Another Pool Build in Cypress, TX

Luckily my home has been fine, water wise. We moved in almost 3 yrs ago & I was worried about flooding & drainage, but it seems to be fine. Other than the piles of mud in my backyard. It is absolutely causing drainage issues. But it's just making it hold water in the back, no danger to our home. Thanks for asking though!

Next time you head North, we can meet in The Woodlands lor lunch :)

I've been very lucky on the pool building timing. The crews yesterday and today would work a couple hours, when the rain gets bad, they cover everything in tarps & take a break in my garage :). They have installed all the plumbing, equipment, waterline tile, finished cutting the flagstone & laying it out (fascinating to watch) & even started stacking my moss rock for the weeping wall! I've been so preoccupied with a sick dog that I haven't even been able to get pictures!


I'm glad your place is doing ok. Oh, that would be fun to meet for lunch! Maybe we can get Paris to join us since we three met up on that 'other' pool forum. It makes me a little nervous to meet someone from the forum. I'd be the old lady there, but you handed out the invitation, so I guess you're willing. I'll try not to be too old lady-ish.

I'm sooo sorry you have a sick baby (dog). I hope it's not serious. Funny, but we have a cat recovering from an abscess from a fight. He's really an outdoor cat (because he sprays), but the vet said we have to keep him inside 2 weeks. Well, that's not gonna happen. It's been a week, and I declare he's recovered, so he's about to be cut loose.

When your dog gets better, I'm dying to see pictures of everything! We'll need extra pictures to make up for it! LOL!! Somehow, I've gotten behind on your build - didn't know the really fun stuff had begun!!!

Best wishes to your dog! The weather forecasts are looking up for the coming week. Here's hoping!!! Suz.
 
Oh- we are doing the blue granite as I seen several pools and the granite is the color for us. It's a medium not to light but darker in the shade so Kelly said we would love it. Especially with our stone/glass choices. We are very excited about the pool thing so will see how it all comes together. Still have a lot to work on. Have fun and I will keep you updated.

Now it's time to plan for some accent lighting effects.

http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/LZDC-300-SS-p/lzdc-300-ss.htm

Hey Paris, I want lots and lots of pictures! You know I'm going to be watching like a hawk this part of your build, especially the glass tile install. Do you know anything about Alex? Does he have experience with glass tile? The Blue Granite is perfect for the Steel Blue tile. You know your pool is going to be drop dead gorgeous!

You're killing me with the accent lighting. I'm not even going there right now. I'll be doing good to pay for the pavers and a little bit of the landscaping. We have flood lights out back, so that will have to do for a while.

I hope Alex, The Man, gets started today! It's sunny (right this moment) down here in Cypress. Good luck with the weather! Suzy.
 
I love your pool shape. It is really unique. I also love the glass tiles but they are way too expensive for my project but they are awesome!

Pre-build stage - Natural shape in-ground pool: 35x21, 460sq ft, 92ft perimeter, 7ft deep end, 17,500 gallons, tanning ledge, pebble sheen, Belgard coping, 910 sqft paver/concrete deck. Jandy CWG, 2 LED Color lights, VS 2HP Pump, 460sqft cartridge filter, PDA RS P4 controller.

Ummgood: Thank you! If you really like glass tiles, check out other places. After I ordered from LightStreams, I saw some other glass tiles that were also beautiful and more reasonable. I couldn't afford to do what Paris is doing, so I'm just sprinkling mine around, like accent jewelry pieces. Also, I found a lot of non-glass tiles that I loved; in the beginning, I was really torn about doing the glass. But sadly, I had to meet LightStreams and fall in love. So there went my money!!!

Looking at your pool specs in your signature - our pools have a lot in common. It will be fun to watch your build! Take care! Suz.
 
I'll email you some new photos here this weekend. We couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

The test kid scared me when I first got it too. But the instructions and color coding make it so simple. Use the speed stir so you don't have to manually shake. It was the best thing I bought. You will soon be so addicted you will want to buy the XL kit, lol!
 
