Pool Refurb

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Well do what you can to keep the "new" pool looking great! Keep working getting a test kit.

Pool store-I would not bother with the stick one. Now if they calibrate the spin one it might be worth it IF you are already heading that way one day.
 
It is missing the CYA test. Knowing your CYA is very important so you can make sure to use enough chlorine as seen in this chart: FC/CYA Levels Now if that is all you can get your hands on now I say do it because you need to know the the pH and TA to keep your plaster safe.
 
gregch said:
the other uses a Spin Photometer, I think LaMotte brand called "waterlink"
Click to expand...
We have two pool stores in town, a mom and pop that uses a Lamotte spin touch, and a chain store that has a similar machine. The owners of the mom and pop store are always the only ones in the store and run all the tests. The mom and pop stores tests 9 times out of 10 will be close to my testing, the chain store not so much. I’ve come to the conclusion that the spin touch devices actually are pretty accurate, but only if the operators know what they are doing and keep it calibrated. My suggestion would be to try and find a mom and pop store that has a spin touch if you can. Don’t ever buy any thing but stabilizer , liquid chlorine or muriatic acid from them every now and then, but don’t listen to their advice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kimkats
I have a Leslies near me and they use the taylor counter lab. (an older version and honestly better quality one than this Laboratory, Counterlab Rx 2™ (complete), FAS-DPD ) I am not sure if it was properitary to that store or if all leslies uses that.

Results were excellent and right on.
The advice on the other hand, well i wasn't there for the advice.

Ultimatley, it depends on what the particular store uses and who is running the test.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kimkats
I've ordered one of those Scubas. Understand the concerns about tablet-based CYA testing, but proved impossible to find anything better so far. I'll report back once it gets here.

Latest issue on the pool refurb is that the guy who was going to lay the paving tiles has bailed at the last minute, put us in touch with another guy that told us he wouldn't turn up to the job very often because he's rather be working on a different project, so it would take a while - and then asked for all the money up front.

In the end we've managed to get the guy that did the copings to come back and do the surround for us. Hopefully he'll do a good enough job, though I've now realised the previous guy has made the concrete slab too small, so the tiles will either overhang the concrete by 2 inches, or every edge will need to have 2 inches cut off... and we still have to find someone else to do the little clay paver areas at the edge. No matter how well you plan, nothing ever goes to plan!
 
gregch said:
another guy that told us he wouldn't turn up to the job very often because he's rather be working on a different project, so it would take a while - and then asked for all the money up front.
Click to expand...
Ummmmmmmmm NO!!! ADULT WORD NO!! sigh.......
gregch said:
the concrete slab too small, so the tiles will either overhang the concrete by 2 inches, or every edge will need to have 2 inches cut off..
Click to expand...
Where will it over hang? over the grass?
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Yep, we subsequently discovered he wanted the money for his very expensive girlfriend. Not ideal, all things considered!

The tiles will overhang the concrete into fresh air, right now! When we're done they will border onto grass on one side and planting on the others - but they have yet to have their topsoil put down so right now the ground all around is below the level of the concrete... I wonder now if he realised his mistake and that was a factor in why he bailed!

He did give me a story about how it's deliberate, to make sure the concrete doesn't stick out beyond the tiles, but it doesn't sound right to me!
 
Ooh just spotted another little problem... the deck box for the light, which is due to be cemented into place first thing tomorrow, isn't actually connected to anything - the wires are in the same hole in the ground, but don't actually go into the box. And there are no connectors/glands/whatever that I can find anywhere. I guess I just hope the guys coming tomorrow can figure that out - or at least tell me what I part need to buy and I can go for a drive and look for it.

Bit concerned that these guys are coming a long way, we're putting them up in a hotel locally (budget now completely history), and they're only here for 3 days. That doesn't seem very long for two guys to tile and point 750 sq ft, as well as concreting in the steps and deck boxes, and cutting all the slabs around the edge - even without having to mess with stuff like the light connections.
 
Light box-I would think about having them NOT pour over it. Leave it open for now. Make it big enough you can put a paver over it. Just an idea to give you time to figure it out.

If they are coming that far I would have a huge cooler full of water, Gatorade, etc so they can have max time working without running anywhere.
 
kimkats said:
Light box-I would think about having them NOT pour over it. Leave it open for now. Make it big enough you can put a paver over it. Just an idea to give you time to figure it out.

If they are coming that far I would have a huge cooler full of water, Gatorade, etc so they can have max time working without running anywhere.
Click to expand...
That's a great idea, we can catch it in later.

We'll certainly make sure they're looked after!
 
  • Like
Reactions: kimkats
Another update! The guys came and laid the paving; they also managed to route the cables into the deck box and get that cemented in and cut the paving slab around it pretty neatly. It's taking shape now!

IMG_4642.jpeg

Another question though, if I may? The water was very alkaline (having been topped up with our mains water) which I've addressed by adding acid; pH is now about right and TA is on the high side but not too far off now. I've vacuumed, backwashed and filtered for a while and the water is seemingly pretty clean and clear. FC is low (0.8, TC is 1.0). So the question is, do I need to shock it to be 100% sure I've killed anything nasty in there, or can I just trust that it looks clear and just bring the FC up to the appropriate number?



(PS in the end I got that Scuba II photometer, it relies on mashing and dissolving tablets which isn't ideal but the results are very consistent so hopefully it will do the job - given the difficulty finding any better test kits over here!)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Decoy205
That is looking wonderful!!!! So glad they were able to take care of all of that!

gregch said:
FC is low (0.8, TC is 1.0)
Click to expand...
This tells us you do need to do a SLAM as seen here: SLAM Process It should be a short SLAM due to the clear water.

You should never (yes I said never) let your FC get below the minimum for your CYA using this chart: FC/CYA Levels You can expect a daily FC lose of anywhere from 2 to 5 depending on sun and bathers.
 
Thank you! There's some stuff still to do (some areas leading onto the pool surround I'm in the process of laying clay pavers, and the between the pleachings and pool surround I need to do a bit of landscaping/turfing/planting).

Well, a-SLAMming I will go! Thanks for the links & info. Will report back in due course!
 
  • Like
Reactions: kimkats
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply