From a Basic Lawn to Private Resort - We Have A Pool! Controlling Pollen...

[elleb]

And then you get the frogs, mice, snakes in the pool and skimmer phase! You never know what you will find when you lift the lid...

My hubby will be on skimmer duty ALWAYS! I don't do snakes, mice or frogs.

 

[kimkats]

Love what I am seeing so far!!! Looks very well done!

I know they'll clean it up, but good gaw it's making my skin crawl a little.

Me? I would have to be cleaning up a bit. I can only take so much trash before my head explodes LOL

 

[elleb]

Love what I am seeing so far!!! Looks very well done!


Me? I would have to be cleaning up a bit. I can only take so much trash before my head explodes LOL

I usually am down there with trash bags and gloves but now it's too much and my hubby keeps saying let's let them take care of it.

 

[elleb]

They finished up the deck yesterday afternoon and are capping off the spa steps right now. They're working in between off and on rain. Electrical has been rescheduled to next week due to the forcast and pebble is scheduled for July 6th.



I ordered these Vero Pool Loungers for our baja since they have 5 star reviews and are only $199.99 each. I figured we'll try them out when it's safe to place them in the pool. They restock every Monday or Tuesday morning and sell out fast in case anyone else is interested in trying them out

Vero Pool Lounger™ from Step2

Step2 Pool Lounger offers versatile comfort for your pool area. Use it as an in-pool lounge chair on the tanning shelf or as a stylish deck chair. Our pool shelf seating and pool edge lounge chairs provide the perfect spot for relaxation. View & Shop this adaptable lounger now.

www.step2.com

 

[kimkats]

SO close!!!!!! I want to share this like with you now since you are SO close to getting plaster!!! This came from @HermanTX

some helpful hints for day of filling

• Do they have all the proper return nozzles and drain covers (type and color) to place after plaster installed
• Have you tested your fill water? Are you filling with softened water or regular tap water?
• Have your hose ready (and clean) as it will be laying in the pool.
• Tie a sock or cloth around the nozzle so it does not sit on the plaster. Also, consider tying a plastic jug to the nozzle such that it will float up as the water rises.
• Make sure the hose is put at the lowest part of the pool.
• Do NOT stop the flow of water once it starts as it stopping it could cause a ring on the plaster.
• Ensure you take note (or a picture) of your water meter reading before you start to fill
• Be prepared to take note of your water meter as the pool reaches certain levels, i.e bottom of bottom step, top of bottom step, etc. (it helps in the future to know volume of your pool at certain levels - should you ever have to drain portion of it)
• Plan to set an alarm every 4 hours (or so) to ensure hose is still in pool, no debris blew into pool, etc.
• Take a picture of any chemicals they bring on site that they plan to dump in when they start to add water to pool
• Continue to fill pool to center of water tile or center of skimmer. Take picture of water meter at end of fill
• Get clear instructions from PB as what to do the day the pool is full - how often to brush, will the pump be turned on, etc.

Define with PB when he will be back out to set up water chemistry

 

[elleb]

SO close!!!!!! I want to share this like with you now since you are SO close to getting plaster!!! This came from @HermanTX

some helpful hints for day of filling

• Do they have all the proper return nozzles and drain covers (type and color) to place after plaster installed
• Have you tested your fill water? Are you filling with softened water or regular tap water?
• Have your hose ready (and clean) as it will be laying in the pool.
• Tie a sock or cloth around the nozzle so it does not sit on the plaster. Also, consider tying a plastic jug to the nozzle such that it will float up as the water rises.
• Make sure the hose is put at the lowest part of the pool.
• Do NOT stop the flow of water once it starts as it stopping it could cause a ring on the plaster.
• Ensure you take note (or a picture) of your water meter reading before you start to fill
• Be prepared to take note of your water meter as the pool reaches certain levels, i.e bottom of bottom step, top of bottom step, etc. (it helps in the future to know volume of your pool at certain levels - should you ever have to drain portion of it)
• Plan to set an alarm every 4 hours (or so) to ensure hose is still in pool, no debris blew into pool, etc.
• Take a picture of any chemicals they bring on site that they plan to dump in when they start to add water to pool
• Continue to fill pool to center of water tile or center of skimmer. Take picture of water meter at end of fill
• Get clear instructions from PB as what to do the day the pool is full - how often to brush, will the pump be turned on, etc.

