You have so much space! Looking forward to following your build. I don't have much advice to give since I'm fairly new too. Our build starts Thursday (well probably not since it's meant to rain).
Blank slate/Pool build in Maryland
- Thread starter Captchaos
- Start date
Thanks for the information and the link.
1st. Exposed aggregate it is!
2nd. Yes, we want a water feature, just not the extra cost
I think the "want" will outweigh the cost factor though...3rd. Thanks for the link, I think white plaster is the way to go. I would hate for the colored plaster to fade. I bet the builder has extra hassle to deal with and maybe even more skilled subs they have to hire to get it to apply evenly. I would certainly be one to complain if I paid $2200 for colored plaster and it wasn't up to my standards.
- - - Updated - - -
Thanks! I have said a few times, the fact that we do have the space and can move things around is actually making it more difficult. The blank slate factor is complicating it as well. I'm sure we'll manage!
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,331
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
Thanks for the information and the link.
1st. Exposed aggregate it is!
2nd. Yes, we want a water feature, just not the extra cost
3rd. Thanks for the link, I think white plaster is the way to go. I would hate for the colored plaster to fade. I bet the builder has extra hassle to deal with and maybe even more skilled subs they have to hire to get it to apply evenly. I would certainly be one to complain if I paid $2200 for colored plaster and it wasn't up to my standards.
- - - Updated - - -
Thanks! I have said a few times, the fact that we do have the space and can move things around is actually making it more difficult. The blank slate factor is complicating it as well. I'm sure we'll manage!
Check out my sig pics for a closeup of "white plaster". It is white when they apply it but very quickly turns to "something other than white". It still looks ok though. My builder said they are hesitant to even call it "white" anymore due to the mottling that happens.
Heh, yeah I think I can guess which builder that was. I don't want to throw names around, but did the guy who said that show up in a BMW sedan?
Thanks, I hadn't even thought of that? I was assuming white + chlorine (bleach) it would stay white as long as the chemistry in the water was good. I've looked at your pictures a few times but never noticed that some of it wasn't super white. Our builder did mention mottling and that it would not be 100% perfect, even in white.
- - - Updated - - -
I don't think he goes all the way to Frederick as he is a local guy. He did show up in a pickup truck, perhaps he has another car?
We have a hole! Plumbing was started today but it doesn't look like he made much progress. A lot of dirt will need to be brought in for grading and we expect that in a few weeks. So far it is looking like a small hole to me, which my pool builder tells me is mentioned at every single build he does. We are very happy with the layout and even happier we didn't try to do the deck first. The more we think about it, the smaller deck we want in favor of a larger poolside patio.
I'll post some pictures as soon as I can figure out a decent location that allows hotlinking (thanks Photobucket for ruining most of the forums in existence).
And a timelapse video of the dig morning.
Pool Dig Morning - YouTube
I'll post some pictures as soon as I can figure out a decent location that allows hotlinking (thanks Photobucket for ruining most of the forums in existence).
And a timelapse video of the dig morning.
Pool Dig Morning - YouTube
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,331
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
Hmm... My PB was the opposite. When you draw it on the ground it looks tiny and you hate them. Then when they dig the hole you love them again. That is how it was for us. Super small looking painted pool but absolutely cavernous excavation. What are your finished dimensions?
FYI: You can create an album in Google pictures and hot link from there if you make it public. Better thing is your camera phone will automatically upload to your pics (with the app) and then you just move to the shared folder.
Let the MUD begin!! Happy day!!! Here is your "job" for this stage in the game-take out your pool plans and a measure tape. Add about 8" for the steel, gunite, and plaster. Is it wide, deep, long, etc enough? NOW is the time to tweak or change as needed/wanted.
You can become a supporting member. You will get more photo storage, a discount on the test kit and pool stuff, a discount at inyopool.com, a tax write off also! We get to feed the server to keep it going! Here is the link: CLICK HERE to Become a TroubleFreePool.com Supporter!!
Kim
You can become a supporting member. You will get more photo storage, a discount on the test kit and pool stuff, a discount at inyopool.com, a tax write off also! We get to feed the server to keep it going! Here is the link: CLICK HERE to Become a TroubleFreePool.com Supporter!!
Kim
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,214
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Yes, that's actually what I meant; he told me that when the pool was painted on the ground. Now that the hole is there it still seems small to me but everybody else says it's huge? The fact that a lot of fill dirt will need to be brought in is also making it appear deceiving. There is a 4' grade difference on the deep end so literally half of the pool is above the ground.