We 3 should do lunch! It would be so much fun! I'm trying to upload pictures now to Flickr - with a dog in my lap :). Crews have been here working nonstop today. I think they are about to finish the waterfall!
 
Ummgood: Thank you! If you really like glass tiles, check out other places. After I ordered from LightStreams, I saw some other glass tiles that were also beautiful and more reasonable. I couldn't afford to do what Paris is doing, so I'm just sprinkling mine around, like accent jewelry pieces. Also, I found a lot of non-glass tiles that I loved; in the beginning, I was really torn about doing the glass. But sadly, I had to meet LightStreams and fall in love. So there went my money!!!

Looking at your pool specs in your signature - our pools have a lot in common. It will be fun to watch your build! Take care! Suz.

I love the glass but frankly I already have blown past my budget so far that I can't spend any more. We have now moved to buying folding chairs for around the pool haha. My pool is pretty basic and costs way more than I was planning. We upgraded most of the surfaces but we have no major water feature (only a bubbler on the tanning shelf). Most of the cost is just because I live in Austin I think and my yard has so major slope issues. I was told Wed or Thur this week to start the dig so hopefully I'll have something to watch soon. This entire process has been so frustrating already and we aren't even building. My pool builder is going through growing pains and I am in the middle of it. I love the design and this pool builder was the only one with anything really design centric so I am living with it.
 
I'm so sorry about the growing pains. That makes it harder - when it's already difficult enough!

Austin is a tough place to build, but the beautiful rewards are worth it when it's all said and done. It's so gorgeous in Austin, but the hills and bedrock make it harder for pool building. I'd love to live there, but right now while building our pool, I'm glad I'm in flat, clunky clay Houston!

One more thought on the glass - just brain storming if you really want it...... I bought $50 worth of LightStreams glass samples. Until I was hooked, I was going to put the samples in various places.

But man do I understand about costs! I didn't even tell the PB's what I might be able to afford, because I wanted to "hide" some of MY budget for all the extras. Sounds good, right? Wrong!!! Now I'm over my "over budget"!!! The story going around on the posts is to "Eat More Ramen Noodles"! I'm not even sure that will make up for what I've spent! And Ramen Noodles are sooooooo fattening! Who knew?

Austin has always been home base for me, and I still have family there in South Austin near Brodie and ???? The cross street just skipped out of my head. It starts with an S. Oh, it's back.... Slaughter Lane. When my sisters and I went to school there, we lived with our grandmother on 30th and Guadalupe. I could bike to school, and even walk if my tire was flat!!!! Ahhhhh.... good times!

I've got to get over to your pool build thread. This site is getting so busy, it's hard to 'walk around'! Take care! Suz.
 
Yeah I really do love Austin. I just have to keep reminding myself of that! I live in SW Austin almost to Bee Cave so I am often down by Brodie to shop. I'll have to bump up my build thread because it is way in the depths of the forum due to me not posting in so long on it. I have had my permit for over 1 and a half months with no ground breaking yet.
 

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A pool budget blown means less for Christmas and birthdays. Some things, okay lots of 'em, can't be undone and you only get one chance. The pool will be around for many years compared to most everything else. The coulda/shoulda/woulda can make for some very tough regrets. My two cents...
 
Great points for all of us, Ernie! I really do regret being such a penny pincher in most of my adult years. Just hope I have enough years left to enjoy my change of heart!!!!

Did you see the post where I shared what a good friend once told me about coulda/shoulda/woulda???? Warning, could offend..... "Don't should all over yourself!" I think that's when I really shifted my thinking! Plus it helped that I did penny pinch all those years and now have a little 'play' money.

Thanks! Suz.

- - - Updated - - -



This was supposed to be a separate post, but it ended up as an update!!! Sorry....
Yeah I really do love Austin. I just have to keep reminding myself of that! I live in SW Austin almost to Bee Cave so I am often down by Brodie to shop. I'll have to bump up my build thread because it is way in the depths of the forum due to me not posting in so long on it. I have had my permit for over 1 and a half months with no ground breaking yet.

