New Member, First Build...What have we gotten into?

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"What was that?" "I don't know. Just keeping going."

They had to KNOW they hit that post. I guess they were hoping you would not notice or the foam would protect it.

That concrete work--------shoe and hand prints, trowel marks, etc. They sure wanted to leave their mark!

I almost looks like your PB is getting the cheapest people he can find. They do not seem to have any pride in their handiwork.

Funny about the Dobie. FREE, I am FREE! LOL

Kim
 
That sucks about the concrete. It almost sounds as if the PB is having trouble getting subs to show and has resorted to hiring anyone that will. Not always the best crews. But trowel and feet marks aside, that rock salt finish is going to look really nice - gives it a tumbled look/travertinesque feel, and now I'm thinking we might borrow that idea, especially if our quote for our little bit of deck and pathway comes in high with kool deck on it.

I know you've had some issues, but you know, next summer you'll be chilling by a really beautiful pool!
 
CC - I got your PM and I completely understand. It is so frustrating to have someone tell you that you are being overly critical about something that you have spent 10's if not 100's of thousands on that you will need to look at every day. I think you have every right to expect better for the coping.

Beaded Biker - I think the biggest issue with our PB is that he is completely overscheduled. We knew he was colorful and cocky when we interviewed him - but that didn't bother us, we got a super design out of him. And when you look at the pools they have built in the past, they are beautiful and they are/were good quality. One thing that changed is when we first started speaking with them (3 years ago), one of their selling points was that they didn't use subcontractors. "Everybody was an employee and felt ownership of the quality of the pools" That has definitely changed because we have mostly had sub contractors. And we did hear that one of them quit on the PB - so it tells you there is some turmoil. As for the decking - you should search on Houzz.com. When done right, it does look really good and one of the reasons we went with it is because it provides traction and that tumbled look you mentioned.

KimKats - so funny - we agree they HAD to know they hit it :)

Contractors are here, lumber is not....

Voodoo - they only have the green umbrellas available on line here - I want the red one that you have. :)
 
Sorry to hear about your problems. I hope you are getting lien releases from your subcontractors. Not to overreact, but I would suggest that you require the PB to provide them for all completed work (gunite, etc.) before making any additional payments. We had similar delays, several overlooked details, etc. from an established PB in our area - and then one morning the owner showed up and said he was filing Ch. 11. You are probably fine, but getting the lien releases is a 'belt and suspenders' step that most people (including us) let slip by (despite almost always asking PB during the interview process about providing them) and it is about the only way you can ensure that your payments are going to pay for your work - and not the pool one step ahead of you. In our instance, even the subcontractors were completely surprised. Sorry for the soapbox, and again, it's probably overkill, but it is good practice.
 
Here are pics from today's visitor - the plumber. It seems to be good timing as there have been quite a few equipment threads over the last few days - so we welcome feedback and opinions. We do like the suggestion to paint the pipes - so we will. And the plumber didn't have labels on him, but that suggestion will also be implemented.

At this point, nothing is attached. Is that normal? We also have an air blower sitting in a box.... should we?? How do these valves integrate with the Easy Touch 8 controller - they look so manual? So much to learn. Divin Dave; Sunny Optimism; Anyone - Help!

Untitled by Ranger_Bob, on Flickr

Untitled by Ranger_Bob, on Flickr

Untitled by Ranger_Bob, on Flickr

So, directly overhead on the corner of the house is a spotlight (so we'll have light) and about 5 feet to the right is a hose bib. We did realize recently - and probably a big mistake (at least until we remodel) is that the equipment sits right outside our bedroom wall.


Separately - just to keep everyone updated on the schedule :p
Project Manager canceled today's scheduled visit by sending a text to another client....but he'll be here Thursday. The carpenter (who was scheduled for Saturday and again today) had a family emergency in Houston and will be here on Wednesday - but he called directly to let us know (Kim Kats - our guess is that the PB or PM said, "if you're canceling - you call them directly - we're not calling them to tell them!"). The electrician is also due "some time this week".

