I am sure this blog has clarified all your decisions for you, but if not, just get 5 more quotes from pool companies and you'll be just as enlightened as you are now. Rather than concentrate on the specifics of a pool e.g. filtes, pumps, etc. Concentrate on the business you are buying from. Check how long they have been in business, how many complaints they have had on the BBB and pay particular attention to unresolved complaints. Does the pool company have a service department and a retail store to support you when you need help? The pool company has to live with your pool after the sale and they want to sell you a package they can support. My personal belief is that if you choose a reputable pool company (do your homework) and feel comfortable with the sales rep, you should let them recommend what components will go into the pool. To a very large extent, your budget will determine which type of construction will be employed in your project. Vinyl being the best value, gunite or shotcrete being the most versatile in design, and fiberglass with a shorter construction time. Technology has made great strides in the pool business particularly in sanitation, finishes, pool chemistry, and construction materials; they are better than ever. The swimming pool today can be a sparkling clear, forever clean compliment to your home.

Thanks to all of you. Attached you will see the orig. plans which called for everything in the section "sun deck and new terrace" to be on the same level w/ 1.5% grade toward the house. What are your thoughts on having the area from the coping of the splash deck toward the pool on both sides (sun deck)at the heigher pool level, and a step down toward the house to the area called new terrace? I think it would be about a 6" step down. If you think that would work, would you put trench drains on the upper level also? BTW, all the roof lines drain onto the terrace area. Only the covered porch drains into the yard.

I can imagine that converting to gunite will be just as pricey as a completely new gunite pool, minus the cost of excavation. But, anything is doable. I think that a most cost-effective method would be a new liner that's more appealing to you, new coping, and perhaps jets and skimmer fittings that blend in a little better. Fwiw, I have a gunite pool, and I have white jets...

I don't remember seeing return lines buried in the gunite on any of the photos I've seen here, nor did they do that on our pool. Sometimes they will do that along the pool drain laterals because it's easier just to do a deeper trench and then gunite it over the lines then it is to dig, install the line, backfill, then gunite. Sounds like they must have buried them in the walls on yours though. Strange!