| Author | Message | ||
| Paul Wehmer (Pwehmer)
Junior Member Username: Pwehmer Post Number: 162 Registered: 10-2002 |
DrS- Built it two years ago. | ||
| Il Signore (Bdel)
New member Username: Bdel Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2003 |
As far as sanitization systems, the Healthcare system works much better than chlorine/bromine or salt systems. It uses a combination of ozone gas injected into the water returns and copper ions to flocculate bacterial matter and trap it in the filter. The maintenance is simple, the system is computer controlled, and works great. It is made by Superior Aqua Systems. (look them up on the web). Company Summary: The HEALTHCARE SYSTEM is the most advanced water purification system available. It combines the algae and the bacteria killing effectiveness of ionization with the oxidizing effectiveness of ozone in one simple-to-operate system. Pool water sanitized by the HEALTHCARE SYSTEM has many advantages over chemically treated water. Along with freedom from the constant adjustments of chemicals. It is non-toxic, non-corrosive, odorless, tasteless and won't bleach clothes or hair. Water feels "softer" to the touch. Environmentally, the HEALTHCARE SYSTEM is the right choice. There's no need to store poisonous and insatiable chemical harmful to plant and animal life. The HEALTHCARE SYSTEM is easily installed onto an existing filtration system, and costs only pennies-per-day to operate. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 532 Registered: 4-2003 |
Paul, when did you build yours? DrS | ||
| Paul Wehmer (Pwehmer)
Junior Member Username: Pwehmer Post Number: 160 Registered: 10-2002 |
The salt system is great. Much better then clorine or bromine. Low maintence. Cost about 40K for a 25x52 pool with heater, big hot tub, decking, electrical, ect. The Polaris cleaning system that runs around the bottom works well. Find that we use the pool a lot less then when we built it. Doesn't help your resale value much. | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1240 Registered: 3-2001 |
Hutch, you're in the business and know a lot more about this subject than I do. Dallas is a pretty miserable place in August without a pool. Depending on the neighborhood, every other house has a pool. I have 5-6 friends that have the mixed (marbleized) plaster bottoms. Some of them are 7-8 years old and none of them have experienced the problems you described... nor have they drained their pools to acid wash the plaster (we keep the water in our pools year round). On the other hand, I know the plaster in all pools here has to be completely replaced every 10-12 years. PebbleTec may be more durable and longer lasting. Seems like there are trade-offs for everything! We have one friend with (real) PebbleTec. We used to play water volleyball and everyone would come out with sore feet... one guy's foot was bleeding due to the rougher texture. But this was several years ago so who knows... one pool company actually talked us out of PebbleTec for this reason. We also have a Vision purifier so we use less chlorine. In Dallas, the summer temp of our pools gets into the low 90's. It's not as warm as some pools I've heard about in Phoenix but it's still like diving into a bath tub. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 529 Registered: 4-2003 |
Rob, That is what we are building. 60 feet by 27 feet. My brother and I run TriAtholons (sp?) about five or six times per year and want the pool also for training!!! DrS | ||
| DHutchison (Hutch308)
Member Username: Hutch308 Post Number: 314 Registered: 1-2002 |
BobD - Marbleite (plaster) finishes have inherent problems that are uncontrollable. Here are some of the problems with marbleite finishes: 1) Crazing - small visible cracks in the finish which make it look aged sooner. 2) Mottling - Patches or blotches in the finish that look horrible. 3) Not as stain resistant as Peb Tec. Marbleite finishes will stain very easily, which means you have to drain the pool and acid wash roughly every 2 - 3 years. As far as Pebble Tec being rough on swimsuits and wet feet, I've never heard any customer mention those complaints. I ask you, are you certain that they were Pebble Tec finishes? There are about a dozen or so knock offs that claim to be an exposed aggregate finish like PT, but are very poor in the material quality, and simply are not as good as PT. And we do about 90 - 110 Peb Tecs a year and have been doing them since 1987. Rob Lay - yes, for sanitizing, we use Bromine with great success. But for the best in sanitizing a pool, we will install an ozonator unit from ClearWater Tech. Feel free to check out their website at WWW.CWTOZONE.COM . This along with bromine provides a crystal clear pool, reduces the amount of chemicals you have to use, and has no negative effects (ie - bleaching of swimsuits, burning of eyes or skin). My customers that opt for it, absolutely swear by it. BobD - You are right on the Jandy computer system (RS8)! It is an excellent feature when coupled with either a Spa-Link or 4 function remote switch. Definitely a must have. And the decking is another must have. Get as much as possible. | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1239 Registered: 3-2001 |
We had a pool built at our last house (a lot of fun)... here's another option for you if you have the room. Our yard required a stone retaining wall in the back of the pool... so we had the "rock-man" build us a bar using the same stone near the pool. Note the large boulder in the middle of the stone. I ordered thatch over the net and built the roof over the bar. This was a work function...  | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 5176 Registered: 12-2000 |