Ummgood: Are you anywhere near Valley View Elementary? Sorry.... I know how to drive to my sister's, then I'm lost after that in the SW part of Austin. Anyway, my sister teaches at Valley View. I think she's been there around 25-30 years - at one school!!! I'll have to ask her. (like you really want to know this, but it is a small world - you can never tell how paths may cross, right?!) Suz.
 
Great points for all of us, Ernie! I really do regret being such a penny pincher in most of my adult years. Just hope I have enough years left to enjoy my change of heart!!!!

Did you see the post where I shared what a good friend once told me about coulda/shoulda/woulda???? Warning, could offend..... "Don't should all over yourself!" I think that's when I really shifted my thinking! Plus it helped that I did penny pinch all those years and now have a little 'play' money.

Thanks! Suz.

Completely agree with you all. You will spend alot of time at your backyard oasis, and if its not what you want and love, it is a lot of time to regret. I am doing what I love now, and taking the hit now, then I will cut out the extras (less dining out, shopping - who needs new clothes and shoes?)

LOVE the 'Don't should all over yourself'. It's very true.
 
Ummgood: Are you anywhere near Valley View Elementary? Sorry.... I know how to drive to my sister's, then I'm lost after that in the SW part of Austin. Anyway, my sister teaches at Valley View. I think she's been there around 25-30 years - at one school!!! I'll have to ask her. (like you really want to know this, but it is a small world - you can never tell how paths may cross, right?!) Suz.

Nope I am not in Eanes school district. That is actually not in Austin ISD. I live in a neighborhood off of 71W right before you get out of Austin on the way to Marble Falls/Spicewood/Bee Caves.
 
Ok... I need some rant time! :rant: May I? (skip to another thread if you like)

I just spent about 4 hours with my PB which is a luxury because he's so crazy busy (2 phones, one to each ear, both ringing constantly). Now, let me say before I get going on my rant. He is just about the nicest and smartest man I know. But.... (now here's where the rant begins) Talking to him is like trying to put a lasso around a tornado - I feel like Pecos Bill when I talk to him! His thinking and talking are both going 90 MPH, and I can hardly hang on!

He was here to discuss things with the crew getting started on the coping. (That's real exciting!) I'm thrilled he came, because I wondered how the tile guys would know what I wanted since no one had asked me. I made him sit down at the kitchen table and look at the drawings I had showing where the different materials were to go. Well, he looked at it and wanted to change most of it!!!! You guys know how long I worked on all of that. I can't get mad at such a nice man, so I proceeded to burst into tears - emotions have to come out some way, right! Now I'm embarrassed. So that almost re-design took us about an hour, because I don't think he heard me, and I know I didn't understand all he was saying (zero levels, 6's and 12's, etc). Finally we began to speak a similar language, and we got most of his changes back to what I could live with. He did succeed in one big change I'm not sure about. He wants to use more of the glass tile on the raised beam. I'm not sure about that, because I wanted the glass tiles to be more accents rather than main focus points. His reasons had to do with the flow of inside curves and outside curves, etc, etc. Now mind you, neither of us ever got angry, so that's good. At the time we were talking about using glass on the entire front of the raised beam, I asked my son to come down for his opinion. He's a quilter and terrific with colors and designs. He told me the PB was right, and I should go with the change.

Then we moved outside so he proceeded to talk to the guys about how everything was to go. That's great except I don't speak Spanish, only Si y No. So then I'm trying to watch all the hand gestures. It was crazy! When he was done with that, we both sat down on chairs half way sinking in mud. I started covering my list of questions. It's going fine until I ask about seeing a couple of more pools in different pebble finishes from the ones I've already seen. Something about Aqua Blue comes up and he tells me that is the perfect color for all my materials I'm using. Ok, fine, but I ask him about French Grey since it does not have the black speckles. Then he tells me French Grey is the absolute best color for me to get. I'm not stupid, but I believe he just crossed over to the land of, "Tell her anything to get her to shut up!"

