cost-effective and necessary I would've bought the Pilot and for that matter, a minivan instead of an SUV crossover. I'll never off-road and would have been just as happy with a $6K less Pilot. |
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| ImOnlyTen |
| Wow I never new pools were so expensive! |
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| nytflyt |
When I built my current house I went through the same process with the selection of the type of pool to install. After a lot of research I chose to go with the one-piece fiberglass. We have been extremely happy with the pool and it has been the best pool we have ever had for maintenance. I would recommend the fiberglass over the gunnite if you have a good dealer in your area. The only problem I see is that I don’t think you can put in anything but a vinyl liner pool with your budget. In my experience the cost of a pool installation always ends up costing much more than the estimate that your start with.
Earl |
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| one4gatr |
quote:
Originally posted by mdxPirate
I had a pool put in last fall and it was a fairly smooth experience. I got a fiberglass/ceramic composite pool manufactured by Viking Pools. All I can say is that in the Vegas heat, the pool is wonderful. I don't regret the decision for a second.
I haven't updated my website in a long time, but I do have pictures of the entire install process :
http://www.curtice.net/pool.htm
mdxPirate...NICE!... You never told us your cost on the pool and decking...
I have been looking at the Viking pool as well. I am finding that here in Florida you are going to be around 22-25k with a fiberglass pool 14x25ish and 4ft of cool deck around the whole thing. This includes EVERYTHING. My problem is that I also want to put in a screen room around it, fiber optic lighting, and a heater. Well we are now up around 35k. I just cant swallow that. I am considering joining a country club with a pool, tennis, golf, spa, gym ect.. It seems to work out to be about the same when you consider the cost factor overall. Good luck and keep us posted. |
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| shootist |
quote:
As far as cost-effectiveness of a pool, sure it's a lot of money and work and I'm well aware that you never get your money back when selling the property. We may never have the chance to do it again and with my daughter and her 9 cousins all being under the age of 7
Idol.
Don't be too sure you won't get your money back. The real issue of a pool at sale is that you will have narrowed the population of interested buyers from "everybody except people who must have a pool pre-installed" to "only people who want a house with a pool".
Once those people show up, they know what a pool will cost them. |
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| darkhelmet |
I put one a pool in back in 1999. I went with Anthony/Sylvan pools and have had no problems. They were the most expensive (but close to the others) but had the best warranty. They also were willing to build exactly what I wanted while everyone else wanted to build their specail.
- I maintained a vinyl ingound pool and an above-ground pool for my neighbors when I was a teenager and saw all the issues their owners had so I went with something a little more permanent.
- The only regret I have is we were trying to stay in a certain price range and compromised on alot of things I wish I had now. (bigger, fiber optic lights, spa, etc). So the best advice I can give is build what you want as you don't get a redo.
- I did not add a heater since I have to use Propane but am looking at the new heat pumps they are offering. The prices are starting to come down some and if it can add 2 months of extra swimming time then I am all for it. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by shootist
Idol.
Don't be too sure you won't get your money back. The real issue of a pool at sale is that you will have narrowed the population of interested buyers from "everybody except people who must have a pool pre-installed" to "only people who want a house with a pool".
Once those people show up, they know what a pool will cost them.
It the wife doesn't like the kitchen, the best pool in the world won't help :D |
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| keremoner |
| Take it from a real estate appraiser: Do not get a pool unless you are going to live there many years and get enough enjoyment out of your pool. It ranks as low as, as far as investments go, buying a vehicle. Depending on where you live in the country, an inground pool will cost you around $50K, but if you turn around and sell your property, will get back at best 10-20% of your investment. Just some wisdom from someone who knows. |
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| ByeByeChrysler |
we bought our house with a vinyl pool, we love it.
my kids are 10 and under, they love the 5 months of swimming.
I always know where they are, and when they are teens, I will also know who their friends are, as they will hopefully congregate at our house.
we have the legal fence around our perimeter of the yard, but also a black iron-looking fence to protect children from going near the pool. (see my gallery photo). |
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| MDteX |
I have had two gunite pools built. Some of my thoughts and lessons over the last few years.
1 - You will not get back the money it costs. The general rule of thumb is 50% max payback.
2 - Local independent contractors usually do better work with better equpment than the national guys. My first pool was with Sylvan and it had problems. My second pool was with the local independent and it has been great.