Anyone know about doing a lap pool instead of a curvy typical pool. I want something I can swim laps in. 60' minimum length and prefer 75'. Only has to be wide enough for 2-3 lanes. Would be nice to have it where you can play volleyball too. Might even be a way to work some curves around the normal lanes so it doesn't look like a complete rectangle. Anyone else know if you can use Bromide or chemicals besides Chlorine that are less harsh on skin and eyes? In High School went to the UT swim camp and their huge Olympic pool was Bromide. It was awesome, but not as reactive as Chlorine, so didn't clean as well. | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1238 Registered: 3-2001 |
will h (and Jim), our mixed plaster does not have a consistent look either... it actually has streaks. That's what makes it look so good in my opinion... and why they call it a lagoon bottom. This and the rocks and the flagstone really give it a natural feel. | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Intermediate Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 1367 Registered: 7-2002 |
that mixed color plaster never looks perfect as they mix it as they go so it never has the same ratios of plaster/color specs adn then they do trowel it on etc so not uniform applicatiion. The darker colors look pretty good, but the light blues and greens to me always looked dirty from day one. | ||
| will h (Willh)
Junior Member Username: Willh Post Number: 78 Registered: 3-2003 |
Bob, excellent advice on the indoor controls, I forgot to mention that, once you have them they become a necessity. You have described our pool here, gray mixed color with bluestone coping and deck - but the pool bottom coloration was not uniform, something that surprised me a bit. The result in our case was a light gray, very mottled look. The plus is that it makes the pool look a brilliant blue. The minus is traces of brushing and other effects of the application process. Maybe ours was done incorrectly? Tile would be beautiful, probably my first choice - I wonder about maintenance, though. | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1237 Registered: 3-2001 |
We've built a pool and bought a home with an existing pool. Be careful with PEBBLETEC... it's really tough on suits and even tougher on wet feet... we have friends with this. Just consider normal plaster with a lagoon-look color (vs. regular white or blue plaster)... they can mix colors and make the bottom of the pool look really cool. Combine this with flagstone coping (with slate tile) and a built-up boulder-type waterfall at the far end of the pool. Have them set the boulders right down into the water level of the pool. Very nice look. Don't skimp on the deck size... you can never have too much deck if you plan to do any entertaining. If you plan to have a heater for the pool, have them run the gas line to a fire pit next to the hot tub. Don't forget the Jandy "AquaLink" indoor computer.... it allows you to completely control the pool functions and timers from the inside of your house... including pump, spa, heater, pool lights, landscape lighting, etc. It also comes with a "spa-side" remote. This is a must! Finally, get a DE filter, not an old fashion cartridge filter. Email me if you'd like some pics for ideas... Good luck!!!! | ||
| DHutchison (Hutch308)
Member Username: Hutch308 Post Number: 313 Registered: 1-2002 |
Dr.S - Just sent you some mail... As far as tiling a pool entirely, it certainly wouldn't be cheap!!! Besides, you will want to put a Pebble Tec finish on your pool anyway. Check out WWW.PEBBLETEC.COM . Pebble Tec is by far the best pool finish, and I just did a pebble tec on Bruce Wellington's pool. Let me know if there's anything else I can help you out with. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 525 Registered: 4-2003 |
Hutch, email sent. John | ||
| James Dunne (Audiguy)
New member Username: Audiguy Post Number: 10 Registered: 6-2003 |
Our pool was put in about ten years ago by Pulliam pools here in the metroplex. It is approximately 20x38 with an irregular shape. It has three submerged seating areas around the edge of the pool and a waterfall. It has an aggregate surface around the pool of about six feet. When we bought the house three years ago, a friend of mine who is an inspector said that to have the pool installed today would be around $50K. The original invoice I found showed it cost $34,500 new ten years ago. It is gunite, not concrete. | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 847 Registered: 5-2002 |
Just signed papers to have a pool built at my home. (another Ferrari set back) It's not as big as you guys (23x41, WOW). My pool will be 15x30 and no spa.. cost over $33k I did choose the salt water cleaner over the chlorine pool cleaner.. I could have saved $1000 but I heard the salt is easier on the skin and hair. Options is what you have to be careful with.. YOu can build a pool the same size with tons stuff and pay over double my amount.. I chose basic but nice. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 524 Registered: 4-2003 |
Hutch, If you can beat $130,000 you can build mine!!!! BTW, what does it cost to completely tile a pool my size?? DrS | ||
| DHutchison (Hutch308)
Member Username: Hutch308 Post Number: 312 Registered: 1-2002 |
No, I'm not one of the founders, or even related. But the company is run by the 4th generation of the family. Let me know when you want a pool Ed, I'm doing one in Sands Point, Long Island right now. You can't be too far away!! And hopefully Summer and warm weather can't be too much farther away!!! | ||
