earthtones

Allegro built our pool last summer. I had my moments of aggravation--which were sometimes with Dave and sometimes general aggravation that might be more properly be aimed at our landscape contractor, who "oversaw" the pool build as part of a bigger complete landscape renovation. In the end, we got a beautiful (but simple) pool, which was built quicker than anyone could have believed. (It was designed in early May, and we were swimming in mid-July.) And any time I call Dave with questions about my pool, he's very responsive. We are now considering having Allegro install solar heat for the pool.

We are installing a 20x40 pool and want to include a diving or jump board that will be fun for my two boys, but not too tempting for daredevil stunts. In other words, I think we'd like something with a little more bounce to it than a jumping platform (rigid board on a rigid base), but not as much bounce as a true diving board. We are thinking a rigid board with a springy base (specifically SR Smith's Hip Hop board on Cantilever base) might be the right combo to meet this need, but aren't certain of where this combination might fall in the bounciness scale compared to other options. I've talked with our pool builder, but he's not very forthcoming, and I've sent messages to SR Smith (as a consumer, I can't reach them by phone), but they haven't responded. So now I turn to all the experts out there in cyberspace. Does anyone have any advice they can offer? I'd especially love to hear from anyone who has the Hip Hop board, with either the Cantilever base, or the rigid base. (My pool builder says even the rigid/rigid combo has some bounce to it, but I don't know whether others would agree with that statement.) Thanks for your thoughts!

Thank you both for the insight and advice. Is there anyone else out there with an opinion about the Pentair swg, positive or negative? Any opinions about the Jandy automation with the swg add-on? Wisdom of using different manufacturers' products? Thanks.

Hi-- We are about to begin construction of our pool, but recently asked our contractor for prices on a few potential changes (after reading a great post on this forum re: pool options people couldn't live without). Given the prices for the equipment found online, we are surprised at how high the builder has bid on these changes: * Furnish & install a Jandy automated pool lighting and filter system w/wireless remote: $4,200 * Furnish & install Pentair salt chlorinator: $1,800 * Furnish & install Pentair LED lights in pool (this would replace the two standard lights already spec'd): $840 Does anyone have any thoughts on whether these prices sound reasonable? (We are in Washington, DC, which is a pricey market.) Also, any thoughts on whether we would be better off just going with our original contract (which includes 2 300W standard lights, Hayward offline chemical chlorination system, and 2 time clocks to control filter pump and pool cleaner), and then making these changes later. My husband is quite handy and my father is an electrician, so another option might be for them to install at least the Jandy controls at some later point. I'd appreciate any wisdom you can impart.