[Shop-talk] completely unrelated swimming pool questions...

[scott.hall at comcast.net]

but if I get this taken care of, I can move on to building the garage mahal...

new house has pool.  we have never had pool.  I know how to swim...and that's it.  and if it isn't known on this list, it isn't knowable.

pertinent facts: called nearly all pool companies in book, went to two local pool-stuff stores.  the contractors are scary--one seemed drunk on phone and cursed me out for calling (the number in the yellow pages, at 2 p.m.)  in retrospect, he wasn't far from the mean.  these people are like roofing contractors after a bender.  what gives?  the stores only want me to buy what they have in stock, all else is total crap.

so...:

1) the in-pool light is out (in-ground, vinyl liner).  seems to have a screwed-in glass cover over the bulb?  are these all the same, and if so anybody know how to change it?  I assume it'd be stupid to pull the cover off an electric bulb base while submerged to my neck in water.  there must be a trick, and I doubt I'm intended to drain the pool, no?

2) the pump runs continuously.  seems expensive.  does it need to, or can I shut it off for hours/days at a time?

3) if not, can/should I buy a setup that doesn't require continuous pumping?  perhaps a variable-speed pump?

4) wife is sensitive to chlorine.  salt system--worth it?  quoted $1500 to retrofit.  cheap if it delivers what he promised.

5) (we're in north florida--never *cold* a few months of 'cool', maybe one or two months that you wouldn't want to be outside wet and mostly naked) pool heaters?  solar?  worth it?

6) there are leaves in it.  I assume I can buy a pool-roomba-type thing.  if I can, which?  or save the money and do it by hand?  if no robot, how do you get the crud off the bottom of the pool?  are there two separate systems--one floating and one mucking around on the floor?

7) friend says to use about 1/4 to 1/3 the recommended chlorine (because the guy doing the recommending is the guy selling the chlorine).  after the hard sell(s) I got, I'd be inclined to believe it.  sound reasonable?

8) (and the biggie).  our friends have a brick-coped vinyl pool.  I'd like to do this to mine.  I'm at least as capable as the drunk guy.  I assume there is cutting into the pool deck, etc., and I'm fine with this (it'll be after the garage anyway).  what I'd really like is a diy book on building an in-ground pool, installing liners, etc.  maybe shotcreting it when it's time to r&r the liner if I can rent the equipment.  I mean, in essence, this is a large garbage-bag-lined hole filled with water.  how (conceptually) hard can it be, really?

thanks guys.  wife and kid love pool.  I see large pit which I am supposed to fill with money.  the insurance premium spike alone...