Continuation of an odyssey

Correction. 1.12" fell on it since it was dug according to my weather station. I doubt if there is anything I could have teeth with in that contract. I do know an inspection will need to happen before gunite and I don't think any bonding has been done yet, so I suspect the electrician will need to come out prior to that.. we will see. but I bet it'll be another week before we see significant action. Original estimate was middle of August for completion. Luckily I never believed that but that probably was so I wouldn't delay it until winter like I threatened to.
 
So I think the rebar guy is done. A little cIeanup would have been nice but maybe that will be at the gunite stage. I guess except for the steps/lagoon the hole is holding up fairly well. Does anyone have suggestions for measuring depth to the floor drain at this point in construction as I am a little concerned at this point that we might be a few inches shallow at completion now. It is hard to tell because the pool will be slightly backfilled for drainage purposes.

IMG_20190725_071834443_HDR.jpgIMG_20190725_071725591.jpgIMG_20190725_071728456.jpg
 
I like the last pic with the sun flare setting over the pool....

You'll feel better once the gunnite is in.. it then starts to look like a pool instead of a crater in your back yard! I think it's three or four inches the gunnite will be over the rebar. The white frame is the top of the gunnite that the decking will sit on.
 
If you zoom in on the sun burst picture you can see drain 6'4" spray painted on the dirt wall. I suppose if anything it will be close.

Yes, once those walls have support I will be much happier.
 
The water depth should be half way up the face of the skimmer. You will add about 6" for the shell and plaster. (check your contract to see if it says anything about shell thickness.).

NOW is the time to fix anything that is off!

Kim:kim:
 
The water depth should be half way up the face of the skimmer.

NOW is the time to fix anything that is off!

Kim:kim:
Yeah the halfway up the skimmer is likely a great way to measure that. Didn't think of that. I hope it's okay. It was mentioned that it's half and half from the rebar placement. I guess I can figure it out on Saturday when I will have time and sunlight. Thanks for the insight.
 
So tonight I started looking for markdowns on pool toys, pool tools etc. Found a little but, even in Tucson it's not August yet and the supplies are going away at Walmart. AFAIK, no one closes a pool in the winter either... Too cold to swim in but you don't close them.I am amazed that the stuff I get there I actually might have to stock up on during off months for the rest of the country.

The pool stuff is being replaced with, I kid you not, Halloween stuff. I did get a couple of deals on umbrellas at Big Lots, though. Like twelve bucks a piece for pretty okay ones. Now the umbrella holders will have a purpose.

This somehow made me feel a lot worse about the leasurely mañana pace of my build. I guess since it's time for Halloween stuff then I shouldn't encourage them to get it done, less cash out earlier that way.
 

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So, since I am keeping this as a running diary... We had 0.32" of rain last night at a rate of 3.22" an hour maximum. Really, the worst downpour yet. Floods West of us so it still could have been worse. The hole didn't really deteriorate further so at least it appears the soil around the pool is stable. Let's hope it stays that way for two more weeks.

My wife asked the schedule and the PB replied only to her (they are avoiding me now). "ASAP" for the electric, 8/6 for the pre gunite inspection, and 8/12 for gunite.

My hopes of actually using the pool in calendar year 2019 are diminishing. At this point getting the gunite in and closing the trenches to keep the blowing dirt down would be enough... Though I am sure doing the decking and pavers will be just as messy.

Overall we are 5 weeks behind the original verbal estimate at this point plus another 4 for the permit issue. So my type A personality is really straining.

It looks like maybe Walmart is correct about replacing the pool stuff with Halloween decorations and we have it backwards... :)
 
Rattus Suffocatus
Really sorry to hear about all of that.
If the PB gets going and does his job in a timely manner, you might still be in your new pool before its too cold.
I can use my pool sometimes into October (although its a "wakeup" ?), but I realize Phoenix is a bit warmer at night than Tucson.
Hang in there and stay focused on the "target".. This will all come to pass.
Worst case, by the time you guys are thoroughly enjoying your new water oasis next year, you will be a pool care expert and your pool will be super blue and crystal clear!!
All the best down there...
r.
 
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Well, I will still "polar bear club" it at least once, but I am building it without a heater. I might investigate solar heat later but I didn't want the extra expense and maintenance of a gas heater. I do have the hot tub that lately is like a frog boiling in water... So when it does cool I will use that more than the twice a week I have been using it for the last three weeks or so. Plus the outside of it always filthy now from the yard being torn up so I can't leave the cover off to keep it at a reasonable temperature right now if I wanted to, I'd literally have mud in it...
 
Well, I will still "polar bear club" it at least once, but I am building it without a heater. I might investigate solar heat later but I didn't want the extra expense and maintenance of a gas heater. I do have the hot tub that lately is like a frog boiling in water... So when it does cool I will use that more than the twice a week I have been using it for the last three weeks or so. Plus the outside of it always filthy now from the yard being torn up so I can't leave the cover off to keep it at a reasonable temperature right now if I wanted to, I'd literally have mud in it...
Rattus Suffocatus
I like your attitude about getting in at least once for the year. (y)
Definitely understand regarding the solar heating / gas heater. For me, I just keep using my pool in the fall until I just can't "take it anymore" and then I'm done until the spring.

