3 New Swimming Pool Upgrades You Should AVOID! 

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

Waterfalls are great, they block the neighborhood noises.

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

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

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.

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.

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 !!!

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.

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

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

Noooice! Love the info drops on this channel!

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!

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

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

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Can the in floor cleaning system be an entrapment hazard

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

It’s always hard dealing with larger pipes

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

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.

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

Love my waterfall its gorgeous

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

What about the bubblers

How about pavers around the pool?

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

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.

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 👍👍

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.

Lol liquefied zombies squirting out

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

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.

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.

I agree with all but waterfall. Get that waterfall.

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

Witterly, running up the views on these poowl videows

Don't get salt

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

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

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).

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 🏊‍♂️

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

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.

Speaking from experience, don't get ASR.

Thanks Debi Downer

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.

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.

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

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.

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...

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.

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?

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

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

The swimming pool is the water feature.

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.

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

what about pool lighting? my pool had one but apparently my late uncle thought that it could be a electrical hazard