New fiberglass pool build in OBX- Current stage Fence and Landscape.
- Thread starter TX2OBX
- Start date
IM actually a lot more happy with it than I thought I would be. I was worried going broom finish was going to look boring. But honestly its a super clean "finished" look that I really like. Last two pools were pavers, so we're happy for something a little different, not a fan of stamped concrete (personal preference), plus worried it would be a slipping hazard. Not sure what style epoxy finish to do yet seen a few on here I really like so will continue to browse for inspiration. They are hoping next week once its clear (or at least not so cloudy) to get salt systems up and running. So once thats done it will be time to get it TFP clear. I havent tested for anything other than CYA, FC and CC. So pretty soon im going to start doing full tests.
But all I need to do is get some some heat in the spa, and next spring some grass and palms and I wont think about anything else this house needs, or the better half burning the Amex up on inside finishes I couldn't care less about.
Last edited:
I forgot to remind you to water your patio. It helps slow the curing a bit and can help keep it from cracking.
Thankfully was rainy today. But the concrete foreman mentioned it as well, he said 3-4 times a day for the next week. They aren't going to pull the forms until after just to make sure its fully cured. I stole a trick from the gunite pool people and set up sprinklers sitting on the little foam boards they were using.
The concrete crew came out this A.M. and took the forms off. I think the coping needs some sanding or smoothing out or something as its super rough. Im not sure what other fiberglass pool owners have done here. But it looks clean, and def has slowed down the sand getting into the pool. PB still needs to finish up his end of it now which he professes to say he can't do until the heaters have gas hooked up, which isnt true but not going to argue. The punch list includes powering up the salt cells, installing automatic valves, transformers for lights, completing the deck jets and hooking up the drainage. Then get omni up and running so I can start programming the automation. Then he gets his last check and im finished with him.
All thats really left of the pool saga is other than landscaping is the deck and walkway to the future pier and epoxy on the concrete. Landscaping really wont start until spring which I can't wait to update the thread on that. Then small things like fire pits, lighting, sound, and outdoor kitchen/grill which were running the NG rough ins for concurrently with the pool heaters, not sure when I will get around to picking those out. Kind of want to see how landscaping turns out to know what style fire pits we want. I also go back and forth on just a new weber grill or biting the bullet and getting a true outdoor kitchen done.
IM still battling the sand however. Today I took a plastic dust pan and used it as a shovel to clean the ledge and steps as well as the majority of the spa. My cheap little amazon 110V pump didn't do well with it and kinda gave up on that, but not sure how much I could ask from a 200 dollar pump lol. I think it just didn't have the oomph to suck literal inches of sand. It may actually require someone going down there and manually scooping the bulk of it out. Im trying to find a diver buddy to come out and help me with that. Def want wet suits. I dont want to run the heaters with the water this cruddy.
Only other question I have does anybody have any recommendations for non stick on the steps of the pool/spa? Almost slipped like 4 times getting in and out today.
Couple pics from today. Mainly glad the buckets are gone lol.
All thats really left of the pool saga is other than landscaping is the deck and walkway to the future pier and epoxy on the concrete. Landscaping really wont start until spring which I can't wait to update the thread on that. Then small things like fire pits, lighting, sound, and outdoor kitchen/grill which were running the NG rough ins for concurrently with the pool heaters, not sure when I will get around to picking those out. Kind of want to see how landscaping turns out to know what style fire pits we want. I also go back and forth on just a new weber grill or biting the bullet and getting a true outdoor kitchen done.
IM still battling the sand however. Today I took a plastic dust pan and used it as a shovel to clean the ledge and steps as well as the majority of the spa. My cheap little amazon 110V pump didn't do well with it and kinda gave up on that, but not sure how much I could ask from a 200 dollar pump lol. I think it just didn't have the oomph to suck literal inches of sand. It may actually require someone going down there and manually scooping the bulk of it out. Im trying to find a diver buddy to come out and help me with that. Def want wet suits. I dont want to run the heaters with the water this cruddy.
Only other question I have does anybody have any recommendations for non stick on the steps of the pool/spa? Almost slipped like 4 times getting in and out today.
Couple pics from today. Mainly glad the buckets are gone lol.
Last edited:
I missed that explanation and they've been bugging me in the pics. What were they for ?
