Austin, TX - Above Ground Salt Water Pool in Canyon - Construction Started 09/30/19

[DB-Cooper]

After more than 6 months of designs, working with builders/contractors, I finally pulled the trigger on a build. It cost me almost double what I set out to pay, but the more time I invested, the less corners I wanted to cut. I wouldn't be here with this builder if it wasn't for an individual on this forum that reached out and shared their build story and provided a referral to their builder. This build includes the following basic design elements (much more represented in pictures):

- 784 sq ft, 123 perimeter ft rectangle pool (38' x 26')
- 29,000 gallons
- Pentair Salt Water Setup
- 70 sq ft spa
- 400,000 BTU gas heater for pool/spa
- 1,050 sq ft Travertine coping (excluding foundations for bathroom, equipment, stairs, etc)
- 75 sq ft bathroom (vanity, urinal, toilet, shower)
- Fencing and Screening of Existing deck
- 620 sq ft cabana with outdoor kitchen w/ 35 sq ft granite counter-top
- (Not pictured) spiral stair case from third story balcony to mid-balcony

I left out a lot, but focused on sheer dimensions. Anyways, this build is on a very difficult canyon like backyard. I live on 1 acre in the city with a steep backyard grade. The foundation on the rear side of my house is 15+ feet of slab (level at front side). I wanted a build high enough to be part of the view (above trees) and integrate well into my existing deck. After reviewing countless proposals, this is the design I landed on. NOTE: Colors and tile material are just examples here, and I will likely raise the faux edge to prevent spillage.

I'm excited, we're about to break ground! See post 2 for terrain pictures.

 

[DB-Cooper]

Site images below. First two pics were from before I bought it. I've excavated some to improve the view line and enable access to the site. Here's a drone video my solar installer made to give a better idea of the view line:

 

[jimbethesda]

Looking forward to seeing the progress! Don’t forget to make sure you get the IC60 and IntelliCenter.

 

[DB-Cooper]

Looking forward to seeing the progress! Don’t forget to make sure you get the IC60 and IntelliCenter.

Thanks, and will do!

 

[DB-Cooper]

Timeline thus far (will break key days by post with photos), we had some slow starts, but once ground broke, things have been moving along:

9/13 = Permits Approved
9/16 = Paint Off and Visual Inspection (after which a nearly 2 week quiet period which was frustrating)

 

[DB-Cooper]

9/30 = Excavator Arrives

 

[DB-Cooper]

10/01 = Sewer Line Found, we knew it was there, but not exactly where, what to do with it (more on this later). Effectively, they were able to work around it and then ultimately re-route it a couple weeks later.

 

[DB-Cooper]

10/06 = Gravel Trucks Arrive

 

[DB-Cooper]

10/10 = Building gravel base, some rebar has arrived

 

[DB-Cooper]

10/13 = Finished gravel and more rebar work

 

[DB-Cooper]

10/16 - Cradle poured
10/16 - Sewer re-routed around pool with sewer lines for kitchen and bathroom.

 

[DB-Cooper]

10/18 - Rebar work

 

[chazas]

Amazing project!

 

[kimkats]

WOW! That is some work just to get it set up!

Kim

 

[l1ltaral1l]

Wow, really neat to follow along. Great progress pics!

 

[livinwell]

I thought we had a lot of prep and dollars to get to the actual pool build phase ?. That will be a great outdoor place when you're done! Keep the pictures coming.

 

[jtburf]

Buddy lives in Lago Vista and did the same type of pool build. really cool!!!


John

 

[DB-Cooper]

Thanks everyone. Update from 10/19 and 10/20 - not much just more rebar work (worked both days but not full days):

 

[kimkats]

I would love to see how they are tying the walls into the floor. Are they bending the steel or tying it with wire? That is going to be the make or break for this build. (There was one a couple of years back where the wall started leaning away from the pool. They did not follow up with what they ended up doing other than draining the pool )

 

[DB-Cooper]

I would love to see how they are tying the walls into the floor. Are they bending the steel or tying it with wire? That is going to be the make or break for this build. (There was one a couple of years back where the wall started leaning away from the pool. They did not follow up with what they ended up doing other than draining the pool )

Honestly, that's a good question. Thanks for posting. Looking at this zoomed in version, it certainly looks like the rebar is bent all the way across the ground and up the entire walls. This is on all four sides consistently across, but this image is from the backwall (the largest part). Am I viewing/reading this right?