Another The Woodlands, TX Build - Finishing touches

[Robtown]

They aren’t permanently installed but I couldn’t wait to put the water bowls on, so I got my workout in and heaved these 90lbs bowls into place to get the full effect. (I’m going to point the middle bowl more towards the middle of the pool.


With all of the pumps on and the JetArrays at max, it’s pretty loud. But then again,the JetArrays would be on only when in the spa so you wouldn’t hear the pumps anyway. It’s not too bad with all of the water features running.

I got the speaker wire and internet run to the pergola for a streaming TV. I picked up a 55” TCL Roku TV from Walmart on an early Black Friday sale for a steal at $150. Need to figure out a TV mount and have a few ideas.

 

[Nikilyn]

That’s great you figured out how you want the bowl before it’s permanently installed.

 

[kimkats]

Man those are SO pretty!!!

 

[TampaKathy]

I like the bowls...are they concrete? How wide are they at the top?

 

[Robtown]

Sorry for the lack of updates. It’s been busy with taking care of the pool (chemicals, brushing, vacuuming, and especially skimming all of the leaves out of the pool) and the holidays.

We braved the cold to jump in the pool on the day before Thanksgiving before the rain and colder weather hit as we couldn’t resist. It was quite um... refreshing is one way to put it.

I need to take some more pictures and should get some nice sunny ones this weekend. I’m love the view out of the living room windows both day and night with the lighting. The blue has died down some which is good and the water is staying well balanced but requiring a lot of acid, about 30-40oz per day. I can’t wait to get the IntelliPH running to automate that process.

Landscaping is starting tomorrow to reconnect irrigation, set up drainage, final grading and some ground and planter prep. I can’t wait to get rid of some of the mud and the pile of dirt behind the spa.

 

[kimkats]

That is a wonderful water color! Sure DOES look like a TFP! Well done!

Please go to this thread: Pool Finish and Color Viewing Room...TFP Member Sound Off and post some pics looking down at the steps and different depths. Make sure to put in what kind and color your plaster is as well as any extras you had added to it if any.

 

[Robtown]

That is a wonderful water color! Sure DOES look like a TFP! Well done!

Please go to this thread: Pool Finish and Color Viewing Room...TFP Member Sound Off and post some pics looking down at the steps and different depths. Make sure to put in what kind and color your plaster is as well as any extras you had added to it if any.

Thanks Kim, I’ll add these pictures to that thread when I get some better full sun pictures of the steps to be able to compare.

Here are some partial sun/shade pictures of our Blue Surf (no additives)

 

[Robtown]

With the rain last weekend, I didn’t get around to decorating the exterior of the house with our Christmas lights until this weekend. Of course the pool needed to join in the festivities...



It seems the green light is difficult to capture with my phone.

 

[Robtown]

Landscaping starting tomorrow and hoping to be done by Thursday. Laid out my rough plan this weekend and existed to get to a more finished project.

I also bought a lot of supplies to work on some of the electrical projects like...

finish outdoor speaker wiring with 2 additional speakers on the new pergola (will make 4 total) plus a buried subwoofer

cat6 network cable from pergola Smart TV to network switch in outdoor bathroom (connects cameras, Sonos, and WiFi AP

4 cat6 cables to equipment pad - 2 for 2 cameras (one for security on that side of house, other to view the equipment), 1 for IntelliCenter hardwire, 1 for future RS-485 communication for advanced automation (Thanks @MyAZPool, I wouldn’t have thought to run an extra line without your recent automation build update. I may add a 5th just in case although it’s not too tough to gain access)

Equipment pad light install and wiring to load center

And finally, rewiring and cleaning up the IntelliCenter install. I’d welcome anyone’s thoughts on this wiring plan...

 

[Zaffor]

Why use Load on FLTR relay to then feed another relay to run SCG and intelliph?
seems like a waste of a relay?

