Austin, TX - Above Ground Salt Water Pool in Canyon - Construction Started 09/30/19

[DB-Cooper]

Ran outside to snap some shots as some work was done last weekend and earlier in the week. All I need is my bar stools to be put in and we're ready for plaster (which didn't happen yesterday).

Glass tile was put in on steps and the interior of the spa. More glass added to the spa. Custom made cast concrete spa coping was installed and the surround gates were installed. Not relevant to the actual pool build, but I also had all of the debris field in my canyon and the side of the house removed. That was a huge task that took a large crew two days.

Picture of gate, same gate is on the other side. Also, the canyon used to be full of concrete, plywood, trash and pool-related debris. I still have some cleanup down there, but we have longer term plans to make some rustic landscape down there, a project for another time:


Glass lining on the steps and spa (they haven't finished polishing and cleaning up the glass, but it'll give you an idea). If hyou go back to my March 12 upload, you can see they had waterline tile on the left part of the spa wall, it looked weird, my PB agreed and had them remove that and replace it with glass, so it looks consistent:


Another view, with the gate. We intend to have a small cushion we can take out there and make a nice reading retreat, will be peaceful with the fountain right there:


Spa coping. I was a bit concerned how this was going to come out and was thinking I'd probably have to stain it, but it came out nice, still may stain it, but will probably defer that to a later day given how nice it came out. It still needs to be cleaned as there's a lot of dirt and grout remainder on it:


Spa coping and interior glass lining:


Fun iPhone wide-angle shot:

 

[DB-Cooper]

Now with the bar stools. Since the spa coping is elevated, the waterline will be about halfway up the bottom of the two tiles. I measured and struggled so much with the height, but ended up with a 22.5" finished height. Water level is slightly above the belly button at that height. I did google searching of resorts and found they're either just above the waist/belly button or almost right at the top of the water. I preferred the semi-submerged.

 

[kimkats]

hey had waterline tile on the left part of the spa wall, it looked weird, my PB agreed and had them remove that and replace it with glass, so it looks consistent:

Good call! That looks awesome! The other looked okay but this was=YES!!

had all of the debris field in my canyon and the side of the house removed. That was a huge task that took a large crew two days.

Glad you had it cleared out BUT seems as if the PB should have been the one to do that since it was his crews making the mess.

Another view, with the gate. We intend to have a small cushion we can take out there and make a nice reading retreat, will be peaceful with the fountain right there:

OH I see my happy place!!! That will be so nice to enjoy!

still may stain it, but will probably defer that to a later day given how nice it came out

NO! Please do not stain it! It already looks wonderful and you say it is not even cleaned up!

bar stools

LOVE them! What are the tops made of? How are they held on? What will go on the bottom?

Kim

 

[DB-Cooper]

Good call! That looks awesome! The other looked okay but this was=YES!!


Glad you had it cleared out BUT seems as if the PB should have been the one to do that since it was his crews making the mess.


OH I see my happy place!!! That will be so nice to enjoy!


NO! Please do not stain it! It already looks wonderful and you say it is not even cleaned up!


LOVE them! What are the tops made of? How are they held on? What will go on the bottom?

Kim

Thanks for the feedback (as always). A few responses:

1) Thanks for assuring me on the coping. I was just out there with my wife, and I told her the same thing. This looks WAY better than I expected, it just blends in so nice with the travertine that I don't think it's needed, plus that coping is everywhere, so it all just matches. I'm super happy with how it came out.

2) My PB brought the crew out to clean up their mess. That was always part of the deal. I had to urge him to do it sooner because the debris pile in my neighbors front yard was getting unsightly, and it was becoming a hazard for the kids playing in the front yard (nails, broken pieces of pallet wood, etc.). We also needed to clean it up to figure out exactly how we were going to fence off the side entrance and pool equipment. No complaints on my PB there, I'm betting there will be one more small cleanup by time this is all said and done, but the major cleanup is done.

3) The tops are buff lueder. My PB said it'll be sealed and when fully submerged it was a better choice than the travertine options.

 

[kimkats]

My PB brought the crew out to clean up their mess. That was always part of the deal.

SWEET! That is good to hear! Glad you got them to come one early...........don't want to upset the neighbor or hurt any kids!!

