Getting Ready For Pool Build in Northern California!
- Thread starter edrn
- Start date
Can't have too many lights to me BUT you might want to ask about being able to turn them off and on so you can tweak the "atmosphere".
That is a good placement in your yard.
Will you be able to be there for the dig? This is one of the times you should try to be there for just in case there are issues/questions/concerns/tweaks.
Kim
That is a good placement in your yard.
Will you be able to be there for the dig? This is one of the times you should try to be there for just in case there are issues/questions/concerns/tweaks.
Kim
You absolutely want to be there for the dig. Somehow my plans were off two feet, and no one noticed it. Of course the excavator was going by the plans, and had I not been there to notice something was off, the pool would have been dug 2 feet closer to my house. The depth of my yard is only 24 ft, so 2 feet is a big difference. Best of luck!
Thank you for input Kim and Tony. Yes I will be there for dig, I'm super excited! Good thoughts about different lights being turned off separately, I will definitely inquire on that. We're headed to Costco to stock up on gatorade for the crew.
Tony- Yes two feet would be a BIG deal for your yard for sure, I'm glad you were there to catch that. I need to make sure they don't go near my little pet cemetery, lol. Luckily there are two trees in front of it so that would be somewhat difficult.
Tony- Yes two feet would be a BIG deal for your yard for sure, I'm glad you were there to catch that. I need to make sure they don't go near my little pet cemetery, lol. Luckily there are two trees in front of it so that would be somewhat difficult.
- Apr 23, 2017
- 2,400
- Pool Size
- 22000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Hi edrn...we use to live in Folsom. Nice design and as others are saying try to be there for the dig. One of my tanning ledges was way off and they adjusted it on the fly. My wife is much happier to say the least. This is our first pool so I am no expert but there are lots of folks on TFP who are and super helpful. I would seriously consider a SWG!
Everyone is raving about the SWG so I'm going to discuss with my husband. This is our first pool so it is all very new! I had always thought SWG was bad for gunite, but I need to do some more research. Thank you for mentioning it again.
Yesterday was the big day! Builder was here right on time and they immediately got to work. Everything is going as planned. There is one detail about the pool that I will hopefully get some feedback on from all of you wonderful people.
At the right end of the picture you can see we have the bond beam 12 inch wall in the back of the pool. As it ends and will continue a bit past the pool on the future pool deck as the grass slopes down it will end abruptly making a wall of dirt with grass on top hanging over that corner where it ends because the elevation is slightly higher there. It's hard to explain, does that make sense? Then the grass slopes downward towards the house. We thought about making the bond beam continue at that corner, but I feel like that will look strange. I was thinking we could get a landscaper after the fact to fix, but does anyone have any ideas how to fix while being built? Sorry if I'm not explaining the problem well.
At the right end of the picture you can see we have the bond beam 12 inch wall in the back of the pool. As it ends and will continue a bit past the pool on the future pool deck as the grass slopes down it will end abruptly making a wall of dirt with grass on top hanging over that corner where it ends because the elevation is slightly higher there. It's hard to explain, does that make sense? Then the grass slopes downward towards the house. We thought about making the bond beam continue at that corner, but I feel like that will look strange. I was thinking we could get a landscaper after the fact to fix, but does anyone have any ideas how to fix while being built? Sorry if I'm not explaining the problem well.
If you look at the second pic that show the grass wall I can see what you are talking about. I say keep the beam coming around AND make it into benches!!!! They can slop down or step down the beam as it gets towards lower ground. That will really tie it all in together and be very useful! If you do not want to do build in benches I would still bring the beam all the way over and around as a kind of retaining wall. You can put chairs, loungers and maybe a fire pit there!
Kim
Kim
I would extend the wall and do a step down look, like Kim said you can turn it to a feature like a portable fire place sitting area or just room for table and chairs or even make a planter
I often look at elevation changes and think people are lucky cause it provides more character. I had to bring dirt in just to make a elevated seating area to give my yard a little more pop
I often look at elevation changes and think people are lucky cause it provides more character. I had to bring dirt in just to make a elevated seating area to give my yard a little more pop
- Jun 18, 2015
- 712
- Pool Size
- 11000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Two great ideas!! I do love the idea of it becoming a bench ... and possibly wrapping around a firepit or seating area. So much more interesting than just being flat. Think of it as a "happy accident!" [emoji4]
Will- I see what you are saying, that pic gives a good visual. You guys are amazing. We are going to need to get creative and it may actually add to the over all visual look! I just don't want to spend too much more money, so will see what type of figures he gives us for this idea.
