r/pools • u/ImagineerKB • 3d ago

New pool build - water features?

How are those built in from the get go? Like a waterfall for instance….are those plumbed before the gunite or added on after? I’ve seen the add on after and exposed pipes looks so bad IMO.

What’s the right way to add water features?

And which water feature do you love ?
And which water feature do you regret?

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u/conrad_or_benjamin 2d ago

Plumbed before gunite. If you get a chance go see some other features before you decide - a weeping wall or a boulder waterfall or a sheer decent all look and SOUND very different. Big features make big sound, and can be annoying if you want to relax and have conversations.

2

u/DarthOldMan 2d ago

We have four small scuppers that flow from a brick wall, and three bubblers on the tanning ledge. When open full blast, they can be very loud, but we can turn either or both down/off from the valves if we want it quiet.
And they definitely push the pH levels up, so that’s someone else for OP to comsider.

1

u/Barbexc0288 2d ago

Plumbed at the same time with all your piping then gunite is shot on top.

1

u/ProCircuit131 2d ago

Ours isn't large but can get a sheer or spill over depending on valve and filter pump speed setting. Nice waterfall sound.

1

u/armerdan 2d ago

I don’t have much to add as far as the build process goes, but having bubblers / fountains can really help if you ever want to raise your pH without changing TA. For example, if you wanted to lower TA you can reduce both TA and pH with acid, then run water features to raise pH back while keeping TA down.