Hi, after lurking on the site for so long it is my turn to post the spec of my potential pool. we are to sign by next Monday. Please review and suggest any changes. My one big concern is the Salt system. the builder is using Jandy equipment and using Fusion salt system. I can upgrade to AquaPure, but I am not sure if it is worth it, or Fusion system will work -the mineral cartridge. I have seen where someone suggested to rig it so as to avoid using mineral buts still use salt for chlorination. any suggestion would be helpful. Pool size and shape model: 700 sq. Ft. width/ lenght 21-10" w x 43-0" l depth 3� - 0" to 8�- 0" Includes: Construction drawings Building permit Excavation including 1 hour of site preparation Hydrostatic control entire sub-base covered with crushed stone bed relief plugs placed in pool floor Steel reinforcing 3/8" pool walls & 1/2" steel in bond beam astm no. A615 Gunite application-quality controlled-minimum 4,000 p.s.i (a.c.i.315) 4 classic steps 4" wide / 12" long bullnose coping ( choice of 3 colors) Up size plumbing to 2 inch 6" band of frost proof tile, customer choice of design Tile trim on steps and love seat Deluze energy saver diatomaceous earth filtration system with 60 sq. Ft. Filter area Ul approved energy saver non-corrosive pump 1 -1-1/2 h.p. pump installed on filter pad with 25� of Pool Push/pull valve 2 skimmer with extra large catch basket Solar recirculation system Deluxe double bottom drains 2 returns Jandy salt fusion system Time clock Interior finish ( ansylbrite finish / choice of 5 colors) safety lines and floats Electrical bonding Indoctrination and start up instructions Insurance No additional cost for rain damage 1 cleaning kit-16� telescope handle, heavy duty nylon wall and floor brush and mesh leaf skimmer, Testing kit Silt fence Construction fence 1- 6� outside love seat with step in deep end 1- 380 polaris auto cleaner-w- � h.p. pump 1 days of rock removal at no charge (1) 399,000 b.t.u. heater ( natural gas ) (1) 8� inside bench Thanks

I would skip the beach entrance and go with the rock grotto, table and an auto fill. Auto fill in my opinion is one less thing you have to worry about on a weekly basis. If you go out of town you don't have to worry about a pump burning up because of evaporation. I would love to be able to sit in my pool at a table and drink a cold one. The rock grotto is somewhere during the summer you can get out of the sun.

Steel walls would be my choice polymer walls tend to warp and don't give you those straight lines on the pool. I change about 40 liners in pools per season and the steel walls very seldom show any type of corrosion and some of these pools are 20yrs plus old. Go with the salt system the UV will cause staining down the road...If I had to pick between sand or a cartridge filter I would go with sand...Do some research on DE fiters to me they are the best of both worlds and that is what I have on my personnel pool and as a builder I could have any filter I want... also if it were me I would look at Pentair equipment. For the heater if you not planning on swimming in Dec look at a heat pump rather than gas....250,000 BTU should be fine other than that... Rusty

I'm not always a proponent of "bigger is better", but when it comes to pools, you do want the pool properly sized so it can do for you what you intend it to do; swim laps, just lounge, play volleyball, etc. When the pool is in, you are done. That's it. In three years, five years, or eleven years, you'll have forgotten about the extra money spent to take down those trees. But if your pool is the wrong size, you'll always regret it each time it fails to meet your expectations. You want a free form, the PBs are pushing you towards a rectangle. Why? Is it for their convenience (in stock, easier to excavate and install, etc), or because based upon how you say you'll use the pool, they think a rectangle is best for you? Differences like that, you need to find out who's interests are best being served... If you go vinyl free-form in a custom size, don't forget about possible down-line maintenance...getting a replacement liner for your custom free-form versus the ease of getting a replacement liner for a standard-sized rectangle. I don't know if that is indeed a factor as I don't own a vinyl pool, but it's worth asking about. FWIW, I'm in CT too. I have a gunite pool with medium gray plaster. Pool temps in the summer are regularly in the high 80s and even into the sometimes too warm low-90s simply due to daytime solar. I swim from early April to mid-November. Friends with vinyl pools? They are always complaining about how cold their pools are.