What do you wish you would have done?

[steveinaz]

...but didn't.

For me, I wish I would have gone with pebble-tec. My one and only regret---

How about you, with hindsight being 20/20 what would you have done differently?

[JohnT]

Interesting topic:

Wider deck on the "back" side of the pool.

Rectangular shape instead of Grecian because of solar cover headaches.

Probably would have gone one size bigger on my pool. I was afraid bigger meant more work.

Might have added a second skimmer due to high spider load late in the season.

Would have done a better job planning for extras around the pool like a poolhouse so I didn't have to fit things in around the plumbing.

[CarlD]

I wish I had taken up Spanish instead of French when I was in 7th grade. Now, 40 years later I'm struggling to learn Spanish but can still read French.

[dawndenise]

- Would have brought in a landscape designer right at the get-go, even as the pool was getting planned.
- Would have specified a contract termination date and added a performance (penalty) clause.
- Would have researched stonework/rock work to be sure the correct type stone was being used.
- Would have been more skeptical when the PB said the cleaner return was not a problem to access UNDERNEATH the waterfall. (Try disconnecting that in the winter, if needed.)
- Would have looked into better pump sizing and efficiency. (Never gave a thought to energy consumption )
- Would have gone slightly deeper, maybe 6.5' or 7' instead of slightly under 6'.
- Would have gone with a less slippery deck surface.
- Installed a heater or heat pump.
- Installed a control system and/or add a 2nd timer to control the cleaner.

Wow, I guess we learned a lot with this first pool! It's actually quite nice, but, as you can see, we'd be better-educated consumers the next time around.

[ivyleager]

Snuck out in '76 to the Led Zepplin concert.
Had 2 kids instead of 1

CaryB

[ivyleager]

No seriously:

-gunite instead of vinyl


CaryB

[aylad]

Probably would have gone SWG from the beginning, since it really wouldn't have made any difference in price while the whole thing was being financed, plus they could have plumbed it all in while building. Could add one now, may in the future, but not sure since my pool is pretty easy to handle just using BBB.

Janet

[donaldm823]

1-I got white plaster-should have gotten a shade of blue plaster-(better looking with water and also hides the dirt/stains
2-install a SWG as part of construction-took me 2 years to finally install one myself-wonder how I managed the old way
3-I have a free form (kidney) shaped pool with one light at deep end-should have gotten a light in the shallow end also
4-normal pool discharges are in the shallow end and point horizontal approx 1 ft below water surface. That direction relative to the surface is enough to cause turbulence on the water surface with resultant pH rise over time due to aeration. Should have been pointing down or better yet have jets that I can position as needed.

[gunkel04]

1. Placed the second bottom drain in the shallow end.
2. Placed the tpr's in more effective locations to help with currents around both bottom drains.
3. Placed 2 more tpr's around the tanning shelf to help blow off the debris.
2. Went with Pentair equipment instead of Jandy.
3. Installed the laminar deck jets instead of the non lighted deck jets.
4. Installed a DE filter from the get-go, instead of the cartridge filter. (fixed this problem already)

[simsjim]

I wish I would have done more research on contractors before I chose one to do my pool reno job. I had many, many difficult challenges with the contractor I chose. Most astounding was the inferior quality of his work and the duration of the entire renovation.

mechanically speaking:
I would have insisted on 2" pvc
more control valves on suction side
Installed heat pump
Electrical outlet on the edge of the concrete deck area

For those that want to know, if you are in the PA area, and hear the name Forchetti and Pools in the same sentence, run away. Avoid this company at all costs. Friendly guy, poor worker.