New Pool in Houston, TX - Completed August 2021

[PoolGate]

Also in-floor cleaning generally is not given high marks. Opinions go both ways but if this isn't set in stone consider getting rid of it. They tend to be problematic.

 

[PoolGate]

1 last thing - Jandy is the only automation that allows for control of the valves in 5% increments. The controller board is called a "Smart JVA". Ask your builder about this but don't be surprised if he has never heard of it. I used 1 to balance between my sheer descent and rock waterfalls. I go from 100% on one or the other to 50% to 80/20%, etc. I use it a lot.

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

Thanks! If I upgraded now, how much do you think my PB would tell me the price goes up by? Going from what he's currently got for me (PS-6?) to the PS-12?

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

He just said this:

It will get expensive. Have to add three actuators, upgrade the iaqualink and add another transformer for the lights. $5600

I think I'll pass as we're already over budget lol. Does the additional cost seem right?

 

[PoolGate]

You should be able to go with the PS12 PCB board and skip all the extra actuators for now without too much more money. A couple hundred at most. Adding a JVA later is around $150 each and easy to install. Not sure why he thinks you need another transformer. It sounds like he is going to put the pool and spa light on the same one so you will not have individual control they will both be on or off or whatever color scheme you choose at the same time. Were you wanting them to be individually controllable? Before you sign anything you need to have him tell you exactly what you are getting. $5600 doesn't make a lot of sense to me. $5600 is enough for the entire Aqualink RS-PS12 system. PS6 is way undersized for what you have.

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

I've had my dig completed for a couple of weeks now but no other progress. I'm not too anxious to get moving, however we had a good amount of rain last night and will continue thru the weekend. The dig started to cave in and exposing the wood stakes. My PB asked for some pictures emailed to him so I did and he said it'll most likely have to be dug again.

Is this a problem? Do I need to watch our for anything when they re-dig?

Thanks!

 

[Robtown]

Depending on how much collapses in and they would need to re-dig, maybe you can convince them to give you a bigger pool if the permits would allow. Maybe meet a little in the middle with the PB for the additional costs for tile, etc... It might be a good way to get a larger pool at a discount.

Otherwise they would have to spray a thicker shell or put walls on the backside when they Gunite. Then they will have to fill in between the back of the Gunite on the undisturbed dirt which could be a pain to make sure it’s compacted although that area could be used for routing the long plumbing...

Either way it’s going to cost them something. You might be able to use it to your advantage.

 

[luma7]

What kind of dirt do you have? We have clay, which holds water, that can impact your timeline and costs if the PB has to drop something in there and pump out the water then wait for it to be dry enough to dig again.

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About page 3 of this thread, someone mentioned that with all the items that are bubbling or splashing your PH will likely have to be managed carefully. Please do make a note of that. We have experienced it with far fewer water features than this pool has planned. Once you've filled, we can help more with it, if you wish. It will likely be info overload right now.

Good luck, hope everything dries out!

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

What kind of dirt do you have? We have clay, which holds water, that can impact your timeline and costs if the PB has to drop something in there and pump out the water then wait for it to be dry enough to dig again.

//

About page 3 of this thread, someone mentioned that with all the items that are bubbling or splashing your PH will likely have to be managed carefully. Please do make a note of that. We have experienced it with far fewer water features than this pool has planned. Once you've filled, we can help more with it, if you wish. It will likely be info overload right now.

Good luck, hope everything dries out!

In Houston, so mostly clay like like everyone else here. I hope I won't have too much PH issues but since it seems inevitable, I'm grateful I have fine folks here like yourself helping throughout the way.

 

[colinn]

I've had my dig completed for a couple of weeks now but no other progress. I'm not too anxious to get moving, however we had a good amount of rain last night and will continue thru the weekend. The dig started to cave in and exposing the wood stakes. My PB asked for some pictures emailed to him so I did and he said it'll most likely have to be dug again.

Is this a problem? Do I need to watch our for anything when they re-dig?

