benches and steps can be done without rebar as they are not structural.
New Build Northern California Spring 2020
- Thread starter Slmcveigh72
- Start date
Here’s an update.
After calling the owner last night and asking him to come recheck everything before the steel and plumbing is inspected tomorrow, he finally came out today. When he measured the width of the spa it was 3-4” smaller then what the plans call for. They had even re-dug the spa before starting the steel because it had been substantially smaller previously. He tried to convince me that it was “only 3-4 inches” but I knew better because of this group and said, “wait won’t that mean 6-8” once the gunite and plaster is in?
His offer, take off $500 or re-do the spa. I asked them to re-do the spa, especially since I have raised this issue over and over.
Hopefully they will be done today.
Thursday is inspection, then gunite next Monday. Happy to be moving to the next stage finally!
After calling the owner last night and asking him to come recheck everything before the steel and plumbing is inspected tomorrow, he finally came out today. When he measured the width of the spa it was 3-4” smaller then what the plans call for. They had even re-dug the spa before starting the steel because it had been substantially smaller previously. He tried to convince me that it was “only 3-4 inches” but I knew better because of this group and said, “wait won’t that mean 6-8” once the gunite and plaster is in?
His offer, take off $500 or re-do the spa. I asked them to re-do the spa, especially since I have raised this issue over and over.
Hopefully they will be done today.
Thursday is inspection, then gunite next Monday. Happy to be moving to the next stage finally!
REALLY??? ONLY 3-4"???? GURRRRR just think of the poor people who don't have TFP in their pocket! GOOD for you for standing up to him and getting it done RIGHT!!!
I would be standing out there with my tape measure in hand while they are working...............I would have a cooler full of water and maybe some Gatoraide to soften it a bit but I would be right there watching them and showing them you know how to use the tape measure!!!!
Here is hoping it gets done before they inspect! NO work=NO inspection!
Lol, thank you for all the support and confidence to question things that don’t seem right 
I had an idea at 3:00 this morning 
yeah really.........................write out on a piece of paper what it is now AND what it should be!!! Make a few copies and hand it to each person there to look at and work on the pool!! That way there is NO question what needs to be done!!!!
yeah really.........................write out on a piece of paper what it is now AND what it should be!!! Make a few copies and hand it to each person there to look at and work on the pool!! That way there is NO question what needs to be done!!!!
Ekkkkk!
It‘s finally looking like a pool!!
Very excited to see it take shape.
Met with the concrete guy this morning to finalize the pool deck. Decided to go with concrete coping instead of travertine. I love the travertine, but that extra $8,000 can go to more decking and a wall behind the fire pit.
It‘s finally looking like a pool!!
Very excited to see it take shape.
Met with the concrete guy this morning to finalize the pool deck. Decided to go with concrete coping instead of travertine. I love the travertine, but that extra $8,000 can go to more decking and a wall behind the fire pit.
WHAT??? OH my that does look great!!! HOW exciting!!!! Guess what time it is............time for YOUR set of links!!!
The first set is all about what to do and ask about to get a great plaster job. The second set is all about how to care for your pool after you get the plaster.
Plaster links:
Ten Guidelines for Quality Pool Plaster Best one of all
All Plaster Finishes Should Last 20 Years
Not All Color Pigments are Good for Pools How to pick a good color for plaster.
A Plastering 'Watch List' | Professional Watershaping | Watershapes
Trouble Free Pool
Trouble Free Pool
Pool care links:
Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule
Pool School - Recommended Levels
Bookmark these:
Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals
Trouble Free Pool
Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
Now is also a good time to ask what test kit your PB will be providing so we can fill in any holes.
So talk to me about the spa redo......how did that go? Did they remove all of the steel and replace it or???
Kim
Guess what time it is............time for YOUR set of links!!!The first set is all about what to do and ask about to get a great plaster job. The second set is all about how to care for your pool after you get the plaster.
Plaster links:
Ten Guidelines for Quality Pool Plaster Best one of all
All Plaster Finishes Should Last 20 Years
Not All Color Pigments are Good for Pools How to pick a good color for plaster.
A Plastering 'Watch List' | Professional Watershaping | Watershapes
Trouble Free Pool
Trouble Free Pool
Pool care links:
Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule
Pool School - Recommended Levels
Bookmark these:
Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals
Trouble Free Pool
Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
Now is also a good time to ask what test kit your PB will be providing so we can fill in any holes.
So talk to me about the spa redo......how did that go? Did they remove all of the steel and replace it or???
