Swimming Pool "Must Have" Options on New Pool Build
#1
Admirals Club



Thread Starter

This will be an in-ground pool with a screened in enclosure. We will be heading to the design center in a few weeks to discuss the options, and having never owned a pool before, what are the must haves? I believe the basic pool comes with a single light and stairs.
I know that I want a salt water system, what are some other items that you consider important to have, especially the ones that cannot be added later on?
Thanks in advance!
Oh, and no, this is not an unlimited budget.
Location is Tampa, FL.
I know that I want a salt water system, what are some other items that you consider important to have, especially the ones that cannot be added later on?
Thanks in advance!
Oh, and no, this is not an unlimited budget.

Location is Tampa, FL.
Last edited by BiloxiGuy; 02-14-2021 at 08:28 AM.
#2
Senior Member



Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Suburb of Sugar Tit SC
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Someone else to maintain it.
#3
Senior Member

The first and most important feature I would put in a new build is design it to be a zero edge pool.
They are just awesome. If you have ever been in one you know what I mean.
THere is nothing better looking from either inside or outside the pool.
They are just awesome. If you have ever been in one you know what I mean.
THere is nothing better looking from either inside or outside the pool.
#5
Senior Member


Umbrella socket in shallow end.
little seat shelves in deep end.
little seat shelves in deep end.
#6
Senior Member

We completed our pool about a year ago. You didn’t mention spa/heater, but I convinced myself I would do the electric heater, which is slower, and get the automation system so I could crank it up from wherever. If I had it to do over again I would have done the gas (propane in my case) and no automation. The electric heater is slow and when it is cold I have to start it several hours ahead of time during the day or it can’t get the spa up to temp.
LED lights are pretty cool, I got the pentair landscape lights. Make sure they put in a port for a robot vacuum.
I skipped the automatic cleaner because I screen, glad I did, my pool stays plenty clean without it.
LED lights are pretty cool, I got the pentair landscape lights. Make sure they put in a port for a robot vacuum.
I skipped the automatic cleaner because I screen, glad I did, my pool stays plenty clean without it.
#7
Admirals Club 


Walk-in shallow end
sun shelf with umbrella
seats to make yourself about 1/2 in the water and keep your drink on the side for chillen’
auto overflow
robot cleaner
heater
sun shelf with umbrella
seats to make yourself about 1/2 in the water and keep your drink on the side for chillen’
auto overflow
robot cleaner
heater
#8
Admirals Club 


We added a beach entry with umbrella slot and bench seating on deep end.
salt.
and the best addition last month was a pool heater. Keeps temp around 84 degrees and allow for year round usage for kids.
Robot with leaf canister .
Why the screen in ? The 70s and 80s are over
salt.
and the best addition last month was a pool heater. Keeps temp around 84 degrees and allow for year round usage for kids.
Robot with leaf canister .
Why the screen in ? The 70s and 80s are over
#9
Admirals Club



Thread Starter

Noted. I figure that I will try my hand at it first and see how it goes before I throw in the towel.
Concrete. Trying to stay under $10k in options.
Honestly, all we think we want is a basic pool to float around and swim in, but having never owned one, I really don’t know what is important.
Honestly, all we think we want is a basic pool to float around and swim in, but having never owned one, I really don’t know what is important.
#10
Senior Member

I like my chiller. Knocks the temperature down about 10-12 degrees overnight. Makes a big difference, 95 down to 82. Makes it refreshing instead of feeling like bathwater.
#11
Admirals Club 


Walk-in shallow end
sun shelf with umbrella
seats to make yourself about 1/2 in the water and keep your drink on the side for chillen’ Our sunshelf is set up for lounge chairs to keep you just in the water.
auto overflow this is a must in FL with all the summer rain
robot cleaner
heater
sun shelf with umbrella
seats to make yourself about 1/2 in the water and keep your drink on the side for chillen’ Our sunshelf is set up for lounge chairs to keep you just in the water.
auto overflow this is a must in FL with all the summer rain
robot cleaner
heater
Autocontrol system with phone AP
Salt system of course
an in-pool hot tub is nice but would not be in your 10K budget for additions.
#14
Admirals Club 


Something no one has mentioned, a variable speed pump. I upgraded the original to a Pentair intelliflow VSP, its saved hundreds of dollars on our electric bill. It can run as low as 450 rpms, but I usually keep it around 1400 rpms, and you can barely hear it when it's running. We don't have a screen enclosure, and it circulates the water just fine. We also changed over to a salt system, and couldn't be happier.
#15
Admirals Club 


