Started the excitement / terror recently. We're just past gunite, and nervous.
We went with a sport pool, 3'6" - 5'6" -4'6" on the plans. Approx 36' x 20' with a spa on the shallow end. After the gunite was sprayed, and we got in the pool to check it out, we noticed that the 3rd/last step is very steep (18 - 20" step down) and the pool begins an immediate, rather steep descent to the 5'6" depth. We have two young boys, who are approx. 4' tall. If they step off this bottom step (near the house side of the pool), their heads will be under water. Not the 3'6" shown on the plans. If they step off closer to the spa, it's closer to 3'8" or 3'10". We understand that the pool has to slope, but certainly thought we'd have a small area where the kids could "hang" without being underwater. The plans seemed to show that. Supervisor said we could "level off" the area when we do pebble. We didn't buy it. Called PB and discussed options (he didn't agree w/ his supervisor). He said there are 3.
1. Keep it as it is. We'll find "the pool is quite usable" when we get it filled.
2. Have his gunite crew add a little area of gunite next week right off the step, trying to level out an area that is more useable for the boys - and others who will use our pool. No charge.
3. Have his crew add more steel and gunite, smoothing out the entry, losing 6" in the middle, making the pool closer to 3'6" - 5' - 4'6". Cost to us around $1K.
We're newbies. What would you suggest? If we want to stand firm on the original plan, is there any way to fix this without tearing it out, starting over? (Supervisor was not there on the 2nd dig-day. A new excavation crew came out on a Sunday as the first crew pulled up the service line/electrical on day one. So no one from the PB company was there to check the elevations / compacting). Seems to me that might be important. If we have the PB just add some gunite, is this a weak point in the pool? Can you add steel and gunite after the first gunite spray and still have a well-built pool? In other words, are these reliable options? I'm not here to bash my PB, I'm just looking for someone who has some knowledge, and no "dog in the fight".
Are there any guidelines we can find / or are there building codes listing safe pool step limits? We are in Missouri City, TX.
Thanks in advance.
We went with a sport pool, 3'6" - 5'6" -4'6" on the plans. Approx 36' x 20' with a spa on the shallow end. After the gunite was sprayed, and we got in the pool to check it out, we noticed that the 3rd/last step is very steep (18 - 20" step down) and the pool begins an immediate, rather steep descent to the 5'6" depth. We have two young boys, who are approx. 4' tall. If they step off this bottom step (near the house side of the pool), their heads will be under water. Not the 3'6" shown on the plans. If they step off closer to the spa, it's closer to 3'8" or 3'10". We understand that the pool has to slope, but certainly thought we'd have a small area where the kids could "hang" without being underwater. The plans seemed to show that. Supervisor said we could "level off" the area when we do pebble. We didn't buy it. Called PB and discussed options (he didn't agree w/ his supervisor). He said there are 3.
1. Keep it as it is. We'll find "the pool is quite usable" when we get it filled.
2. Have his gunite crew add a little area of gunite next week right off the step, trying to level out an area that is more useable for the boys - and others who will use our pool. No charge.
3. Have his crew add more steel and gunite, smoothing out the entry, losing 6" in the middle, making the pool closer to 3'6" - 5' - 4'6". Cost to us around $1K.
We're newbies. What would you suggest? If we want to stand firm on the original plan, is there any way to fix this without tearing it out, starting over? (Supervisor was not there on the 2nd dig-day. A new excavation crew came out on a Sunday as the first crew pulled up the service line/electrical on day one. So no one from the PB company was there to check the elevations / compacting). Seems to me that might be important. If we have the PB just add some gunite, is this a weak point in the pool? Can you add steel and gunite after the first gunite spray and still have a well-built pool? In other words, are these reliable options? I'm not here to bash my PB, I'm just looking for someone who has some knowledge, and no "dog in the fight".
Are there any guidelines we can find / or are there building codes listing safe pool step limits? We are in Missouri City, TX.
Thanks in advance.