New build in NW Austin suburb - plaster!

[kimkats]

Make sure to look up Watermelon Ball! One of the funnest water games out there!!!

Now lets talk about main drain or NO main drain..............WHAT??? I have a choose??? Yeppers you do! IF you have a main drain it has to be a dual main drain to keep the entrapment worry away BUT you do NOT have to have one. With this being a sport pool I would NOT have a main drain. They can be a trip hazard as well as toe getter.

Kim

 

[Soggydoggies]

I bought a fire pit for my upper deck years back. I used it once this season. Granted the weather was fairy warm this last winter. Texas just doesn’t make fire pits that worthwhile. However, if your family and social group are ones that like to hang out around a fire and chill out, it may be worthwhile. I get more use out of my outdoor furniture and portable propane heaters (like the ones restaurants use).

We currently have a little propane fire feature in our patio table and use it all the time. Not for heat (we do have a built in commercial type strip heater on the patio), but for ambiance. We love it! I really dislike smelling like a campfire, so definitely don’t want a wood burning one. I think it would get a lot of use, especially if it’s in that main conversation area, within sight and sound of the tv, spa, tanning area, patio table, etc. I am concerned about it being too many elements all in one spot, but in my experience people tend to gravitate all towards one main are anyway - might as well have lots of functionality in that area. I think it’s one of those things I’ll have to see once the pool perimeter and decking is marked out - should be more obvious at that point if it’s going to feel like stuff is in the way.
I browsed through your build - it looks fantastic!! We’re doing the same color (I think!) plaster and I definitely love the look in your pool.

 

[kimkats]

It really seems like you have put a LOT of thought in what you want and where you want it there. Well done! That is my main goal.............just to get someone to think about the features and how they will be used!

Kim

 

[DB-Cooper]

We currently have a little propane fire feature in our patio table and use it all the time. Not for heat (we do have a built in commercial type strip heater on the patio), but for ambiance. We love it! I really dislike smelling like a campfire, so definitely don’t want a wood burning one. I think it would get a lot of use, especially if it’s in that main conversation area, within sight and sound of the tv, spa, tanning area, patio table, etc. I am concerned about it being too many elements all in one spot, but in my experience people tend to gravitate all towards one main are anyway - might as well have lots of functionality in that area. I think it’s one of those things I’ll have to see once the pool perimeter and decking is marked out - should be more obvious at that point if it’s going to feel like stuff is in the way.
I browsed through your build - it looks fantastic!! We’re doing the same color (I think!) plaster and I definitely love the look in your pool.

We also have a dining table with a built in pit in the middle, that certainly gets more use. I use Propane Taxi for all my propane needs which has greatly lowered the stress of managing dirty tank swaps that role around in your trunk like a wrecking ball

Thanks for the notes on my pool, yeah we're really happy with the way the finish came out, it really sparkles and we're glad we went with a lighter color since we will be fighting heat and a lot of sun later in the season.

 

[Soggydoggies]

It really seems like you have put a LOT of thought in what you want and where you want it there. Well done! That is my main goal.............just to get someone to think about the features and how they will be used!

Kim

I’ve had years to think about what would be great to have! Blending that with our budget and space is what’s challenging! And discovering there’s lots of questions I don’t even know to ask....thanks so much for your help!

 

[Soggydoggies]

We also have a dining table with a built in pit in the middle, that certainly gets more use. I use Propane Taxi for all my propane needs which has greatly lowered the stress of managing dirty tank swaps that role around in your trunk like a wrecking ball

Thanks for the notes on my pool, yeah we're really happy with the way the finish came out, it really sparkles and we're glad we went with a lighter color since we will be fighting heat and a lot of sun later in the season.

I hadn’t heard of propane taxi! Sounds like a great idea. Switching tanks out and carting them around is definitely not my favorite activity.

Yes, the darkness of the plaster is one of our main concerns also. It will be a shallow pool in full sun with the only moving water being the spa spillover and a couple ledge bubblers. While I’m not a fan of cold water, I could see the water temp getting over 90 easily in the Texas sun, and it’s just not refreshing at that point! I guess we’ll find out soon, but hopefully the Tahoe will be light enough to reflect some of that heat.

 

[kimkats]

We also have ways to cool your pool off............run you water features at night. Now this will push your pH up but we can fis that also. We will teach all of this when you need it.

 

[DB-Cooper]

I hadn’t heard of propane taxi! Sounds like a great idea. Switching tanks out and carting them around is definitely not my favorite activity.

Yes, the darkness of the plaster is one of our main concerns also. It will be a shallow pool in full sun with the only moving water being the spa spillover and a couple ledge bubblers. While I’m not a fan of cold water, I could see the water temp getting over 90 easily in the Texas sun, and it’s just not refreshing at that point! I guess we’ll find out soon, but hopefully the Tahoe will be light enough to reflect some of that heat.

Yeah it’s been awesome. If you have up to a week to wait it’s free delivery. It’s cheaper than I recall paying at Home Depot/Lowes. I can send you a $10 first time referral. Just DM, I need your email. I have three cores which I’ve all bought from them then I just have them bring refills. It’s all online, 100% contactless and truly a superb service.

