New Construction: Cathedral City CA

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We are thinking alike Dirk, yeah we want in! I assume that the builder does not think the sand would be an issue, but to be sure I'm going to send off an email/paper trail to confirm.

The pebble is scheduled for 7am on Monday, it may be to late to postpone that. Brian, I did not realize you were in construction. I was checking out your site, that slide is great. Also, the photo with what looks like a movie screen, I assume that was projected? Was the screen a permanent item?

We're planning on having an 18-20' screen we will put up when we see movies outside. We had a similar setup at our old house in LA. Dinner, movie and surround sound, we were a hit in the neighborhood.
 
Yorker said:
We are thinking alike Dirk, yeah we want in! I assume that the builder does not think the sand would be an issue, but to be sure I'm going to send off an email/paper trail to confirm.

The pebble is scheduled for 7am on Monday, it may be to late to postpone that. Brian, I did not realize you were in construction. I was checking out your site, that slide is great. Also, the photo with what looks like a movie screen, I assume that was projected? Was the screen a permanent item?

We're planning on having an 18-20' screen we will put up when we see movies outside. We had a similar setup at our old house in LA. Dinner, movie and surround sound, we were a hit in the neighborhood.
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Yes, the projector was set up on the other side of the pool and the screen was removable projector material that mounts to the pergola.
 
Good afternoon, well today our fill has begun. The PB was nowhere to be seen, and the guys who came for the acid wash had little concern that the 17-20 mph windstorm blew sand in the empty pool. They washed some of it out, but were unconcerned about the remaining. They also, insisted on using 1 hose when they started the fill, I told them I had 3 connected and ready to go, but the lead guy from the plaster company said that it would not fill any faster that the 3 hoses would just divide the water pressure. When I questioned what would happen when one deep end filled, then slowly dripped over to the other deep end, he shrugged if off and said i could move the hose at that time if I wanted. I gave up and called the sales rep (since he had not responded to texts ... as he prefers).

The sales rep told me what I should say to the plaster guy, and I responded that I was not comfortable doing that and for him (the sales rep) to call him. Well, come to find out that the plaster guy I was speaking to WAS the owner of the plaster company. We'll he left with hoses in BOTH deep ends - and the spa with about 8" of standing water and no hose. Right after he left I put the third hose in the spa, so the water level was only stationary for 10 to 20 minutes.

I am so THANKFUL for all that ya'all have taught me!!

The spa filled in about 2 hours, so I moved that hose to the pool before any water passed through the spillway. It's been filling now for nearly 5 hours and I'd say is about 50% full.

The pool cleaning guy will be by tomorrow to vacuum and do whatever else is necessary (or so I'm told). The pool lights still need to be installed, they're sitting in the boxes along the coping.

I do have some questions about the 1" tiles on the steps and the 6" tiles we had placed on the bottom of the pool. The pebble/plaster is slightly covering the corners of the tile and looks sloppy, hopefully that is an easy thing to fix.


IMG_2069 LR.jpg
 
"It is not MY pool so what do I care??" I can almost see it being said in his head as you typed it :(

I am SO glad you found us and listened so well! I feel sorry for those who have not found TFP. If the spa was left like it was (standing water) there could be a dark line in that brand new plaster gurrrrrrrrrrrrr

Kim:kim:
 
riley00dog said:
How frustrating! When you say they washed out some sand, do you mean figuratively with a blower/vac type thing or do you mean with a hose and water?
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They were hosing it down the drain in one of our deep ends (we have two) they then used a pump to suck most of that the sand and acid wash out. If I would have known, I should have followed my instinct when I woke up to get our shop vac out. Something so easy.

The good news is that now that it's filed we see very little sand. They're pool guy is coming today and I assume will start up filtering system.

We did spend a bit of time in the pool (waist deep) as it finished the fill. There must be something wrong with us cuz the thermometer said the water temp was 70, and it only took a few minutes to get used to it, it felt refreshing.
 
Generally multiple hoses will fill faster than a single hose. If your single hose was able to handle all of the water and pressure that comes out of the tap, and that tap was able to flow the full amount coming into your house (water main), that might not be true. But for the most part, all hose bibs and hoses restrict flow. Using multiple faucets and hoses in those cases will supply more water. This is easy to prove with the bucket test. Fill one bucket with one hose full blast and record how long it takes. Then empty and try with 2 hoses and run again. Then 3.

In my fill I used 2 hoses from 2 faucets and I promise you I was at twice the flow of a single hose.
 
PoolGate said:
Generally multiple hoses will fill faster than a single hose. If your single hose was able to handle all of the water and pressure that comes out of the tap, and that tap was able to flow the full amount coming into your house (water main), that might not be true. But for the most part, all hose bibs and hoses restrict flow. Using multiple faucets and hoses in those cases will supply more water. This is easy to prove with the bucket test. Fill one bucket with one hose full blast and record how long it takes. Then empty and try with 2 hoses and run again. Then 3.

