First Time Pool Owner (Houston Pool Build)

[rhawke]

I may have missed it but how did you address Houston's storm water discharge requirements with respect to impervious surfaces?

As long as
1) you are in zone x (outside flood zone)
2) your lot is less than 15000sf
3) and you do not cover more than 75% with concrete or decking (house foundation, driveway, patio, etc.)
you don't need to have any engineered drainage plans or special permits

The only rule will be that your property has to be able to bring water to the front street somehow instead of dumping it onto your neighbors. Whether you do that by grading / sloping around your house or by putting in pvc drain pipes is up to you.

 

[mikew2069]

How’s the build coming along? Are you swimming yet?

 

[rhawke]

If it were up to the pool builder we would already be swimming. But we put him on a break because he was too fast The house will be completed in 1 month, so he will be starting again next week with the deck since the builder finally got done with the outside work. Plaster and equipment should go in by June 24, just in time to swim for July 4.

 

[riley00dog]

Your pool builder is too fast! You don’t hear that very often around here. That’s great t hear it’s all scheduled. Must be a busy time for you?

 

[rhawke]

Your pool builder is too fast! You don’t hear that very often around here. That’s great t hear it’s all scheduled. Must be a busy time for you?

Yeah extremely busy, coordinating a pool build and house build together is quite stressful. Especially when everything is custom and you have to pick every single piece that goes in the house... And then coordinate final deliveries for appliances, furniture, etc to be move in ready by the date the apartment lease is up...

But in 5 weeks it should hopefully all be done and I'll post some pictures of a new house with a beautiful pool

 

[riley00dog]

I can’t even imagine custom building a house and a pool at the same time. It will be well worth it. Hang in there.

 

[mikew2069]

Awesome, looking forward to seeing the final product. The PB that you recommended to me has also been lightening fast. Broke ground 5/21 and have every step of the way scheduled already so we should be done in a couple weeks.

 

[rhawke]

I'm glad it worked out with them!

Awesome, looking forward to seeing the final product. The PB that you recommended to me has also been lightening fast. Broke ground 5/21 and have every step of the way scheduled already so we should be done in a couple weeks.

 

[BattleOfYakima]

I love it when good businesses get more business and bad business get less. Great job you two!

 

[jaymantx]

Great build thread! Can't wait to see the completed pool! I am considering using QDI Freska limestone for coping and decking.. I have a feeling Freska limestone is the same as your coping.. Different companies name them differently... My biggest concern is how slippery they might get when wet compared to travertine, and how bright they might be on my backyard that gets sun most of the day (Faces south-south-east).

 

[rhawke]

Great build thread! Can't wait to see the completed pool! I am considering using QDI Freska limestone for coping and decking.. I have a feeling Freska limestone is the same as your coping.. Different companies name them differently... My biggest concern is how slippery they might get when wet compared to travertine, and how bright they might be on my backyard that gets sun most of the day (Faces south-south-east).

The one we have I already tried wet. It was actually less slippery than the regular "light travertine" that Keystone sells.

The reflection for just the coping is definitely fine. For a whole pool deck it is hard to say. You can go out to Keystone Tile and look at a huge installation of this yourself in bright sunlight. That should help you!

 

[jaymantx]

Great information! I may have to swing by Keystone tile...

The one we have I already tried wet. It was actually less slippery than the regular "light travertine" that Keystone sells.

The reflection for just the coping is definitely fine. For a whole pool deck it is hard to say. You can go out to Keystone Tile and look at a huge installation of this yourself in bright sunlight. That should help you!

 

[rhawke]

So our build has unfortunately stalled quite a bit.

The decking and drainage contractor for the pool builder have been incredibly unreliable and he seems to have no good control over them. The deck was supposed to get poured in the beginning of June but did not get poured until 2 weeks ago. Then after that we had a week of rain and we are still waiting for the deck crew to come back and remove the forms and dig the drains to the street.

The plaster was initially scheduled for yesterday, but they also said that due to the week of rain they are delayed and they have to catch up first and cannot provide a date for the final plaster yet, so it will be at least another week with no clear date in sight ...

So there go our plans for swimming on July 4 ...

But at least our new home got finished enough (still lots of punch items they will have to fix over the next weeks) for us to move in as planned this weekend!

 

[kimkats]

Well at least some work was done.......but man what a pain to get them there to do it and now to finish!!! gurrrrrrrrrrrrr

SO glad to hear about the house though!! Hope the punch list gets done fast!

Kim

 

[rhawke]

Here some pictures if the current status!

 

[riley00dog]

Such a shame your plaster has been pushed back but look at your beautiful house and outdoor area! It’s beautiful! You will have water soon enough and the delay won’t be as frustrating as it feels now.

 

[kimkats]

What I see looks great!! What is is about them pulling the forms???? I have seen quite few where they just don't come back to do it......it is almost like they forget that needs to be done once it is sat!

Kim

 

[jaymantx]

Looking great! I feel your pain about delays after delays, and dealing with unreliable subs... I sometimes feel like I am the general contractor... UGH...

Oh, If you don't mind me asking what is the depth of the planting area(?) in front of the large window? I have a very similar setup and debating if I should have 3' or 2' depth. If I go with 2' depth, I gain another foot of deck space making it 6' deck/path.

 

[rhawke]

the distance from the house to the coping is 9'6" ft and the planting area is 4'6" from the house leaving a 5' path of concrete. We do not plan on putting any chairs there and wanted to have an herb garden right there .

BTW: does anybody have experience with an herb garden near the pool? should i be prepared to raise the bed for the herbs so splashed pool water running offthe deck won't kill it?

 

[Marlahoutex]

The pool water doesn’t seem to bother our hostas and geraniums nor our citrus trees. They are only about 4-5 ft away. The biggest issue was keeping the mulch out of the pool. Solved that problem by edging the bed next to the pavers (hostas/geraniums) and the other bed next to the travertine coping (citrus) with river rock.