For us here in AZ though, at least we're very fortunate that we don't have to go to all the work of winterizing (I feel bad for those that have to do all of that work every year) and we can go back outside then and sit on our patios all winter long and admire our nice looking TFP maintained water. :p

Take care!
r.
 
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Stardate 20190802.1426:

I have been asking the PB for plumbing plans for several weeks, and they say they will give them to me but have not. So I contacted Pima County Arizona, who responded immediately with what was submitted to them, and unfortunately all that was required was standard engineering drawings for the structure. As interesting as that was it wasn't what I wanted. The plumbing is unfortunately very complex for the floor system. I now regret officially doing it, but please don't tell my wife. I really want those plans in case there are future problems and they go out of business. Just in case. They simply don't want to give out information. If that doesn't change I will never recommend them even if the pool turns out fantastic.

We now have had 2.1" of rain since the dig so far and the only erosion to the walls of the cavity have been in three places. The pool is going to be built up in some places due to poor drainage left by the house builder. And I guess I feel better because they now have a absolutely obvious map of where the rainwater is draining into the pool. So there is a map of what to build up. Unfortunately two of them are on the lagoon steps and there is probably more loss than they will like.

The electricians came yesterday at 2 PM, and left by 315 PM according to my cameras. They installed the casing for the pool light into the rebar cage, and dropped the electrical conduit (I think without wire) into the trench along with the beginnings of the #8 solid and equipotential bonding grid.

Nothing today. No show. I suppose that they could get it done in one day on Monday and we can still get the pre gunite inspection done on Tuesday but I would not bet money on it.

I almost think a pool like this could be built in a week if there wasn't a week and a half between every step. The initial permit request was 5/22 but about three weeks of that were the lot saga.
 
Stardate 20190802.1426:

I have been asking the PB for plumbing plans for several weeks, and they say they will give them to me but have not. So I contacted Pima County Arizona, who responded immediately with what was submitted to them, and unfortunately all that was required was standard engineering drawings for the structure. As interesting as that was it wasn't what I wanted. The plumbing is unfortunately very complex for the floor system. I now regret officially doing it, but please don't tell my wife. I really want those plans in case there are future problems and they go out of business. Just in case. They simply don't want to give out information. If that doesn't change I will never recommend them even if the pool turns out fantastic.

We now have had 2.1" of rain since the dig so far and the only erosion to the walls of the cavity have been in three places. The pool is going to be built up in some places due to poor drainage left by the house builder. And I guess I feel better because they now have a absolutely obvious map of where the rainwater is draining into the pool. So there is a map of what to build up. Unfortunately two of them are on the lagoon steps and there is probably more loss than they will like.

The electricians came yesterday at 2 PM, and left by 315 PM according to my cameras. They installed the casing for the pool light into the rebar cage, and dropped the electrical conduit (I think without wire) into the trench along with the beginnings of the #8 solid and equipotential bonding grid.

Nothing today. No show. I suppose that they could get it done in one day on Monday and we can still get the pre gunite inspection done on Tuesday but I would not bet money on it.

I almost think a pool like this could be built in a week if there wasn't a week and a half between every step. The initial permit request was 5/22 but about three weeks of that were the lot saga.
Rattus Suffocatus
Fred,
Yikes. I wish the PB was more responsive. Grrrrr. C'mon you guys, let's GO!!!
At least, very glad that there was minimal erosion due to the rains. That's a plus +++
Hopefully, some positive progress next week.
r.
 
Fred - @Rattus Suffocatus
Do you know if Paramount actually designs the infloor system - placement and number of heads - or is that left up to the PB? If the former, possibly contact Paramount and ask them for the plans.

Are you also getting the debris canister installed (hopefully at the equipment and not the in deck unit)?
 
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Fred - @Rattus Suffocatus
Do you know if Paramount actually designs the infloor system - placement and number of heads - or is that left up to the PB? If the former, possibly contact Paramount and ask them for the plans.

Are you also getting the debris canister installed (hopefully at the equipment and not the in deck unit)?
You are getting a separate loop of normal wall returns controlled by a 3-way valve to turn off the floor, right?
It is kind of weird to be swimming with the floor jets popping up and down and kicking them, etc.
Now, you guys called me out for the very reason I was asking. (well that and the reasons I stated before.) I wanted to make sure Paramount designed it. I suspect that I will be okay, because we figured out early on that the pool is a stock design since it was in other builders books when we got other bids.

We liked how it looked the best in out lot so we pretended we didn't know. But if so I imagine it's not the first rodeo for this particular design. However, I told my wife to tell them that I won't allow the gunite until I get them. I hate being like this.

On the wall returns, I believe so but I will take some more pictures and post them... If I had drawings I would already have complete understanding....
 

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