One of the things I am most concerned about is the plaster installation. With all of the issues we have had with the craftsmanship by the subs - we're going to ask the Project Manager to stay on site all day of the plaster installation. I don't know if 1) he will or 2) if it will make a difference but it's worth a shot.

Telnet - you are right. It would be best practice to ask for the lien releases. It's hard to juggle with all of the other outstanding items we have pending with the PB - but with money still held back is the time we have any leverage. I suppose in some sense - other than gunite and excavation - none of the other subcontractors have finished anything :shaking:

- Karen
 
That plumbing looks pretty good. The electrician will hook up the wiring and the easytouch. Motors will be installed on the Jandy valves to automate it all. And the pumps, swcg, heater, lights, etc will be powered through the easytouch. I wouldn't worry too much about that being on the bedroom wall, the VS pump is very quiet. The booster pump for the cleaner is noisier, but you can run that when you are awake.
 

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I can hear it now! LOL

"I'm NOT calling them! You call them!"

Plaster-I would ask your PB what crew will be doing it and where their latest work is so you can go check it out! That is such an important piece of work it would be worth a drive to see it done.

Equipment pad=you can always build a "lean to" over it with sound damping stuff.

Kim
 
It looks like you have the same equipment I have sitting outside my bedroom window - if it makes you feel any better, we really don't notice it at all. Maybe when it was first installed in the winter and the freeze guard would kick on in the middle of the night, but not any longer.
 
Project Manager came out today - and he and Bob actually had a great conversation. Finally, lots of questions were answered and he gave us insight into the schedule and plans for the next action items. The other pool builds / projects must be wrapping up :)

1) He said the concrete work is unacceptable and the concrete guys will be back out on Saturday to "fix it" - it wasn't defined how they were going to fix it but he said he would be on site all day to supervise. Bob showed him where the electrical outlet got set in the lowest part of the concrete, he took a level out and sure enough - so he took a photo and added it to his collection of "bad things by subs" I guess.

2) He agreed the troweling and edges and feet print and fingerprints will all need to be fixed

3) they will need to restain/repaint areas of the concrete that won't be backfilled and visible to the eye because it was done sloppily

4) He started discussing the pool equipment specialist coming back out to set up the Easy Touch etc. He said he had two guys but he was going to send the one because of the level / focus we have on the detail and the types of questions we ask. :)

5) Stoneworkers should be out on Saturday to start the fireplace and kitchen build

6) He didn't know what lien releases were ....so we will follow up with the PB. We were specifically concerned about the one contractor who built the pavilion because he and the PB had a falling out over some issues the PB had with the contractor. There is more detail around this - but I think we can get things to our satisfaction

7) They agreed to seal the flagstone but they won't seal the deck because the deck will get too slippery (I agree w/ husband and PM on this)

8) tongue and groove work got done on about 1/3 of the pavilion - will take pictures when they are done

9) Somehow during the pool talk they got onto a tangent about Bob's custom knife business and the PM wanted to order a knife. The PM asked how long it would take and I told Bob he should have said, it will get finished after the plaster is done and the pool start up is complete :)

I feel good about today - I know we tend to go in fits and starts but we got some focus today from the right person (too bad we didn't have this from day 1) but we'll take it now and go from here. We too have rain in the forecast for the weekend - so we'll see how much concrete work can get fixed.

Now I have to go watch some football!! - Karen
 
Just a few small items I noticed on your equipment pad. I would have them add unions on your inlet and outlet pipes to your pump in case you ever want/need to remove it for service, etc. Makes things MUCH easier than having to cut pipe. Also, if you have a Pentair VS pump (not the VF), I'd add a FloVis flow meter on your check valve (as long as it is a Jandy - available from TFTestkits.net) so you know how many GPM your system is pushing at any given time. Makes setting your VS pump much more accurate!
 

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