There are a large number of interior finishes available for your pool today.
All interior pool products are cementatious. The differences between the finishes is the ad mixtures used.
Most common finishes:
Marcite: Marcite is the lowest priced finished used. It is a relatively soft product with a short lifespan (5-7 years) and stains very easily. We would not install or recommend Marcite.
Quartz based finishes: By the name of Krystalkrete, Diamond Brite, etc. This product has an admixture of fine quartz which gives it a better lifespan and stain resistance than Marcite. Usually if stained quartz based finishes can be cleaned. Typically there will be some mottling and unevenness in the finished product. This is especially visible at night with the pool light on. This is common and not a warranty issue. Life span is dependent on maintenance (7-15 years)
Stone based finishes: By the name of Krystalstone, Pebbletec, etc. This product has an admixture of different colored stones that increases the durability and stain resistance dramatically. Most all these products come with a lifetime warranty.
Pebbletec is the most expensive finish and the best. Very consistent product with great factory service and warranty. We recommend the Pebbletec line of products.
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Deck material ranges from concrete to brick pavers to artistic pavers to travertine marble to exotic stones.
In choosing your deck material your budget must be considered.
Concrete: The least expensive is concrete decking with a flocrete (cooldeck) finish applied. Concrete in Florida cracks, usually unless the crack is large there is no warranty. Normally the cracking is what we call spider cracks - very thin.
Saw cuts are made in the deck to help control the cracking. Concrete is a very durable material that would need to be repainted every 3-5 years.
Brick Pavers: We feel that brick pavers are the best choice in decking materials for a pool deck. There is no cracking but you may experience some settling during the first year (this should be covered by your pool warranty). Also, the deck should be treated periodically for ants and weeds. You must install a different footer and brick coping on the pool for the paver deck. That is where you should see the difference in price as the brick decking itself is less expensive that a concrete deck. It is the extra cost of the coping and special footer that increases the price.
Artistic Pavers: A very dense man made material that is perfect for pool decks. About 30% more expensive that paver decks.
Travertine Pavers: Same comments as brick pavers. Beautiful material that does the same job as brick pavers but that is approx. 60% more expensive as brick pavers.
Limestone, Granite, Slate and other natural materials: Premium materials offering the same benefits of brick pavers at a much higher cost.
Pavers or other material laid over a concrete subbase: Absolutely the best combination of durablity and ease of maintenance. A four inch thick concrete sub base or deck is poured and then the pavers are installed over the concrete subdeck. No settlement can occur. Very costly since you are paying for the concrete sub base and then pavers on top.
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Unless you have a special application the standard pumps and cartridge filters from the various manufactures are very similar in price and quality. Each manufacture has upgraded lines of equipment. For example Pentair Products makes a variable speed pump that will reduce your electric cost of the pump operation 30-50%. At a savings of $20.00 dollars a month you have an approx. 39 month payback. I have found the average savings to closer to $30.00 per month.
We recommend and use Pentair and Hayward equipment.
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Quick Answer - YES, we believe every pool should have a salt chlorinator.
A salt chlorinator will keep your pool balanced easier, make swimming more enjoyable, reduce maintenance, and keep your water sparkling.
Instead of using liquid or powdered chlorine in your pool you will use salt to create the sanitizer. The salt level in you pool is raised to approx. 3200ppm, which is less than half as salty as your tears. After the water has been filter it passes thru a cell that splits the particle of salt, the chloride in the salt becomes chlorine gas which disinfects the pool. When the water returns to the pool the salt particles recombine into salt. The only way you lose salt concentration is when it rains, excess water from the pool goes out the overflow which dilutes the salt concentration. The salt is water conditioner salt that can be purchased at the grocery stores (most of the grocery stores carry actual pool salt).
The benefits to you are no more red eyes, no more allergic reactions to chlorine, no more chlorine spikes once a week, no chemical smell, no storing of chlorine.
Please be advised that if there is too much rain or after a large party your pool may have a 0 chlorine reading. If that is the case the pool will need to be shocked as a salt chlorinator cannot make up a 0 reading.
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This depends on your pool builder and the bid that you received.
Unfortunately we have found that ancillary items are not always discussed. These items are what are normally considered in the industry as "owners responsibilities". These can include resodding the access area, sprinkler removal and replacement, touching up the back of the house from gunite rebond, landscaping removal, prewire of electric, gas hookup to heater, water hookup to autofill, repairing damage from existing screen tearout, etc.
Depending on your pool design, access to pool area, landscaping and lot these costs could be a few hundred dollars up to a few thousand dollars.
At Pool Design Concepts we will give you a complete breakdown of your project including the above items. Most of these items we do at cost based on the actual billing from the contractor. You have the option of having the work done yourself or we can handle it for you.
Be sure to review these items with your pool contractor - no one likes suprises in the middle or end of the job. Ask your pool contractor for a detailed breakdown of your job.
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