New Pool Build in Miami

[jro33176]

Thanks everyone! We're so excited about the progress and I'm glad the tile gives everyone that Miami feel. That's what we are going for.

@bmoreswim - "hot" means highs in the 90s, lows in the 80s. The Shotcrete crew was basically working in a concrete oven, if you ask me.

I need to select the decking by Tuesday and I think we are going with this...

And I still have to pick the interior finish, which I haven't given one thought to! I'm getting tired of having to consider all these design decisions.

I'm going to post pictures of the shotcrete and first backfill in a little bit!

 

[jro33176]

So they poured/applied the concrete on Thursday. This week the highs were in the upper 80s so spending all day applying this concrete was brutal. I felt so bad for these guys. I had ice, water, soda, gatorade, etc.

The crew was ready and wanted to start at 7:30am before it got too hot.
The first mixer of concrete did not arrive until 11:00am! A total of 4 mixers were delivered throughout the day.

They started along the benches and corners

At the steps in the shallow end

At the base of the spa in the deep end

This is after one load of concrete was applied

At this point, it was 12:30pm. The high for the day would reach close to 90F! They collapsed in shady spots in my front yard waiting for the next mixer to arrive.

- - - Updated - - -

The second load of concrete arrives and they get started

More concrete in the spa area

building up the benches and walls

Making progress

At the end of truck two, things are really coming together

 

[jro33176]

After the third round of concrete

The last mixer truck was on its way around 5:15PM! These guys were now sleeping in my front yard between truck deliveries. They didn't leave until after 8:00PM. It looked awesome, I must say!

 

[jro33176]

Quick question to anyone with raised walls in their pool design -- were you required to have "hand hold" tiles installed? We are required to have four installed along that raised wall. I don't like the options my pool builder has shown me and he will install something else if I can find it. So far, I have had no luck! Does anyone have any ideas of where to look for different options? I already looked at the pool tile companies.

 

[JNS101879]

Not sure what hand hold tiles are. We have a raised wall and tile is being installed Monday. We weren't told anything about special tile or anything. He's just installing what we picked. They did some prep work on the wall and waterline where the tile will go on Friday.

Just used google, yeah he didn't mention anything like that for us. Maybe it's code where you're at.

 

[Casey]

I can't wait to see how that open spa looks when it's finished. It's the first one I've ever seen like that!

Good Luck! They are really moving!!!

 

[jro33176]

JNS - you are correct. It is required by code to have hand holds in places where a swimmer cannot grab onto the pool edge to support themselves. I guess they aren't that common because there aren't many options to choose from.

Casey - Thanks! We like the idea of the open spa. We've gone through periods of second guessing ourselves, but now that the pool is taking shape, we are liking it more and more.

 

[jro33176]

Concrete was completed on Thursday and Friday morning, a crew was out to remove the boards and partially fill the spaces between the concrete and excavated earth.

Dumping in the sand

More sand being delivered

A LOT of sand was delivered

Sand filling up the gaps

The sand was completely watered down so that it would get compacted. And, today we had a good rain shower so that also will help. Next week they will add the plumbing lines; backfill some more; add electrical runs; backfill some more, etc.

 

[Casey]

Can you post a pic going into the spa so we can see it. I think it's really cool looking and you don't have to get out to get into it. Will you have Cabana Boys/Girls waiting to pass out drinks after a lovely swim? That would be pretty sweet!

 

[JNS101879]

What about some light mortar on the hand tiles and they just happen to fall off after inspection. I wouldn't condone this but things happen.

 

[jro33176]

Not much is happening with our pool. We weren't instructed to water the Shotcrete and I hope that won't be a problem going forward. I notice lots of folks on here are doing that. I sent my PB an email to ask about it.

Lots of plumbing supplies were delivered today.

Also, another trench line was dug under the fence to run the plumbing and electrical lines to the equipment pad.

Plumbing is scheduled for tomorrow.

JNS --

here is a pic of the open spa; is this the angle you were looking for?

Originally, that corner of the pool was going to be a "conversation corner" with benches running along the walls to the corner with jets. That idea then morphed into this modified spa concept.

 

[rodog123]

I have never seen an "open" spa before. Looks Awesome and a great place to hang out for sure. Glad to see your build progressing after all the setbacks with utilities.

 

[Casey]

Yep... that's what I wanted to see. It looks so cool!

 

[rustyb85]

That open spa looks really cool!

 

[Northrider23]

Now it's really moving fast. It's a great feeling once you can actually see it take shape. This is the stage were thing slowed down a bit for me, hopefully it's not the case for you. Either way congrats. I'm also looking forward to the open spa reviews. About the artistc pavers, if you can get some samples, we were looking into them and when we saw them in person they looked very different from the brochure. They were still very nice pavers.

 

[jro33176]

Thanks everyone! We're excited about the open spa. Yesterday and today they ran plumbing lines. By the time I got home, it was too dark to take pictures. I'll take some tomorrow. I think we have a plumbing inspection scheduled for tomorrow. I can always tell because the security fence is up and the plans are in the "inspection" place! (hanging on a fence post along the fence).

Northrider, we did see the artistic pavers in person before we chose the color/final style. The color seems lighter than the photo in the catalog.

 

[elwood58]

We too have an Open Spa. No need to heat it here in Arizona, but the jets do feel good.

 

[mrcarcrazy]

Pretty wild. Looking great. Elwood, yours is also cool, that open spa is a new concept to me.

 

[jro33176]

Plugging along with plumbing

Elwood -- I'm happy to hear you have an open spa and like it! Like you, I think an open spa works for us down here in subtropical Miami.

Plumbers were here this week running all the plumbing lines.

Lots of PVC

Once plumbing lines were laid, they partially covered them.

Our "Tower of Tubes"

Each line has been labeled so I took photos of that, too.

Inspection was today and we passed! Electrical work will start next week. Tile has been ordered.

The pictures are not as dramatic, just as everyone said, but the progress is still very exciting...

 

[jro33176]

JNS - I definitely look forward to gliding into my open spa to enjoy a drink from a Cabana Boy...

As for the handholds, I wish I had more options, but at least we found one that is cobalt blue and will hopefully not stick out too much. But, as someone else reminded me, you WANT swimmers to see where the handholds are so they can hold onto them. ;-)