Kim
Thank you so much for the links, lucky for me we are all in quarantine and I will have plenty of time to absorb it all 
They offered to take $500 off the cost of the plumbing/rebar for the decrease in the spa size. I refused and asked them to fix the spa. They, begrudgingly agreed to re-do the spa. It took the better part of the day but in the end, the measurements we correct before gunite. The spa is a long term commitment, $500 just wasn’t going to cut it. They also threw together the fire pit, I’m assuming because I asked them to re-do the spa. It was all wrong and the gunite guys had to dismantle and re-form the fire pit to be able to gunite it and have it come out to the correct size.
The gunite has been the smoothest process so far. They were here at 7am and were helpful, efficient, and gave us some great ideas of where to put the steps, the umbrella sleeve and ideas for the fire pit.
I am a bit concerned because the same company that dug the hole and did the plumbing and rebar are the same ones that are supposed to help us buy the pool equipment. I have read so much on pool equipment and still don’t understand it all. I’m worried they might steer us in the wrong direction. So happy to have TFP to lean on
They offered to take $500 off the cost of the plumbing/rebar for the decrease in the spa size. I refused and asked them to fix the spa. They, begrudgingly agreed to re-do the spa. It took the better part of the day but in the end, the measurements we correct before gunite. The spa is a long term commitment, $500 just wasn’t going to cut it. They also threw together the fire pit, I’m assuming because I asked them to re-do the spa. It was all wrong and the gunite guys had to dismantle and re-form the fire pit to be able to gunite it and have it come out to the correct size.
The gunite has been the smoothest process so far. They were here at 7am and were helpful, efficient, and gave us some great ideas of where to put the steps, the umbrella sleeve and ideas for the fire pit.
I am a bit concerned because the same company that dug the hole and did the plumbing and rebar are the same ones that are supposed to help us buy the pool equipment. I have read so much on pool equipment and still don’t understand it all. I’m worried they might steer us in the wrong direction. So happy to have TFP to lean on
GOOD for you!!! Stick to what YOU are going to have to live with once they are GONE!!!
Is there where you would have asked them to put it? AND of course they did it wrong
SO glad that part of the crew is GONE!So share their ideas for everything. I use this kind of thing for future builds...."Well on one build they xxxx and it worked great" kind of thing.
You have seen that YOU have the power to get what YOU want/need for YOUR pool. Being lazy here but did someone go over your equipment for you yet?
Kim
Here‘s our list of pool equipment. Can anyone weigh in on this list of equipment? There are two heaters, and I am definitely leaning towards the Raypak. I have also had a long and involved discussion about making sure we get the IntelliCenter with the IC60, that was not an easy conversation. When I put our measurements into the pool gallon calculator, I come up with 33,500 gallons.
I will put in a call for a couple that knew equipment....... @Jimrahbe @jimmythegreek
72,
I like the IntelliCenter with IC60
I like the VS pump over the VSF as almost no one needs the "flow" portion. But it is not a big deal either way.
I like the large 520 filter
I would never buy a pressure side cleaner.. Kind of like buying an old black rotary-dial telephone instead of today's cell phone.. I would buy a robot on my own..
Heater is a wash..
Thanks,
Jim R.
I like the IntelliCenter with IC60
I like the VS pump over the VSF as almost no one needs the "flow" portion. But it is not a big deal either way.
I like the large 520 filter
I would never buy a pressure side cleaner.. Kind of like buying an old black rotary-dial telephone instead of today's cell phone.. I would buy a robot on my own..
Heater is a wash..
Thanks,
Jim R.
get the raypak and get the nickel cupro model its only a couple bucks more will last longer with a SW pool. biggest filter you can get is best. agree on intelliflo and you dont need VSF. robot cleaner forget the powered kind. when they run the plumbing have the plumber make home runs for the skimmers and drains and same with returns, if you have more than 4 he can stack a pair on each line.
I see that you have 2 heaters on your bid. Just wanted to mention that we only have one heater that is tied to the spa. However, we have a relay switch that allows our spa to overflow into the pool while heater is on and it heats the pool as well. Was told that it was cheaper to have one large heater than to have two separate. It’s a 400 btu. It has worked well and heats our 28,000 gallon pool by about 1 degree per hour. It also heats the spa quickly when heating only the spa. I don’t know if that’s an option for you just suggestion.
Last edited:
Thank you!
We decided to go with the RayPak heater. RayPak seems to be a favorite of the people here at TFP.
This just might be the slowest pool build in the history of TFP ?. Between COVID-19 and the rain, it feels like it will never get done!
We have the waterline tile in and the dirt is smoothed out (covering the pipes).
Hoping for rebar tomorrow for the pool deck.
We have the waterline tile in and the dirt is smoothed out (covering the pipes).
Hoping for rebar tomorrow for the pool deck.
Hey now it is still Spring so.................yeah it is a slow build but it is moving forward so it is going to get done one day. Here is hoping the deck work goes great today!!!
Kim
Kim