 

[Sparks22]

I will also vouch for Marina Pool Spa and Patio. Best price, excellent customer service, fast delivery. Bought from them about a month ago.

 

[GCyr]

I will also vouch for Marina Pool Spa and Patio. Best price, excellent customer service, fast delivery. Bought from them about a month ago.

Just got off of the phone with Marina Pool Spa and Patio. Ordered the Warrior SI. Margaret was great!!! Answered all of our questions and took care of everything. Thanks to all!

 

[Indeeph2o]

Thanks everyone.

The PB started up the pumps and added some chemicals (metal out, CYA, acid, etc...)

They won’t be out until Monday so I’m taking over with my TF-100 kit now.

Here are a few pictures with the pumps running the spillway and wall scuppers (need to install the bowls for the columns).

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Here are the JetArrays running with the XF pump at 3400 rpm. I’m really glad we put this on a separate pump with large 3” plumbing. I can’t wait to be able to get in and crank up the heat in a couple of weeks. (I’m not sure why the picture is upside down)

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Also, here’s a picture all lit up. I’m glad we went with 8 Microbrites. I’m looking forward to setting up the IntelliCenter and program the different “zones”
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Hey Rob-

A couple of questions-with all of the hassle you went through with the plumbing for jetarrays-would you do it again?

And, I like the way you designed your ledge with the bench coming off it. Do you like the dimensions of your ledge? Would you change that design at all?

 

[Robtown]

Hey Rob-

A couple of questions-with all of the hassle you went through with the plumbing for jetarrays-would you do it again?

And, I like the way you designed your ledge with the bench coming off it. Do you like the dimensions of your ledge? Would you change that design at all?

Thanks for bumping up this thread. I’ve been meaning to provide some updates.

yes, we’d definitely do the JetArrays again as it’s one of our favorite features and gets a lot of use while we are enjoying the spa. I would just make sure your builder is aware of the space they need during install and would have the plumbing done prior/during steel. I’d also make sure you have enough flow/suction with correctly sized pipes and pumps.

The plumbing leak we had in the spa was actually on the standard spa returns, not the JetArrays. It was due to the Gunite crew as they knocked it loose working on the cage around the spa and JetArrays.

Regarding the tanning ledge, we haven’t really used it much yet but we’re coming up on our first summer season and my wife prefers to lounge and cool off so I think we’ll really enjoy it. My 1.5 year old nephew enjoyed it

 

[Robtown]

I forgot to get around to posting updates after completion of the landscaping and decking along with a few other touches.

Of course the freeze we had in Houston took a toll on the landscaping and we had to replace some things but everything is greening up and warming up so just about pool season!

 

[Robtown]

Here was back in mid-December after completing the deck and stone work on the steps and pergola columns plus the landscaping...

 

[Robtown]

On Super Bowl Sunday, our prefab outdoor kitchen unit was delivered and we decided to watch the game from the hot tub! I bought a “pop-up” screen that is about 10 wide and projected the game streaming from an iPad and connected to our outdoor stereo system which includes 4 speakers and a buried subwoofer.

I also installed a 50in TV on a unique mount that I operate with pulleys and a crank to lower the TV when in use and raise it to protect it from the elements when not in use. I forgot to take a picture of the TV down and cover open, but it’s mounted under the pergola roof. It can also swivel around so you can view it from the pool or spa or pergola.

The patio heater also kept us warm during the cold nights in the hot tub (it’s a 6000W infrared heater running on a dedicated 240V 25amp circuit)

 

[Robtown]

Of course the Texas freeze was interesting to say the least but because of this site I was able to drain everything shortly after losing power and avoid major issues.

I hope we never see a winter storm like that again. We covered most of the landscaping and it actually survived except for the 4 x 45gallon trees we had planted. That was not a fun experience.

 

[Robtown]

Here are some pictures from this past weekend as we’re pretty much finished up. Just a few small/minor items left...

 

[kimkats]

That looks like a magazine shoot! OH SO PRETTY!!!