New Build - Klein, TX (North/Northwest Houston)

[dsadosky]

Hello Everyone! Been lurking here and soaking up all the knowledge for the last two months and finally found some time to post pictures of our build. We are going with a more modern style, straight lined pool to maximize our small yard. Well not really a small yard but an average yard with a big easement we had to work around (14 ft).

Pentair is our equipment of choice including an Intelliflow VS pump, IC-40 SWG, a separate water feature pump, and the EasyTouch automation system. We will have about 600 sqft of patio covered in travertine pavers are using a matching travertine travertine coping (English Walnut).

A few changes were made last minute to the design attached. We ended up with a 6x9 spa which gave us about 10 inches of trough around the 24" inch raised, infinity edged spa. We also went with a 24 inch raised wall with 30 inch tall pillars and a 7 foot center wall. The center rear wall and spa will be covered in glass tile (Oceanside's Midnight Love).

The remaining wall and columns will be covered in 2x4 split face travertine.

The pool uses most of the available space and comes within inches of the rear utility easement. The wooded stakes are my easement line. Here is the outline on the ground:

Lots of progress made the first 3 days (started on Sunday, June 26) and had three days of progress.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Days 4-10

Water, Water, Water and then some more water to keep up with the near 100 degree days we are having!

Day 11 - July 6

The guninite crews return to fix some blemishes and areas of concern. I had no idea they were coming back but apparently my builder wasn't happy with some of their work. I took this opportunity to change the pitch on on spa from a 3 in drop (outside to in) to a 1.75 drop. I probably could have gone even further to get the glass top look we wanted but we are much happier with where we are now.

Day 12+

Back to water, water, water and a bunch of waiting. Work will not resume until the week of July 18th. Our Oceanside glass tile is supposed to arrive the week of the 18th as well. Once that is onsite, hopefully we can start to make lots progress.

As we get back to work, I'll try and keep this thread updated with new pictures. Trying to get some bids lined up for a patio cover on the spa end of the pool where we will have the majority of travertine patio going in.

 

[Pisces]

Trendmaker home? I swear we have the same brick! Oh you will love the materials you've picked...such nice choices especially with the house color. The Ocanside tile just can't be beat. Great design, too!

 

[dsadosky]

Thanks Pisces. Its a Ryland home. We love you pool as well and looked at it often as we were making our selections. We almost even went with the same glass tile until we found the Midnight Love. Did your tile installers go through the entire water proofing, 7 day motar bed curing, and then the 21 day recommended wait before submerging your glass tile? That has to be the longest three weeks of the build. Having an almost finished pool that you can't plaster and put water in.

Would you mind sharing what your installation costs were for you glass tile? We still haven't nailed that piece down with our builder yet as I keep pushing him towards the proper installation methods and materials. Who installed your tile? If I remember from your thread it was Pool Services Unlimited. Is that correct. Any lessons learned from your tile install would be appreciated. The tile was a huge splurge for us and I want to ensure it is done right the first time.

 

[257WbyMag]

Looks good. With this heat, I am sure that they cannot finish that thing soon enough.

 

[Pisces]

Thank you so much for the compliments! We just love our pool. Yes, our PB didn't feel experienced enough with glass tile to do it, so they contracted Pool Services Unlimited to do the glass tile. It's not easy to work with, especially since it's on a paper backing not plastic mesh. Tricky stuff. These guys knew how to handle it. And yes, we made sure they used the materials and procedures in Oceanside's manual that came with the tile. They had no problem doing it. They floated out the areas to make them smooth and waterproof. Just don't quite remember if it cured for 7 days. Probably it did. We definitely waited the 21 days after the tile went in before it was submerged. It was a winter build, so that was no problem for us. It's hard to wait in the summertime when you want to SWIM, but I'd definitely wait. You're going to have this for years, so 3 weeks is nothing compared to that.

I don't know how much the PB paid them to install this. I'd just make sure your PB is willing to pay you to replace it if he tries it himself and messes it up, or it leaks, etc. . I'd get that one in writing. He may want to just get a tile contractor who knows Oceanside tile. Trust me, it would save him and you a ton of headaches. Yes, it was a big splurge for us, too...but I've never ever regretted getting that beautiful stuff!! My only regret is that I wish I'd gone a little darker on the grout color for the glass tile part. Your colors will require darker grout. Oceanside can let you know what color they would recommend for your tile. It's beautiful!!

Make sure you really watch you water chemistry to keep from getting scale on the tile. Since it hasn't rained my calcium hardness has really increased, and I can't replace enough water with the water restrictions down here. Have gotten a little more calcium scale - minor - but I take it back off regularly with a mild muriatic acid/water solution. It's a fight right now, though. I'm keeping my pH a little lower right now because of that. Come ON rain!!