Thanks everyone for the compliments! I have a couple more posts coming: costs/last thoughts and a few pictures of the waterfalls running
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Cost Recap and Additional Thoughts (including one REGRET)
Included here is a summary of costs associated with the project. It includes everything except the two bigger tool purchases (Wet Saw and Cement Mixer - $420 total) which I bought, and am of course keeping. Both are tools that neighbors and family have borrowed many times already.
We spent a lot of money, but we accomplished all the “desired” goals of our remodel for less than the cost of the “minimum remodel bid” (first post). Repost of those “desired” goals
1) Expanded patio and pool deck (bigger than the current footprint)
2) New travertine walkway to an outside basement stairwell
3) All patios/walkways/pool deck to be “level”…no steps or ledges at transitions, even to existing sidewalk, patio, basement stairwell
4) Eliminate the dated and boring “ cap tile ” that was a popular Phoenix area Shasta Pools invention built during the 1980s and 1990s
5) Expanded water feature that really makes the pool standout, remote controlled so that it didn’t have to be manually activated and deactivated
6) New Pool equipment
7) A landscaped “look” for the entire backyard that was yet undefined
Was it worth it…absolutely. We ended up extremely happy with the result. But go back to the recap of work required to see the toll. It took a lot of time…those that have time might attempt this (my wife and I are both retired). This is probably a year and a half of work if it had just been done on weekends.
A key for us (to do it ourselves) is that we really did not know exactly what we wanted until we started and then physically moved and placed concrete blocks around the pool to get an idea of what our landscape was going to look like. For us at the time, it would have been near impossible to put this into a plan that could then be bid by a contractor. So we really had little choice.
Did it save money…YEAH, probably a bunch. Based on the estimates we received (which were basic and a fraction of the work done on the yard), I would guess this job might have cost 3+ times what it cost us, which of course is tempered by the effort required.
Costs
| Travertine Pavers (1400 sq ft) | $5,640 |
| Sand & Crushed Rock | $400 |
| Stone Veneer | $1,086 |
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| Pool Tile | $600 |
| Pool Epoxy Grout | $200 |
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| Misc (online, HD, Lowes, Harbor Freight): Wood for forms, rebar, concrete, thinset, drill bits, blades, PVC piping, copper pipe, wall paint, some tools, etc) | $1700 |
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| Pool Pump | $880 |
| Pool Filter | $810 |
| Pool Command Center (EBAY) | $405 |
| Other (extra valves, skimmer lids, etc) | $230 |
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| Pool Pebble TEC Finish | $4,500 |
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| TOTAL | $16,451 |
Finally, did I have any regrets?
YES, only one that has gnawed at me ever since, haha...I didn’t do the pool equipment until last. When I finally got around to researching it I realized I should have changed an original plumbing design on my pool.
We have a pool pump inlet that comes directly (and only) from the skimmer. At the bottom of the skimmer is a pipe that draws from the bottom drain of the pool. There is a small plastic diversion flap between the skimmer and that pipe outlet which slides (manually of course) to choose how much of the water is pulled through the skimmer and how much comes from the drain on the bottom of the pool. I now realize this was a cheap and inefficient method.
I should have dug down below the skimmer and separated that drain pipe (which came from the bottom of the pool) into a separate pipe going back to my pump area. This would have allowed me to put in an automatic valve to control this function (draw from drain or skimmer or both). Much more efficient! Don’t know if that could have been possible with the way my skimmer was concreted in, but now I will probably never know. DARNIT!
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We keep looking and hoping for another work around.