Hi all. As many of you know, I am getting close to pulling the trigger on installing a new in-ground swimming pool. I've started a few threads in the past asking some questions (such as concrete vs paver decking, vinyl vs shotcrete pool, etc), but knowing I'll have a lot of questions going forward, I'm starting a new thread and will keep all future questions within this single thread. As I have more questions, I'll simply ask them here and change the date in the title when appropriate. Feel free to share your opinion on all topics or just the ones you are knowledgable about. Thanks!
To get started, this pool is for my family of 5, which includes 3 kids ages 8-13.
I have decided on my pool builder (PB), and also decided on a shotcrete pool with paver decking. Everything else is up in the air. So, here we go....
POOL SHAPE
Free form vs traditional rectangular. Since I'm doing a concrete pool, I can do any shape I want. I'm not limited to a prefab design, so the sky is the limit. That being said, although I like the look and feel of a resort style free form pool, I think I prefer the functionality of the traditional rectangular pool. I only say this because I grew up with a rectangular pool, and most of my swimming experience is in a rectangular pool. Free form pools always look resort-like and beautiful, but they also always look and feel small. I'm leaning towards rectangular, but would like to hear people's thoughts on this.
TANNING LEDGE
We do NOT want a tanning ledge that is incorporated WITHIN the main structure of the pool, as we feel it chews up valuable real estate. If we do add one, it will be additional square footage on the outside of the main pool structure with steps included for pool access- like this....
Question is- is it worth the added cost? The depth would be about 12-14" and it would be for chilling out and relaxing, but still staying in the water. For those that have them or have used them, are they worth it? Do you find yourself using it all the time, or rarely using it?
POOL DEPTH
We are debating between the traditional shallow and semi-deep end (4'- 6.5') vs sports pool (3.5' - 5'- 4'). Basically, the sports pool is shallow on both ends and deeper in the middle. It sets up nicely for volleyball and basketball games. From what I've been hearing with traditional shallow/deep end pools, after 30 minutes of swimming, almost everyone gets tired of the deep end and they gravitate to the shallow end. So many people are forgoing the deep end in their pool designs these days. I grew up with a 3.5' - 8.5' pool with diving board. My new pool will NOT have a diving board, but it will have a raised bond beam wall (due to the slope in my yard), which will run the entire length of the pool and will be 2' off the water. So the kids will have a ledge to jump off for cannonballs, etc. I know 6.5' in not a diving depth pool, but for properly trained kids, it's still enough to "shallow dive" in and retrieve dive toys from the bottom of the pool. If we do a shallow/deep end, the deep end will have some bench seating incorporated within the structure of the pool. Thoughts on the depth layout?
POOL HEATER
To heat or not to heat? This is in NC, and I figure a heater will extend the season by 2 months, April to October. If "yes" to a heater, the question is gas vs electric heat pump. Gas is cheaper up front, but electric is suppose to be cheaper and more efficient to operate. Plus, the heat pump can be reversed and give you a "chill feature" when the water gets too hot.
SPA or NO SPA
We have decided to NOT add a spa to our pool. Of course, if we did, it would resolve the "heater question".
Although we love the look of the spa, we don't think it's worth the extra $10K+. Our thought is, if we want a spa, we can buy a nice hot tub with comfortable contoured fiberglass seating and a multitude of jets rather than a circular concrete bench with a few jets in it. Am I wrong for thinking this? Am I missing out on a spectacular must-have feature?
RETAINING WALL vs RAISED BOND BEAM WALL
As I mentioned perviously, the slope of my yard requires a wall of some nature to keep runoff water out of the pool. A raised beam bond wall is the cheapest and allows for water features such as sheer decent waterfalls. It also provides a ledge for the kids to jump off. However, my only concern is that you really can't exit the pool from the side with the raised wall. Instead of a raised wall, I can build a retaining wall several feet behind the pool, but it is more expensive (more labor because it's not part of the swimming pool's concrete wall). Also, with a retaining wall, I lose the ability for waterfall features and a jumping ledge. Is my concern of not being able to exit the pool on the wall side a worthy concern (to spend more for a retaining wall and lose my water fall features), or am I being overly concerned?
INLINE CHLORINATOR vs SALT WATER POOL
This topic is self explanatory. I've heard mixed reviews as to the dependability and salt water long term. My PB says salt water chlorinators are his biggest warranty item by far. Which do you prefer and why?
