Let the pool games begin!

[Readyforapool]

That's good - maybe I should have had your wife negotiate with my PB! Lol

 

[Omnipotent]

Well Holy Guacamole! I'm back......

Too catch everyone up...when I left off the misses had gotten the pool company to agree to pay for the relocation of the power line. Well, then the power company took several months to get out and relocate the line, followed by delays in inspection and then a brutal....extremely hard winter for us Marylanders and now here we are 5 months later picking up where we left off.

Good news...PB picked up all costs (actually just deducted off of how much I owe them) with relocating the line to include the initial break/repair which wasn't part of the relocate of the line...all told it was about 7K not counting the cost for them to trench and backfill the new lines.

Come April and work finally gets started again....First things first, a serious clean out was required as the pool had caved in on itself quite a bit over the winter...the plus to this I've got a larger pool for no extra money.

Clean out, new forms set (something about the walls were to unstable now and they needed these and will backfill them?) and rebar placed
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Next was the plumbing.....
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Equipment Pad (Punp, Filter and Heater)
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3866_zpscb5aafa1.jpg.html][/URL]

Glad everything is labeled....**** going everywhere it seems
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Next is an inspection....and then I guess Gunite or Electrical...not sure which will come next....all I know is I'm hoping against hope that the pool is opened in May as I have a huge event for Memorial Day that was planned last year when we started the pool and tickets have been purchased...so PB better keep things going, and please pray for good weather

Will update again once something new happens.

 

[pwrstrk]

Glad everything has worked out for you ! It's looking great. Keep the pictures coming as the progress takes place. You know how everybody like's to follow a build.

 

[jro33176]

wow, what a start to your build! I hope everything goes smoothly from here on out. we are currently in the process of relocating our utility lines. I'm guessing that all power companies like to take their time with this sort of project! ours certainly has!

 

[JNS101879]

Glad you have all that initial drama taken care. Just starting my dig tomorrow, and of course I read this thread tonight.

 

[Vettechick99]

Alrighty.....I'm back. After a bit of back and forth, to be honest it felt like was in Texas 2-step.....i finally suck the bulldog on the PB. The misses doesn't mess around and let them have it. To back up a bit, the bill for the reroute came in @$3200. I tell PB price and that this doesn't include trenching, conduit or backfilling.....that's on the homeowner to handle. PB comes back and says it would cost his crew $1200 to trench and then they would throw in another 1k so that we would both be in it for $2200.

I didn't feel I should pay, but at this point I just want the thing back on track....so I let the misses know their decision and that I was inclined to go along with it. Well she just can't accept that we should have to pay for something that wasn't out fault. PB was the GC, they called the permits and Miss Utility and they knew tickets are only valid for 12 days. So I let her deal with it.....long story short, they're covering the whole bill, trenching starts Tue and they apologized for the inconvenience.

Now misses just negotiated a little shopping spree for herself based on the savings.

So, we are back on and hoping to have some more updates next week, let's hope this was "THE" issue for this build, I hope so.

Good for her!!

 

[Omnipotent]

Inspection gave us the green light......so onto Gunite. Should get done early next week.....moving right along now, time to get the deck (elavated off the house) guy out as well to get started. I might have a backyard by Memorial Day after all.

 

[Omnipotent]

Gunite DAY!.....feel like gunite day for everyone should be some sort of a National Holiday of sorts

Crews arrived at 1030
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3872_zps2ef24d6d.jpg.html][/URL]

Got started right away with the forms....they moved really quick
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3873_zps2f7deca0.jpg.html][/URL]

An hour later a pool is finally starting to emerge
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3875_zpsa9339df7.jpg.html][/URL]

Close up of tanning shelf....12ft circle. Those are 2 bubblers and an umbrella sleeve in the shelf
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More of an areal view thanks to the 2nd story
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3879_zps4cdb11de.jpg.html][/URL]

Donw to the nitty gritty
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3882_zpsf1c79c3f.jpg.html][/URL]

Detail work on the raised wall (a large paver sun deck will be there) you can see the 2 carve outs for cascades
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3885_zps28f8271c.jpg.html][/URL]

Steps....I thought the bench would be bigger...I thought we decided on a 6 ft bench.....haven't measured it but that looks a little small. We'll see what the PB says about this....
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Deep end again showing the light, cascades and you can start to tell where the steps will be from the sun deck down to the pool deck
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3887_zps7e04c153.jpg.html][/URL]

Now we wait....don't know how long until the next step....I'm guessing it's the Sunstone Pearl Finish (Black Pearl) that would be next along with eletrical, but don't really know. Moving pretty quick now, might actually be swimming by Memorial Day!

 

[Omnipotent]

Electircal done! We are moving right along nowadays...we had a slow start but maybe, just maybe we will have a pool by Memorial Day. Obligatory pics below:

All new trenches dug....I find it odd how some pool builders schedule different things at different times. Seems we could have saved money to have electrical and plumbing done at or near the same time to avoid trenching twice...especially when the electrical guys just dug up the plumbers trench to lay there conduit.