PB used them to "weigh down" the tanning ledge lol. Just one of those weird PB quirks that never made any sense to me, but didn't want to question it because if it wasn't done his way and something went wrong that would be the first reason spouted to not be his fault.
Had some fun with the deck jets today lol. Im actually pretty happy with how they turned out. I get a pretty even stream out of all of them, and the pump has more than enough oomph to run them plus everything else (at 3k rpm). If I close the returns down to half then they reach the roof lol (also a great way to wet the concrete ) , but I can turn down the pump back to 1750 and they perform nicely. I might ask PB to put a powered actuator on the pool return valve and when the deck jets are "calling" have it turn the returns down to half open so the pump doesn't have to be cranked up so high. Any problems with this?
They are noisy. Its kinda relaxing if say just sitting out by myself, but to have a conversation I can see them being annoying. I do like that it drowns out the noise of the pumps and blower however. One day since the water lines are there I might swap out to the laminar's but thats down the line.
) , but I can turn down the pump back to 1750 and they perform nicely. I might ask PB to put a powered actuator on the pool return valve and when the deck jets are "calling" have it turn the returns down to half open so the pump doesn't have to be cranked up so high. Any problems with this?They are noisy. Its kinda relaxing if say just sitting out by myself, but to have a conversation I can see them being annoying. I do like that it drowns out the noise of the pumps and blower however. One day since the water lines are there I might swap out to the laminar's but thats down the line.
Last edited by a moderator:
Saturn94
Bronze Supporter
- Mar 11, 2015
- 1,864
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Had some fun with the deck jets today lol. Im actually pretty happy with how they turned out. I get a pretty even stream out of all of them, and the pump has more than enough oomph to run them plus everything else (at 3k rpm). If I close the returns down to half then they reach the roof lol (also a great way to wet the concrete
They are noisy. Its kinda relaxing if say just sitting out by myself, but to have a conversation I can see them being annoying. I do like that it drowns out the noise of the pumps and blower however. One day since the water lines are there I might swap out to the laminar's but thats down the line.
View attachment 458409
Now I gotta pee.
lol. about half the replies to my instagram story today were the same thing.Now I gotta pee.
Thankfully my bladder is not affected by noise. But something to consider when the women are sitting out drinking next summer to maybe leave them off to avoid a yellow pool
OK so back to more fun with PB. Indirectly. The contract I have entitles me to 30 days pool maintenance with 1-2 visits per week.
The company that was sent out to clean the pool thinks theres entirely to much sand at the bottom to handle other than draining and cleaning then refilling. Needless to say I am extremely against this. Their logic is the pool was just put in and we saw there was no ground water so everything should be fine and they "brace" the sides with wood posts and they can refill it with fire hydrant so it wont be empty more than a few hours. I dont care, after all the headache I went through to get it to this point I dont want to have to redo it all again if the pool god forbid cracks or floats.
I feel like I should I just tell them thanks but no thanks and chalk it up to another "this contract is worthless" type deal like its been the entire time whenever ive had to pony up $. I kind of like my idea of hiring a diver. Back before I moved to TX I had an offshore fishing boat that I would hire a diver to come and clean the bottom of every 6 months. I almost want to call up one of those companies and see if they will come in and shovel the sand out by hand. Just to get it to where its manageable to be vacuumed out. I totally agree there is more than a typical amount in there. If you stand on the bottom you can dig down 2-3 inches before touching the pool bottom. So it pretty much overwhelms any vacuum in a second. I can't think of another way.
The company that was sent out to clean the pool thinks theres entirely to much sand at the bottom to handle other than draining and cleaning then refilling. Needless to say I am extremely against this. Their logic is the pool was just put in and we saw there was no ground water so everything should be fine and they "brace" the sides with wood posts and they can refill it with fire hydrant so it wont be empty more than a few hours. I dont care, after all the headache I went through to get it to this point I dont want to have to redo it all again if the pool god forbid cracks or floats.
I feel like I should I just tell them thanks but no thanks and chalk it up to another "this contract is worthless" type deal like its been the entire time whenever ive had to pony up $. I kind of like my idea of hiring a diver. Back before I moved to TX I had an offshore fishing boat that I would hire a diver to come and clean the bottom of every 6 months. I almost want to call up one of those companies and see if they will come in and shovel the sand out by hand. Just to get it to where its manageable to be vacuumed out. I totally agree there is more than a typical amount in there. If you stand on the bottom you can dig down 2-3 inches before touching the pool bottom. So it pretty much overwhelms any vacuum in a second. I can't think of another way.