3 - Be careful with fiberglass. If you get water under the shell they can float out of the ground, especially if they are not full. Even and inch or so will screw up the decking.
4 - Gunite is a more long term investment. You don't see water parks and hotels use anything else for the pool.
In the Dallas area I would guess that about 80-90% of the pools are gunite. The average cost is about $20000-$50000. My pool is a diving pool with spa and was about $32,000. It is 40'x16' freeform.
The extra money to add a spa and heater may be worth it. We have a spa and heater and it allows us to use the the pool, or at least the spa, year round. There's nothing like sitting in a hot spa on a cold clear night and then jumping into a cold pool!
Sometimes it takes a little tequila to get things started! |
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| DaveI |
Interesting topic, yet another area where things are more costly in California for whatever reasons.
My wife & I looked into this earlier in the year, and were 'informally' quoted $75k minimum for an in-ground gunite pool. And we're talking small pool (about 13' x 33') in a reasonably small yard. Granted, it did include heater, spa, in-floor filtration system, fully automated maintenance equipment, and automated hard cover, but we were still blown away by the cost. |
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| whynotmdx |
My two votes:
Gunite
Salt based Chlorine Generator
Both fall under the category of large upfront investment with the rewards being:
- Most enjoyable to use - Gunite = Silky smooth pool sides yet somehow it isn't slippery, Salt Generator = always the perfect amount of chlorine so almost no out-gassing, burning lungs/eyes.
- Low maintenance - easy to clean and easy chemistry
- Low ongoing costs - Long lasting and mostly just add water softener salt to seed the chlorine generator. |
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| jurincie |
I am in the process of having a gunite pool built. They should be finishing it this week. We have had a lot of rain in the Carolinas this year which has delayed construction, which began 5/28. We plan on staying in our house for quite a while, and after researching fiberglass, liner, and gunite, gunite was the only option for us.
I have talked to several friends with liner pools and every one of them have had problems with the liner floating, getting torn by kids playing, etc. The fiberglass pools are neat because they go in quickly, but I have seen what happens to the finish after a couple of years and also heard the stories about having to have them re-installed when they are floated from to much rain.
Gunite is a slow, expensive, messy, process. I went with Blue Haven because I wanted a national company who will be around for a while. The local offices are franchises, but the corporation is there to stand behind the warranty. We have had a few bumps along the construction process, but they have worked very hard to make things right.
After doing a lot of research on the internet comparing Blue Haven and Anthony & Sylvan, it comes down to how the local office handles things. Both have their share of positive and negative comments. I would suggest checking with your local Better Business Bureau, and Angie's List if it is available in your area.
If you go with gunite, I would recommend a "pebble tec" interior over plaster. We had one in Phoenix and it is very easy to maintain and costs only a little more than plaster.
Good luck with your decision. |
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| trixie |
| Although I'm not a pool expert, I am a want-to-be, having just bought a house with a drink in Phoenix. Perhaps it has something to do with location, but I've only seen gunite pools here. It seems that the big decision is not gunite vs fiberglass, it's smooth vs Pebble-tec, diving vs play. For reasons of cost, diving pools are rarely constructend these days. In a land where everyone has a pool, most are surprizingly small. Folks here favor to spend their money on upgrades: Pebble-tec finishes, auto cleaning systems, salt water filtration, waterfalls, spas, landscaping, landscaping... (Did I say landscaping?--a $10K hit for a small yard. ) |
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| crmsnidol |
The wealth of information on this board is tremendous!
We had two fiberglass companies out this past weekend for estimates based on the pool and grading/excavaction required.
The pools I'm interrested in hold 13,000 gallons of water. I happen to know a gallon of water weighs 8.11 lbs so thats almost 106,000lbs of downward force holding a fiberglass pool in the ground. What amount of water underground is necessary to "float" it? The pools are set 1 foot at a time with equal pressure sand or pea gravel (installers preference). A well-set and properly filled fiberglass won't float unless I have some kind of underground stream running through my yard which is doubtful given the sloping grade.
Vinyl is definitely out. So it's down to Gunnite vs Fiberglass for us. I already have the Gunnite price at $26,000. The fiberglass with color wheel lite, 3 ft of concrete decking, Polaris 340 cleaner, all hardware, all electrical, concrete coping around the entire perimeter of the pool and all fill, excavation, permits, etc will be $24,400. My taxes won't go up with fiberglass because it's considered non-permament (removeable).