[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3906_zpsaa233048.jpg.html][/URL]

Turn for the pool light, we included a remote light on the deck which should be nice....especially at night when we are all inside and forgot to turn off the light!
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3905_zps7a4a33ca.jpg.html][/URL]

Sub-panel, timers, and who knows what else mounted directly to the house....
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3899_zpse087a35d.jpg.html][/URL]

Showing the where the magic happens...that conduit on the wall is to a remote light switch for the pool light on the yet to be installed deck
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3900_zps0c5f15bf.jpg.html][/URL]

We added a couple of additional outlets on the backside of the pool deck...figured to run lighting, speakers, chargers for iPhones...anything really. An extra $650 for 2 outlets....at 150ft per run.
[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/jdjuniper/media/IMG_3904_zps18dc056f.jpg.html][/URL]

Next up is coping/tile.....hopefully not too long!

 

[lindsgd]

Which is why most pool builders I was dealing with always had the plumber also do the electrical. Just makes no sense to double the hard labor of trenching.

 

[tcm]

I'm still curious about the original electrical easement. Just wondering when the electrical line was re routed was it surveyed and the old easement abandoned? Here where we live easements are recorded with the county on a survey. We are just about to start our build here in Texas. The water utility has easements 10' around every lot here so since we have two lots the easement is 20' wide thru the middle of our yard. We had to get an abandonment of easement from the utility company before we could even submit for our building permit.

 

[Omnipotent]

Ours was more of a right of way vs easement. It was documented and on file with the surveyor but miss utility missed it. Now had we dug during the 12 day valid ticket electric company or there sub would have been responsible but since we dug after the 12 day it was on us (PB really). In the end yes we had to work with the electric company to move the line, they did a survey around the pool and told us how and where to run it. So yes we still have a right of way and now I know where it's at so I doubt I'll hit it again at least until old age sets in

 

[mynewpool2014]

Omnipotent: Congratulation on your pool, we are in the middle of a build with Anthony Sylvan as well. it is comforting to see other people building their pool with them and the progress on their end. I will start a thread soon and post my pictures. We got the Dig date was April 7th, Plumbing happened over the weekend. I was surprised to see that the plumber filled the trench. now I know that the electrician would dig a trench again. our county/ township inspection is today, Anthony PM John K. will do the quality inspection and then Gunite. I see that you have a Gas heater as well, have you figured the cost to connect the heater with the gas line? I just asked UGI and they came back with $1200 proposal (including trenching 50 ft, $900 without). there is an additional $500 for upgrading the meter ( required). seems like a rip-off. what did you do/will do, is your cost similar? do we have any other option except paying UGI? we made compromises and left some options to save money, and now this cost is making me upset.

 

[mynewpool2014]

Curious to see further progress on your Pool.

 

[Omnipotent]

Hwy guys, I'm back. After watering the pool for 10 days (the longest 10 days ever BTW) I ended up going out of town for work...but I cam back to some welcome progress on the pool and elevated deck (not being built by PB). Below find the photos of where we are at so far.....

Raised bond beam at deep end, note the 18in cascades

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Details on the step down....yard falls away quite a bit from right to left so we took advantage of that in the design

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Close up of tile selection

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Deck being added, going with Fiberon Composite

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View from the kitchen/deck

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View from the existing paver patio, hopefully it will all tie in.

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[Omnipotent]

I see that you have a Gas heater as well, have you figured the cost to connect the heater with the gas line? I just asked UGI and they came back with $1200 proposal (including trenching 50 ft, $900 without). there is an additional $500 for upgrading the meter ( required). seems like a rip-off. what did you do/will do, is your cost similar? do we have any other option except paying UGI? we made compromises and left some options to save money, and now this cost is making me upset.

I haven't priced out the run yet, but yes I was told about the same which is why I placed the equipment pad right next to my propane tank (buried). Because I'm on propane and not city gas, I don't have to worry about the meter and such, just the running of the line, which will be about 20 feet, so my cost should be pretty low.

As for PB in general we've had our snafu's with them as you've read, and I'm a little disappointed in some of the lack of options or maybe being advised of options. It seems that as a large PB they want to use their "standard" selections for pavers, tiles and everything else....I wish I would have pushed for some more options their, but oh well...nothing more to do about it now. They build a friends pool and while they also had issues during the build in the end the pool turned out great so I can only hope for the same.

Good luck and let me know when you get your thread up.

 

[mynewpool2014]

Are they back filling the area around the pool for you , or filling in the trenches for you. Are you at that stage yet? They had dug a 4 x 4 x 4 ditch near the pool, did they fig a similar pit for you as well?

 

[Omnipotent]

All trenches and digging is being backfilled and rough graded. As for the Gas line that is on the other side away from the pool so they didn't trench there and that would be on me to get dug for the line.

Nope, nothing like a 4x4x4 pit at all.

 

[mynewpool2014]

A&S is doing that for you? Are they also doing your deck around the pool?

 

[Omnipotent]

Yes backfilling of trenches and rough grade....I would think they have to do it in order to pass final inspection. They did make it very clear that final grade is on me, but they are responsible for rough grading and backfilling of trenches......not sure how they could get passed an inspection if they didn't backfill and at least rough grade the area.

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry they are also doing the pool deck, which is exposed aggregate with brick paver...well at least there sub is doing it.....don't think AS does much physically themselves even though that's what they sold me on during the bid process that AS does the majority of the work....I call BS as every crew who has come out is a sub and not an AS employee.