3 New Swimming Pool Upgrades You Should AVOID!

[@conniewheeler2399]

I have an inground pool that is 44 years old (finally had to refinish it this year). I am so thankful I don't have to care for those waterfalls and other water features. Friends who have them, wish they didn't and they look terrible after just a year or two. I do have the in floor cleaning system and I must say I LOVE mine and kept it with the refinish. But, I do understand what you are saying about the possible problems. They did pressure test the entire system and it passed with flying colors so I'm hoping it will work for the better part of the next 40 years just like the original build has. Knock on wood. One great thing it does is it sure keeps my pool water cooler in our extreme heat in Phoenix. So much more refreshing to swim.

[@MatthewPainter]

Agree that a stand-alone waterfall prob isn’t a great idea, but we integrated three small sheer descents into a wall, very little added cost, and they are great. Love the sound and the look and they help a little bit with water temp regulation (in TX summers).

[@alexibonnet2634]

Excellent point stated Tabby concrete is also an option for pool deck. (Color concrete with sea shells ) sea shells act like an aggregate which prevents/eliminates concrete from cracking Pretty pricey then regular concrete deck. With the right contractor it will look awesome

[@alextube1099]

I have to disagree on waterfalls and cleaning systems, I have both and absolutely love it.

[@monoralph1375]

My wife paid a lot for two waterfalls. Each about 24" long in a stepped 2 foot high wall. While they look nice and have a nice sound, Steve's suggestion is spot on. We use waterfalls occasionally. The piping is manually valved off as there is an underground piping leak. No way to access top of waterfall box as it is under concrete and stone. I'm not inclined to have stone and concrete wall and patterned colored concrete jackhammered on a one and a half year old pool. Pool contractor wants $$$$ to fix his mistakes. Poor in south east Pennsylvania

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

Sorry to hear about your situation. I wish I could say this was rare but unfortunately it is very common.

[@mayorb3366]

Stone waterfalls leak. Hate to be so blunt about it, but it's basically an expected failure.

[@monoralph1375]

Has nothing to due with stone but poor attention by the pool piping fabricators. PVC piping is simple to fit and glue IF attention to workmanship. Now the leaking piping buried under expensive patterned concrete. @@mayorb3366

[@Fljeep18]

@@Swimmingpoolsteve I think leaks would be more of a problem for areas that freeze in the winter. Don’t hear any problems in my area southern Florida.

[@RT-ol4hh]

Noooice! Love the info drops on this channel!

[@jeffreygrimm2361]

Lol we use our deck jets all of the time. Love the sound they make. We live is sc so they run year round and most the day and night.

[@adamhaut6859]

I actually like my deck jets. Paid wayyyyy too much for what they are and yes they'll crank your pH up. Sadly I don't get to use them as much as I'd like because my wife thinks they sound like urinating. Personally I enjoy peeing, especially outside, so take that for what it's worth.

[@jouseviva6516]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@craigkennedy4418]

Great Advice Steve 👍 I will add instead of a broom finish deck I’ve seen some beautiful colorful Cool Decks as in Cool Deck being the name for the type of deck because it’s cool to the feet. Looks like textured stucco on a house only it’s on the deck. I believe the texture is what keeps your feet a little cooler. Or Exposed Aggregate but and I mean a big but. You Always want to use an experienced swimming pool deck guy. Thanks again Steve for your perspective on pools Swimming pool owner California 🏊‍♂️

[@sgcacademy2877]

its not stamped concrete per se thats slippery, its the high solids sealers put on them, in my experience.

[@craigkennedy4418]

@@sgcacademy2877 Point taken Sir Have a great day 👍😎👊

[@Fljeep18]

Waterfalls are great, they block the neighborhood noises.

[@sonjakozman1699]

I thought so, too, also the intimate noises made from us towards the neighbours

[@raywilliams8683]

Thanks for your input. I trust your judgement / opinion over any one else! You Da Man! Thanks Steve!

[@johnhanselman6371]

I am always interested in what Steve's has to offer. Not sure what fun I can have with a winterized swimming pool with ice on the ground. Happy Holidays Everyone !!!