We're making our decision this week. Anyone have any real horror stories with fiberglass pools? Anyone know someone whose pool floated out of the ground? Both companies I spoke with fully warranty both the pool and the install since they are considered factory-authorized to do so. What else should I be asking them?
Thanks as always. |
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| jurincie |
I would ask the fiberglass companies for some people in your area to contact with pools that are 3-4 years old. Take a look at the finish above the water line, I think you will be surprised. Also ask them about draining the pool for maintenance or to refresh the water. In Phoenix we had to drain ours every 3 years due to the metals building up from the hard water. Also ask them why fiberglass pools don't have a drain.
From what I understand, it doesn't take much hydraulic force to float a fiberglass pool. I'm sure it depends on the soil and water levels in your area. You might also want to check with a Realtor in your area in case you ever want to sell your house. The Realtors here said some buyers are scared of the liner or fiberglass pools.
I wish you the best of luck, it is a difficult decision that is unique to every buyer and home. They did the final grading on ours yesterday and it is starting to look like a backyard again. I can't stress enough that your backyard and the construction access route will be DESTROYED during this process! |
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| susang |
We also want to put in a pool - Fiberglass is definitely cheaper than gunnite - let me know what you decide!!
(We are not looking to recover on money from the resale market on this; we currently belong to a neighborhood pool at cost of about $1,000 a year, but I want some privacy!! We have a large lot, about 1 acre, and frankly not having a pool for this area for our size lot is unusual in this area.) |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by jurincie
I would ask the fiberglass companies for some people in your area to contact with pools that are 3-4 years old. Take a look at the finish above the water line, I think you will be surprised. Also ask them about draining the pool for maintenance or to refresh the water. In Phoenix we had to drain ours every 3 years due to the metals building up from the hard water. Also ask them why fiberglass pools don't have a drain.
From what I understand, it doesn't take much hydraulic force to float a fiberglass pool. I'm sure it depends on the soil and water levels in your area. You might also want to check with a Realtor in your area in case you ever want to sell your house. The Realtors here said some buyers are scared of the liner or fiberglass pools.
I will be visiting referrals with 3+ years of fiberglass pool usage. Excellent point. I'm not sure I understand why you would want to drain the pool at all. With Vinyl and Gunnite (concrete) emptying the poool is sometimes necessary to replace/patch vinyl and concrete. Not so with fiberglass as it's not prone to cracking due to ground movement - it'll flex. That's the biggest install issue - bulging walls. As long as it's installed properly and with equal pressure - I should be fine. I'm getting it in writing that the warranty covers such things.
Soil in my area is 10% marl and the remainder soil and sand. I'm really not concerned with getting my money back. The water isn't hard and we require no softeners or treatment in the home. I will ask about drains but I believe your question was pointed. If the water level dropped considerably I won't have that 100+K lbs of force holding it down and of course it could move. The installers are the same company selling the pool and they are responsible for all aspects of the install. I just have to maintain it to their specs. No Problem. I guess if I had an anmial die in the pool I'd be a little skeved out and consider drainining. I'll ask the installer how that's handled. I would imagine it's never completely drained. Again, if you have specific issues you know of or a story to relate - please share. I do believe much of the negatives out there on fiberglass are created by the concrete and vinyl installers just as the fear of chemicals leeching into a gunnite pool as a natural behavior of concrete is highlighted by the vinyl and fiberglass people.
My wife and I have been in our house 7 years last week and have no plans to move. In fact, my wife said this si the first and last house we'll ever own. She loves the location and neighborhood that much. As with any major modification to a property - you're bound to put off some prospective buyers and attract others. Nothing you can do about it. When we were looking for a home years ago we saw this very affordable home in a very unaffordable area. It turns out the owner's were asian and landscaped all of the grass out and replaced with rock gardens. Did it looks nice? I guess so but it was enough for us to know we didn't want the hassle or expense in getting the yard the way we wanted it. Someone bought it - just not us. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by susang
We also want to put in a pool - Fiberglass is definitely cheaper than gunnite - let me know what you decide!!
(We are not looking to recover on money from the resale market on this; we currently belong to a neighborhood pool at cost of about $1,000 a year, but I want some privacy!! We have a large lot, about 1 acre, and frankly not having a pool for this area for our size lot is unusual in this area.)
