Thanks for your reply poolguy - tanning shelf is an 18 " deep (10 ft X 10 ft) entrance to the pool (one step down), then there are 3 more steps after the 10 ft going into the pool. The rest of the pool is then 40 ft long (so the tanning shelf does not lessen the 40 ft length for swimming). Made of steel and covered with vinyl liner. Essentially an area for little kids to play or adults to hang out (I have several young children). Sorry I don't have a picture. The waterfall plumbing was explained as an additional pipe (rigid PVC is used everywhere) that is capped off at the location of future WF. We want a nice one, but it is not in the budget this year. On the cleaner - thanks for the info - DH actually said he did not know how that could really clean the pool - the other option they offered was Blue Diamond @ $1400 - is that comparable to the Polaris or Aquabots? We have nixed the spa and deep end swimout. We are confused too by the concrete charges - basically 3 ft wide regular concrete is included (no cantilever). Tan tint on 3 ft around pool is additional $583. If we want the cantilevered edge it is another $1500. If we want stamped concrete 1 ft perimeter it is another $1860. So in summary, if we want tan concrete 3 ft surround with stamped concrete 1 ft perimeter and cantilevered edge the Upcharge for that is: $3043. For comparison a bullnose TRAVERTINE edge was quoted to us (from a mason- not pool company) at approx $3600. The charge to add 407 sq ft of additional tinted concrete adjacent to pool area is $2950. Really appreciate your input!

Hi in Syracuse. We were surprised and happy to read your inquiry since it is so similar to our design issue and in the same area you are located. We are also in the CNY area and attempted to build a pool last year. We hit many issues-most having to do with our pool placement in our yard, that we have since changed. One other issue we had was the same as yours with the sundeck and how to do it. We have a pool ledge/sundeck in our design and we are wondering if you could share with us how yours was done and if you have success with it. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!! We wish to have it in the first step if it's possible. Our PB was not familiar with the sundeck and has since done one as well. (Maybe we have the same PB?). We are also wondering if you did install returns and if you felt you needed them. We are told we could have 6in water on first step and we are not sure if that's enough, although we think it is. Our sundeck design extends 6 feet. Any guidance/photos you could provide would be wonderful. Thank you in advance and we hope your pool turned out fabulous.

Thanks gals for the help. This picture (link) I posted is actually kind of off on the monitor. The liner I linked is truly more of a tan color than gray. I wish I could find a better picture. Does anyone know what color the water would be with a tan colored liner. Georgiapoollover--I am seriously considering the same liner you chose. The tile color doesn't go very well with my house (sounds silly huh?), but I love how the gray walls make your water look. This is an absurdly difficult decision :-) Thanks!

innypenny... Good luck!!! I decided on a black liner from triac (and a liner covered inside step)...I hope I didn't make a mistake. I don't know, because it hasn't been installed yet. I wanted a dark gray, but the only one I could find was a Vynall, and the sample wasn't nearly as dark as the pic. on the web. I couldn't find a pic. with it actually in a pool, and Vynall couldn't get me one either...I was afraid that it would have a green tint to it, so I went with the black (we want a dark, deep blue). I hope it's not too dark. A word of caution on the pebble look liners...the Fort wayne one is nice, but the triac & pacific version looks really splotchy...I had both the gray & blue version for a weekend and they both made me queasy to look at after awhile...definately see one in person!! Please...if anyone can find a picture of a gray liner in a pool, please post it!!! Maybe I can still change my mind!!! I have stressed bad about our liner decision for the last 3 months, but for some reason the look we are trying to achieve isn't popular here in TN, and it's next to impossible to find natural looking vinyl pics period...I am posting links to the website that has the pictures that finally convinced me to go black...the 1st & 4th pics. under vinyl showcase are black, and the last one on the awards gallery is a black liner as well. Wish you luck!!!! http://www.coolpool.com/vinyl_0061294.html