Getting closer. We may have gunite within the week. Tanning deck at the far end with the cover behind it. The steel is 9" centers with 4.5" in the bottom of the pool. You can make out the 3' cantilever they use.
I have a hole in the ground, destined to be a pool
- Thread starter robtx
- Start date
That is a HUGE step! Make sure everything is close to correct size. Add about 6 inches for gunite and plaster. Oh and make sure everything is there. One build they "forgot" the tanning ledge 
Kim:cat:
Kim:cat:
Good point, we measured last week and today. We're 5'2" at the main drain (5' target), which I'm fine with. 3'6" at the ends, we look to be +/- 1" on that, which depends on gunite really.
I'm super impressed with the steel dude who has done the steel on this whole pool solo. He's been doing it for 26 years, works solo, uses #4 60. It looks like a work of art, I almost don't want to cover it up with concrete. Little tricks he passed along like the ties have to be really tight, never splice next to a splice, never splice on a corner. curve around skimmers, not cut and restart.
Can a mod move this to the build sub-forum? I'm planning on tracking the build and startup here.Mod note: Moved
I'm super impressed with the steel dude who has done the steel on this whole pool solo. He's been doing it for 26 years, works solo, uses #4 60. It looks like a work of art, I almost don't want to cover it up with concrete. Little tricks he passed along like the ties have to be really tight, never splice next to a splice, never splice on a corner. curve around skimmers, not cut and restart.
Can a mod move this to the build sub-forum? I'm planning on tracking the build and startup here.Mod note: Moved
Pics with steel completed. This shows one of the skimmers, a corner, the tanning shelf and the retractable covers home.
Skimmer and auto-fill as well as a pressure test fitting. You can see one of the LED lights home to the right.
A corner, that looks like a LOT of bending of #4 60 grade, I'm glad I didn't have to do it.
The 3' cantilever they use.
Sun deck with one of the bubblers (right) and return (left). You can also see the wall between the tanning deck and the auto-pool cover, as well as the home for the cover motor (top, left)
Skimmer and auto-fill as well as a pressure test fitting. You can see one of the LED lights home to the right.
A corner, that looks like a LOT of bending of #4 60 grade, I'm glad I didn't have to do it.
The 3' cantilever they use.
Sun deck with one of the bubblers (right) and return (left). You can also see the wall between the tanning deck and the auto-pool cover, as well as the home for the cover motor (top, left)
Attachments
Home from an impromptu beach trip this week and the hole in the ground isn't just a hole anymore.
That is a HUGE step! SWEET!
Now get ready to bond with your pool aka watering it. This will help it cure. There might be some slight cracking but the plaster will fill it in.
Kim:cat:
Now get ready to bond with your pool aka watering it. This will help it cure. There might be some slight cracking but the plaster will fill it in.
Kim:cat:
I asked about watering it and they told me it's not needed with the mix they use, but I could go out and water the pool if it made me feel better, but I would need a beer in the other hand.
The decking and jewels are here!
Jewels:
Jewels on the 2" eased edge travertine:
Did you get the 2016 JXI with Versaplumb bypass (JXi400NK)? I am the first my builder is doing and I am pumped to see how it goes.
Edit: From the photos, it does not appear to have the bypass.
It's an extra part to the heater that allows a bypass so the water skips going through the heater when it doesn't need to.
Up to you. If its already done, it's probably not that big of deal.
I see, it looks like it can be added on as it sits where the plumbing is. I'll likely leave it off, even though I like the idea of bypassing the heater when not needed.
A heater bypass is something you don't want to need but when you need it you will be glad it is there! It is one of those better safe than sorry things.
Kim:cat:
Kim:cat:
New day, new progress. The coping is starting to go down.
A corner:
Run towards the first strainer:
Stack of rock:
A corner:
Run towards the first strainer:
Stack of rock:
I thought I'd follow-up after over a year with nothing more than TFP method (and a couple tricks) for our first pool.The pool has been inhabitable by humans (tested everyday) for over an entire year. Nothing more added than what is recommended here, bleach (12.5% ~1/2G day when the pool is open, ~1/2G every 3-7 days with the automatic cover closed), Muratic Acid...my pH still creeps up after a year and some baking soda (due to Muratic Acid) to bring Alk back up to ~110-120. Running the deck jets causes some of the pH increase and that intensified during the summer as I used them to keep the temp down.