I'm finding fiberglass and gunnite packages are pretty close and in some cases the fiberglass package is more expensive. Their selling point is that you recover the costs by not paying as much over the lifetime in chemicals, electricity and water. I takes these claims with a grain of salt.
I'll post info as I have it including before and after pics. My yard already looks like a bomb hit. |
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| whynotmdx |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
I'm finding fiberglass and gunnite packages are pretty close and in some cases the fiberglass package is more expensive. Their selling point is that you recover the costs by not paying as much over the lifetime in chemicals, electricity and water. I takes these claims with a grain of salt.
I'll post info as I have it including before and after pics. My yard already looks like a bomb hit.
How does fiberglass vs gunnite impact chemical, electricity and water usage? |
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| jurincie |
The question about the lack of a drain was indeed pointed. Sorry, but I am getting a little cranky in my old age. I was told by a company in SC that manufactures the pools (Alaglass) that they don't put drains in because without the weight of the water, they will quickly raise out of the ground. They said if you have to change the water do to hardness or other problems, you can only remove and replace a small percentage of the water at a time.
You might want to check into warranty's against bubbling on the fiberglass. I had a $5,000 Coleman spa that the outer layer of fiberglass started bubbling within 2 years in a couple of spots. The bubbles weren't to noticeable until they burst leaving dark rust type stains down the side. I decided to have it fixed under the 5 year shell warranty which did not have a deductible. Even though it was fully covered, they charged over $1,000 in shipping and handling to replace it (they said it could not be repaired). The Coleman factory was within 25 miles of my house.
You might want to contact the manager at a local pool supplies store for a good objective view. I spent some time with the manager at a local Leslie's Pool Supplies and was glad that I did. There are certain brands of equipment which are more problem prone than others and there can be a big performance difference with different types of pumps & filters. They might also be able to give you feedback about the local builders.
Once again, good luck! |
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| jurincie |
| Here is the current state of progress on mine. They dug the hole on 5/28, it should be finished this week. |
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| hockeyplayer |
| Wow..the pool looks great. Why are all the pumps and controls outside and in plain view??? |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by whynotmdx
How does fiberglass vs gunnite impact chemical, electricity and water usage?
Notice that I said I take that information with a grain of salt? Their contention is that due to no alklai leeching into the pool as with concrete pools, less chemicals are needed (1/3 as much) as concrete and fiberglass is more resistent to algae since it is non-porous. For me what matters most is durability, ease of maintenance and then price. The same points I look for in a new automobile. |
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| jurincie |
quote:
Originally posted by hockeyplayer
Wow..the pool looks great. Why are all the pumps and controls outside and in plain view???
Thanks. The pumps are actually farther from the pool than it appears in the picture. There is probably 15 feet in between the waterfall and the equipment for landscaping, a trellis, and or a arbor to hide it. They just did the final grading to cover the trenches on Monday, and I am still deciding what to do.
In all of the residential pools I have seen, the pumps have been outside. They need to be located no higher than the water height of the spa for the best performance. Due to the slope of the yard, we put the equipment over there because it will not be visible from the house which is to the left in the picture. |
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| jurincie |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
Notice that I said I take that information with a grain of salt? Their contention is that due to no alklai leeching into the pool as with concrete pools, less chemicals are needed (1/3 as much) as concrete and fiberglass is more resistent to algae since it is non-porous. For me what matters most is durability, ease of maintenance and then price. The same points I look for in a new automobile.
With our PebbleTec pool in Phoenix, we had to add acid every other week for about the first year due to the leaching. I only had to add it about once every 6 months for the next few years after the lining cured. I don't know if plaster is the same way, but I would guess it is probably similar.
You might want to find out from the pool companies in your area what procedures are for the winter months with each type of pool. We really didn't have a problem with freezing in Phoenix. In Charlotte, they set the pump to come on and circulate water at low speed when the temperature in the pipes falls below 34. They tell me it will pull the warmer water off of the bottom of the pool and circulate it through the pipes. In the winter they set the cleaning time to be during the night to minimize the extra pump time. I was told that a two speed pump saves major energy during the winter months.
