Back in Jan, we started looking for pool builders to build what we thought was a very basic pool.

We looked at 9 pool builders, 4 of which came highly recommended on many forums, with no complaints on the BBB or Angie's List. Of those 9 bids, 3 builders did not submit a bid. All bids came within 6k of each other. In the end we went with Atlantis Pools and Spas. The owner (Kelly) came out and looked over the property (he was the first and only builder to mention that I needed to call the gas company to upgrade my meter). He is highly approachable and down to earth. Considering other pool builders recommend him, he builds beautiful pools, and has been in the industry forever, it sealed the deal.

After talking with Kelly we modified the original design a little bit.

14'x28' inground pool

4'-5'-4.5' depths

Raised bond wall along length height 6"-12"-6"

7' spa centered opposite raised bond wall level with pool

sunshelf bench shelf to the right (south) of Spa

3-4 stairs to the left (north) of the Spa

3-4 volleyball umbrella holders

White marble plaster

700 sq ft of decking - choice of peagravel or brushed concrete with 4" drains

12" bullnose brick coping (we later upgraded this)

Water line tile

2 skimmers - 2" sch40 lines from the skimmer

3/4" fan sprayers on the bond wall

Overflow and area drains plumbed to the street

Skimmer and main drain lines run separately.

weather proof junction box

French drain to the street - to deal with my yard not draining properly

8" oc for rebar #3

pneumatically applied concrete - per code

All Electrical run

Continuous run poly gas line to the heater

3/4" sch 40 fill line

2 Main Drains - 2" suction

2 - 300 watt lights in the pool

1 - 100 watt light in the spa

light conduit - 3/4" sch40

Aqualink PDA PS 6 Radio Remote

460 Jandy cartridge filter

PHPM 2hp Jandy plus HP pump

400k LXi Jandy heater

All Jandy Valves

Rainbow 320 3" tablet Erosion clorinator (though I'm going to try the BBB method)

1.5 qt 240v commercial grade blower

8 hydroair jets

Polaris 280 w/ booster

Initial Startup service and instructions

Cleaning kit - leaf skimmer, test kit, thermometer

16' telescoping pole

Due to HOA BS we didn't get to start until April 21,

but here is our build. I'd like to add that all the subcontrators and crews that have been out to work have respectful and very professional.

This is the yard before everyone came

Unloading the bobcat

Ripping out the fence

Dealing with a tight squeeze

Laying out the pool - with an audience (Kelly in the background)

Almost finished with the dig

Honestly, we were quite surprised at how much destruction a little bobcat can wreak. Our side yard became trenched due to the many passes. They smoothed it all out in the end but now it's a mass of clay. Our poor neighbor's front yard is terminal where the bobcat turned around (yeah we'll be buying them new sod and are inviting them over for dinner when all is said and done).

Although all the crews have done a great job cleaning up after themselves, our yard is still a construction zone during the build. I mention this only because when seeing all the pictures, you tend to ingnore the wreck a small yard turns into.

Rebar, Baby! These guys are FAST!

Spa Plumbing

Pool Plumbing

We Have Gunnite!

Kelly figuring out the dimensions for the stairs

Water several times a day - note the spa has multi level seats to deal with my husband who's 6'4" while I'm only 5'3".

Coping and tile - This travertine is SOOO PRETTY - so glad Kelly talked us into it.

Picking out tile

Pools not finished but we still go out just to sit and look at the tile

Pool Equipment (another really TIGHT squeeze)

Start of the deck (this poor crew was screwed by the concrete vendor)

They finished at 10pm at night because the concrete that was promised at 11am didn't show till 5pm

And that's where we are at.

So far this has been a very cool experiance.

Here is a link that might be useful: Original Quote Thread