[@JustSayN2O]

When my house and pool were being designed and built13 years ago, the pool contractor recommended automation that could be activated by a touch pad. Internet access would allow, for example, turning on the pool heater from cellphone so the spa was hot when arrived home. We said no. I feared that the addition of all those extra valves, actuators and circuitry would pose big, expensive problems several years later as the Florida heat and rain took its toll on the outdoor equipment. I don't mind manually turning valves myself. Did I choose wisely?

[@johnwalker6121]

100% agree with you opinion of in-floor cleaning systems. When we built our pool a number of years ago such a system was part of the original contract. After a few days I started to wonder if placing a whole lot of piping and bunch of holes in the bottom of a pool was such a good idea and just inviting problems with leaks in a few years. We cancel that option and just added a stub line for a pressure side pool cleaner, one of the best decisions we made. Found out later that the automatic valve Anthony used on their systems was prone to problems in non-year round climates.

[@poolmonkey7479]

Should have went suction side

[@reydelagarza2953]

Agreed...I bought a house with a pool and "caretaker" system in it. Now that Im gonna replaster, you think it's best or even possible to get rid of it? Economical tp get rid of it, what would replace it?

[@stepanovdg]

Hi Steve, What do you think about overflow perimeter pool?

[@robertpaz9957]

Absolutely agree with deck jets. They were expensive and so loud when the jets hit the water they are not practical. I like in floor cleaners as I have a pool table and barstools which I need to get dirt behind them out. However, I also had them install a pool vac. Between the two, my pool stays very clean.

[@veryfitblondeguy]

Have to say love my waterfall grotto and my infinity edge, use it all the time....HOWEVER you are absolutely correct about the effervescence and staining. Our water chemistry is PERFECT (last test showed a LSI of .00), but still bad areas around the waterfall, looking at doing microglass over our black pebbletech this year to hopefully help with that.

[@shellyyoungman7805]

Hi, thrilled I found your site, here's what I'm up against....I have MS and will be installing an inground pool soon but what's available? What would you build? I need a permanent ramp entry, I would like a sunning deck( with like 3 inches water) off the pool large enough for 3 lounge chairs. It doesn't need to be huge, large enough to swim laps and float. My $ is tight but I want the pool, it will enhance my health. I want it pretty of course but functionality is most important. What is the best and easiest protection and maintenance plan for a handicapped lady without a handyman at her fingertips? 😅 any advice would be so appreciated!!! Thank you!

[@beaker151]

Well where I live we have insanely hard water and extreme high ph. PH is around 11 to 12. The autofill alone along with extreme heat causing heat evaporation adds to the pH battle. So water features or not there's the constant battle. I have had auto acid adding systems easily go through 5 gallons of acid a week on pools with no water features

[@shellyyoungman7805]

Oh, I also wanted to ask about heating and cooling water temps. And is it feasible to build a pool I could enter from the house? If so, I probably couldn't afford it but sounds cool! I used to lifeguard at a hotel that you could do that. What do you think about all this? 😅 thanks again!

[@phillips3390]

Can you have a UV light with your filter system? 🤔 Salt water pool.

[@Toffeeabi81]

Can water fall, infloor jet for decks/cleaning systems and water slides make your sunctionlines become of danger for entrapment and serious injuires or death?

[@briankumpan9892]

you can do stamped, just paint the stamped part and add ashtray sand to the paint. We did this to the side stages out at summer outdoor theater TEXAS because the side stages were always slick after it rained. The ashtray sand will work to

[@beaker151]

Yep just routine sanding and all's good. Slipping just lets you know when you need to reapply the sanding

[@abigailbarfoot3846]

Can the in floor cleaning system be an entrapment hazard

[@CP-nf9my]

I remember putting our pool in 22 years ago, they asked what bells and whistles I wanted. I told them, remember the Beverly hillbillies when they called their pool a cement pond? That's what I want. A cement pond. Thank God we didn't get anything more. Just the cement pond is a pain in the butt to keep up with.

[@njgrplr2007]

I have two neighbors with the super duper in floor cleaning system and they both have constant problems. I'm a big believer in the KISS principle.

[@ClearwaterChad]

Removed so many gear kits from in floor cleaning systems and left empty they suck in Florida and are useless

[@TheNine6]

Not to mention the added cost usually associated with winterizing a pool with useless features.

[@danlah1303]

Seems highly unlikely that any sizeable debris including leaves would ever get thru the new style MD floor grates.

[@AmaraOjiMusic]

Hi Steve. Just found your channel and I love it so far! Do you have any videos on mineral pool builds?

