lrcharest

OK - My inground gunite pool, with a 3M Quartz plaster was filled August 13th. The pool builder told me to run the filter 24 hours a day for the first 10 days and brush the inside twice a day for 10 days. I also ran the Polaris 280 for 6 hours a day for the first 10 days, then cut it back to 2 hours a day. I run the filter 12 hours a day and, since it's new and a labor of love, I've been brushing it once a day. After two weeks, I noticed a few brown stains on the easy outs and then on the bottom of the pool. They do not brush off and appear to be getting worse. I was concerned and asked the pol builder what to do. At first she said to put two bags of shock, wait an hour then put two gallons of muriatic acid in the pool. She came over to look at it while measuring for the saftey cover. THen she said to put some shock in a nylon and set it on the stain when the filter isn't on. If that didn't work, to use Oxyclean. I've done that and the stains are still there. What could be the cause? And does anyone have a hint on how to remove stains from this surface without damaging it?

Thanks, I called Allegro and Dave came over to give me an estimate. Very personable and helpful, but he was going to build a 700 square foot pool when that far exceeded Fairfax County zoning regulations and he never heard of a grading plan. Another website said it's a red flag if the builder isn't familiar with zoning regulations. I reviewed all my estimates and sent out an email inviting them to revise their estimates. The revised Allegro bid for a 550 sf pool wasn't much cheaper.

I'm no expert, but I would recommend investigating what size pool your local zoning regulations allow. Where I live, a pool and decking can take up no more than no more than 30 percent of the back yard. Also, the quotes I received were all based on the size. Let the builder look at your back yard and give you their opinion. Hope this helps, Linda

Hello! I'm researching equipment for my new yet-to-be-built inground gunite pool. It's going to be 550 sf, 18x34 free form, slope 3.6-6 ft, 22K gallons. I've heard Pentair had the most reliable products, so thought I should go with a 1.5 HP pump, a DE 60 filter, a 400,000btu heater, and a 3900 Polaris Sport, with pump for a cleaner. One builder said I would be wasting electricity because my equipment was too big for the pool, but the size was about what 4 other builders said would be good, only one sold Hayward products, the other Jandy, the other Pentair. Does one brand have better reliability than the other? This builder also suggested I use the Polaris 380 because black rollers on white plaster wouldn't be good. and I didn't need a pump with the Polaris, either. Any recommendations out there?

Does anyone have good/bad experiences with Anthony-Sylvan, Blue Haven or Allegro Pools in my area? Thanks, Linda

Does anyone in this forum have recommendations for a builder in the Alexandria, VA/Washington, DC area? Finding this forum is part of my research and I sure would appreciate any advice offered. Linda