In my fill I used 2 hoses from 2 faucets and I promise you I was at twice the flow of a single hose.
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That was my first thought after reading Yorker's latest PB woes. I still can't wrap my head around the all-too-common numbskullery of pool professionals, seemingly in all aspects of the trade. This guy was the owner of the plaster company? How many pools has he filled in his career? Has he never figured out this most basic fact about residential plumbing?!? This, the same guy that suggested swapping the hose from one deep end to the next, which would have in essence stopped the fill on the first deep end for some number of hours?!? Breaking the absolute most cardinal rule for filling a new pebble/plaster pool?!?!? Unbelievable. As Kim pointed out, kudos to Yorker for staying on top of all this, both before and during the fill.

The sooner he is rid of all these "pros" and takes over the pool himself, the better. And the irritating irony of all the run ins he's had with the various workers and salesmen, is that they all probably think he's the jerk for trying to prevent them from all their potential mess ups...

It's almost over man!!
 
Yorker said:
They were hosing it down the drain in one of our deep ends (we have two) they then used a pump to suck most of that the sand and acid wash out. If I would have known, I should have followed my instinct when I woke up to get our shop vac out. Something so easy.

The good news is that now that it's filed we see very little sand. They're pool guy is coming today and I assume will start up filtering system.

We did spend a bit of time in the pool (waist deep) as it finished the fill. There must be something wrong with us cuz the thermometer said the water temp was 70, and it only took a few minutes to get used to it, it felt refreshing.
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Glad it all worked out. Swimming at 70 [emoji15] at least you’ll be able to save on heating. My kids I can see doing that when our pool finally gets filled... not me!
 

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Dirk said:
It' almost over man!!
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OH if that was only true. It's IS nearing the end, but the saga just got even more messed up. I mentioned a few posts back that the pebble guy let the pebble go too high near the tiles on the steps and at the bottom of the pool. I was told that to fix this the pool needs to be emptied. Next, I was told by the pebble guy (the owner) as well as the owner of pool company that they would drain the pool TODAY, chip out the tile, patch the pebble and refill the pool. I questioned that should they not wait until the plaster/pebble fully cured before draining the pool - they said that it would not be a problem. I told them that under no condition were they to start draining the pool without my permission.

THEN, before I had a chance to write this post seeking help (and maybe tranquilizers:) I get a call from the Sales Rep, saying that they will wait two weeks before draining and repair. And that the curing process will need just two more weeks after that to complete.

Would you agree that a two week waiting period is sufficient?

Here's the tile issues - It also appears the plaster guys knocked off one of the 1" set tiles when they were working and did not place back correctly, so that tile is really crooked.

Tile 040418.jpg
 
Yorker said:
OH if that was only true. It's IS nearing the end, but the saga just got even more messed up. I mentioned a few posts back that the pebble guy let the pebble go too high near the tiles on the steps and at the bottom of the pool. I was told that to fix this the pool needs to be emptied. Next, I was told by the pebble guy (the owner) as well as the owner of pool company that they would drain the pool TODAY, chip out the tile, patch the pebble and refill the pool. I questioned that should they not wait until the plaster/pebble fully cured before draining the pool - they said that it would not be a problem. I told them that under no condition were they to start draining the pool without my permission.

THEN, before I had a chance to write this post seeking help (and maybe tranquilizers:) I get a call from the Sales Rep, saying that they will wait two weeks before draining and repair. And that the curing process will need just two more weeks after that to complete.

Would you agree that a two week waiting period is sufficient?

Here's the tile issues - It also appears the plaster guys knocked off one of the 1" set tiles when they were working and did not place back correctly, so that tile is really crooked.
Click to expand...

Oh, man, that is heartbreaking. I just got in my newly-refinishhed pool for the first time yesterday (after waiting six months for it to warm up enough), and found my own set of disappointments, so I can sympathize. One was: my tiles are a bit lower than what I was expecting, too. (Though since they are not square, they don't reveal anything visually like yours do.)

Uhg, to empty that pool and chip away at pebble and patch it and refill it?! Yikes. I don't know anything about the curing issues, but I would be very concerned about the patching. Anybody here had that done successfully?

I'm not sure about the whole process of pebble, but I can guess. The pebbles are mixed in what I suppose is some kind of hopper, to gather together and combine the "recipe" for a particular color scheme. Then the plaster is mixed, also presumably by some sort of recipe, to its specific color. That's a lot that has to go right for two sets of pebble, applied two weeks apart, to seamlessly blend together.

Ask yourself... Are these tile issues something that will bug you forever, or fade (in your mind) over time? I'm not saying the work isn't shoddy, I'm just saying is it possible the fix will be worse. If these guys aren't concerned about matching, then I guess that's that. But they don't exactly have a fantastic track record, do they?

In addition to your research here, maybe call a few random plaster companies and see if they think pebble can be successfully patched like that. Would they do it? Is this PebbleTec? Call them, too, see what they say about it. Ask a lot of question before you go tearing up brand new pebble, is what I'm sayin'...

For what it's worth, I have a few tiles that bug me. It's my (our) nature to see things like that. I know that, at least in my case, if I don't say anything, no one else on the planet will ever notice it.
 