Solar heater
make sure the pool deck is big enough. We remade ours a couple of years ago to add about 5 feet at the shallow end and 10 feet of width on the East side. You will need more room for pool furniture and lounges that you think , and it’s very expensive to redo it later. I would suggest no less than 10 feet of deck all around. 15 would be better.
make sure the pool deck is big enough. We remade ours a couple of years ago to add about 5 feet at the shallow end and 10 feet of width on the East side. You will need more room for pool furniture and lounges that you think , and it’s very expensive to redo it later. I would suggest no less than 10 feet of deck all around. 15 would be better.
#16
Senior Member


Over size the filter and heater, add extra jets in the Spa, Variable speed pumps, automation, Salt Generator.
Oh 3) Home - Trouble Free Pool | Trouble Free Pool
Its the THT of pool Ownership
Oh 3) Home - Trouble Free Pool | Trouble Free Pool
Its the THT of pool Ownership
#17
Senior Member

I would place options in this order
1. Hot tub that spills over into the pool. This way you can soak without having to heat the entire pool. (This will probably eat up most of your $10k bonus budget).
2. Ill second the deep end shelf and umbrella shelf.
3. They should at the very least install some sort of overflow pipe for torrent summer rain.
4. Solar can also cool your pool in the summer if you run it at night. Then change the pump to run in the day for heating in the winter.
5. If you have the choice, go with a natural gas heater instead of electric. Much cheaper to operate.
This our second home with a pool. Last house had a hot tub, like I mentioned above, and we were in that thing almost every night for sunset. When it comes time to resurface our current pool....we will add a 4-6 person hot tub.
1. Hot tub that spills over into the pool. This way you can soak without having to heat the entire pool. (This will probably eat up most of your $10k bonus budget).
2. Ill second the deep end shelf and umbrella shelf.
3. They should at the very least install some sort of overflow pipe for torrent summer rain.
4. Solar can also cool your pool in the summer if you run it at night. Then change the pump to run in the day for heating in the winter.
5. If you have the choice, go with a natural gas heater instead of electric. Much cheaper to operate.
This our second home with a pool. Last house had a hot tub, like I mentioned above, and we were in that thing almost every night for sunset. When it comes time to resurface our current pool....we will add a 4-6 person hot tub.
#18
Senior Member

I've had pool in every home I've owned since 1984. One thing I didn't see mentioned is an autofill system. It very cheap to add as part of the build and uses no electricity. It's just a float operated valve (like in a toilet) that'll keep the pool filled to the correct level to make up for evaporation. The overflow drain is a good idea too and costs virtually nothing. As for finish, pebble tech or similar is great looking and virtually maintenance free. As for the salt system, I threw mine out and replaced with a simple chlorinator. The salt system was nothing but trouble and right after the warranty it crapped out and I had a choice of spending a grand to fix it or $150 to replace it with a chlorinator. I've never had a problem just using chlorine tabs. Also get a remote control for the spa.
#19
Admirals Club 


Since OP is in Tampa, ( Texas here ), consider the chiller in addition to the gas fired heater. Makes a year round pool, perfect, year round.
Seriously we have dumped 4-500 pounds of ice in the pool on a holiday weekend in July or Labor day, just to get it from low 90's temp into the 80's. It's a pretty big pool, and it did help. Remodeling the pool area perhaps later this year, am 100% going to add that.
The hot tub, should be part of the base model, with over flow into the pool. Can't have too many jets or seating in the tub either. Also think some sort of cocktail table in the middle would be nice.
I would second the ability to wifi the pool controls. Countless times, have been at dinner, I would have turned the hot tub on, set the mood lights etc, by phone, if I had the ability to do it by cell phone.
Polaris pool cleaner or robot for sure. I am not as sold on salt water pool, chlorine or bromine has worked pretty good for me for a long time. Some stone features don't do well with salt water.
Seriously we have dumped 4-500 pounds of ice in the pool on a holiday weekend in July or Labor day, just to get it from low 90's temp into the 80's. It's a pretty big pool, and it did help. Remodeling the pool area perhaps later this year, am 100% going to add that.
The hot tub, should be part of the base model, with over flow into the pool. Can't have too many jets or seating in the tub either. Also think some sort of cocktail table in the middle would be nice.
I would second the ability to wifi the pool controls. Countless times, have been at dinner, I would have turned the hot tub on, set the mood lights etc, by phone, if I had the ability to do it by cell phone.
Polaris pool cleaner or robot for sure. I am not as sold on salt water pool, chlorine or bromine has worked pretty good for me for a long time. Some stone features don't do well with salt water.
#20
Admirals Club 


Solar heater for sure. If you have a spa,, think about separate filtration for both the pool and spa. That way, you can maintain the spa with temp from day to day without involving the pool. Sounds crazy and complicated but I wish I had done that 12 years ago. Also be able to heat the spa or the pool, or both. It's just plumbing and an extra pump, but well worth the up front cost.