Austin Owner Build (Raised Pool with Infinity Edge)

[kimkats]

WOW! That whole thing is SO big and wonderful! Your poor body and wallet One day you will be done and be able to look back on what YOU have made and smile as you float with a drink in your hand!

Thanks for letting us come along for the adventure!

Kim

 

[GregSS]

The shotcrete went well. It took 41 yards for the retaining walls and storage and 3 yards for the steps.

I did have a blowout on part of my forms. So I stripped part of the forms away and the concrete guys shot the wall instead of pouring the concrete. The end result is that no one can tell we had a form issue. The shotcrete guys were very experienced and were not bothered by the issue.

 

[GregSS]

I interviewed several stone guys and ended up hiring the individuals that put the stone on the front and inside of my house. The stone guys have been busy.

 

[kimkats]

WOWZER! Got to love people who know how to do their job!!! You are so right! You cannot even tell anything happened there. Give those guys a beer!

That stone work looks awesome. They have been busy! Nice how you ended up with ones that did other work for you. Makes you wonder why you even talked to anyone else BUT you have to make sure you are getting good work at the right price.

Kim

 

[GregSS]

It has been a while since my last update. I put a waterproofing coating where the waterline tile goes and infinity wall. I used masterseal 581 (a/k/a Thoroseal) with the acrylic modifier. Installing the waterproofing coating was a very messy job. I had to brush the coating onto the concrete surface with a fair amount of force since it only works if all of the holes and voids are coated and it takes two coats. The masterseal 581 is for positive and negative pressure. Once done, I was ready for tile and coping.

I laid the infinity wall tile on the ground to set out the pattern—at least 1/2 of the pattern.
I found a good tile and coping guy thanks to a forum member. The amount of tile used on the pool was more than I had anticipated. Unfortunately having that much tile and coping installed was very expensive.

But, the tile and coping guy did a very good job. It took him a long time to level and straighten out the infinity edge. According to my laser level the infinity edge is perfectly level. The true test will be when water is flowing.

 

[kimkats]

Oh I love that tile! So rich looking!! Is it on a mesh or does it have to be placed one tile at a time?

Kim

 

[ctrav]

Very cool tile! Looks like one heck of a build...you really need to create a signature with all pool/equipment info as this will help to answer questions you may have...

Have you ordered your test kit? Here are a couple of links that will be helpful...

TFPC for Beginners

Read This BEFORE You Post

 

[GregSS]

The tiles laid out in a pattern on the ground and on the outside face of the infinity wall are 6” tiles which were individually set.

The tiles on top of the infinity edge are 1” tiles on mesh backing. I will get a picture later.

Greg

Oh I love that tile! So rich looking!! Is it on a mesh or does it have to be placed one tile at a time?

Kim

 

[martinkennedy]

1st rate job. Everything looks fantastic so far

 

[GregSS]

Thanks. That is quite a compliment considering how spectacular your pool is.

Greg

1st rate job. Everything looks fantastic so far

 

[GregSS]

I have also completed most of my trenching.

My trenching for gas and electrical was about 110 feet. I used 1 1/4” electrical conduit and 1 1/4” poly gas pipe.

I do not plan on running a propane heater (my plan is to install a heat pump/chiller). But having the larger gas pipe will allow for easy installation if I change my mind about a propane heater (my neighborhood has a central propane delivery system). I will have a fire pit that will have gas; so installing the gas pipe was not a total waste of time and money.

My electrical wire calculated out to 3 awg (100 amps). Even with a helper, wire lube, and a pull rope, pulling the three 3 awg wires and one 6 awg ground was difficult. The total pull length was 125 feet, and I had to install a pull box due to having more than 360 degrees of turns in the conduit. Copper wire is expensive.

In the electrical/gas trench, I included a future irrigation wire and 2 cat6 wires (one for the swimming pool automation equipment and one for a future Poe camera).

Code in my area does not allow you to hook a swimming pool auto fill to an irrigation system. So, to install the water auto fill, I had to trench about 130 feet on the other side of my house and tap into the main water supply. I also installed a water shutoff valve near the main water supply for the auto fill. While not installed yet, I already have the RPZ for the auto fill. I ran approximately 200 feet of pipe for the auto fill and have another 20, or so, feet to go. About 70 feet of the water pipe passed through sleeves (i.e.,2” pipe that I laid before shooting the remaining retaining walls).

 

[kimkats]

PLEASE tell me you used a machine for that............if you did it by hand your are NOT human! LOL

Kim

 

[GregSS]

LOL. Yes, I used a trenching machine. I did have to hand dig the portion below due to a gas line and irrigation. And, I had to hand dig to go under a sewer pipe to my leach field.

PLEASE tell me you used a machine for that............if you did it by hand your are NOT human! LOL

Kim

 

[Foosman]

Looking good. Have you decided on what interior pool finish to use? I vote hand laid tile...you’re over budget anyways

 

[kimkats]

Even the part you hand dug looks like a machine did it! NICE job!!!

Kim

 

[ctrav]

Big boys with big toys...awesome job!

LOL. Yes, I used a trenching machine. I did have to hand dig the portion below due to a gas line and irrigation. And, I had to hand dig to go under a sewer pipe to my leach field.

 

[LeighHop]

Wow, its really looking great! So glad you are back with updates.

 

[kellyfair]

That is going to be so beautiful!

 

[jza1736]

In my town, a buried gas line requires 2 tracer wires with it. Basically 2 wires they can hook a tone generator to find it easily. Not sure about your local codes, but easier to do now

 

[GregSS]

Tracer wire was installed

In my town, a buried gas line requires 2 tracer wires with it. Basically 2 wires they can hook a tone generator to find it easily. Not sure about your local codes, but easier to do now