Rig your filter up so it will vacuum to waste. Fill the pool up with as much water as it can hold, drop a hose in it then start vacuuming. You might have to stop to refill after a bit but at least the sand will be going OUT of the pool to where every you put the end of the hose.
If you have any PVC skills it should be easy to do. Share a pic of your equipment set up and we can let you know where to cut and put the valve and such to make this happen. We can also provide you with a parts list.
Do NOT allow them to drain it or work on it as we all know how that will end!!!
If you have any PVC skills it should be easy to do. Share a pic of your equipment set up and we can let you know where to cut and put the valve and such to make this happen. We can also provide you with a parts list.
Do NOT allow them to drain it or work on it as we all know how that will end!!!
I was hoping to talk them into putting a waste line in, especially since its in the contract. But as proven about 100 times before, doesn't matter. So im on my own.
I think I have a pretty good idea where to add one. I ordered a 3 way valve online and when it gets here will go get some 2" PVC from the store. Trying to decide whether to hook it into the gutter drain, or let it drain out to the driveway. When I get home tonight I will attach some pics with my ideas and see if everyone agrees.
Either way, you may need to throttle the pump when draining as it can throw some serious GPM. Consider which way would handle it better. For example, the flow needed to vac may overrun one of the choices.
I live a little north of you in Carova (4X4 area) and our new fiberglass pool had 4-6 inches of sand in the bottom this spring, which was from not having fencing installed yet. I just used an old pool pump (borrowed from a friend) and vacuumed it. I had to keep a hose running part of the time to keep it full. I di not want to run that much sand thru my new pump.
Good call. This has me favoring the gutter route. Its 4" pvc ran to my sea wall so it should be ok. The driveway route has me using the grade to my advantage, but has to pass my garage. Would hate to overwhelm the threshold and flood the garage out lol.
I tried using an amazon pump, but the impeller kept getting clogged even with the strainer basket. IM sure its just becuase I was asking a lot of a 200 dollar pump from amazon lol. I might try it again with a new vac hose that could hold prime better. Love Corova BTW. Now is the best time to be up there with the weather still decent and the tourists gone.
Small update. But progress is slowing down as we get into the cooler months. Gas lines were finally run last week and heaters were hooked up today. I dont have a meter on the house yet, but progress. They also built the "observation" deck and walkway down to my future pier (the new pier will be constructed further north to fit within property setbacks). But for right now it kinda stops dead before the end of the yard which looks funny, but will be tied into the new pier when its constructed. They also built the platform for the generator, so lots of little things accomplished just in the last week. Also having a NG line run for a future fire pit to the deck behind the spa. Really excited about that. Privacy fence was also supposed to go in last week but rain kept delaying them. Hopefully this week its completed.
Landscaping they would like to start middle of January ripping out all the vegetation and killing off all the grass for both front and back yard. Then will run sprinkler systems put paver walkways in. Then just kinda leave it bare. Which im ok with, I will take bare over messy. The plan is late march early April to lay sod, install the palms and other plants and trees as well as low voltage lighting. New pier is also scheduled to start late March early April weather permitting. The goal is to have the outside of the house finished June 2023. So everything is coming together except im still battling the PB.
Pool update. Its still a sandy mess, my contract (which is proven useless many times) states they do an initial pool clean after construction and then clean/maintain the pool for I think 30 days, might be more. Ive forgotten to be honest. Its been pulling teeth to get them out here to clean it.
IM also currently in an argument with PB on the (in water) lights, this is something I should have pressed on back in the summer but too many other fires. I knew the Jandy lights wouldn't work and they dont, told him I want it to work as designed, and he's mad that he has to replace all the lights and says "they turn on thats all thats required of me" and Im just not going to accept that. Especially since he made me pay for them separately since he "forgot" to put the pricing in the contract even though lights are listed in said contract. As of now I still dont have any automation running or automatic valves, the pool is just the two pumps running and thats it. Nothing else has any power to it. Theyre supposedly coming out this week some time, but will believe that when I see it. Thankfully I still owe him about 20k which is the final draw.
