New Construction in Louisiana - completed! Pics included

[Tiger Fan]

Excited to find this forum, and post. We started dig last week on July 15th and have completed plumbing and steel. Gunite seems to be way behind given Covid surge in pool building. They are trying to fit us in, but lots of tropical rain coming. I have a small pump that I have been pumping ground water out daily, but anything else we can do to keep hole up while waiting on gunite?

I have all my gutter outlets set up for drainage around and past the pool, and excavation crew built a large “berm” around other lower side to prevent back flow. I was thinking about getting large tarps to protect the walls of pool, then just pump out water as needed.

I appreciate any advice, and thankful that I found this group. I will sleep much better once we have gunite in the pool.

Pics of design and progress attached.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
If you want our advice on your pool equipment, post up what you plan on using.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.

 

[ComputerGuyInNOLA]

Welcome to the forum fellow Tiger fan.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Update: we were able to get gunite shot yesterday before the storm came through. Now the wait begins, but happy to have this done.

 

[kimkats]

LOVE your design!!

So you got here just in time to get your own set of links. I put these together for new pool owners:

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

 

[Tiger Fan]

Kim, thank you for the information. I originally didn’t post specifics of the pool, cause was worried about pool collapse as we did not have a timeline for gunite. My PB was able to call in a favor, and we were surprised the day after my original post with a gunite truck that beat the tropical storm in the gulf.

Pool Specifics -

- Free form gunite 448 sq ft
- 6 ft raised spa - 400k btu gas heater
- depth is just under 4ft to just over 6ft
- 6 ft tanning ledge
- Hayward PS4 control panel w T-Cell aquarite salt cell
- Hayward 2.5 HP Tristar pump
- Hayward 425 Cartridge filter
- 2 main drains, 2 skimmers, 6 return lines
- white Marcuse plaster (likely will upgrade this)
- 14 ft raised Waterwall with 3 ft sheer decent
- 475 sq ft travertine decking
- equipment pad built and will be pumped to accept chiller if we decide later one is needed

any feedback on things to look out for, ask about is appreciated. We are seriously considering the $1800 upgrade to quartz plaster, and want to make sure I can take full advantage of automation of the features, lights, temp, etc.

Thanks again for all feedback!

 

[Tiger Fan]

Excited to find this forum, and post. We started dig last week on July 15th and have completed plumbing and steel. Gunite seems to be way behind given Covid surge in pool building. They are trying to fit us in, but lots of tropical rain coming. I have a small pump that I have been pumping ground water out daily, but anything else we can do to keep hole up while waiting on gunite?

I have all my gutter outlets set up for drainage around and past the pool, and excavation crew built a large “berm” around other lower side to prevent back flow. I was thinking about getting large tarps to protect the walls of pool, then just pump out water as needed.

I appreciate any advice, and thankful that I found this group. I will sleep much better once we have gunite in the pool.

Pics of design and progress attached.

Update: Some progress today after waiting for gunite to cure. Coping set, tile started, and waterfall and stone for hot tub tomorrow. Glad to see a little progress on our new build!

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome to TFP and I am a LSU Tiger fan at heart. So happy for them in 2019. A truly GREAT year.
The design is nice and making good progress. An upgrade to pebble or quartz is definitely worth it - assuming you have the budget. Keep us updated

 

[Tiger Fan]

Welcome to TFP and I am a LSU Tiger fan at heart. So happy for them in 2019. A truly GREAT year.
The design is nice and making good progress. An upgrade to pebble or quartz is definitely worth it - assuming you have the budget. Keep us updated

Plan right now is to upgrade to quartz. PB said about $1800 to upgrade? That about right?

also, what a ride 2019 was. I was fortunate to make 11 of the 15 games including the entire postseason. It will be tough to top, but let’s try in 2020!

 

[kimkats]

That tile is looking great!!! Love the colors!!

 

[Tiger Fan]

Here are some updated pictures of our build... like many the process has been slow and somewhat painful dealing with subs. The weather has pushed us back at least two weeks with 2 hurricane in the area a few weeks back. we were hoping to be done by Labor Day, but end is getting closer.

I come asking for ideas for our spa spillover. We initially had tile guys use water line tiles on spillover but builder said they would pop up given they are smaller. She suggested travertine tile, and they installed yesterday. I think they cut the tile wrong and made additional cut to make it work but we both agree it needs to be removed.

Does any one have any suggestions what we could use that may be unique for our spillover?

Pics attached, both with tile and travertine spillover.

Should have our travertine decking done by Friday.

Thanks for this page, I have enjoyed watching everyone’s progress!

 

[kimkats]

I LOVE the tile but do worry about the tiles coming off over time but if there is a way to make them work it would be very pretty.

yeah that other stuff has to go! Please tell me they did not mortar it in.

 

[Tiger Fan]

I LOVE the tile but do worry about the tiles coming off over time but if there is a way to make them work it would be very pretty.

yeah that other stuff has to go! Please tell me they did not mortar it in.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Yes, it was mortared in like that. I stopped them before the grout was done

 

[Tiger Fan]

Excited to find this forum, and post. We started dig last week on July 15th and have completed plumbing and steel. Gunite seems to be way behind given Covid surge in pool building. They are trying to fit us in, but lots of tropical rain coming. I have a small pump that I have been pumping ground water out daily, but anything else we can do to keep hole up while waiting on gunite?

I have all my gutter outlets set up for drainage around and past the pool, and excavation crew built a large “berm” around other lower side to prevent back flow. I was thinking about getting large tarps to protect the walls of pool, then just pump out water as needed.

I appreciate any advice, and thankful that I found this group. I will sleep much better once we have gunite in the pool.

Pics of design and progress attached.

pool was completed last Wednesday and with some neighbors water supply we were able to have it filled by Thursday morning.

weather here this weekend was rainy and cool, so since we can’t crank the heater up we really haven’t been able to enjoy it. It is nice to look at though!

Any help or suggestion on what vacuum/robot to go with? I need to decide in one of those.

 

[mknauss]

Any help or suggestion on what vacuum/robot to go with? I need to decide in one of those.

I would suggest the S200/Active 20/Pentair Warrior SE. From Marina Pool Spa in Denver - phone orders only. A basic robot. Request the combo filter basket.

 

[spd500]

Pool looks really good! We are in the same boat this week weather wise, and by the time they finish our pool I am going to hate waiting the 28 days to be able to use the heater. For the robot everyone seems to like the Dolphin products. I have not ordered mine yet either, but everyone swears by Marina Pool in Colorado (303)985-0077 . You have to call them to order for warranty reasons, but they are supposed to have the best prices anywhere and great service.

 

[spd500]

Also, just a mention. The startup directions for our Quartz plaster say not to use the robot for the first 28 days either.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Also, just a mention. The startup directions for our Quartz plaster say not to use the robot for the first 28 days either.

Yes, our builder said 3 weeks for heater, robot, and tanning ledge furniture