| Ed P. (Ebp)
Junior Member Username: Ebp Post Number: 121 Registered: 12-2002 |
Hutch, 1919? That's incredible. Are you one of the founders? lol  | ||
| DHutchison (Hutch308)
Member Username: Hutch308 Post Number: 310 Registered: 1-2002 |
Ed - You are right! A gunited pool is stronger than a pool that had the floor poured and then the walls shot. A gunited pool is a monolithic structure (one-piece shell), and has no seams. Whereas a pool that had its floor poured and its walls shot separately will have a seam where the floor joins the wall. We only do one-piece gunite pools, and are the oldest pool company in the nation, established 1919. | ||
| Ed P. (Ebp)
Junior Member Username: Ebp Post Number: 120 Registered: 12-2002 |
As I understand it... the difference between concrete and gunite/shotcrete is the way it is applied. Gunite and shotcrete are concrete that is "pumped" or "shot" onto the steel frame of the pool to build the shell. It is supposedly stronger to do it this way. | ||
| will h (Willh)
Junior Member Username: Willh Post Number: 76 Registered: 3-2003 |
DrS, of course don't forget to look at total project cost including landscaping, landscape lighting, do you want an outdoor grill installed, piping for propane or other gas source, pool related furniture, fencing required by applicable zoning (also can be really expensive) ,etc. I put a pool in last year and would be willing to fax or e-mail you the contract & pricing, if it would help. I'm not familiar with concrete v. gunnite, would be interested in learning about concrete. | ||
| Bob Campen (Bob308gts)
Member Username: Bob308gts Post Number: 627 Registered: 9-2001 |
I had a poured concrete pool put in about 10 years ago, approx. 18 x 40 styled type, 110 yds of concrete, cost then around 30k with deck and all equip including heater. Current cost around 55k | ||
| will h (Willh)
Junior Member Username: Willh Post Number: 75 Registered: 3-2003 |
DrS - 27x75 is pretty big, as you say. And price varies with amenities such as fountains, tile choice, color choice, & fun items such as jacuzzi, diving board, etc, but if you want anything "fancy" I'd bet at the very least $80k for pool and deck. Add $$ if a landscape architect is involved, if you have a slope or other construction issues, unusual pool shape/depth, high end deck materials (can get very expensive), etc. I agree that it is extremely important to get several quotes but more important to inspect other projects built by the winning bidder. Take any completion date with a grain of salt. Perhaps construction costs are lower in NC than here in the DC area. | ||
| Bruce Wellington (Bws88tr)
Intermediate Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 1926 Registered: 4-2002 |
DRS JUST PUT ONE IN..23X41..EMAIL ME PLUS I USED HUTCH'S COMPANY FOR THE PEBBLE- TEC FINISH ON IT...IT LOOKS GREAT.. BRUCE | ||
| DHutchison (Hutch308)
Member Username: Hutch308 Post Number: 309 Registered: 1-2002 |
Dr. - I install inground gunite pools. Take a look at my website, and feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you have any questions. I'm up in Connecticut. WWW.WAGNERSWIMMINGPOOLS.COM [email protected] Always eager to help a fellow F-chatter!!! | ||
| Patrick Denonville (Arizonaguy)
Junior Member Username: Arizonaguy Post Number: 164 Registered: 4-2003 |
Do what they tell you to do in the progressive insurance commercials...get 3 quotes from the top 3 leading competitors, shop around. Some family friends got a salt water pool installed last summer,its great! | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 500 Registered: 4-2003 |
Drs. Call another contractor and compare with that. Call two more and compare with those. Then go take a look at some of their jobs. Then meet some of the people they have worked for. That should tell you who's good and who's not. vincent. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 522 Registered: 4-2003 |
The one I want is 27'x75' Pretty big. | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Intermediate Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 1361 Registered: 7-2002 |
wide range depending on size and what you are getting. I sold pools one summer for Blue Haven Pools. Avg cost of a pool was about $19K with spa it was about $5K more. Then you have all the add ons like ozination filtration $1000, bigger pumps, bigger heaters, fiber optic light boxes, colored plasters, upgraded tiles, bigger decking with stone etc. They had a bait ad that ran...$9995 gets you in a pool. Thing they didn't tell you was no deck, no electric is included with that. I know others who have spent $40K on pools. Jerry Jones spent $80K just on the decking around his pool. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 521 Registered: 4-2003 |
Who has built an in-ground pool??? (Concrete) I have a bid to do one from a company here in NC and I need something to compare it with. Sadly, I know NO ONE who has ever built one of these things. DrS | ||
| baylor94 Unregistered guest |
I'm considering a pool and have been told that PebbleTec is absolutely the best way to go because of it's durabality, however now one can really say how long the finish will last. Can anyone give me any ideas? Of course now I am concerned about the being rough on the feet. Also would $39K for a 33 x 16 pool with PebbleTec, Flagstone Coping & Decking be out of line? Seems like a lot of $$'s but don't want to just go the cheap route. |