Since the system is in service mode, what happens to the valve actuators when you set it in Pool Mode? Does the spa have a dedicated pool return in it or are the jets plumbed to the pool pump discharge valve and the actuator is set so that some pool return water is sent to the spa? Scott

Wodka: I live in Pass Christian and just started our pool build. Any reputable pool builder should be able to accommodate your requests/design limitations as you start the process. I have seen many 'pools' in the French Quarter that mimic what you are looking for; something more than a spa, but smaller than the normal sized pool. After talking with a few MS Gulf Coast pool builders, we decided to go with a builder out of Mandeville (Gibbens Pools) that services the Gulf Coast. The MS pool builders that we could actually get to come to our home and talk to us were pushy and we just didn't get a positive vibe.

Thanks for the answers. I guess I need to give a bit more info here. First, the pool is already in, just waiting until closer to the end of the build to finish off the inside. So, the steps are already installed and are 12" high. Second, the location of the step isn't typical I guess. The pool is a rectangle, about 27' n/s and 9' e/w. It starts about 3 or 3.5' deep and goes to just over 5' deep. The stairs are not in the shallow end, which is on the north side of the pool, but on the east side of the pool. The stairs stick out from the pool so that you have a rectangle pool with a smaller rectangle on the side (9' n/s and 3' e/w) that is the stairs. Due to the configuration, the depth of the pool is very different from the north side of the steps than on the south side of the steps. I am not concerned with the height of the last step on the southern part of the steps, as I understand there isn't anything that could have been done about that. I hope this all makes sense! My question is still about is there a standard of how pool steps should be designed as for height? What heights are others steps in their pool and spa at? Thanks! Jennifer

I have an endless pool (well it's in storage now because we took it out of the house we were living in and we've not constructed the room it's going back in). In our previous house it was just sitting on the basement floor. I built steps to get up to it. We're probably going to build a deck around it when we reinstall it. The problem with the pool-spa is that if you're actually going to swim in it, you probably don't want to keep it as warm as you'd like to keep your spa. We already had the spa, so we really didn't need to go there. I think that our EP cost us about $19K all told (pool, the solid surface coping, mechanicals, manual cover like the one in the picture above). If you're going to put this inside, you do want the cover. It comes with one about the consistency of bubble wrap that you throw on top, but the roller cover is much better. Keeps the pool humidity from condensing all over the place. I installed it myself. The only task that I needed help was to push the assembled side panels up against the wall (mine was in a corner). I had a few coworkers come over for a beer. It took us about five minutes.