I did Boric Acid my pool to 50ppm via 50lbs of granules, no taste at all (whew) and guests have commented asking if I use soft water in my pool.
I did have one interesting thing happen earlier in the year (Feb-Mar). As spring approached we got the itch to start hitting the pool so I ran the heater fairly often, with the cover closed and chlorine fairly low. In any event, my CYA went from 45ish to 0 over a two week period. I thought my CYA standard (50) was bad and that I was wrong, so I had the pool company come by and test...0. Fixed via Trichlor back to 42 CYA (4 tabs = 7 CYA and 4 tabs per week for 6 weeks). In doing some research I found that this isn't common, but not ultra-rare either when running low chlorine and heat/high-temps. No worries, but thought I'd let people know that I've seen it too.
Thoughts: The auto-pool cover is freaking awesome. We got it for safety and it was expensive, but it has turned out to be so much more. I can dump a 1/2-1 gallon of chlorine in, close it and come back in a week and everything is fine with only pH creeping up. It's about 100x easier blowing the leaves off the cover with the cordless blower than getting them off the bottom. We also have pecan trees and squirrels...cover saves the day again. If you are pondering one, you will not be disappointed after you get over the sticker shock. Oh, and in winter it holds heat in so if you do decide to have a pool day you can start the heater at daybreak and be ready to swim after lunch. The downside is that in summer when you go on vacation and have the cover closed you watch in pain through your app as pool temp goes over 100 :-(
Anyways, thumbs up to TFP method and people with an education based method of keeping your pool water safe for the family and friends.
PS. I'm the only one that maintains the pool, so I get to put my suit on and jump in with the excuse "I need to check the propensinator valve", beats doing actual yard work.
I did Boric Acid my pool to 50ppm via 50lbs of granules, no taste at all (whew) and guests have commented asking if I use soft water in my pool.
I did have one interesting thing happen earlier in the year (Feb-Mar). As spring approached we got the itch to start hitting the pool so I ran the heater fairly often, with the cover closed and chlorine fairly low. In any event, my CYA went from 45ish to 0 over a two week period. I thought my CYA standard (50) was bad and that I was wrong, so I had the pool company come by and test...0. Fixed via Trichlor back to 42 CYA (4 tabs = 7 CYA and 4 tabs per week for 6 weeks). In doing some research I found that this isn't common, but not ultra-rare either when running low chlorine and heat/high-temps. No worries, but thought I'd let people know that I've seen it too.
Thoughts: The auto-pool cover is freaking awesome. We got it for safety and it was expensive, but it has turned out to be so much more. I can dump a 1/2-1 gallon of chlorine in, close it and come back in a week and everything is fine with only pH creeping up. It's about 100x easier blowing the leaves off the cover with the cordless blower than getting them off the bottom. We also have pecan trees and squirrels...cover saves the day again. If you are pondering one, you will not be disappointed after you get over the sticker shock. Oh, and in winter it holds heat in so if you do decide to have a pool day you can start the heater at daybreak and be ready to swim after lunch. The downside is that in summer when you go on vacation and have the cover closed you watch in pain through your app as pool temp goes over 100 :-(
Anyways, thumbs up to TFP method and people with an education based method of keeping your pool water safe for the family and friends.
PS. I'm the only one that maintains the pool, so I get to put my suit on and jump in with the excuse "I need to check the propensinator valve", beats doing actual yard work.
Last edited:
"I need to check the propensinator valve"
I bet that thing is expensive when it breaks. Good thing you check it.
I bet that thing is expensive when it breaks. Good thing you check it.
"I need to check the propensinator valve"
I bet that thing is expensive when it breaks. Good thing you check it.
Almost as expensive as the muffler bearing on the car...and don't get me started on blinker fluid prices these days.