 

[Soggydoggies]

We’re digging on Tuesday! The builder is getting me costs for switching to a SWG setup, and also, to compare, what the cost would be to add one later. He recommends putting one in now if I think I will want one - transformer and salt cell would be built in rather than added on. He agrees SWG’s are easier to maintain, feel better to swim in, and have fewer chemicals to purchase. He does recommend sealing our flagstone coping with a five year sealant every three years.
We scooched that bench over to snug up to the spa, and confirmed there is an overflow line.
We are a little worried the left side’s swimming area will be too narrow with the huge tanning ledge (which I love and am not willing to “share” with the pool space?), so we are thinking about expanding the radii of the two “bubbles” on the left just 2-3ft. It would push the decking right up to the five foot build line along more of the fence, but that would be mostly unused space anyway, so I’d rather it was pool & decking! Hoping it doesn’t add 10k more to the cost?Here’s a couple before pics - there’s a creek about 40ft on the other side of the back iron fence in the tree line.

 

[kimkats]

Tuesday??? That is two more wake ups!!!! OH YEAH!!! Oh and naps don't count LOL

We are a little worried the left side’s swimming area will be too narrow with the huge tanning ledge (which I love and am not willing to “share” with the pool space?), so we are thinking about expanding the radii of the two “bubbles” on the left just 2-3ft. It would push the decking right up to the five foot build line along more of the fence, but that would be mostly unused space anyway, so I’d rather it was pool & decking!

I went back and looked at your plans and think that is a good idea to push those bubble out to open up the swim lane. Good thinking. I am guessing you have been doing some looking and walking over the paint. Well done!

Kim

 

[wilkj1]

looks great good luck . i have a question on dig do they have a rock clause ? lots of rock in Austin and also lots of dirt coming out you can use the good top soil for land scaping i had a flat back yard now have berms and swells and way better water control i.e. for run off just a thought pics please this is fun times for yall enjoy .

 

[Soggydoggies]

looks great good luck . i have a question on dig do they have a rock clause ? lots of rock in Austin and also lots of dirt coming out you can use the good top soil for land scaping i had a flat back yard now have berms and swells and way better water control i.e. for run off just a thought pics please this is fun times for yall enjoy .

Yes, we are pretty sure we will hit rock! The builder doesn’t charge anything additional for extra excavation time fortunately. Most Austin builders know they’re gonna hit limestone about 12-18 inches down here. Thanks for the info though!! We thought about using the fill to level off behind our fence, but turns out the haulers actually sell it, so if I want to keep it I have to pay them for it ?

 

[Soggydoggies]

Moving along...... should finish rebar tomorrow, hopefully gunite next week. It switches between looking way too small and plenty big enough - but it’s all that can fit in the yard with a decent amount of decking, so it is what it is! Slightly enlarged the left side and glad we did. Miraculously hit zero rock. The builder actually put in extra gravel base because of the softness of the dirt.

 

[kimkats]

Will you get a discount for no rock???

Now run out there and measure everything! Is it wide, deep, long, etc enough? Add about 8" for the steel, shell, and plaster.

Kim

 

[Soggydoggies]

Plumbing and rebar completed this week! Although after the workers left last night I found a cracked/leaking skimmer (pictured) and missing tanning ledge lights. PB said he’s on it and will be fixed before gunite which I hope happens sometime this week.

 

[wilkj1]

rebar looks great your close to a shell hope everything goes well.

 

[kimkats]

How did you even find the skimmer crack??? Good job!!! Keep on him about that and the light!

See those pipes that go over the other pipes? I would find some thing you can put under them like firm pack sand or such to help keep them from flexing.

Kim

 

[Soggydoggies]

How did you even find the skimmer crack??? Good job!!! Keep on him about that and the light!

See those pipes that go over the other pipes? I would find some thing you can put under them like firm pack sand or such to help keep them from flexing.

Kim

My husband heard it making gurgling/dripping noises when he was out with the dogs! And it had already caused a little cave-in on the wall it dripped onto. They were out the next day and replaced it, along with installing the tanning ledge light pipes. Great point about supporting the upper pipes. I’ll do that this morning. I think we are just waiting on a city inspection before scheduling gunite.

 

[Soggydoggies]

Gunite was done yesterday, we’re watering away on that shell! I have a call into the builder to modify one of the benches, but he had to check with the concrete guys about adding on to recently shot gunite. It’s about half the size it should be - I’m so annoyed with myself that I didn’t notice it yesterday. But other than that everything looks great!!

 

[kimkats]

Gurrrrrrrrrr on the too small bench but it sounds like they are going to fix it so back to SWEET!!

It is time for your set of links! The first set is all about what to do and ask about to get a great plaster job. The second set is all about how to care for your pool after you get the plaster.

Plaster links:
Ten Guidelines for Quality Pool Plaster Best one of all
All Plaster Finishes Should Last 20 Years
Not All Color Pigments are Good for Pools How to pick a good color for plaster.
A Plastering 'Watch List' | Professional Watershaping | Watershapes
Trouble Free Pool
Trouble Free Pool

Pool care links:
Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule
Pool School - Recommended Levels

Bookmark these:
Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals
Trouble Free Pool
Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Now is also a good time to ask what test kit your PB will be providing so we can fill in any holes.

Kim