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Yes Amy Joe, I'm starting to see the bright side!
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Kim- Benches would be awesome, are going to discuss with builder to come up with some ideas like that that won't break the bank. We already went over our initial budget and need to save some money for the rest of the landscaping. I think that would look awesome though. I can't thank you all enough for your amazing advice.
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Yes Amy Joe, I'm starting to see the bright side!
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Kim- Benches would be awesome, are going to discuss with builder to come up with some ideas like that that won't break the bank. We already went over our initial budget and need to save some money for the rest of the landscaping. I think that would look awesome though. I can't thank you all enough for your amazing advice.
So far I have been pretty happy with our PB. They came and did excavation on Wednesday. Later that evening they gave us a pretty detailed itinerary of what would be taking the place in the following days. They have also called and emailed me the night before to let me know what will be happening because they know I have dogs and they want to make sure they are contained and OK. I didn't really expect this detailed of communication, and I'm pretty happy with it. My teenagers are home taking care of the dogs every day so they are fine. Today they came and did rebar and they said Monday is plumbing. It is so hot here this weekend- 105 + every day for the next week I believe. (sure would be nice to swim this week, but oh well soon enough!) 
You have a "job" to do tomorrow. Go out and measure everything with the plans in hand. Add about 6" or so for gunite and plaster. It is long, wide, deep, etc enough? NOW is the time to fix or tweak anything.
I LOVE how they are communicating with you! That seems to be the number one complaint with many PB.
Kim
I LOVE how they are communicating with you! That seems to be the number one complaint with many PB.
Kim
Sweet Bob Ross reference https://youtu.be/YLO7tCdBVrA "we don't make mistakes, just happy accidents"
Foxy
0
- Jun 18, 2015
- 712
- Pool Size
- 11000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
We moved to NC from Folsom. The thing we miss most are those cool nights! We'd open all the french doors facing the front of our house and listen to water go over the dam at night.
Hi Foxy! No they have never been swimming before and it is really the only thing about our pool that makes me nervous. Most people have to worry about their children and toddlers, but frenchies are like toddlers in a way because their heads are so big and are a huge portion of their total body weight which will cause them to sink. They will have their doggy door leading off to the side yard with their own fenced area and then we will just be careful when people are here swimming. I'm going to get them each a life jacket too to wear when hanging out by the pool just in case they fall in. They are my little babies!
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How did I overlook the Bob Ross reference, I love him!
Update on our progress- The plumbing and electric is finished. I will have to upload the pics! I just worked an OT marathon because dang this thing is expensive! (but so going to be worth it) The builder said they would extend out the bond beam/ wall around the corner about 3-4 feet at no extra charge so I'm pretty happy about that. We passed our first inspection on Friday and gunite will be next week hopefully by Friday at the latest! I feel like we are really moving along quickly. I guess the finishes are what takes the longest?
Yesterday I took my daughter and her 6 thirteen year old friends to a water park and the whole time in the lazy river as I was bumping into random people, because you can't really steer that thing, all I could think about was I could be in my own pool with no strangers to bump into or crazy teenage boys trying to drown each other taking me down in the process! It made me even more excited for this thing to be complete!
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Pony Girl- wow it's kindof a small world. We lived in NC for ten years and my last job was at UNC Chapel Hill! We lived in Cary and Raleigh.
Yesterday I took my daughter and her 6 thirteen year old friends to a water park and the whole time in the lazy river as I was bumping into random people, because you can't really steer that thing, all I could think about was I could be in my own pool with no strangers to bump into or crazy teenage boys trying to drown each other taking me down in the process! It made me even more excited for this thing to be complete!
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Pony Girl- wow it's kindof a small world. We lived in NC for ten years and my last job was at UNC Chapel Hill! We lived in Cary and Raleigh.