Yorker said:
OH if that was only true. It's IS nearing the end, but the saga just got even more messed up. I mentioned a few posts back that the pebble guy let the pebble go too high near the tiles on the steps and at the bottom of the pool. I was told that to fix this the pool needs to be emptied. Next, I was told by the pebble guy (the owner) as well as the owner of pool company that they would drain the pool TODAY, chip out the tile, patch the pebble and refill the pool. I questioned that should they not wait until the plaster/pebble fully cured before draining the pool - they said that it would not be a problem. I told them that under no condition were they to start draining the pool without my permission.

THEN, before I had a chance to write this post seeking help (and maybe tranquilizers:) I get a call from the Sales Rep, saying that they will wait two weeks before draining and repair. And that the curing process will need just two more weeks after that to complete.

Would you agree that a two week waiting period is sufficient?

Here's the tile issues - It also appears the plaster guys knocked off one of the 1" set tiles when they were working and did not place back correctly, so that tile is really crooked.

View attachment 74515
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[emoji15] oh wow. I know nothing about plaster but I wouldn’t think it would be wise for them to go chipping it out already. I am so annoyed for you.
 
Hold on a bit while I put in a couple of calls to see what the best practice will be for this. Do you have a lock on your gate or any way to make sure they do NOT show up to do the work when you are not there????

Kim:)mad:)
 
While Kim is checking, have a read:

Plaster repair always going to look noticeable?

It is well beyond the scope of what you're asking to be fixed, but the point of it is: it's a very interesting look at what one plaster company considers an appropriate patch job to be! And what the ultimate solution is going to be after they gave it a shot.

Again, unbelievable numbskullery!
 
kimkats said:
Hold on a bit while I put in a couple of calls to see what the best practice will be for this. Do you have a lock on your gate or any way to make sure they do NOT show up to do the work when you are not there????

Kim:)mad:)
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Hi Kim, yes we do have a lock on the gate. They have set up the drain and repair for two weeks from now. I am looking for input, and has Dirk mentioned, the "correction" very well make things worse. God know's my trust in this sub is a notch above zero (I'm being kind). 1) I wonder how it will wear down over time, 2) What a bit of gentle scraping could do, to clean up the corners AND as Dirk mentioned in the scheme of things how many other people will notice it, 3) how much will this bother me a year from now.

I was considering asking for a big credit thinking that cost to refill the pool alone would be huge,, but just go off the phone with our water company, and it turns out that our bill for the entire month (including the fill) will be under $80. I was expecting it to be at least $300.
 
Where is the worst one? Do you think you could put a small, standard screw driver onto something and try to scrap it off? To me it would be worth a try. If you could have someone holding something where you are scraping to make sure you do not go off the tile that would make it even safer!

I have the call in and am waiting to see them pop in on this thread.

Going on Dirk's lead..............that little one that is off..........that could be your pool's "birth mark" of sorts. Other than than the really covered one that I THINK can be scraped clean, the other ones do not look too bad and you might be able to clean them up as well.

We have two weeks to think and work on this.........we will use it to make sure you make the right decision with the best minds working on it! :hug:
 
A two week curing period (submerged in water) is just the minimum amount of time needed before draining for a day or two in mild weather. I hope that the repair time can be completed in a timely manner.
 
Thanks for that link Dirk, yeah, my gut is really telling me to cut my loss and in time this too will be small potatoes.

I just went outside to try sitting in the spa and see that the water line is at least 6 below the tile. I assume when the were testing some of the jets the water got sucked out of the spa. It must have been like this for at least 2 or 3 hours. Hopefully not long enough to cause a line. Filling it up now.

I need a cocktail...

IMG_2075 LR.jpg
 
Ooh, credit. Yes. Good idea. Go buy yourself some nice (or nicer) umbrellas. Those you, and everybody else, will notice! The ones with the LEDs. ;)

When my pool guy tried to patch some pockmarks left after his nightmare acid wash, they just fell out after a while. And they were by no stretch invisible. In fact, because of the way they slopped on the grout/plaster (whatever they used), and then just sponged it off (typical MO for tile setting), it just left a stain on the un-pocked plaster...

To Kim's idea... I would be sorely tempted to do just what she suggests. Chip away at it. It seems so simple, so easy... I'm reminded of the Seinfeld episode in which he tries to even out his chest hair a bit... little bit here, little there... ends up shaving himself bare!!

While I would find it hard to contain myself, what I'd like to think I'd do is very (VERY), carefully work just the "E" tile, just to turn it into any sort of rectangle, then walk away. And keep in mind, that if you ignore that advice, and mess up your other tiles, you'll be honor-bound to post a picture of what you did, own it, and take your lumps!! ;)

But MOST important! You can't touch them right now. You're in CA. You're legally bound (if you expect any recourse) to let him apply the fix before you take any actions on your own. Because if you do, and mess it up, he can then claim 1) you did the damage, or made it worse, and/or 2) he's not liable because you didn't give him the opportunity to fix it, which might very well stand up if it ever came down to it. It's sounds like he's going to do right by you, but you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot, just in case.
 

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