The finished dimensions are roughly 41' long including tanning ledge, and between 21 and 18 feet wide, depending on the location.
Let the MUD begin!! Happy day!!! Here is your "job" for this stage in the game-take out your pool plans and a measure tape. Add about 8" for the steel, gunite, and plaster. Is it wide, deep, long, etc enough? NOW is the time to tweak or change as needed/wanted.
You can become a supporting member. You will get more photo storage, a discount on the test kit and pool stuff, a discount at inyopool.com, a tax write off also! We get to feed the server to keep it going! Here is the link: CLICK HERE to Become a TroubleFreePool.com Supporter!!
Kim
Oh of course I went out there and measured! My wife said I was a crazy person but I had to be sure. I'll look into supporting, thanks.
Steel is in. Here is a shot from my security camera:
And now the plumbing is underway, man this is depressing seeing my yard like this. I knew this was going to happen but it is so much worse actually seeing it in person even though I am just looking at it through security cameras.
I'll send the drone up in the next few days for better pictures after I get over the destruction that is now my beautiful backyard.
I am really struggling with the audio conduit I was going to run back there. It looks like I can use their trenches (and the pool builder okay'd it) but I just realized that will entirely be under patio. I was planning to just cap off some PVC in approximately the four corners of the pool but I don't see how that would survive grading if I try to stick them up somewhere low to the ground. Now I have no idea what I'm going to do. An easy solution is to just put two speakers by the waterfall where there is no patio (top center of the pool) and find the conduit with a shovel later after grading. But, I never do easy!
And now the plumbing is underway, man this is depressing seeing my yard like this. I knew this was going to happen but it is so much worse actually seeing it in person even though I am just looking at it through security cameras.
I'll send the drone up in the next few days for better pictures after I get over the destruction that is now my beautiful backyard.
I am really struggling with the audio conduit I was going to run back there. It looks like I can use their trenches (and the pool builder okay'd it) but I just realized that will entirely be under patio. I was planning to just cap off some PVC in approximately the four corners of the pool but I don't see how that would survive grading if I try to stick them up somewhere low to the ground. Now I have no idea what I'm going to do. An easy solution is to just put two speakers by the waterfall where there is no patio (top center of the pool) and find the conduit with a shovel later after grading. But, I never do easy!
That is a mess but look at it with the end in mind!
I have a person that can talk to you about speakers and such! Hold on a bit while I get a hold of him!
Jim, OH JIM!!!! Calling JIM!!
Kim
I have a person that can talk to you about speakers and such! Hold on a bit while I get a hold of him!
Jim, OH JIM!!!! Calling JIM!!
Kim
ok i'll admit i didn't have time to read whole thread cause i'm on the way out the door. . .
what is ur plans around the pool? full decking right around? how deep off the pool? how wide is the pool? other layout? building? other decking areas?
so you want to bury the conduit for wire now cause of the patio will be over the area? the whole area?
try to give me a drawn pic of everything going on. nothing fancy on a napkin even.
you want to pop conduit up in the areas for the speakers correct but are afraid they will be destroyed? you mean the buried ones also cause of machines running?
sorry if that's a lot. just give me more detail.
it won't be hard to get conduit in now.
what we usually do is run 1 conduit and do breakout splice boxes at each speaker as we continue onto next speaker so we don't have to run a ton of conduits. it's easy and works well, but we get lucky and usually are running in landscaping by then so we just go below final grade a bit before mulch or rock surface finish. if we need need to go under patio we just run a separate one under patio and splice to it after everyhitng is said and done. that's what i did at my house for now. i have conduits under sidewalks and decking and will hook up to it as i need.. that is deeper but the other that i put down will be not as deep so its easier and i will splice to them. i just always go larger for conduit so it's easy to pull.
jim
what is ur plans around the pool? full decking right around? how deep off the pool? how wide is the pool? other layout? building? other decking areas?
so you want to bury the conduit for wire now cause of the patio will be over the area? the whole area?
try to give me a drawn pic of everything going on. nothing fancy on a napkin even.
you want to pop conduit up in the areas for the speakers correct but are afraid they will be destroyed? you mean the buried ones also cause of machines running?
sorry if that's a lot. just give me more detail.
it won't be hard to get conduit in now.
what we usually do is run 1 conduit and do breakout splice boxes at each speaker as we continue onto next speaker so we don't have to run a ton of conduits. it's easy and works well, but we get lucky and usually are running in landscaping by then so we just go below final grade a bit before mulch or rock surface finish. if we need need to go under patio we just run a separate one under patio and splice to it after everyhitng is said and done. that's what i did at my house for now. i have conduits under sidewalks and decking and will hook up to it as i need.. that is deeper but the other that i put down will be not as deep so its easier and i will splice to them. i just always go larger for conduit so it's easy to pull.
jim
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,331
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
I just realized your design is almost exactly the same as mine. My far left corner (in your pic orientation) was also raised around 3 feet.
