Steve's pool project 1-24-07

[skamp]

Here is a picture of my final design. I enlarged the tanning ledge and added bubblers. I also changed to 2 lights and some other stuff. I also signed the contract so hopefully they will start in a few weeks. I will post updates and pictures as they become available. Thanks!

Steve

[huskyrider]

The new pool design looks great.
I didn't realize that screening the existing covered porch was something you were considering. The original design does not work at all with that in mind.

I'll give you a little insight to my thought on the new design.
Have the builder drop your waterfall flanks to weeping rock level and let the one on the right slip in slightly below the level of the spa coping.
I find that moss rocks placed over the top of a 12" raised spa like they have the drawing makes that particular rock and those adjacent to it look to top heavy.

just my .02

See ya,
Kelly

[skamp]

The new pool design looks great.
I didn't realize that screening the existing covered porch was something you were considering. The original design does not work at all with that in mind.

I'll give you a little insight to my thought on the new design.
Have the builder drop your waterfall flanks to weeping rock level and let the one on the right slip in slightly below the level of the spa coping.
I find that moss rocks placed over the top of a 12" raised spa like they have the drawing makes that particular rock and those adjacent to it look to top heavy.

just my .02

See ya,
Kelly

Kelly,
It shows like that on the layout but what the plan was is to have the spa spillway dump water on that rock and not the other way around. At the right side it is already a low weeping wall and the spa is raised 12" so the spillway will be above the rock. The spillway is going to be 6' long starting from the weeping wall. I think the program my PB used did not layer the rock under the spillway correctly. Thanks!

Steve

[26theone]

Has your PB talked about using multi speed pumps for you project? Just curious as all the PB's I talked to just quoted single speed pumps. I know the initial cost on a single speed pump is less but am wondering if I should go the multi speed route such as the pentair intelliflo pumps.

Currently I am planning to have a single pump to handle both the pool/spa circulation, a blower for the spa and a booster pump for the legend pool cleaner.

[skamp]

Has your PB talked about using multi speed pumps for you project? Just curious as all the PB's I talked to just quoted single speed pumps. I know the initial cost on a single speed pump is less but am wondering if I should go the multi speed route such as the pentair intelliflo pumps.

Currently I am planning to have a single pump to handle both the pool/spa circulation, a blower for the spa and a booster pump for the legend pool cleaner.

No they never mentioned anything thing but sta-rite does make them in the pro series. I need to ask about it.

Steve

[divnkd101]

Here is a picture of my final design. I enlarged the tanning ledge and added bubblers. I also changed to 2 lights and some other stuff. I also signed the contract so hopefully they will start in a few weeks. I will post updates and pictures as they become available. Thanks!

Steve

Steve,

Addition of the bubblers, a great idea. I have one on my ledge. However, make sure the plumbers plumb those things with enough spacing to where they will not cause a disruption in water feature. What I mean is, one will tend to be dominant over the other if they are too close together. It has nothing to do with water flow out of the pipes but the ripples in the water they create. One will tend to distort the effect of the other. I looked at 3 different pools from several builders with this existing problem. That is why I decided on one bubbler over two. Hope that makes sense.

Based on your updated plan, have you considered moving one of the pool lights into the deep end? I think you and I think alike. I did not want to see the lights (mounted in the pool) from where I am sitting by the pool or from inside the house. However, with your aggregate finish, you are going to need as much light spread through that pool as possible. Your light will be very muted towards the back. Just my 2 cents worth. Again, the design looks great. Keep us posted.

[skamp]

Steve,

Addition of the bubblers, a great idea. I have one on my ledge. However, make sure the plumbers plumb those things with enough spacing to where they will not cause a disruption in water feature. What I mean is, one will tend to be dominant over the other if they are too close together. It has nothing to do with water flow out of the pipes but the ripples in the water they create. One will tend to distort the effect of the other. I looked at 3 different pools from several builders with this existing problem. That is why I decided on one bubbler over two. Hope that makes sense.

Based on your updated plan, have you considered moving one of the pool lights into the deep end? I think you and I think alike. I did not want to see the lights (mounted in the pool) from where I am sitting by the pool or from inside the house. However, with your aggregate finish, you are going to need as much light spread through that pool as possible. Your light will be very muted towards the back. Just my 2 cents worth. Again, the design looks great. Keep us posted.

I never even thought that the bubbles would cause a problem. The ledge is about 8' long so I would guess the spacing will be 3-4 feet. Do you think that is enough to prevent the issue you are talking about?

This is my first pool so I am not sure how well lights work but I did want to have light without seeing them and that why we moved them to where they are. It would seem like there should be plenty of light as one points right in the deep end and the other towards the shallow. If I move one to the deep end it seems like the lighting would be more uneven. Should I ask the builder to make them both 500 Watt lights instead of 300 and install a dimmer? Thanks!

Steve

[divnkd101]

I never even thought that the bubbles would cause a problem. The ledge is about 8' long so I would guess the spacing will be 3-4 feet. Do you think that is enough to prevent the issue you are talking about?

This is my first pool so I am not sure how well lights work but I did want to have light without seeing them and that why we moved them to where they are. It would seem like there should be plenty of light as one points right in the deep end and the other towards the shallow. If I move one to the deep end it seems like the lighting would be more uneven. Should I ask the builder to make them both 500 Watt lights instead of 300 and install a dimmer? Thanks!

Steve,
This is where you put yourself in the trick bag. The bubblers I looked at were probably spaced 24-36 inches apart. Without taking away from the look you are going for, I would say the wider the better.

As for lights, I am probably not the one to ask that question. There are several individuals in this forum that can better answer that question. I will tell you that my PB talked me out of spacing my lights too close and I am glad he did. I truly like how the light is dispersed in mine. Obviously, your PB is going to do what you ask him to do but hopefully he is also willing to offer his opinion as well. My advice to you is to ask him to take a look at pools he has constructed (same aggregate finish, lights, etc.) and go look at them in the day and at night. That should help you in your decision making process. Good Luck.

[skamp]

Steve,
This is where you put yourself in the trick bag. The bubblers I looked at were probably spaced 24-36 inches apart. Without taking away from the look you are going for, I would say the wider the better.

As for lights, I am probably not the one to ask that question. There are several individuals in this forum that can better answer that question. I will tell you that my PB talked me out of spacing my lights too close and I am glad he did. I truly like how the light is dispersed in mine. Obviously, your PB is going to do what you ask him to do but hopefully he is also willing to offer his opinion as well. My advice to you is to ask him to take a look at pools he has constructed (same aggregate finish, lights, etc.) and go look at them in the day and at night. That should help you in your decision making process. Good Luck.

I will see how wide we can get them. One of my neighbors has 2 bubblers as well. I will go measure how far apart they are. Also these bubblers are going to be in 6" of water so I am not sure if the problem would be better or worse in deeper water.

I will take a look at some pools at night to see how the lighting looks. Thanks!

Steve

[huskyrider]

Water oscillation most affects pool return eyeball fountains as opposed to foaming fountain jets by a Mfg such as Crystal Fountains.
Do you know which type your pool builder has spec'd in.
My guess is that it's pool returns eyeballs. I say this because if I'm tossing them in to close a deal they're very affordably installed.

I'm curious, how much of an allowance have you been allocated for the fountains?

On another note, I think two 300 lamps placed where they are now will do fine, you could even drop down to two 250's.

See ya,
Kelly