I am curious if it is handled the same way farther north, of if they some how "winterize" the pool and shut it down for the season. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by jurincie
You might want to find out from the pool companies in your area what procedures are for the winter months with each type of pool. We really didn't have a problem with freezing in Phoenix. In Charlotte, they set the pump to come on and circulate water at low speed when the temperature in the pipes falls below 34. They tell me it will pull the warmer water off of the bottom of the pool and circulate it through the pipes. In the winter they set the cleaning time to be during the night to minimize the extra pump time. I was told that a two speed pump saves major energy during the winter months.
I am curious if it is handled the same way farther north, of if they some how "winterize" the pool and shut it down for the season.
Very good information even if just playing devil's advocate. I found out a neighbor has a fiberglass pool and I'll ask them about their experience as well as meet with references provided by the pool company. I don't know the procedure in the north for opening and closing a fiberglass pool but know that I'll probably pay a service to maintain it if it's time and labor intensive. From what I've read it isn't but I haven't read about the details as you suggest I look into. Very good info. - thanks. Your yard is looking good. I can only imagine what it looked like before the grading. |
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| whynotmdx |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
For me what matters most is durability, ease of maintenance and then price.
Durability = Gunite, ours is finished with polished terrazzo
Ease of maintenance = Salt based Chlorine Generator such as this one:
http://www.h2opoolproducts.com/cata...products_id/275 |
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| susang |
| The pool looks great - like the spa at the end - how much is this costing? ( I apologize if you have already answered this!) |
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| jurincie |
quote:
Originally posted by susang
The pool looks great - like the spa at the end - how much is this costing? ( I apologize if you have already answered this!)
We are getting a lot of options such as the spa, heater, remote controller, fiber optic lighting, waterfall, stonework, the pebble tec interior (being done tomorrow), etc. By the time it is all done, it will cost about a Touring without NAV :) |
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| ByeByeChrysler |
quote:
Originally posted by jurincie
We are getting a lot of options such as the spa, heater, remote controller, fiber optic lighting, waterfall, stonework, the pebble tec interior (being done tomorrow), etc. By the time it is all done, it will cost about a Touring without NAV :)
Any pics of the finished product yet? |
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| jurincie |
| There are a few little things for them to finish, but the pool is mostly done. These pictures were taken a few weeks ago. We are now working on the landscaping........ |
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| ByeByeChrysler |
very nice pics.
I can see lots of pool parties happening. |
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| one4gatr |
Beautiful!
jurincie... if you don't mind me asking.. what did the pool, spa, and decking set you back? |
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| jurincie |
quote:
Originally posted by one4gatr
Beautiful!
jurincie... if you don't mind me asking.. what did the pool, spa, and decking set you back?
We did a lot of upgrading such as the pebbletec interior instead of plaster, the electronic control system, etc. The total was 39K, but we used our pool in Phoenix a lot and really enjoy having our own little mini-vacation in the back yard. |
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| one4gatr |
Thats about what I thought. I am looking to put in a pool this winter and have gotten some ball park ideas from other folks around here. I really like the upgrades you did and will probably go that route as well.
Did you have to upgrade your electrical service at all? I have 150amp service right now and it's about tapped out. |
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| edepa |
| With my third and last now tapping me out with college tuition, we don't use our pool as much as we used to. However, there was a marked upswing in usage once we added a heater. I bought a heatpump and can't be any happier. Cost was similar, installed, to a gas heater, since the extra cost of running a gas line over a 100 foot back to the pump area offset the extra cost of the heatpump. All we had to do was have an electrician pull heavier wiring out to the panel by the pool, and that was no problem as the line was run inside a duct. The heatpump runs on less than half the energy cost of a gas heater. Granted, it won't raise the temperature as rapidly, but it has no problem maintaining a nice "adult" temperature level. My wife no longer just puts a toe in and says she is now cool enuf! I recommend it highly! [IMG]c:\America Online 6.0\download\poolpicture.jpg [/IMG] |
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| jurincie |
quote:
Originally posted by one4gatr
Thats about what I thought. I am looking to put in a pool this winter and have gotten some ball park ideas from other folks around here. I really like the upgrades you did and will probably go that route as well.
Did you have to upgrade your electrical service at all? I have 150amp service right now and it's about tapped out.
We didn't need to upgrade the service, but they did have to move our supply line which ran through the center of what is now the pool. They just ran a 220 line from the breaker box to the new sub panel at the pool and connected everything there. If you do not have any open breakers in your box, they will probably need to do some work.