Hi Jim,
I don't think you need to read the whole thread, I just started talking about audio even though it's been on my mind since the beginning.
There is decking around most of the pool, none behind the waterfall and it varies in width. There is no out-building but my current outdoor receiver powers speakers that are mounted on the house outside of the basement door. This is right inside of where my equipment is and I am hoping I can use the same hole through the house for the speaker wire as the electrician is using.
I want to pop a conduit up approximately where the speakers will go. I am not even sure on the speaker placement, I was just thinking four out there somewhere. Much of my yard is not flat and a lot of dirt will need to be brought in. My concern is that when this dirt is brought in and the yard graded, that will destroy my popup conduits. The deep end of the pool needs to be brought up by 4 feet to be even with the shallow end.
Here is a picture with dimensions. Feel free to tell me I am crazy with my speaker placement and make any suggestions.
- - - Updated - - -
That is a mess but look at it with the end in mind!
I have a person that can talk to you about speakers and such! Hold on a bit while I get a hold of him!
Jim, OH JIM!!!! Calling JIM!!
Kim
Thanks!!!
I just realized your design is almost exactly the same as mine. My far left corner (in your pic orientation) was also raised around 3 feet.
That's great. I didn't realize yours needed to be raised as well. I've been concerned about this since the beginning. I trust my pool builder and he says he's done up to 7' before having to get an engineer involved but when I look at it sticking so far out of the ground it is hard to envision. I hope the slope won't be too steep but this guy builds beautiful pools.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,331
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
Hi Jim,
I don't think you need to read the whole thread, I just started talking about audio even though it's been on my mind since the beginning.
There is decking around most of the pool, none behind the waterfall and it varies in width. There is no out-building but my current outdoor receiver powers speakers that are mounted on the house outside of the basement door. This is right inside of where my equipment is and I am hoping I can use the same hole through the house for the speaker wire as the electrician is using.
I want to pop a conduit up approximately where the speakers will go. I am not even sure on the speaker placement, I was just thinking four out there somewhere. Much of my yard is not flat and a lot of dirt will need to be brought in. My concern is that when this dirt is brought in and the yard graded, that will destroy my popup conduits. The deep end of the pool needs to be brought up by 4 feet to be even with the shallow end.
Here is a picture with dimensions. Feel free to tell me I am crazy with my speaker placement and make any suggestions.
- - - Updated - - -
Thanks!!!
That's great. I didn't realize yours needed to be raised as well. I've been concerned about this since the beginning. I trust my pool builder and he says he's done up to 7' before having to get an engineer involved but when I look at it sticking so far out of the ground it is hard to envision. I hope the slope won't be too steep but this guy builds beautiful pools.
Mine wasn't done exactly like yours though. They built up that area first with dirt from the hole. There was never a frame outside the actual pool excavation. No dirt had to be removed from my property they used every bit of it building up the back parts. One thing we wish is that we had carried the walkway around the waterfalls. We used stepping stones instead but it would have been nice to have. Can I ask what builder you used? Your design is so close to mine I am wondering if it is the same builder (I hope not)!
- - - Updated - - -
Oh - One thing we REALLY wish we had done was to carry that seat under the waterfall all the way around to the sundeck. Consider that they could still do it on your build.
I noticed that in your pictures. Because half of my pool's deep end is above the ground, there wasn't that much dirt to build it up. We did wonder if they were going to truck dirt in before or after the build. Based on our previous PM conversation, we are not using the same pool builder.
Thanks for the tip on the seat under the waterfall. I added that after the fact at no charge. We initially talked about a 4' bench but when we were onsite the builder decided it was too small and changed it to 6'. He did tell me earlier that a larger bench was going to be a nominal charge. The steel crew is long gone but I will check.
By the way, your builder told us we absolutely had to have a retaining wall and gave us a higher quote without one.
I'm looking at your pictures again and it is easy to miss that your yard was not level. It looks very similar to mine. This makes me feel a lot better about the construction.
