Almost there!

[Jangus]

We are getting close to filling our new pool, hopefully just in time for the N. TX swim season! I just found this forum today, but it appears my builder knows his stuff by what I am reading here, THANKFULLY! I was wondering if anyone had any input on ideas for shading a portion of the pool. Shade devices, location, effect of shade on pool maintenance...

 

[jtburf]

Welcome and congrats hot weather is just around the corner!!

John

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome, and congrats on the new oasis! As for shade, much depends on your budget and aesthetics. For me personally, I've found that many of those portable shades have a very limited service life. Add to that strong winds and they fall apart.

In the thumbnail image below, you'll see what I mean. An angled/pivoting shade in the middle I got from one store. I always needed bags of rock at the base because the winds played havoc with it. The shade itself is deteriorated by the weather in just one season. Then I made two umbrella stands of my own to each side. I used a planting pot upside down and filled it with concrete and a PVC tube in the middle. It's not going anywhere. I got nice umbrellas from the big box store and slip them into the PVC pipe. If a big storm is coming, I can remove the umbrella easy. Even if the umbrella is collapsed/closed, it's not moving with that concrete.

 

[jimmythegreek]

Look up shade sails over pool. They are really nice and work excellent. They look good too

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I wouldn't make any decisions on permanent shade features until you're actually in summer. I can't tell you how many small plants I've put in the ground in the early spring thinking "how nice and sunny!" to later discover that when the sun is high in the sky in summer that spot isn't all that great or its shaded by a tree filling out.

Keep things flexible first and see where you'll have a need come July.

Maddie

 

[kimkats]

In to watch this one! I LOVE your design! I would like to see a shot from the deep end looking towards the shelf and steps.

I have a set of links for you to look over. These links have info to help you get the best plaster job you can. Make sure to share this info with you PB:
Ten Guidelines for Quality Pool Plaster Best one of all
Not All Color Pigments are Good for Pools How to pick a good color for plaster.
All Plaster Finishes Should Last 20 Years
Trouble Free Pool
Trouble Free Pool

Do you know what test kit your PB will be providing? Now is the time to ask so we can look it over and fill in any holes.

Kim

 

[Jangus]

Welcome and congrats hot weather is just around the corner!!

John

Thanks!

 

[Jangus]

Thanks for the shade advice. We just recently moved in to town so I don’t know how the wind will be here, hopefully less than our old place. Is that your place? It looks very comfortable! What trees are those on the side? The ones that look like skinny Christmas trees?

 

[Jangus]

Kim, Thanks! We are very excited, my 7 year old keeps me updated on the pool progress, lol. I am not home now, so I can’t get any pics. Thanks for the plaster links, I will be reading those for sure. I think my wife picked a grey pebbletech color. It is the same color and product the builder has on his pool. Basically we are getting the same pool he has in his own yard. I don’t know what test kit the builder might provide, but based on y’alls recommendations I ordered the K-2006-C yesterday.

 

[Jangus]

Maddie, thanks for the advice, you are spot on! I would hate to end up shading the grass, lol!

 

[Jangus]

Thanks Jimmy!
My wife is a Grokie, half Greek, half Okie

 

[Jangus]

This is hard! I am not home and my pool is being plastered. My wife sent pics though. I do not know the pool plastering process, but apparently there is still an acid wash and brush step left, so the builder says it will look better after that. It looks pretty good in the pics, but I imagine the cleaing will make it brighter.

 

[kimkats]

That look pretty but hope they get those leaves out! Sure don't want to stain that pretty, new plaster.

Since it looks like you will have a lot of leaves in your pool. You should not use anything with wheels in the pool like auto cleaners you should have your wife pick up a manual vacuum set up. She will need to get things like these:
U.S. Pool Supply Weighted Butterfly Pool Vacuum Head with Swivel - Walmart.com

Robot or human?

-both of these can be bought from Walmart or Lowes.

This plate will be needed to attach the hose to the skimmer housing. There are others. She might need to go of a pool store to make sure she gets the right size and configuration for your set up:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Aqua-EZ-Plastic-Vacuum-plate/3027674

The reason you should not use a wheeled cleaner is it will take a little while for your plaster to cure all of the way. If you use wheels in the pool in the very beginning it could leave marks or ridges on the plaster. The vacuum I posted to has bristles on the bottom of it so it is like brushing your pool which needs to be done twice a day anyway so.............

Kim

 

[Jangus]

That look pretty but hope they get those leaves out! Sure don't want to stain that pretty, new plaster.

Since it looks like you will have a lot of leaves in your pool. You should not use anything with wheels in the pool like auto cleaners you should have your wife pick up a manual vacuum set up. She will need to get things like these:
U.S. Pool Supply Weighted Butterfly Pool Vacuum Head with Swivel - Walmart.com

Robot or human?

-both of these can be bought from Walmart or Lowes.

This plate will be needed to attach the hose to the skimmer housing. There are others. She might need to go of a pool store to make sure she gets the right size and configuration for your set up:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Aqua-EZ-Plastic-Vacuum-plate/3027674

The reason you should not use a wheeled cleaner is it will take a little while for your plaster to cure all of the way. If you use wheels in the pool in the very beginning it could leave marks or ridges on the plaster. The vacuum I posted to has bristles on the bottom of it so it is like brushing your pool which needs to be done twice a day anyway so.............

Kim

Kim
Thanks for the recommendation on a vacuum! I don’t think those are leaves. This pic was taken on the evening they finished the plaster. There aren’t any leaves left at this time of year. I assumed it was something from the process. We chose a quartz fusion finish, could it be debris from that?

 

[Jangus]

Kim,
You are right! Those are leaves! I can’t imagine how those got there.

 

[Jangus]

Quartz Fusion
Is there any way to confirm which product was used to finish the plaster? I don’t doubt my builders integrity, but the plasterers are subs and there is always a chance for miscommunication. We chose the second disk from the back.

 

[kimkats]

It is hard to tell until it is cleaned and gets brushed real good to get any plaster dust off. What does Mom have to say? Did she happen to see the bags they used?

 

[Jangus]

It is now about 1/3 full if water! She did not see the bags. I don’t suppose it really matters at this point, it’s done. There isn’t any doubt or dislike or anything like that, just curious

 

[kimkats]

They are all so close I think you are going to love the one you got. I will tell you there was one build about 3yrs ago that got the wrong plaster and it was oh so obvious! They had upgraded to the very top of the plasters AND added all kinds of extras like sparkle shells, extra pebble with special color mix, ect. Well he comes home to find plain white plaster in his pool It turns out the PB had two plaster jobs scheduled that day..................the trucks went to the wrong houses!!! Our guy got a full chip out and his pool redone with the plaster and extras he paid for. The other pool got quite an upgrade for free!

Kim