New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy** 3-25 update

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Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

Well after reading around I find out that those plugs are only designed to take 5 psi. Designed for drain work. There really are no plugs of that type for real pressure testing. :( Real solution seems to be to dismount the drains, stub up the pipes and pressure test. Gee that seems like alot of work. I wonder if I cut some props for the plugs will they then stay in up to the 30 PSI that I need? I can only try. I really do not want to have to dismount those drains, that would involve cutting some pipe.
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

Hello Lershac,
I don't have any gunite tips but regarding the pressure test plugs I can vouch for the excitement factor. Mine sounded like a shotgun blast when they would blow out.
I cut the flange off some so one could be inserted into the pipe ahead of another.
For me 2 plugs was good for 30 psi on a 2" pipe.

Best of luck,
John

btw, the comment about their work ethic is a real compliment coming from you!
I believe I speak for many here when I say you are the hardest working guy on this forum! :bowdown: I don't know how you have time to post.
Great to see the progress, Thanks for sharing.
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

rv4hess said:
Hello Lershac,
I don't have any gunite tips but regarding the pressure test plugs I can vouch for the excitement factor. Mine sounded like a shotgun blast when they would blow out.
I cut the flange off some so one could be inserted into the pipe ahead of another.
For me 2 plugs was good for 30 psi on a 2" pipe.
Click to expand...

Well it literally came to me in a dream last night, I can cut some 2" pipe and put in the drains backstopping the plugs to keep em from shooting out. Will let everyone know how it works out.

Thanks for posting, and I will try your idea (more $$$ for drain plugs) after this cheaper solution if it doesnt work out.

Doing the math its roughly 100lb of pressure on that plug, a little higher b/c they are about 12' lower that the pressure gauge and you got that column of water (gravity) in addition to the city water pressure on them. Hopefully this will work.
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

Brushpup said:
Hmmm, interesting. Will look forward to hearing how it works out. How did the mud removal go?
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The guys worked about 12 hours, and I only had to point and say "more" one time when they thought they were done.

and best of all when they were done they asked if they could come back and work more when it was time to move the dirt they took out. They just piled it around the outside of the bond beam forms (I specifically requested that to form a berm of sorts around the pool to try to keep the runoff out of the pool) so at some point after the shoot it has to come out. I told em yes, but before then they can come back and dig my trench to run the drainage line for deck runoff out to the street. The same trench will bring the water supply from the new irrigation meter back to the pool area.

So it worked out pretty well.

Last night I was very depressed b/c of the drain plug situation, glad my subconscious didnt stop working on the problem, coz my conscious mind was ready to call it quits.
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

ok so, cut some PVC pipe to backstop the plugs, and some wood and wedges behind that, pressurized up to 40 psi and it held! Discovered my screw in test plugs in the skimmers are leaking, but no pipe joints... pressure dropping EEEEver so slowly through the leaks in the skimmers. Just got a call from my gunite guy he will be here around noon to look everything over. Shaping up to be a good day. I love dealing with people who want to do business!
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

drainplugs.jpg


Have some glue eh?
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

Woo hoo!

Gunite Express out of pearl river LA... owner came and had a look, said everything looked fine. refused any payment for "consulting" and scheduled my shoot for next week early. Answered a million questions and was nice as heck. Said my pool looked better than alot of "pro" pools he has shot.
 

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Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

spillmar said:
Are you putting any venturi jets in the spa before gunite. I do not see any ?
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Nope. The jets I use are air supplied from the pad via 1.5" pipe.

Waterway Poly storm jets. I have never been a fan of the screw-top venturis that poke up above the concrete. Diffrnt strokes for diffrnt folks and all that.
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

spillmar said:
That spa plumb looks amazingly clean. So exciting to see it coming together. I can't wait to see you past shooting the shell. It gets really fun after that, and of course the finishing work especially. Get your grout ready. :goodjob:
Click to expand...


I think the reason it looks so clean is coz its just HUGE. Its 9X9 interior dimensions, and only 3 jets per side (except one side which only has 2), and the eight circulation returns at leg level.

And I hate that the Dang primer got all over everything. :( oh well.
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

So I was having trouble doing the pressure testing with the screw in plugs from the skimmers leaking. I couldnt really get any leverage on them to tighten them down any more, so I was not sure what to do. When the gunite guy came he said to install a tall pipe with a cap and a screw fitting to mate to the skimmer suction, so that it projected above the skimmer. This way I could get a wrench on that pipe to tighten it up.

So far (about 35 min) its been rock solid at 35 psi.

Inspection is tomorrow so hoping it holds there!
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

Plumbing Pressure Test/Inspection PASSED! Just waiting on the electrical guy now.

Dang inspector just glanced over the pool layout, asked me had it held pressure and signed off. didnt even look at the gauge. He did look at me like I was crazy when he found out I had done it myself.
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

and some even better news, I called the gunite folks and they said "how about tomorrow morning?" Yay! WOOOO HOOO!

I guess they had a cancellation, coz originally it was next week.
 
Re: New Build in Red Stick- **pic heavy**

Congrats; don't forget to post pictures.

Understood; on our side we did go with venturis but they were below the concrete with waterway fittings flush. Like you we piped in air with a Silencer blower and also attached a booster pump, a total of 6HP (2 Intelliflos) plus the air - feels like Olga the Masseus-inator giving you a real good rub (beat) down. Mats (aka Potter) would know what I am talking about. :wink:
 

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