Getting Ready For Pool Build in Northern California!

[AmyJo]

Update on our progress- The plumbing and electric is finished. I will have to upload the pics! I just worked an OT marathon because dang this thing is expensive! (but so going to be worth it) The builder said they would extend out the bond beam/ wall around the corner about 3-4 feet at no extra charge so I'm pretty happy about that. We passed our first inspection on Friday and gunite will be next week hopefully by Friday at the latest! I feel like we are really moving along quickly. I guess the finishes are what takes the longest?

Yesterday I took my daughter and her 6 thirteen year old friends to a water park and the whole time in the lazy river as I was bumping into random people, because you can't really steer that thing, all I could think about was I could be in my own pool with no strangers to bump into or crazy teenage boys trying to drown each other taking me down in the process! It made me even more excited for this thing to be complete!

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Pony Girl- wow it's kindof a small world. We lived in NC for ten years and my last job was at UNC Chapel Hill! We lived in Cary and Raleigh.

I'm from NC. Grew up just south of Raleigh. Moved here from Durham - and worked for a design firm in Chapel Hill. I used to think 15-501 was a really busy highway. Ha! I really miss that area - the entire Triangle.

 

[kimkats]

What an exciting update! SWEET!

LOL on the lazy (with teens??? NOT!) river ride wishing for your pool to be done!

Kim

 

[Foxy]

Hi Foxy! No they have never been swimming before and it is really the only thing about our pool that makes me nervous. Most people have to worry about their children and toddlers, but frenchies are like toddlers in a way because their heads are so big and are a huge portion of their total body weight which will cause them to sink. They will have their doggy door leading off to the side yard with their own fenced area and then we will just be careful when people are here swimming. I'm going to get them each a life jacket too to wear when hanging out by the pool just in case they fall in. They are my little babies!

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How did I overlook the Bob Ross reference, I love him!

We have a fence to keep the dogs out of the pool area also. My frenchie is a "cart dog", he's partially paralyzed, so definitely can't swim and sinks like a rock. As a second safety measure we use Safety Turtle Pool alarms on their dogs collars. Safety Turtle 2.0 Pool Alarm Pet Kit - Products.
I hope they enjoy the water!

 

[edrn]

We have a fence to keep the dogs out of the pool area also. My frenchie is a "cart dog", he's partially paralyzed, so definitely can't swim and sinks like a rock. As a second safety measure we use Safety Turtle Pool alarms on their dogs collars. Safety Turtle 2.0 Pool Alarm Pet Kit - Products.
I hope they enjoy the water!

Foxy- thank you for the recs on dog collar alarm, I didn't know there was such a thing! I am definitely going to look at getting that. I am super concerned for their safety as if they were little children.

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omg, omg, omg they are doing shotcrete as we speak and it is looking like a pool! Here are some pics of the before with complete plumbing and gunite in progress as we speak!









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Last night I dreamt that the pool was done but it was only like 20 x 10 feet and no spa!!! I was so upset. Thank goodness just a bad dream!

 

[kimkats]

I bet you woke up fighting mad from that one!!!

This means it is now time for you to get your own set of links! This a set of links I put together for new pool owners. It is a lot of into so take it slow. It will all start to make sense when you start using them.

Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule

Pool School - Recommended Levels

Bookmark these:

Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals

http://www.troublefreepool.com/calc.html

Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Make sure to ask any and all questions you might have no matter how small! We have all been where you are at one point.

Now is also the time for you to ask your PB what test kit he will be providing for the pool. Let us know so we can fill in any blanks it might have.

Kim

 

[edrn]

I bet you woke up fighting mad from that one!!!

This means it is now time for you to get your own set of links! This a set of links I put together for new pool owners. It is a lot of into so take it slow. It will all start to make sense when you start using them.

Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule

Pool School - Recommended Levels

Bookmark these:

Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals

http://www.troublefreepool.com/calc.html

Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Make sure to ask any and all questions you might have no matter how small! We have all been where you are at one point.