Define with PB when he will be back out to set up water chemistry

Thank you sooo much for this checklist @kimkats

 

[elleb]

So we are on vacay and just arrived at the hotel about 2 hours ago. I looked down at the pool from our balcony and it's not TFP Clear! I'm honestly afraid to get in . I should've bought my test kit to play around with and post their levels for yall @kimkats @Newdude @HermanTX @PoolStored

 

[HermanTX]

So we are on vacay and just arrived at the hotel about 2 hours ago. I looked down at the pool from our balcony and it's not TFP Clear! I'm honestly afraid to get in . I should've bought my test kit to play around with and post their levels for yall @kimkats @Newdude @HermanTX @PoolStored

Thanks for sharing . Post a picture if you are able to. Report to management that the pool is cloudy.

 

[kimkats]

We saw an indoor pool that was so cloudy you could not see your hand just inches down! AND PEOPLE WERE STILL LETTING THEIR KIDS IN IT!!! They would have NO idea if their kid was okay or not until they came up for air! I went to the front desk to tell them if they did not close the pool NOW I would be calling the police for negligence. They went to make everyone get out and put up signs and locked the doors. They said the pool guy had not been in all week and they did not have a clue where anything was but the guests insisted it was safe to swim in NOT!

 

[elleb]

@HermanTX @kimkats their spa is TFP Clear, the pool not so much. Here are some pics I took this morning. I've seen worse, but knowing what it should be gives me pause.

 

[kimkats]

You have become one of us...............pool snob! LOL

 

[elleb]

You have become one of us...............pool snob! LOL

And my first ever pool isn't even ready yet

 

[elleb]

Back from vacay overnight and this morning we had lots of surprises with the pool. The pool and spa have both been drained and cleaned out.

The spa steps look nice even though I prefer them to match the spa's coping, I mentioned this to the build supervisor and hopefully they change it, I don't like the raw edge of the coping blocks showing on the steps.

Lights are in and electrical is wired up. It looks like we have a water proof membrane also around the returns, lights, bubblers, etc.


I do have a concern about this crack in the bottom step of the pool. I recorded this same one on March 22nd, it has gotten wider. I believe it may be from them using rebound on this bottom step but I'm not 100% sure.
3/22/23:

7/2/23:

@Aquaholics @kimkats @HermanTX @Newdude what do you think about this crack? Am I overthinking it? What can be done to remedy? Thanks in advance!

Everything else is looking good. We plan to clean our water hoses and ready them for fill between today and Tuesday. I will run a second set of tests with my TFP Pro Salt kit, I did a trial run last month just to learn the ropes. The build super mentioned that they usually turn on everything including SWCG at startup a few weeks ago. I plan to show him the NPT Startup Guide and if it doesn't compromise our warranty with the builder then we'll inform them we'd like to stick to the guide to prolong the life of our pool and pebble.

 

[kimkats]

LOTS of work has been done!!

That crack bothers me also. It almost looks like that part of the stop is trying to fall off. Point it out in writing to the PB and ask how he is going to fix it. IN WRITING!!!

 

[elleb]

LOTS of work has been done!!

That crack bothers me also. It almost looks like that part of the stop is trying to fall off. Point it out in writing to the PB and ask how he is going to fix it. IN WRITING!!!

I agree, this definitely makes me question the longevity of this step.

