I will give you my opionion although I've only had my pool since the end of November. The pool cover-I say don't bother with it. I thought that was something that I really wanted at first, but didn't do it and I'm glad that I didn't waste the money. I live in Louisiana and after cutting down a pecan tree and a couple of crape myrtles, its all good now. And, I really enjoy my pool now in the winter, even if its just to look at. We had Christmas here at my house and everyone ended up congregating out by the pool in the afternoon. It was nice. I really can't say from experince about the in-ground cleaning, but my polaris 280 is awesome and it works so well. It's been keeping my pool beautifully clean so far. I've heard that these in-ground cleaners are just not worth it and that they can be unreliable. The automation should be a nice and worthwhile feature. I don't have it but kind of wish I did. We were just kind of tapped out after spending $40,000 on our pool. I do have the sams light, and I do like it alot. I don't think that you want the colored lenses on a white light. I have diamond brite and its very pretty. They tell me that it will last alot longer than plain plaster. Hope this helps.

I never understand paying for any in floor system. A standard cleaners will do the job for a fraction of the cost. 4K for automation? what are they proposing. A top of the line IntelliTouch, considered the best, is nowhere near that.

Thanks teppy! My PB said the same thing about the cover.
He said don't get one for at least a year, and see how you feel about one then.

What color Diamond Brite did you get? I am leaning away from the in-floor cleaning, and toward automation. I know what you mean about being tapped out though... This is as part of a new home build, and we are going to be eating beans and weenies by the time the whole thing is done! :)

repair_guy, the automation the PB is suggesting is Com-Pool 3400 and is $3,995. Most of my equipment is Pentair. That does seem awfully high to me too... I've got two pumps - one for the pool and one for the infinity edge. Could that have anything to do with it?

Thanks for any info.

I did a combination of french grey and verde. I think it was 12 french grey and 3 verde to be exact. It gave me a carribean bluish green color. This combination was suggested to me by a forum member here.

For your automation, I would suggest the Pentair EasyTouch; a much more cost effective route. You would regret not going to automation, I promise.
Also, if I was building a vanishing edge pool for myself, I would but a floor cleaner on all the steps and benches and in the surge pit and use a Polaris 480 cleaner.

oakrunfarm, tell your pool builder to move on to EasyTouch and IntelliTouch. Pentair is discontinuing the Compool 3400, 3600, and 3800 series now that they have SunTouch, EasyTouch, and IntelliTouch. Afterall, Compool is so 1980's... (;-)

Thank you all.
I think maybe I will try to go wih one of the less expensive Pentair options.
What should I expect to pay for the EasyTouch or IntelliTouch?
coryrmp, could you tell me a little bit more about why you'd set up cleaning the way you mentioned with an infinity edge?

"In-ground cleaning system - $4,000 - will an auto cleaner work just as well? What happens if the in-ground breaks?"
If you go with a standard cleaner the pipes are still underground so if the pipes break you still have a problem. :)

Forget the in floor cleaner, put a skimmer in the the vanishing edge overflow basin. The vanishing edge acts like a skimmer in your pool and most of the debris will end up in the overflow basin. Most pentair automation systems will cost you less than half of what they are charging you.

Oakrunfarm,

I just had my pool compelted and I was able the builder to throw in a few things to finalize the deal.
1. He gave me a LED multicolor light instead of the regular 500 watt bult.

2. He bult a wall concrete wall with stucco finish around equipment.

These guys do make the money and sometimes you have to be a little tuff before you sign.

My pool has the infloor cleaning system and Goldline clorine generator system, Hatward 1 1/2 HP pump and with a large 4 filter system also Hayward. I also got a sheer waterfall instead of the standard rock pile. Pebbletec interior and large deck and increased one side of the pool deck from standard 2ft to 4 ft wide.

Here is a link that might be useful: Here are a few pictures of the pool during build

We finished our pool here in Louisiana in September. We do not have a pool cover. Although we have to empty our two extra large skimmers at least twice a day, due to having a yard with many trees, we would not want to hide our beautiful pool (at least not yet anyway).

We have a legend pool cleaner (like polaris) and it does a great job. I would be worried about a built in cleaning system.

We got the automation (pentair easy touch I believe) for our pool and spa for $1500. and in the end, they lowered the price to $1000. I think the quote you got was WAY too high.