I'm looking at your pictures again and it is easy to miss that your yard was not level. It looks very similar to mine. This makes me feel a lot better about the construction.
i can't see pic?
but i will say i really think you only need to get conduit under the patio space for now cause u are going to want ur speakers outside ur decking anyway so you can go around the decking i assume. might be longer but just use heavier gauge. but try to get that pic up so i can see it and i'll look.
but i will say i really think you only need to get conduit under the patio space for now cause u are going to want ur speakers outside ur decking anyway so you can go around the decking i assume. might be longer but just use heavier gauge. but try to get that pic up so i can see it and i'll look.
Hi Jim,
I don't think you need to read the whole thread, I just started talking about audio even though it's been on my mind since the beginning.
There is decking around most of the pool, none behind the waterfall and it varies in width. There is no out-building but my current outdoor receiver powers speakers that are mounted on the house outside of the basement door. This is right inside of where my equipment is and I am hoping I can use the same hole through the house for the speaker wire as the electrician is using.
I want to pop a conduit up approximately where the speakers will go. I am not even sure on the speaker placement, I was just thinking four out there somewhere. Much of my yard is not flat and a lot of dirt will need to be brought in. My concern is that when this dirt is brought in and the yard graded, that will destroy my popup conduits. The deep end of the pool needs to be brought up by 4 feet to be even with the shallow end.
Here is a picture with dimensions. Feel free to tell me I am crazy with my speaker placement and make any suggestions.
- - - Updated - - -
Thanks!!!
That's great. I didn't realize yours needed to be raised as well. I've been concerned about this since the beginning. I trust my pool builder and he says he's done up to 7' before having to get an engineer involved but when I look at it sticking so far out of the ground it is hard to envision. I hope the slope won't be too steep but this guy builds beautiful pools.
ya i'm looking at he ariel shots and you can easily get mourned the back side of the pool for speakers. which will give u access to other side of pool. only place you have to worry about is speakers between house and pool if all patio but again i don't know what you have planned overall. planters, pure decking from house to pool.
from the look of the size of ur pool just guessing:
1. 4 rocks on the back side all facing towards pool. so an arch of 4 rocks on long back side. that would light up the pool. would not reach very well into patio towards house.
2. array speakers if u are familiar with them. with guessing i would think you would need like 8. most companies want a speaker every 6-8 feet for array setups. then 1 or 2 buried subs. i tend to place speakers on the back side of the pool so the music all fires at the people in the pool in a arch vs across both sides of the pool cause the sound can get wonky based on placement. with an arch you keep the stereo in a nice 2 channel kinda setup like if inside. example. if u had 4 rocks the first pair would be one the left back side of pool for a deep end stereo sound and the other 2 firing into shallow end for a stereo setup. that's what makes array's nice cause placement is easier but you have to pay to play with array's. lol but rocks are great when placed on one side of pool in landscaping. just remember to make sure ur amp can handle multiple pairs of speakers. as soon as you have at least 2 pair of speaker on 1 zone meaning 2 channels of amps you have to be sure the amp is stable for 4 or even 2 ohm loads. which most amps that are 100 watts per channel are. but a lot of these sonos players and other full audio setups are 50 watts per channel and not able to go into a 4 ohm load mode for multiple sets of speakers on 1 zone.
from the look of the size of ur pool just guessing:
1. 4 rocks on the back side all facing towards pool. so an arch of 4 rocks on long back side. that would light up the pool. would not reach very well into patio towards house.
2. array speakers if u are familiar with them. with guessing i would think you would need like 8. most companies want a speaker every 6-8 feet for array setups. then 1 or 2 buried subs. i tend to place speakers on the back side of the pool so the music all fires at the people in the pool in a arch vs across both sides of the pool cause the sound can get wonky based on placement. with an arch you keep the stereo in a nice 2 channel kinda setup like if inside. example. if u had 4 rocks the first pair would be one the left back side of pool for a deep end stereo sound and the other 2 firing into shallow end for a stereo setup. that's what makes array's nice cause placement is easier but you have to pay to play with array's. lol but rocks are great when placed on one side of pool in landscaping. just remember to make sure ur amp can handle multiple pairs of speakers. as soon as you have at least 2 pair of speaker on 1 zone meaning 2 channels of amps you have to be sure the amp is stable for 4 or even 2 ohm loads. which most amps that are 100 watts per channel are. but a lot of these sonos players and other full audio setups are 50 watts per channel and not able to go into a 4 ohm load mode for multiple sets of speakers on 1 zone.