 

[HermanTX]

Salt should not be added for 28 days. So the SWCG can not be started. Do not let them add salt.
Follow the mfg. Start Up guide or as a very minimum the NPC guide.

https://www.nptpool.com/pdf/npc-start-up-card-lsi.pdf

The first week is critical after new plaster. Brush daily or more often,

 

[elleb]

Salt should not be added for 28 days. So the SWCG can not be started. Do not let them add salt.
Follow the mfg. Start Up guide or as a very minimum the NPC guide.

https://www.nptpool.com/pdf/npc-start-up-card-lsi.pdf

The first week is critical after new plaster. Brush daily or more often,

Yes I plan to let them know we'd like to hold off on starting up the SWCG and adding salt for 28 days per the guide. I printed the card out last night to share with them. Thank you for confirming my thoughts on this.

 

[elleb]

Happy Wednesday TFP! We are finally in the home stretch! Four loads of dirt were hauled away yesterday and we have about 3 loads left for final grading if any of it isn't used the hauling company will come back out and get the rest for us. We wanted to save some money on the dirt hauling because if we did it through the builder it would've cost us $450 a load which is triple what we paid, so yay on cost-savings!

Currently the pool is being prepped for interior finish on tomorrow. They plan to come back Friday morning to do the acid wash and then we will fill. @HermanTX , @kimkats, @Newdude, or @ajw22 is this normal procedure? I'm going through my checklist but can't find info on this step, but I know something is out there about this.

They are also addressing the issue with crack in the bottom step with hydaulic cement, and installing trim tiles today. Time is flying by but also slow at the same time. Trying to prepare and remember "All of the things" is proving to be a little overwhelming, but hopefully next weekend we will be swimming away


We decided to go with double banding on the trim and to use the plaster as the grout for the pool like in the images below:


I think this will be really nice and add some extra sparkle to everything.

 

[tommelton]

The cleaned my shell (debris removal and acid wash/rinse) a few days before pebble application. On day of pebble - they removed any leaves and accumulated water from the bottom, and proceeded with install. They were onsite at 6:30am, completed just after noon at 12:15pm. Acid wash team was onsite the next morning just before 7:30am. We were filling by 8:15am.

Once you start filling - do not stop. We followed others recommendations to add a rag over the end of the hose to prevent the metal end from scratching the fresh surface and also added an empty 2 liter bottle on the end of the hose to keep it floating on the surface of the water vs staying on the bottom, preventing any possible erosion. We filled from two outside hose bibs.

Lastly - I monitored the water meter, from start of fill thru the entire fill. Noting various points along the way (bottom of steps, bottom of tanning ledge, etc).

 

[HermanTX]

Here is the “official” list of things to do as complied from multiple recommendations on or directly before Day of Plaster.

Day of Plaster

• Clean up around the pool area the day before - brush any dirt/mud or debris that could be tracked into the pool during or after plaster
• Verify that the bags of plaster are the proper type and color you selected on morning of plaster.
• Take a sample of the mixture when they are applying it to the pool by pouring some in a small clear plastic cup (good for reference later)
• Do they have all the proper return nozzles and drain covers (type and color) to place after plaster installed
• Have you tested your fill water? Are you filling with softened water or regular tap water or well water?
• Have your hose ready (and clean) as it will be laying in the pool.
• Tie a sock or cloth around the nozzle so it does not sit on the plaster.
• Put the end of the hose at the lowest part of the pool to avoid channeling in the new plaster. Also, consider tying a plastic jug to the nozzle such that it will float up as the water rises.
• Ensure you take note (or a picture) of your water meter reading before you start to fill
• Be prepared to take note of your water meter as the pool reaches certain levels, i.e bottom of bottom step, top of bottom step, etc. (it helps in the future to know volume of your pool at certain levels - should you ever have to drain portion of it)
• Plan to set an alarm every 4 hours (or so) to ensure hose is still in pool, no debris blew into pool, etc.
• Do NOT stop the flow of water once the pool starts filling as doing so could cause a ring on the new plaster.
• Take a picture of any chemicals they bring on site that they plan to dump in when they start to add water to pool
• Continue to fill pool to center of water tile or center of skimmer. Take picture of water meter at end of fill
• Get clear instructions from PB as what to do the day the pool is full - how often to brush, will the pump be turned on, etc.
• Define with PB when he will be back out to set up water chemistry.