I would think prices should be cheaper in Florida due to the number of pools done a year. I know they were much cheaper in Arizona. |
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| crmsnidol |
I signed the papers this morning and the permit applications should happen this week. The pool should be in sometime in Oct with everything incl concrete work done in no more than 14 days. That'll give me time to clean up the yard before winter.
Oh, I went waaaaaay over my budget.:)
14' x 30' x 5'6" deep fiberglass pool (suitable for children and lounging adults)
7-color Hayward rotating pool light
Polaris 340 automatic cleaner
4 therapy jets along the seating area
3 feet concrete decking surround
Cantilever decking over fiberglass rim
Safety cover that bolts into the concrete using brass fittings
No heater this year because the back is south-facing and may just be hot enough to keep it warm naturally. We'll see.
My wife is already looking for floating pool lounge chairs and toys for my daughter.
I'm also going to have them do concrete stamping around the pool, seating areas and a walkway up the side of my yard @ $8/sqft. (not sure if that's a good price)
http://www.artisticpoolsandstampedconcrete.com
I plan on being home and taking pictures during the process both before and after. I'll also be forthcoming on costs after all is said and done in the hope that I'll be able to provide help to others in choosing pool options. |
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| one4gatr |
| ok.. so what was the bill? |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by one4gatr
ok.. so what was the bill?
It's not all done yet so I won't have final costs. It depends on how much of the stamped concrete I lay out. Pool and everything listed above is $24,400 OTD |
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| one4gatr |
Not horrible. I am guesstimating By the time I am done I will be around 30k OTD. So you are in line with what I thought.
Thanks |
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| XStatic |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
Oh, I went waaaaaay over my budget.:)
Maybe this will help for supplies:
30% off at Leslies exp Sept 28
Free shipping but $8 handling fee per order. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by XStatic
Maybe this will help for supplies:
30% off at Leslies exp Sept 28
Free shipping but $8 handling fee per order.
Thanks! |
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| crmsnidol |
| 3. Within 8" of my porch! |
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| crmsnidol |
Concrete goes in Monday (weather-permitting)
There is a 73 ft curving walkway going up the side of the house to the driveway that isn't pictured. We had intended to do colored, stamped concrete but had too many sq ft to work into the budget. |
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| ByeByeChrysler |
| nice, show us pics after the concrete is poured too. |
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| crmsnidol |
| Thanks guys. WIll do. I was considering waiting until the spring after I do the landscaping but it's fun to watch the progress (at least I think so). |
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| remydog |
You can stain the concrete after the fact and possibly come close to the effect of having them add the color and stamping it. It will probably take pretty well if the crete is reasonably fresh. Also, you probably want to seal the concrete to keep it at its best.
We have a Polaris pool sweep and I would highly recommend that or another of the many sweeps out there. Keeps all the leaves debris off the bottom.
Have fun. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by remydog
You can stain the concrete after the fact and possibly come close to the effect of having them add the color and stamping it. It will probably take pretty well if the crete is reasonably fresh. Also, you probably want to seal the concrete to keep it at its best.
We have a Polaris pool sweep and I would highly recommend that or another of the many sweeps out there. Keeps all the leaves debris off the bottom.
Have fun.
Thanks. After all of the problems we're having with the contractor - I didn't even want to ask him to add the color to the concrete. I will consider staining it in the spring and seal it.
We got either the Polaris 340 or 360 (don't remember which) automatic pool cleaner. After the concrete and everything is done they'll show me how to use it. |
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| ByeByeChrysler |
quote:
Originally posted by remydog
It will probably take pretty well if the crete is reasonably fresh.
Also, you probably want to seal the concrete to keep it at its best.
Have fun.
Sealing the concrete may make it slippery when wet,
but it also depends on the roughness of the initial finish. |
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| remydog |
You need to tell the supplier that you are using this at a swimming pool and they will likely include a packet of this gritty stuff that you mix in with the sealer to make it less slippery.
MSK |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by remydog
You need to tell the supplier that you are using this at a swimming pool and they will likely include a packet of this gritty stuff that you mix in with the sealer to make it less slippery.
MSK
Actually, he had told me what they do is throw play sand across the surface. I'll make sure to do it right. I think it's going to have to wait until Spring for whatever I decide to do. |
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