So now I'm totally confused. But he is going to try to find me a pool with French Grey to see in person. Bless his heart. I know he's swamped, but he makes my brain dizzy!!! :crazy:

Ok..... I'm done. I feel better. For those of you who stuck around for my rant, thanks for letting me get it off my chest. I don't have any adult beverages in the house, so I'm leaving now to buy some!!!! I hope you're all having a great day! Suz.
 
Ok... I need some rant time! :rant: May I? (skip to another thread if you like)

I just spent about 4 hours with my PB which is a luxury because he's so crazy busy (2 phones, one to each ear, both ringing constantly). Now, let me say before I get going on my rant. He is just about the nicest and smartest man I know. But.... (now here's where the rant begins) Talking to him is like trying to put a lasso around a tornado - I feel like Pecos Bill when I talk to him! His thinking and talking are both going 90 MPH, and I can hardly hang on!

He was here to discuss things with the crew getting started on the coping. (That's real exciting!) I'm thrilled he came, because I wondered how the tile guys would know what I wanted since no one had asked me. I made him sit down at the kitchen table and look at the drawings I had showing where the different materials were to go. Well, he looked at it and wanted to change most of it!!!! You guys know how long I worked on all of that. I can't get mad at such a nice man, so I proceeded to burst into tears - emotions have to come out some way, right! Now I'm embarrassed. So that almost re-design took us about an hour, because I don't think he heard me, and I know I didn't understand all he was saying (zero levels, 6's and 12's, etc). Finally we began to speak a similar language, and we got most of his changes back to what I could live with. He did succeed in one big change I'm not sure about. He wants to use more of the glass tile on the raised beam. I'm not sure about that, because I wanted the glass tiles to be more accents rather than main focus points. His reasons had to do with the flow of inside curves and outside curves, etc, etc. Now mind you, neither of us ever got angry, so that's good. At the time we were talking about using glass on the entire front of the raised beam, I asked my son to come down for his opinion. He's a quilter and terrific with colors and designs. He told me the PB was right, and I should go with the change.
Then we moved outside so he proceeded to talk to the guys about how everything was to go. That's great except I don't speak Spanish, only Si y No. So then I'm trying to watch all the hand gestures. It was crazy! When he was done with that, we both sat down on chairs half way sinking in mud. I started covering my list of questions. It's going fine until I ask about seeing a couple of more pools in different pebble finishes from the ones I've already seen. Something about Aqua Blue comes up and he tells me that is the perfect color for all my materials I'm using. Ok, fine, but I ask him about French Grey since it does not have the black speckles. Then he tells me French Grey is the absolute best color for me to get. I'm not stupid, but I believe he just crossed over to the land of, "Tell her anything to get her to shut up!"
So now I'm totally confused. But he is going to try to find me a pool with French Grey to see in person. Bless his heart. I know he's swamped, but he makes my brain dizzy!!! :crazy:

Ok..... I'm done. I feel better. For those of you who stuck around for my rant, thanks for letting me get it off my chest. I don't have any adult beverages in the house, so I'm leaving now to buy some!!!! I hope you're all having a great day! Suz.

sounds to me like your son and your pool builder both had the same idea lol
 
Sounds like a good meeting. How can you NOT have adult beverages handy? Back to Pool School for you! :-D

By the way, once you have water in your pool and you are in a floatie getting a sunburn with a cold beverage all of the mud drama rain delays will disappear instantly. Guaranteed.
 
I'm new hear and I have a half-created signature line, but I have been lurking a while.

Suz, I just want to give you a big hug. Your build thread has been some of the most informative and entertaining stuff I have read in a long time. I simply adore you and your pool.

I think your son and your PB feel the same way I do and they want you to be happy. Sometimes it seems like we know what is best, but remember that your PB has done this MANY times and from what you have said about him, I don't think he will steer you wrong. Sounds to me like both those men know that making decisions about stuff like this can be hard for you and they know that what you have selected is perfect, but you just needed a bit of help piecing it together.

Relax...deep breath....big sip of adult beverage....repeat. It's all going to be so beautiful when completed.

Dale
 

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