As for lights, we got LED multicolor lights for $500 each. We love the light but make sure you have plenty for your large pool. We have one in the spa and one in the pool. Iwish we would have put two in the pool. Because our pool is lagoon shaped, the one light doesn't light up all the freeform nooks and crannies.

Lastly, our diamond brite upgrade was $1200. We got the french gray and love it.

Hope this info helps!! Building a pool is extremely stressful. Hope all goes well.

Thank you all so much! This is so helpful to me as we are going to be finalizing things this week.

I am going to get one of the other automations besides the Compool since it is old tech. Not interested in having problems and not being able to find parts/service.

The idea to put the skimmer in the overflow basin for the infinity edge is a great one. I agree that most debris will end up in there.

Thanks for the input on lights, covers, cleaners, and everything else. Y'all have been great! :)

oakrunfarm,

We have built several infinity edge pools. Every single customer has complained about the mess in the basin. For the best results, you will need 3 suctions in your pool: main drain in the pool, main drain in the basin, and a skimmer in the basin. Using the floor cleaner in the basin, as well as the steps and benches is just easier on you as you are taking care of you pool. This is just my opinion, and after building several of these pools, this is the way I would build it for myself.

oakrunfarm,

first of all, congratulations on going for the new pool. i know you were going back and forth and I am glad to see you are doing it. we are not going with a cover here in raleigh either. we will go through one winter and see what we think. we are getting the colored lights and the automation, although we are not paying quite as much as you have been quoted. we are also not doing the in floor cleaning system - it just never quite made sense to me. What we are doing is using the Polaris, but our PB also put in a dedicated vacuum line in the side of the pool. this way we dont have to drag the hose out and plug it into the skimmer. it is sort of like central vac in your house..you just plug the vac into the outlet.

good luck with the build - we are at the coping stage now.

coryrmp - just curious, how the plumbing would be designed with a skimmer and floor system in the basin. Seems to me, this would require a complex design to prevent the basin from overflowing or emptying if plumbed into the main pool filter pump circuit.

If you are recommending a separate filter pump system with a separate floor system from the main pool, then the concerns of emptying or overflowing the basin go away. Is this what you are recommending?

Also, a skimmer in the basin would be difficult as the water level in the basin is always changing and the skimmer will only be effective when the water level is at the skimmer level.

Sorry for all the questions, but when I designed my pool, I considered a floor system and skimmer in the pit, but these concerns drove me away from that idea after considering the complexity of the system....just trying to learn any tricks that can be used to implement what you are suggesting.

Hi Scott. Thanks. I'd love to see photos when you get some. We're pretty excited about ours. I know you are.

When I met with the PB yesterday, he said he did not think the skimmer in the basin was a good idea. (I forget now why, but it was something to do with being very difficult to access to clean maybe?)

He said that they are using the IntelliTouch, and that he would re-check his price on that and get back to me. (I was given the ComPool info by his salesman, so there was a conflict there.) I told him the $4,000 pricetag I was quoted was roughly twice what I was hearing was correct, so I hope he will come back with better pricing.

I do think I am going to opt for the infloor despite misgivings. Everyone who had given input on having one really loves it. The PB made the point that the automatic cleaners must be serviced and parts replaced, and a new one bought every so often, and I really don't much want to deal with hoses and equipment in and out, etc.

I am sure I will request some final incentives/bonus equipment or a price break before we sign.

Thanks all, so much!

I have had both in floor cleaning and a Hayward Navigator. The in floor systems don't really work very well. The idea is fine but they are so poorly engineered that they will miss most of the pool. It takes a lot of water pressure to make the heads work and they have to be spaced rather close to be effective. Most builders just don't do that they use too few heads and too small piping and pumps. If fact in my present pool I had to by a Zodiac Z3 just to get the pool clean. So save your money.

Many pool builders will include in the standard pool a simple remote control system that will do about all you need. $4000 is way out of line($2500 profit for the builder).

I had a pool cover, it lasted 2 years and the sun destroyed it. Not work the price.

The colored lights are very over priced for what they do.

The IntelliTouch pumps are a huge overkill for home pools. They are hyped because of the profit factor. Proper sized pumps will work just as well. Unless you have a water feature that is sensitive to water pressure they basically are a waste. They actually a less energy efficient than a single speed pump. The hype is that if you turn down the 2hp pump it will save electricity, well if you just installed a 1hp you would do the same and save a $1000.

By eliminating the above items you should have enough budget left to look at the various water features. There are many and they really add to a pool.

Cliff s