Search results

  1. I

    PB experience so far... Night and Day

    Will echo what was said previously - the cost for going bigger is incremental. Does not take us much longer to dig and set a 16x32 vs 12x24.
  2. I

    2019 build

    For me, yes. Do a forum search Hayward ecostar drive error. I looked to be certain and we changed out 16 of them this year. All for Pentair 011056.
  3. I

    2019 build

    Their variable speed pumps do not last long. Speaking from experience here. We replace quite a few a year.
  4. I

    Pool Nightmare

    How did this happen? Is the pool sitting on unstable soils? Jacking out the concrete and re-setting the walls is going to be a tough feat. You may be better off literally tearing out the section out of level (after separating the beam concrete from the level part and unbolting the panels)...
  5. I

    Shotcrete day - another quasi panic

    This is not correct. Gunite will always have a cleaner finish as it is composed of much finer material than shotcrete. Shotcrete is concrete. Concrete typically consists of 3/4" - 1" rock, sand, and cement. Gunite is sand and cement with water applied at the nozzle. Shotcrete will have a...
  6. I

    Pouring your own pool floor?

    It isn't as fluid as concrete. Depending on what the temperature is on when you do it, you would find that you wouldn't have enough time to work it all at once like that. Rent a paddle mixer and mix as you go. Edit: I should also add that when mixing, it only needs to mix for about 30 seconds...
  7. I

    Iowa Build

    Nearing completion. Just got the screens back from the fabricator and installed on Saturday. 20' or so of fence to finish, a few more plantings and mulch and that's a wrap.
  8. I

    Price negotiating?

    Again, I feel that most contractors (myself included, in the trade) that know their overhead and numbers well enough will simply walk away, or work with a number and squeeze every last feature into a project for that number while still maintaining their margins. These tend to be the ones that...
  9. I

    Iowa Build

    Due to the incredibly wet spring (and summer for that matter), there was no way the concrete truck would make it back there to pour the concrete around the panels. So we opted to pump it over the house. An added benefit is that it is much easier to pump concrete into place.
  10. I

    Iowa Build

    This is where we stand as of now. We have just a little fencing, landscape planting and lighting to finish. I also designed some architectural wire mesh screens for both sides of the pool deck for some flare. Those should be done hopefully in the next week or so.
  11. I

    Iowa Build

    Hello all, Thought I would show our personal build as it progressed through this summer. We're just about finished up with the landscaping (just in time to close the pool for the season :(). Some specs: 18x36 Vinyl - Black Granite no border 6' wide steps with 12x6 sun ledge 6' deep Intelliflo...
  12. I

    Latham Black Granite or Gold Pebble

    I have a Black Granite liner in my own pool. Depending on if you go no border or not, my only experience with BG and a couple of other BG liners in pools we've worked on is that you'll need to spend a little more time scrubbing the water line as the scum is more quickly to show. Depth perception...
  13. I

    Price negotiating?

    ^^^ This. Contractors who know their numbers well will tweak the design and project to fit the budget. If you find someone to negotiate that's an instant flag to me that things may not end up going well. They will ultimately realize that their margins are not there and will start cutting corners...
  14. I

    Questions on steel wall/vinyl liner pool back fill

    Pavers when installed correctly, are somewhere in the vicinity of 97-99% impervious (I forget the exact percentage). I don't think run off is as much of an issue as ground water behind the liner is. We use a 3/4" clean stone (no fines) as backfill behind pools. The first benefit to using 3/4"...
  15. IMG_4899.jpg

    IMG_4899.jpg

  16. IMG_5240.jpg

    IMG_5240.jpg

  17. I

    A question for the Mason and stone guys

    The wall block looks like it's Techo-Bloc 'Brandon' Wall. The gaps do not get filled with grout. They should be butted up tight. Not hard to do. Edit: The reason you see the larger gaps on the vertical seams is because it's on a pretty tight radius. To remedy this they would need to be cutting...
  18. I

    Anyone Used Belgard Lafitt Rustic Slab in either Avondale or Belgian Stone color?

    Not sure if Techo-Bloc is available there or not (I believe they are now), but look either at the Piedimonte or Portofino cap. They both have subtle texture that would fit pretty nicely with the Belgard Rustic Slab.
  19. I

    Pump Size for Sheer Descents

    Was thinking in wall drains. Have a paver deck so pulling up and replacing wouldn't be too big of an issue. What at are your reasonings behind not recommending the whisperflo? Just curious.
  20. I

    Pump Size for Sheer Descents

    This is where I thought using a 3 way diverter would work well. Should be able to completely isolate to the descents if needed. At 72 GPM for all the descents (1 GPM per inch), I didn't see why using the VS to power these would be an issue, but the gentleman that I had been talking to...
  21. I

    Pump Size for Sheer Descents

    That was my initial line of thinking, to cut in a 3-way on the return side of my Intelliflo filter pump with an actuator to the Easy Touch. Is there any down side to doing this?
  22. I

    Pump Size for Sheer Descents

    Hello all, This spring I plan on adding 6 feet worth of sheer descents to our pool. (2-24" and 2-12"). Using CMP's guidelines that calls for 72 GPM. Between the suction and return side I figure I'll have close to 200' of 2" pipe, 90' of it on the suction side. I would ideally like to have a...
  23. I

    Vinyl Liner Pool Deck Bracing Freeze/Thaw

    Any settling will be a non issue if they use a non expansive material for backfill, such as 3/4" clean stone or as some refer to as #57's.
  24. I

    New build in Iowa

    The pool is actually situated more in front of our garage (attached to our house) as the main patio area takes up a large portion of the house. That's why we thought the lighting would be ok in this setup. Our builder did mention just the other day that if we wanted to move the ledge side light...
  25. I

    New build in Iowa

    Hello everyone, We are excited pool rookies beginning a build here in Iowa within the next couple of weeks. It is going to be an 18x28 liner pool with a 6x9 shelf and liner over steel steps. There are two skimmers and anywhere between 3 & 5 returns. We have been analyzing the design and layout...
  26. Pool Plan 2.27.jpg

    Pool Plan 2.27.jpg