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

I do not. I do not endorse mineral pools.

[@AmaraOjiMusic]

Thank you for your response! Can I find your reasons in your website or another video? And whether you’ve reviewed the pool frog system? What about saltwater pools in a non-steel based frame?…

[@Listan1]

What are your thoughts on LED color pool lights vs incandescent? I see LOTS of anecdotes that $1200 worth of color lights like the Jandy Watercolor or Pentaire are cool but they break within 1-3 years and then you’ve got to spend another $1200 to replace. This was not on your list of upgrade mistakes though.

[@americangirl8970]

Wow, glad this video was recommended

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

@@americangirl8970 thank you

[@coziii.1829]

What about the bubblers

[@BrandonMYoung]

It’s always hard dealing with larger pipes

[@alexibonnet2634]

Tabby is made up of crushed seashells and lime, local materials that can be mined or gathered with a minimal impact to the environment. This material is affordable, strong, and durable.

[@markwisner3972]

I agree with everything. Instead of a In-Floor-Cleaning System, get a pool robot. I think the do a better job.

[@mayorb3366]

I'm not a fan of the in-floor systems. they just blow debris around the bottom of the pool, and you end up with piles of debris in the same places every week. Maybe ok for areas where sand and silt are the main contaminant, but no good for leaves. I've seen a few dozen of them over the years, none were especially effective at actually keeping the pool clean. Having said that, I've seen them installed in swim-outs and tanning shelves only, not pool bottom. Those places are dirt collectors and are a good application for in-floor pop-ups. Conventional cleaners do not cover those areas very well, if at all. I tell people to get a seasoned industry pro (pool tech) on their side before building a pool. For a couple hundred bucks, worth every single penny. I've walked into backyards and knew within seconds that whoever built the pool had not built one before. "Pools are purchased by people who do not know what they are buying, and being sold (in many cases) by people who do not know what they are selling". Not a good combination.

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

Agree with all of that

[@faamecanic1970]

Liquified zombies….lol….best description ever..lol

[@poolmonkey7479]

Agree with all of it. Would add automation/remote control, ozone generators, salt systems, heaters, jacuzzis, colored plaster, pebble tech, rooftop solar, rock.. both fake and real especially below water level…would add variable speed but it is what it is now. In other words, keep it simple. A pump, filter and a minimum of valves.

[@Peter-ok9bj]

How about pavers around the pool?

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

Pavers are a good option

[@Peter-ok9bj]

Any recomendarion on the type of pavers?

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

Nope - just head down to your local stone supply yard and see what options they have available for you. I might suggest to avoid darker colors as they will stain white from the chlorine water.

[@Polymated]

I don’t think the waterfall feature water needs to be so stagnant. You can easily set a timer to run the pump for a few minutes a day or even twice a day to cycle the water in there. It can leak, that’s obviously a reason not to get one, but all the focus on stagnant water seems misplaced.

[@coziii.1829]

I like the flame 🔥 water features but it’s separate from the pool

[@highoctaneadventure]

When we replaced our liner through a great builder in the area, our sales rep also talked us into sticking with chlorine pucks and a chlorinator rather than making the chlorine at home with a salt water system.

[@phillipmatthews8341]

I have a water fall that runs all the time with no problem.

[@Stock.pics2024]

Love my waterfall its gorgeous

[@brakejuice]

Thanks Debi Downer

[@JasonOBrienThinksHeCan]

Yikes! Put in pool in past year and opted for in-floor cleaning system.

[@north4961]

Hi Bro great channel and advice!! I’m replacing my return jet lines after a leak. The 2 lines going in are 2 inch - should I plumb down to a 1.5 inch jet or go with 2 inch jets ? Thanks in advance- look forward to your reply. 👍🇨🇦 Sub’d and liker 👍👍

[@deathwrenchcustom]

Can you convince my wife that we don't need a pool? I will PAY you!! 😆🤦🏽‍♂️

[@hguerrero660]

Hey Steve! What are your thoughts on including fire features around the pool? ie. Fire bowls connected to propane gas, etc?!?