Thanks

Hi from Katy, TX.
I had that same problem of walls caving in during our dig back in December. My builder put down some lime to help dry up some of the dirt and then dropped a sump pump to discharge the water. If you can get a bigger pool out of it then that’s definitely a win. All the best with your build.

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

We'd love to make the pool slightly bigger but concerned it'll change the shape disproportionately and end up looking awkward. We wouldn't want it any more closer to the home so that's the only way it'd be disproportionate, where we make other sides bigger but the side near the house.

Thanks for the reassurance folks.

 

[colleenbevans]

We had the same issue with our dig- Feb 2nd in Houston area and then the freeze and then the cave ins. Finally had to dig with the gunite truck in the driveway. Scattering lime on the sides did not fix the situation. They would dig it out, pile it up on the sides which would add more weight and cause more caving. Had city inspector on-site because he would not pass the rebar for gunite unless the truck was in the driveway.

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

We had the same issue with our dig- Feb 2nd in Houston area and then the freeze and then the cave ins. Finally had to dig with the gunite truck in the driveway. Scattering lime on the sides did not fix the situation. They would dig it out, pile it up on the sides which would add more weight and cause more caving. Had city inspector on-site because he would not pass the rebar for gunite unless the truck was in the driveway.

Did you call the city inspector or the PB called them? What do you mean he would not pass the rebar for gunite unless the truck was in the driveway?

 

[colleenbevans]

Did you call the city inspector or the PB called them? What do you mean he would not pass the rebar for gunite unless the truck was in the driveway?

The PB would come dig out the rebar and by the next day or two when the inspector would come back, the mud would have already caved in on top of the rebar. He finally told the pool builder to get his diggers out and get the gunite truck in the driveway ready to shoot or he would not pass it. Once the gunite guys showed up, they physically showed the inspector how they would handle the cave ins. One group digging and the gunite being shot right behind. It was a horrible 2 weeks. 4 failed inspections before we got to that point.

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

Yes, I'm concerned that the dirt is caving in closer to the house foundation. We're still a 3-4 feet away at the closest area but I'm not sure how they'll actually "fix" this if the pool is not supposed to be here. See the 2 pictures attached where you see the the curve near the house before and after the rain. Does anyone know what they'll do to fix this? I can't imagine them being able to put the dirt back and compacted as it was before.

My wife is a lot more anxious and I am, even after our PB supervisor said it'll be fixed in no time and this is nothing new for them with all the rain on their pool building in Houston.

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

The PB would come dig out the rebar and by the next day or two when the inspector would come back, the mud would have already caved in on top of the rebar. He finally told the pool builder to get his diggers out and get the gunite truck in the driveway ready to shoot or he would not pass it. Once the gunite guys showed up, they physically showed the inspector how they would handle the cave ins. One group digging and the gunite being shot right behind. It was a horrible 2 weeks. 4 failed inspections before we got to that point.

I understand this now. Who called the inspector?

 

[ajw22]

Yes, I'm concerned that the dirt is caving in closer to the house foundation. We're still a 3-4 feet away at the closest area but I'm not sure how they'll actually "fix" this if the pool is not supposed to be here. See the 2 pictures attached where you see the the curve near the house before and after the rain. Does anyone know what they'll do to fix this? I can't imagine them being able to put the dirt back and compacted as it was before.

My wife is a lot more anxious and I am, even after our PB supervisor said it'll be fixed in no time and this is nothing new for them with all the rain on their pool building in Houston.

They will likely put boards in to create a form for the gunite and then backfill behind it to close the hole.

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

They will likely put boards in to create a form for the gunite and then backfill behind it to close the hole.

That's the only way I can think of too. They'd have to dig in longer stakes to create the form.

Would they backfill with gunite or with dirt?

 

[ajw22]

Backfill with dirt or gravel after they remove the wood forms.

 

[colinn]

For my build, they backfilled with dirt after the shell was poured.the put boards that curved around the rebar and shot inside of that to form that shell. Once the boards were removed they backfilled with dirt.
If you can get them to use gravel then that would be great but for me they used excavated dirt. Since it’s mostly clay here in Katy, Texas, the dirt didn’t sink down after it was backfilled.