This is going to be a pretty pool I noticed a few things that may warrant some considerations. A Clean & Clear Plus 520 square foot cartridge filter is better in arid locations. You won't blow off water backwashing and it is a better match to the pump's capabilities. The sheers and lams don't need an Intelliflow. Too much pump and since these are infrequently used, that's a lot of money! A single speed will do quite nicely, properly valved and extra returns in the pool to take any overflow unless the sheers are four foot wide each. They should have their own filter too unless the suction outlets are in the wall where they can't pick up debris on the bottom. Make sure the autocover has all high grade stainless hardware. Often, they come with galvanized. Does that include a spool cover that can accommodate matching coping. This is how the service crews get to the cover's mechanicals. Is the spool to be above or below ground? Are the cover's tracks under or over the deck? How long is the fabric warrantied for? The Texas sun is powerful and it's UV rays will have an effect on the vinyl's life expectancy. Find out what the current cost is to replace the fabric and ask what the cost was five years ago. That may help you to estimate what the cost will be when the fabric does need replacing down the road. Pricing Diamond Brite with Pebble is the same? Here in NJ, there is a significant delta in pricing. While I like the negative edge look of a spa entirely in the pool, in this case, it seems like wasted space near the two walls. It also makes for a long reach to a spa-side controller, something I highly recommend. The iS-10 control will allow you to turn on the spa, raise and lower the pump speed and temperature, and turn on your your lights and water features. These controls, I should note, are water resistant, not water proof and should not be submerged but rather deck mounted. Why only five spa returns? An eight foot spa can easily accommodate eight and the IntelliFlo can certainly drive them with enough pressure. I would also expect the cover to rub on the other two edges when it opens and close. Auto covers depend on the water for support. They aren't drawn tight like a spring loaded safety cover. This will create a lot of additional wear on both the edge material and the cover material. The only one that will lose in that situation is you since the cover and the edge repair costs will likely come out of your pocket Scott

After seeing your pictures, this demo won't be easy or cheap. One option might be to make the radius of the pool wall larger and match the bench dimensions in the pool. This way they only have to demo the spa. Some dimesions would have to change. Making the spa bigger or making the distance between the pool and spa slightly larger. It will be important to maintain a uniform dimension when they regunite. This option would save the builder from having to demo the entire pool wall and get the project to look right, eventhough the dimensions will not be to the original specs on the plan. A little flexibility on your part could make this error a little easier for the PB to cope with. Good luck.

Congrats on starting your new pool! Who is your pool builder? You may want to ask your pool builder about watering. When we built, they said it is more important to water the gunite when it's really hot outside so maybe you don't need to as much with the cold we've been having. I am NOT a PB though, so that's who I would ultimately ask, if I were you. Ours sent us watering instructions that were very specific. Good luck to you! Do you have any photos to share?

I am not in any giving the contractor a free pass for the issues you are having. Check your contract for a start and completion date. There are many problems that delay the start, the progress and ultimately the completion date that is out of the control of the contractor. Since May 2020, the building trades demand has exploded. That includes new pools. Building departments have been overloaded with permit applications for new work in all the construction/improvement trades ans they cannot keep up. That, begins the first delay. Forced shut downs because of Covid halted production of goods. Stocked items were depleted quickly by September of last year and manufacturers could not keep up. Goods right now are still hard to get in a reasonable time. For instance, we ordered multiple heaters that took 3 weeks to arrive. They are normally in stock. We also just waited 7 weeks for glass tile. Lumber prices are more than double in price. Companies are spending more capital just to begin projects. I'm not sure of the type of pool you are getting, but we build gunite pools. We need reinforcement bar on hand before we begin a dig. If we don't have it and we dig, we could have an open hole for weeks. This is bad. Site are subject to foul weather which can destroy a good dig. Bad weather in general pushes EVERYONE back. Rainy days are a big nemesis. Another delay. Items like skimmers and main drains are needed as well as they are not easy to get. Perhaps your contractor is a bit strung out and does not have the materials to begin your project, thus the delay. They were even willing to fire you. Labor is another problem. Getting help this year has been virtually nonexistent. No additional help again, promotes delays. All of the material shortage came pretty quickly a few of months ago without too much warning. You have a choice to go elsewhere but you'll be on a longer wait list. In my 35 years of business I have never experienced anything like this. I spend more time emailing and making phone calls, general administration work, than being on site. I need to secure materials for upcoming projects and this is what I must do. Reach out to your contractor and press for a realistic schedule. Perhaps with this information you have a better understanding of the struggles and challenges my industry is facing.