Now is also the time for you to ask your PB what test kit he will be providing for the pool. Let us know so we can fill in any blanks it might have.

Kim

Thank you Kim! I have started looking at these very helpful links and will have my husband know them well also. For now we are bonding with our new gunite shell.

 

[kimkats]

I can think of lots worst things to do so have fun getting to know your new baby!

Kim

 

[edrn]

I'm from NC. Grew up just south of Raleigh. Moved here from Durham - and worked for a design firm in Chapel Hill. I used to think 15-501 was a really busy highway. Ha! I really miss that area - the entire Triangle.

The triangle has grown so much in the past 15 years, it's crazy! I do miss that area too, just not the bugs! What I really miss is the afternoon thunderstorms.

 

[ponygirl]

We love living here! Been here 11 years. Feels more like home than CA did although my husband would love to retire in San Diego. Weather is still so warm outside that we just got the kids and their friends out of the pool at midnight. I'd love a good thunderstorm right about now to top off the pool and water everything!

 

[edrn]

Our pool is nearly finished. It looks really good so afar. Today is clean up day and next week should wrap it up. I wish I could post updated pictures but since photobucket eliminated the ability to post third party hosting without paying I'm not sure how to do so.

update: I played around with trying to attach the pictures. So far it is working. Does anyone have suggestions for other sites for third party hosting?

I'm really happy with how our pool is turning out. I really like the rock on the bond beam wall and what you can't see is the step marker tile. It is so pretty. I can't wait to see the finish with the sparkle of the abalone. Then we will need to do some serious landscaping!

 

[EyedocLauren]

So awesome! Post more pictures once you get it filled with water!

 

[kimkats]

Look up at the top of this page. Since you are a supporting member you can upload to the TFP server! It is very easy!

Kim

 

[edrn]

Look up at the top of this page. Since you are a supporting member you can upload to the TFP server! It is very easy!

Kim

Thanks Kim! I see it now. Perfect! They are backfilling some dirt today and finishing the clean up. I will upload some more detailed pictures!

 

[edrn]

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Above are the latest pictures! I have my adirondack chairs made from recycled materials with cupholders all ready to go for the baja ledge. We are hopefully getting finish on Wednesday, acid wash Thursday and then filling after that!

 

[Yetilagoon]

Looks amazing! What color concrete is that?

 

[kimkats]

SO close!!!!

That looks awesome! Love it all! They did a great job with the tile!

Make sure you are there when the plaster trucks get there to check your color and extras. We had one build a couple of summers ago where they sent the wrong color and NO extras. It had to be chipped out and redone Another one had the wrong color on the truck but the PO caught it and sent them back for the correct one

Kim

 

[ctrav]

Looking good...

 

[edrn]

Looks amazing! What color concrete is that?

Thank you! I'm sorry I don't know the name of the color! They just tried to match it to our existing patio. It is a bit dark, but it should fade with time.

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SO close!!!!

That looks awesome! Love it all! They did a great job with the tile!

Make sure you are there when the plaster trucks get there to check your color and extras. We had one build a couple of summers ago where they sent the wrong color and NO extras. It had to be chipped out and redone Another one had the wrong color on the truck but the PO caught it and sent them back for the correct one

Kim

Kim- that would be a nightmare! How upsetting would that be. I was home to make sure and they did in fact have the correct finish on the truck!

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We got a little plastered today! I don't know what it is supposed to look like but some areas are dark and some are lighter I hope that is normalish. What do you all think? Tomorrow is acid wash.( I really don't know why these are sideways.)

 

[edrn]

Also, I do't think I posted this, look how big this equipment pad is! It seems huge to me. We need to plant some very bushy trees and bushes in a wall from the yard to sort of cover up the view of this monstrosity on side of yard. We also plan to build a shed next to it.

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Looking good...

Thanks Ctrav, I am getting so excited! Acid wash and fill tomorrow!

 

[edrn]

Also I wanted to order the test kit and can't figure out how to get the discount when ordering for being a supporter, if anyone knows how? I'm sure there is a better place to ask this question!