Now that we have the pool, a few things I wish we did differently. 1. Direct pool filler line from water source. (ours is a private well) During the summer, we have evaporation and need to top off the pool. It is a pain dragging the hose. 2. More lights. They gave us one, and wouldn't do LED. I would put more than one make it LED color changing. Would look great at night. 3. Yes, the Pebble tec looks cool. Yes the Pebble tec is rough on the feet. You get used to it, but guests are confused by it. If pebble sheen is smoother, I would go with it. 4. Make the pool deep enough for diving. Even though you may say no diving, kids will. You don't want any terrible accidents. 5.The deck...We did exposed aggregate too. Looks great, a little rough on the feet to get used to, but I think it is the nicest choice for the long run. It will look good forever. BUT, we expanded what they gave us in the contract, and it really could still be bigger. You want to gather around the pool, have enough room for tables, chairs, and chaises. They nickeled and dimed us to death on the measurements for the deck. Make it bigger than you think you will need. 6. Wish we did a spa. Even though we are not spa people, I think guests really like them, and they complete the backyard oasis theme. We did a small waterfall instead. What are you doing for a fence? We have the Jerrith surrounding the pool with 2 gates. We think they built us a nice pool. It was stressful, though. Expect to go overbudget on it. We went over on the electrical, fence, stone, and gravel. We also spent a lot on landscaping, outdoor furniture and outdoor lighting after the pool was done Also, fill it yourself unless you are on very expensive municipal water. Trucked in water was overpriced, but I think they push it so they can just call the pool totally finished quicker. Also, we are happy with the in floor system.

Hello! Boy am I glad to have found this place. Please let me know if I should be posting this in a different forum as well. I have a large backyard and two large side yards that are currently dirt behind my new home. I need to hire a landscape contractor/pool company to get the job done and was hoping for some referrals. We have had 6 contractor/pool people out to the house and have been less than Impressed by this segment of the workforce. I was hoping for some assistance. We plan for a 20x40' pool with raised 9x9' spa, L shaped BBQ island, with ground lighting, grass, concrete, and plants. We have a reasonable idea of the design layout but need someone to help us get the job done. Maybe a landscape architect to direct? I don't know, but I refuse to be taken for a ride by these contractors. Any help would be greatly appreciated. We are in orange county. Matt

Coverstar is a great brand of automatic cover. If you design it into the pool build you will not even know it is there. It is recessed into the ground at the end of the pool and the cover pit os covered over with a suspended block slab. You pour the blocks from the same mix as the rest of your deck so it blends in really well. The rails get mounted on the underside of the canteleiver coping edge. Normal overhang is 1.5" however you should spec a 3" overhang to account for out of square which can complicate the rail installs if the pool is even slightly out of square. A heat pump would be a great supplemental heating system for your pool, however with an attached hot tub you want a BIG gas heater. You dont want to keep you hot tub at 104 all day every day. You need a 300 - 400k BTU gas heater to bring the spa from pool temp up to 104 in about 20-30 minutes. Automation is preference for yourself or your builder. Hayward, Jandy or Pentair are the big 3 choices.

Calcium carbonate (the dreaded "white crusty stuff") is the BANE of pool upkeep in The Valley. Your daughter was so wise to use large tiles at the waterline. After the ledger stone is "cut to fit the curve" the product won't look as intended. Suggest she use the (very pretty) tile throughout.