New build in Northern VA

[GoldMomVA]

Hi, everybody!

We finally started our excavation yesterday. It took about a year of planning, permits and HOA meetings. I attached a pic of the dig from today, and a picture of the backyard from last year when we purchased the house. The steep slope and county easements were challenging, but here we go!

I am sure I will have plenty of questions and concerns as we move forward. The diggers already encountered solid rock today, so more $$ for equipment and labor tomorrow. Yay!

We know that we are very fortunate to be moving forward at all, given the current situation in VA and most of the US.

Thank you for having this forum!

Melissa

 

[Virtual]

Not that I know anything specific.. but make sure your builder pays attention to drainage. It looks like the pool is downhill below the house so you don't want any drain water that comes from the house level to flow down into the pool.

I hope your build goes well.. I'll be watching, wishing you the best, and might be in touch about your builder, if you're happy with them. We're going to need a replaster sometime soon, and I don't have any experience with pool people in the NOVA area.

 

[kimkats]

That house..........oh that wonderful house with all of those windows!!!! AND you are adding a pool??? OH YEAH! Heaven on Earth!!

So let us see your design plans!!

Kim

 

[GoldMomVA]

My hubby wants to get the Pebble Sheen Black Onyx, even though the PB says that is mostly brown. I prefer the Ocean Blue since it is more blue.

Also, I wanted to add a line of tiles near the edge of the steps for safety reasons. The PB said that it would cost $25 a linear foot for this, so hubby said no. Does this seem like a reasonable charge?

My family was concerned that our pool pit might accidentally catch some unsuspecting wildlife. Looks like they know to walk around it!

Melissa

 

[kimkats]

For the bench and step markers you can use a tile here and here and here to space them out and make their real accents. That may lower the price some. Pricing is hard to say if it is fair or what as each area is SO different!

LOL on the deer going around the hole!

 

[GoldMomVA]

Pipes went in on Saturday. The bars went in today. What is next?

I was reading on the site about the SW system. I really don’t like ocean water, but the description says that you can’t really taste the salt since it is so low of a concentration. Does anybody have the salt system that is bothered by the salty water? Can the PB still add this even though the pipes have already been laid?

 

[wireform]

Salt systems have nothing to do with the pipes in the ground. It's an installation done by the equipment pad alongside filter, heater and pumps. Have them do an oversized equipment pad so everything can be nicely spaced out lending itself to easier repair and maintenance. Worry not about tasting the salt because your tears are 3 times as salty and the ocean is something like 10 times that. Water will feel silky and after exiting pool you will not reek of chlorine.

 

[Ematicic]

Going to be a paradise with those trees. Our pool just got done, my first with SWG. It is much more pleasant, I don't notice the "salt" even when diving under. Plus eyes don't burn like a strong chlorine public pool. Look forward to more build pics. We still have some work to be finished but ours is usable.

 

[kimkats]

If the plumbing is done in side the pool the shell could be what is next. Each PB has their way to do things so some times they do this or that first.

 

[GoldMomVA]

Thank you for your input on the SWG. We are going to ask the PB about it today. Here is a pic of where construction is today...though nothing has moved in two days...sigh!

 

[kimkats]

Bet there is a long list of people waiting on the few shell companies in your area............sigh..........hurry up guys!!!

 

[GoldMomVA]

Gunite Day! They started at 6 am...neighbors are going to LOVE us!

 

[chazas]

How exciting!

 

[GoldMomVA]

Here is the drawing. Our “old school” PB doesn’t do the whole CAD thing, so there are no cool 3D pictures to post. We are also adding the casita near the pool for my adult special needs son to eventually live in.

 

[GoldMomVA]

I guess this is what the PB gave us. The other was from the surveyor.

 

[kimkats]

SWEET!!! That looks great! Have you started bonding with it yet? aka watering it to help slow down the curing.

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.

Kim

 

[GoldMomVA]

Thank you for all the awesome info! The whole family has been helping with the pool watering, so it is not too bad. No rain in the forecast here, though.
I included a picture of the deep end. There is standing water...do I need to pump that out?

I already ordered my TFP test kit. I didn’t think I would get one from the PB, and I wanted to make sure we had it in time for the opening. I forgot to get the SWG add on, though.

We are still undecided about the pool finish. We are waiting for a quote on the Wet Edge Starfall Primera Stone. It says that it is unavailable until mid to late June, but maybe the timing will work out. We have Pebble Sheen in our contract.

My hubby wants to tile the spa and sun shelf completely. Has anybody here had that done? Does it get too slippery? We are using glass tile. Is that too fragile for a horizontal surface?

Thank you again for your help...this is a scary process, and it definitely helps to have people to “talk” to!

 

[chazas]

When I lived in Hawaii fully tiled pools and spas were common. There's a reason you don't see them here. I wouldn't do it.

 

[Desert Dog]

No need to worry about the standing water. It will cure.

 

[kimkats]

There is standing water...do I need to pump that out?

That is up to you. If you have a pump already then go for it but it does not HAVE to be done. If you have mosquitoes then you might want to keep it drained out.

My hubby wants to tile the spa and sun shelf completely. Has anybody here had that done? Does it get too slippery? We are using glass tile. Is that too fragile for a horizontal surface?

How deep is his wallet? It is VERY pretty to do but it pushes the price up.........tile costs more to buy AND install. I would worry about the shelf being slippery but that is the worry wort in me.

I WOULD put them as markers on the steps and edge of the shelf if you don't end up using them for the whole thing.

Kim