[@poolmonkey7479]

K.I.S.S

[@petersalls4083]

If only i had watched this video 25 years ago. I have a raised hot tub with a waterfall into the pool. My ph runs high every other day. Never get a waterfall

[@mrbillinsf]

You are advocating a very low end boring pool, brushed concrete, and no water features. I am surprised you do not advocate for no landscaping. My only agreement with you is that in floor cleaning systems are junk and are impossible to repair. I only install pressure side Polaris Cleaners

[@neptune4167]

if it were Steve buying a pool, he would stick with the 4' diameter plastic kiddie pool, and wont even think twice about putting water in it...

[@scottm1390]

The swimming pool is the water feature.

[@cwsosby]

Broomed concrete, robotic pool cleaner, and us your neighbors hot tub!!

[@kevinj8431]

I agree with all but waterfall. Get that waterfall.

[@PL-pn9iu]

Waterfalls typicalls splash and lose a good amount of water in the pool to splashing and they also get algae buildup over the years They also do not give very good circulation.

[@drdrew3]

@@PL-pn9iu I have 2 waterfalls and none of the theoretical “problems” you are fearful off. I enjoy my waterfalls and get a lot of compliments about them

[@Pauly85]

Don’t get a waterfall? I’m investing a lot of money into my pool, after spending a lot on my home. A few k for a nice waterfall only adds to the appeal and atmosphere. Don’t agree there.

[@IAMYUNGGAF]

Water feature is what makes the pool pop. No sir...

[@MrBobberino01]

Speaking from experience, don't get ASR.

[@Vorpal42]

I disagree about stamped concrete. My 20 year old pool has stamped concrete and it is totally not slippery. It is absolutely true on it's face that it is slippery, but I seal mine with acrylic every few years, which has a fine non-slip grit in it, and makes it look brand new. I use the glossy kind, and it gives the deck a wonderful shiny non-slippery wet look which is very pleasant on the feet. My neighbor has brushed concrete, it's rough, unattractive, and unpleasant on the feet. Yuck.

[@Vorpal42]

Note: The paint store that sells the acrylic sealer also sells the fine grit that you can add to it.

[@ForestBlue7]

25 years experience, building, renovating, route for 10 yrs, install, repairs, decking, and design. EVERYTHING this man has advised is absolutely spot on. In ground floor cleaners are a complete waste of everyone’s time and money. These sorts of installs by builders is exactly the reason I don’t consider pool builders, pool people anymore. It’s become an oversaturated take your money and run, shaft customer and every single maintenance and service tech person on down the line. I’m dead serious too. Then combine that with concrete cancers.. pfft builders everywhere better take notice or get out quick cuz folks gonna come collect real soon Jack.

[@seekthetruth192]

Lol liquefied zombies squirting out

[@martinmurphy4852]

Swimming pools are like boats. For a year or so everyone obsesses over them thinking they will keep them looking brand new forever. Reality sets in and then they are just another expense for something you rarely use. Only problem is you cant sell it like a boat and have someone come over an tow the dam thing away

[@Time782]

You don't have to put gas in a swimming pool :)

[@Vorpal42]

I've had my fiberglass pool for almost 20 years. it still looks pretty new. Still love it.

[@rayray15307]

Don't get salt

[@thetracywilliamsshow]

Why?

[@Time782]

Salt water systems are the best. They make the best chlorine as they are not as harsh as chlroine granuels or pucks. No CYA creeping up on you to toxic levels. Only a cup of pH down every now an then is needed to keep things in check.

[@JustSomeGuy009]

​@@Time782lol. No. Liquid chlorine is good and cheaper.

[@alexjones1802]

Witterly, running up the views on these poowl videows

[@doctorrs5317]

Thank god you are NOT my pool adviser. Every advice you have is WRONG!

[@DJL0455]

And I've owned 4 or 5 vacuum robots. All garbage. I now have a Hammerhead Remora. I love it!

[@luthervaughn1]

Every one of my pools has automation on it, so even if they have 6 water features on one pool, I'll have them run once a day for a few minutes to keep the water in the pipes moving & not stagnant. I never have done an in-floor cleaning system. I can't really talk well enough to sell one, because they're so not worth the money to me, as Steve stated.

[@DJL0455]

I bought an LED lit Boardfall from SR Smith. The LED's only lasted a year because my pool has a salt system. It's a POS and a waste of $1500.

[@highoctaneadventure]

When we replaced our liner through a great builder in the area, our sales rep also talked us into sticking with chlorine pucks and a chlorinator rather than making the chlorine at home with a salt water system.