Also in an argument over drainage. I expressed concern not having a drain run the entire length of the patio (where old meets new) and he said "its graded to the drains it will be fine". Surprise, it isnt. I can somewhat deal with a know-it-all attitude if they're right. But when its their way or the highway and their way is consistently wrong I just get so frustrated. Every hard rain storm my covered patio floods out. He claims its runoff and splashing from the deck above. Runoff wouldn't leave me with standing water days after a storm. Attached pics of this. Were planning to epoxy coat both the pool deck and patio this spring, so my solution to this is to cut in a drain along the entire patio and tie it into the drainage system. The epoxy finish should hide the cuts and "new" concrete poured around the drain. But this is being met with extreme backlash. His solution is I need gutters to catch the deck runoff. Fine thats only about 800 bucks so I will do it. But I only get "will see" if it doesn't solve the problem.
Landscaping they would like to start middle of January ripping out all the vegetation and killing off all the grass for both front and back yard. Then will run sprinkler systems put paver walkways in. Then just kinda leave it bare. Which im ok with, I will take bare over messy. The plan is late march early April to lay sod, install the palms and other plants and trees as well as low voltage lighting. New pier is also scheduled to start late March early April weather permitting. The goal is to have the outside of the house finished June 2023. So everything is coming together except im still battling the PB.
Pool update. Its still a sandy mess, my contract (which is proven useless many times) states they do an initial pool clean after construction and then clean/maintain the pool for I think 30 days, might be more. Ive forgotten to be honest. Its been pulling teeth to get them out here to clean it.
IM also currently in an argument with PB on the (in water) lights, this is something I should have pressed on back in the summer but too many other fires. I knew the Jandy lights wouldn't work and they dont, told him I want it to work as designed, and he's mad that he has to replace all the lights and says "they turn on thats all thats required of me" and Im just not going to accept that. Especially since he made me pay for them separately since he "forgot" to put the pricing in the contract even though lights are listed in said contract. As of now I still dont have any automation running or automatic valves, the pool is just the two pumps running and thats it. Nothing else has any power to it. Theyre supposedly coming out this week some time, but will believe that when I see it. Thankfully I still owe him about 20k which is the final draw.
Also in an argument over drainage. I expressed concern not having a drain run the entire length of the patio (where old meets new) and he said "its graded to the drains it will be fine". Surprise, it isnt. I can somewhat deal with a know-it-all attitude if they're right. But when its their way or the highway and their way is consistently wrong I just get so frustrated. Every hard rain storm my covered patio floods out. He claims its runoff and splashing from the deck above. Runoff wouldn't leave me with standing water days after a storm. Attached pics of this. Were planning to epoxy coat both the pool deck and patio this spring, so my solution to this is to cut in a drain along the entire patio and tie it into the drainage system. The epoxy finish should hide the cuts and "new" concrete poured around the drain. But this is being met with extreme backlash. His solution is I need gutters to catch the deck runoff. Fine thats only about 800 bucks so I will do it. But I only get "will see" if it doesn't solve the problem.
Attachments
So many emojis needed for this one! Happy, sad, and GURRRRRRRR! Here is hoping the 20K is enough of a need to get him to fit that water mess!
So today to my surprise a crew did show up, drained the pool about a foot and a half and they replaced all the lights with Hayward lights. Hopefully that is a done issue. The only thing im kind of annoyed at is they could have killed two birds with one stone if they had a cleaning crew vacuum which would also have drained the water. Drainage is still going to be an argument, but gutters hopefully go in next week and if they help great, if not im holding onto the check. In other news with how crazy interest rates have gotten Im in the process of re financing the heloc I took out last year from a variable interest only rate to a fixed P&I, and the appraisal on the house came back today almost 100k higher than last year. The Pool is really the only major thing I have done since the first appraisal. So super surprised to see that a pool actually increased the value, thats almost a 1-1 return.
Is there an internal gas cutoff for the heaters? My NG meter was set yesterday and service turned on today but I keep getting "IF" error when trying to turn on the spa heater. Ive walked the entire line run to verify the valves are turned on and the NG company has verified I have service and is active. The valve placed next to the heater is turned "on" as well.
When I try to turn it on you hear the fan blow, but nothing else happens then eventually it throws the IF error.
Thanks!
When I try to turn it on you hear the fan blow, but nothing else happens then eventually it throws the IF error.
Thanks!