 

[DB-Cooper]

SWEET! That is good to hear! Glad you got them to come one early...........don't want to upset the neighbor or hurt any kids!!

Neighbors are friends, they've been cool. We've been using a pretty decent porition of their front yard for ingress/egress of equipment. Unfortunately, this project is way past the initial deadline (surprise, surprise). They want to re-sod their yard and it's peak season for that. I feel kind of bad, but they're going to be HUGE benefactors of this pool, so I don't feel that bad.

 

[Gladius Nova]

Those bar stools look awesome! My only worry is cleaning behind them (a robot won't be able to go back there). Do you plan on just doing a daily "sweep" behind them to push all the crud to where the robot can get to it?

 

[DB-Cooper]

Those bar stools look awesome! My only worry is cleaning behind them (a robot won't be able to go back there). Do you plan on just doing a daily "sweep" behind them to push all the crud to where the robot can get to it?

I really hadn't thought about that. I guess one nice thing about it is that I can easily access it by walking on the spa top. I'll have to see how the robot works. I think it's too tight so the robot at least won't get stuck in it, but admittedly it's an area that probably won't get as clean.

Thanks for bringing it up, hopefully I'll report back in a few months on what the solution is. The bar stools were a must have feature

 

[DB-Cooper]

We were so close to plastering today, but the sub delayed til tomorrow. Of course we've got some rain in the future, so I'm concerned this will push even more. It's the story of my life and this industry I feel.

We did have the Pentair lights (3 in pool, 1 in spa) run, the bubblers plumbing and the umbrella sleeves finalized. Here are some recent pics:

Pumping the weekend rain out and the lighting and 100' cables:


Bubbler plumbing and umbrella sleeves:


Light:


Umbrella Sleeve:


Another Light:


Another Light, and a cool shadow of my wife and son who clearly can't wait to be in this darn thing:

 

[RMcGirr83]

I know your busy and all so took the liberty of claiming my spot in your pool. I'm here to help

 

[DB-Cooper]

I know your busy and all so took the liberty of claiming my spot in your pool. I'm here to help
View attachment 131880

Haha, I’ll pour one down for you once done!

Big trucks have arrived so it looks like they’re going to plaster it today!

 

[kimkats]

SWEET!!!!!

They should wait at least 6 HOURS before adding water!!!

Okay here is your job! Grab some socks and put them on the end of the hoses with tape. This will help filter the water and keep the metal off the plaster.

Once the water starts flowing do NOT stop it. Stopping it could cause a ring in the new plaster

That pic of the wife & child shadow is SO cool!

Kim

 

[DB-Cooper]

SWEET!!!!!

They should wait at least 6 HOURS before adding water!!!

Okay here is your job! Grab some socks and put them on the end of the hoses with tape. This will help filter the water and keep the metal off the plaster.

Once the water starts flowing do NOT stop it. Stopping it could cause a ring in the new plaster

That pic of the wife & child shadow is SO cool!

Kim

Thanks, it looks great. I have a lot of pictures, but I'll need to blur faces as I don't want to post pictures of the crew, but it looks great. I think they're going to add water tomorrow. I'm about to meet with my PB, I'm not sure if they're going to use a hose or fill it via auto-fill.

 

[DB-Cooper]

Here's some shots:

 

[kimkats]

The source of water canNOT flow down the plaster!! It should be added at the lowest part of the pool. Most of the time that is at the main drain. If you flows down the new plaster it can cause a channel in the plaster

 

[DB-Cooper]

The source of water canNOT flow down the plaster!! It should be added at the lowest part of the pool. Most of the time that is at the main drain. If you flows down the new plaster it can cause a channel in the plaster

You're right, the PB said they'd carefully lay the hose in the deepest part and told me under no condition to move it or let the kid mess around with it due to the plaster issues.

They watered it just now and you can see some pebble, acid wash is tomorrow!

 

[DB-Cooper]

Here's right after they sprayed it down, acid wash tomorrow:

 

[DB-Cooper]

Some more shots:

 

[JJ_Tex]

This has been a long time coming. Hope they get there in the morning to do the acid wash and you have your hoses ready to go.

 

[kimkats]

Soooooooooooooooo pretty! OH so pretty!!!