Looking at putting in a pool

[dank69]

Any pool experts here? We had a rep. out from one company to give us a quote. Seemed great and we were planning on going with them but wanted to get at least one more quote from a different place. After speaking with a rep. from a second company we were a bit torn. Not happy with the level of confusion, we had a rep. from a third company come out and now we have no idea WTF to do, so I'm hoping the hive mind can help me know what the real scoop is on all of these options.

Two things we value the most are longevity and easy of maintenance, in that order. Other than that we are trying to keep costs down. We don't mind paying more for quality, but we aren't going to get a bunch of bells and whistles.

Some of the differences between companies:
Fiberglass wall panels vs. steel wall panels
27 mil liner vs. 20/27
Deck bracing vs. no deck bracing
Frog mineral system?
Vermiculite concrete bottom vs. sand concrete bottom.

First company we talked to is one of only 2 companies allowed to install the fiberglass wall panels in our state. I really liked this because steel will rust. The second company uses galvanized steel "like they use for guard rails" as the rep. told us. Will these really not rust? I'd think eventually they will rust anyway.

First company uses only 27 mil liners, "not the cheaper 20/27 other companies use to save a few bucks." They only have two styles to choose from though. Other two companies say 27 mil is overkill. 3rd company offers styles in both thicknesses, but upcharges a little for the 27 mil styles and the rep. says just pick the style you like best because thickness doesn't matter.

First company uses bracing every 4' all the way around and deck bracing every 4' all the way around. Says nobody else does this without upcharging. Second company doesn't do deck bracing but has lifetime warranty against cracking for concrete patio. Third company says others only do deck bracing because they don't let the ground settle properly before pouring concrete.

First two companies use Frog mineral system because it is the best and easiest to use, can keep chlorine down to 1.0 instead of normal 1.5 level. Third company says Frog system is a joke and theirs is the easiest.

First two companies use vermiculite base. Third uses sand concrete because vermiculite sucks.

Opinions about all this stuff vary wildly on the internet. Any of you guys have good or bad experience with any of this?

 

[Mayne]

Its a pretty big investment. Seriously think about your finances and wants/needs. Just the pool heater setup is gonna set you back bigtime.

 

[Ruptga]

It's not an investment at all, it's hole in the ground that you sometimes throw money into. It won't increase resale value at all because for every person that looks at it as a nice feature there's someone else that doesn't want to pay the upkeep or devote a chunk of yard on a pool.

 

[Mayne]

It's not an investment at all, it's hole in the ground that you sometimes throw money into. It won't increase resale value at all because for every person that looks at it as a nice feature there's someone else that doesn't want to pay the upkeep or devote a chunk of yard on a pool.

pretty much this.

 

[mvbighead]

I have a simple above ground pool. I believe that, no matter what you do, maintenance will come along. I cannot speak to sand/concrete, but just know that a pool weighs a LOT. The ground must be solid. I assume as long as the concrete is poured correctly, the other parts shouldn't matter that much.

As for steel vs fiberglass, depends on your weather. Fiberglass is going to be more likely, IMO, to become brittle due to weather aging. Steel will rust. For me, a new coat of paint and a quick sanding will fix rust. You're not going to fix cracked fiberglass easily, so I would go with steel, personally. It may bend if the pool is emptied and wind throws it around, but beyond that, it should last longer than fiberglass, I suspect.

As for liners... they're all not that expensive. $100-$200. I had one that came with the pool that was cheap. Due to an installation issue, it got a hole in it somewhere so I ordered a new one. The pattern was much nicer on the new one, and it is thicker. I do suspect that, over time, weather will deteriorate the plastic and it will have to be replaced again. We'll see if I get more than a season or two out of it, but even if I don't, I can drop a new liner in every year and be fine. It sucks, but whatever. $150 a pop is easy for me to be able to have a pool experience without a bunch of young kids rough housing around my little guys.

I am by no means an expert, but those are some of my thoughts on the topic. I've yet to see a rust issue when proper metals are used.

 

[lupi]

And all that gives absolutely zero value to any of the questions asked.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Is this in-ground or above ground? A friend of mine installed an in-ground pool in his backyard and it cost him nearly $70 grand. It looks really nice though.

 

[Newbian]

It sounds like you need to stay away from the 3rd company as it looks like they are the cheap method not using as much in standards as the others and it will cost you more in a bit of time.

The 27 / 20 mil liner is not much of a issue as they probably will last as long as one another and it's more about the appearance you should worry about as it's what you will be looking at so if one has a better look go for that.

In either case most of it will be up to you for your research.

 

[NoTine42]

http://www.troublefreepool.com/
^best place for pool info on the internets

Many pool builders are great at pool construction, but 99% are terrible chemists.
Mineral systems are a waste.
Sure minerals (like copper) can kill algae, but you need to kill more than algae to have a safe pool, and low chlorine levels don't kill the other things. Just keep a proper chlorine level to have safe and clean water.
It's copper that turns hair green, not chlorine.

If you are not dealing with rock (waterfalls, grotto), then a salt water generator is the easiest way to maintain chlorine levels.

