New Pool Build - Cincinnati, OH

[jwhitt]

Hello from the Republic of Cincinnati!
We moved to a "new to us" home on the west side of town in late 2017. The idea was to find a ranch style home with a flat lot where we could eventually retire and enjoy the company of our kids and grand kids, an in ground pool being the focal point of the back yard.
After a few years of remodeling the house, we began the search for a pool builder. Our area has no shortage of PB's but as a novice with no prior pool build experience I was coming up short in the confidence department on making an informed choice.
As luck would have it, my next door neighbor put me in contact with another neighbor around the corner from us who just happened to have 30+ years in the pool supply industry as well as a short list of what he considered to be the most reputable builders in our area.

After receiving estimates from the PB's on his list, we placed a small deposit in July ‘21 for a spot in ’22.
A long winters wait and signed our contract this March for our build to start in late July early August.
During our wait through the winter I found this site and have been absorbing the good information provided.
We've been under construction since late July so I've got a timeline started that I'll add to (including photos) as I've read that "without photos, nothing really has happened".

Dig Day - 20 July '22 - We are under construction!




21 July '22 - Dig completed and the pool package delivered.
22 July '22 - Additional pool equipment delivered & verification of the next building phase with PB.
23 July ‘22 - We’ve been having, and continue to have, a delay in construction due to rainy weather in the area.
28 July ‘22 - We have a break in the weather - The crew is installing the walls today and concrete for the collar and equipment pad is scheduled for tomorrow.
29 July ‘22 - Walls are completed, skimmer, returns, plumbing runs laid and concrete poured for the collar and equipment pad. I’ll take the weekend to assemble the electric runs from the equipment pad to the auto cover vault and pavilion site. Gravel back fill is scheduled for Monday Aug 1st.
1 Aug ‘22 - Gravel back fill completed, bonding loop installed from pool to equipment pad.
4 Aug ‘22 - Auto cover crew arrived to install vault and track guide.
5 Aug ‘22 - Auto cover crew back to install the cover lid bracing and lid assembly. Bonding inspector arrived and approved bonding. Build to move to concrete contractor for decking.
9 Aug ’22 - Unseasonably heavy rains have kept the build at bay. Given that I’m my own electrician I’ve been able to continue to trench and lay conduit for the auto cover and pool lighting. The weather outlook looks promising for the 11th for heavy work to continue.
16 Aug ‘22 - Spoke with the concrete contractor yesterday. The plan is to start grading and forming tomorrow with the pour scheduled for Friday. Another week of rain is predicted for next week so we are hopeful his schedule stays on track.
17 Aug ‘22 - The crew was here early for the grading and forming. I got home about 1pm as they were getting finished up. The Foreman gave me the bad news right away, the earliest they could schedule concrete was a week out. With all the rain in the area everyone is pushing to get their jobs caught up. I suppose we’re in good company.

 

[Newdude]

We've been under construction since late July so I've got a timeline started that I'll add to (including photos) as I've read that "without photos, nothing really has happened".

You've learned well.

Congrats on the progress to date, and

 

[pookiesunshine]

welcome, almost a neighbor!

 

[aftrshok99]

Seems like you are zooming along with the build!!

 

[jwhitt]

Thanks for the welcome - We've been fortunate in that we landed on a builder who has, to date, been very good with communicating and has his crew and subs working together well. Our only real issue so far has been the wet weather in the area. (I know, I just jinxed it right?)

 

[duraleigh]

Now is a good time to make sure you get one of the test kits we suggest. First test should be of your fill water so we can see your starting point

 

[jwhitt]

Thanks, I’ll get some numbers posted soon

 

[jwhitt]

Here’s the result of my fill water test:

Chl -.5
pH - 8.2
FC - 1
CC - 0
TA - 90
CH - 100
Salt - 200 ppm

 

[jwhitt]

The concrete truck arrived about 9:15 this morning. The crew got right on the job and finished just after noon.

 

[jwhitt]

Forms Off

 

[JamesW]

What is this?

Why is it leaning?

 

[Newdude]

What is this?

Ladder rail connection of some kind. I'm guessing the PVC is sacrificial. Maybe to keep the bonding accessible for top mounts for the rails ?

 

[jwhitt]

Oh, that. Well, we call that the “we’re letting the concrete set a bit” slide.

Seriously though, the PVC is put in place prior to the pour and then once the concrete sets a bit then the PVC is moved to the final position for the handrails.

If you zero in on the prior photo with the forms off you’ll see them nice and straight.

 

[jwhitt]

It’s been a minute and I haven’t shared since the concrete was poured. During that time we’ve had more rain of course, but we’ve also made progress.
The bottom surface has been completed, liner installed and filled. Our last steps will involve the installation of the auto cover and re-grading of the lawn. We are also having a 12x16 pavilion installed later this month.

 

[driyac]

Pretty awesome congrats