 

[joutlaw]

What are the price differences? Curious as my wife is dead set on a pool and I am not. Our builder gave us an idea of 30K for liner and 50K for gunite :O

 

[Linux23]

Yeah what were the 3 prices?

 

[dank69]

Sorry I didn't include all these details since my OP was getting long as it was. We are in New England, Connecticut specifically. We are looking at both above and in-ground, but my questions were specifically for in-ground.

If we go above ground we will be going with the first company because they offer Radiant pools, which are two layers of aluminum with 2" of foam insulation between. These things are so durable that they come with a fully-transferrable lifetime warranty. As an added bonus the insulation keeps them much warmer in our climate. I never liked the way above ground pools looked, but seeing these made me willing to reconsider. My wife is the one who wanted above ground, but I have pretty much convinced her to go in-ground. As for price, the 24' round is about $11,000 installed, but these things are definitely worth the premium. The other two companies quoted $6,000 and $7,500 I think for 24' round.

Back to the in-ground topic, all three companies are coming in around the same general price. We are looking at probably $40,000 for a 16'x32' after all is said and done no matter who we go with. First company we'd have to get our own electrician and fence guy. Second company we'd just need a fence guy. Third company we'd need to get our own electrician, fence guy, and patio guy.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Fence? Around the yard, or ... ?

 

[dank69]

CT state law must have 48" tall fence around pool with alarm system

 

[JoeyM]

I'm in CT and have in ground, liner, salt water, heat pump and robot vacuum (dolphin brand). Very easy to maintain, great fun and everyone loves it from June until September. I have no idea what the thickness of the liner is or what is outside the liner( I would have guessed it was cement). Sorry I couldn't answer your specific questions but my pool is exactly how I would do it again.

Joe M.

 

[dank69]

I'm in CT and have in ground, liner, salt water, heat pump and robot vacuum (dolphin brand). Very easy to maintain, great fun and everyone loves it from June until September. I have no idea what the thickness of the liner is or what is outside the liner( I would have guessed it was cement). Sorry I couldn't answer your specific questions but my pool is exactly how I would do it again.

Joe M.

Do you know who built it?

 

[Aikouka]

First two companies use Frog mineral system because it is the best and easiest to use, can keep chlorine down to 1.0 instead of normal 1.5 level. Third company says Frog system is a joke and theirs is the easiest.

1.5 ... ppm? After spending a long time learning how to deal with the (in-ground) pool that came with the house, I shy way from people that don't seem to understand pool chemical balance. The amount of chlorine in a pool is dependent upon a couple factors, but the biggest one is the amount of stabilizer. Stabilizer helps keep the sun from dissipating the chlorine, but it also requires more chlorine. I need about 6 ppm chlorine in my pool.

Honestly, all you need is a good test kit (I use the Taylor... K2006?) and some bleach. I buy Kroger's brand, because it's the only one I've found that puts almost no bubbles in the pool. Target's brand put a ton of bubbles in my pool. D: Although, sometimes I'll cheat and just average how much bleach I've been adding recently an add the same amount.

 

[Linux23]

Bleach in a pool?

I guess that makes sense. You'll come out cleaned and sanitized.

 

[NutBucket]

The bubbles are likely from a surfactant in the Target brand bleach.

 

[JoeyM]

Do you know who built it?

Prospect pools near Waterbury.

 

[purbeast0]

i don't have much to contribute to this other than my dad had a pool that from what i heard cost about $30k to put in. i have no clue about the specifics other than it was pretty nice sized L shaped pool with a diving board and a hot tub that overflowed into it. it was surrounded by a concrete patio and was heated.

i also visited my friends 2 weeks ago out in san diego and they are renting a house with a pool that has a nice overlook, and after hanging out there for 5 days, it would be really awesome to have your own pool especially in a place that is warm year round.

 

[purbeast0]

Its a pretty big investment.

It's not an investment at all

pretty much this.

lmao!

 

[dank69]

Bleach in a pool?

I guess that makes sense. You'll come out cleaned and sanitized.

I have heard that is basically what you are actually getting when you buy chlorine from a pool supply store.

 

[Linux23]

I have heard that is basically what you are actually getting when you buy chlorine from a pool supply store.

so when i accidentally swallow pool water i'm drinking bleach? Blech

 

[dank69]

1.5 ... ppm? After spending a long time learning how to deal with the (in-ground) pool that came with the house, I shy way from people that don't seem to understand pool chemical balance. The amount of chlorine in a pool is dependent upon a couple factors, but the biggest one is the amount of stabilizer. Stabilizer helps keep the sun from dissipating the chlorine, but it also requires more chlorine. I need about 6 ppm chlorine in my pool.

Honestly, all you need is a good test kit (I use the Taylor... K2006?) and some bleach. I buy Kroger's brand, because it's the only one I've found that puts almost no bubbles in the pool. Target's brand put a ton of bubbles in my pool. D: Although, sometimes I'll cheat and just average how much bleach I've been adding recently an add the same amount.

Yeah, just going by what the first company told me about this Frog system. I assumed he meant ppm. It seems strange to me though that you said a stabilizer that is used to keep the chlorine from dissipating actually requires more chlorine. Isn't that self-defeating?

Edit: Looked up the Frog system and it says 0.5-1.0 ppm. Check the manual on this page