New Pool Build and Backyard Remodel in Central California

[tonygiotta]

Hi all! Large scale project about to get underway in Turlock, CA. I've chosen a builder and have been working with him on perfecting the plan for my backyard over the course of the past couple of months. As meetings progressed and ideas started floating around in my head, I realized I needed a source of non-biased information to help me have more meaningful discussions with my builder. I've been lurking for the past two months and gaining some valuable insight into the whole pool building process, from plumbing design to equipment selection. Think I'm about ready for some feedback on the direction I'm headed. Also wanted a place to document the journey as I enjoy doing forum write-ups when taking on a new project, be it Jeeps, motorcycles, or in this case a pool!

So here's my current plan (there are at least 1-2 more minor revisions to come)...



I've really spent a lot of time working out the logistics of all the underground conduits for speakers, lights, gas lines, communication lines, etc. I don't want to have any regrets once that concrete deck is poured! Maintaining a certain level of symmetry while still keeping the pool "free-form" has also been a major factor in determining the shapes of all the elements in the design. A preliminary list of the details regarding size/equipment can be found in my signature. I'll get more into the different aspects of the decisions I've made and the questions I still have, but for now... any general comments or questions regarding the project?

P.S. My supporter badge should be showing up shortly...

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Tony- Exciting times ahead!

One thought- Will your version of the "Genie" have the copper element in it? You DO NOT want to add copper to your pool. Just make sure it doesn't.

Go ahead and order your test kit early so you can be prepared, and test your fill water for a baseline. I would highly recommend the TF-100.

You can order it from PoolSupplyWorld.com there in California.

Keep us posted with pics of this build. We love watching the progress.

Maddie

 

[tonygiotta]

No, it will just be the standard residential version. The silver/copper ion version is what they consider the commercial version. There's not much 3rd party information available about it on the internet, but I'm really looking forward to trying it out. Despite all the hoopla and "sales pitchey" language on their website, I believe the chemistry is sound. It's more or less the same process as a standard inline SWG, just a different mechanism for getting the job done. I'm trying it out for the added efficiency and control over the production rate and pump run times. I'll be sure to report back on my findings and will have my PB leave room in the plumbing to install a traditional SWG should the Genie fail to deliver somehow. They're also headquartered nearby so I can drag it back to their shop should I for some reason be dissatisfied.

 

[ctrav]

Congrats on the new build. Can you post pics of the current yard and have you considered SWG vs Chlorine Genie?

 

[mknauss]

After reading the Chlorine Genie web page I see how they are 'off-line' creating chlorine. But they also state they create acid? That seems interesting. Somehow that has to be sales pitch and not real.

Good luck. Really looking forward to hearing how it works.

Take care.

 

[Brentr]

Congrats on your new pool build. Have you considered pavers for your deck instead of concrete? Concrete will eventually crack and you can always remove pavers to do additional projects.

 

[tonygiotta]

I apologize for my inactivity and lack of pictures. Kids started school this week, just started coaching both of their soccer teams this week, and to top things off... my wife broke her right foot on Friday and is unable to walk and/or drive. Needless to say, I've been a little overwhelmed with Daddy duties this week!

Congrats on the new build. Can you post pics of the current yard and have you considered SWG vs Chlorine Genie?

Sadly I was deployed at a wildfire during the week that my trees were taken out and my concrete was removed. I really wanted to be there for that! I had every intention of taking "before" pictures. I'll post up some pictures of the demoed yard, and try to see if I can find some pictures of what it used to look like.

As for the SWG, I researched both systems. They both operate on the same principle and have many of the same benefits. What pushed me toward the Genie was that chlorine production is not directly related to pool pump flow. I'd like to be able to run my pump as little as necessary at as low a flow rate as possible for filtration, and not have to worry about additional run hours/speed ($$$) in order to produce a sufficient amount of chlorine. That being said, I love how the SWG ties seamlessly into the automation system and I am considering having my PB install the "dummy" cell spacer in my equipment pad plumbing, just in case the Genie doesn't work out...

 

[tonygiotta]

After reading the Chlorine Genie web page I see how they are 'off-line' creating chlorine. But they also state they create acid? That seems interesting. Somehow that has to be sales pitch and not real.

Good luck. Really looking forward to hearing how it works.

Take care.

Looking forward to seeing how it all works as well. I'm guessing the "acid" it dispenses is not as acidic as store bought muriatic acid. The instructions say the "pH valve" may be left open/closed for extended periods of time in order to achieve the desired effect. There is also a reservoir within the unit that gets filled with about 2 gallons of muriatic acid and is used to clean the cell. I think the "acid" may just be the byproduct of the cell cleaning process which sounds more plausible than the unit actually "making" acid. I'll have to see how it all works once I have the unit sitting in front of me.

 

[tonygiotta]

Congrats on your new pool build. Have you considered pavers for your deck instead of concrete? Concrete will eventually crack and you can always remove pavers to do additional projects.

Time to get the thread back on track here... thanks for the non-Chlorine Genie related comment! lol

Concrete will always crack, hopefully you can get it to crack where you want it to. I honestly haven't spent much time thinking about pavers. I looked into them at my previous house (no pool), and they were significantly more expensive, even compared to stamped/colored concrete. With as much decking as I'm having put in, even a small $/sqft increase will result in a significant overall price increase. I've also been reading on the forum that they are one of the "hotter" options so far as material choices go. Here in Central CA, 100+ degree days are the norm during the summer and 110+ usually happens a handful of times as well.

On the topic of decking, we are currently leaning toward a natural colored salt rock finished deck. I'd like to do a 1ft perimeter of smooth/broom finish around the pool, as well as on top of all the planters and benches. Slight chance we'll add some color to the concrete mix, even slighter chance we'll do a stone stamp instead of salt. My PB says the smooth/broomed areas will appear to be a different shade of grey than the salted areas, but I may come back after the fact and stain all the smooth/broomed areas a slightly darker grey if it doesn't have the "pop" I'm looking for. Anyone have pictures of a natural concrete rock salt finish?

 

[kimkats]

In to watch this one! YOU have had a rough start with the kids starting school, coaching teams (THANKS!), wife's broken foot (how is she doing? Will she need surgery or just the boot?) THEN fighting fires!

Kim

 

[tonygiotta]

When it rains, it pours. Yes, it has been a heck of a few weeks. Good thing building a pool isn't stressful at all!

We've got to wait three weeks until we know if surgery is needed on the wife's foot...

 

[tonygiotta]

Sorry folks, been quite a madhouse around here lately. Figure I better get to posting some pics before this thing gets too far ahead of me. We're well into the building process already. Have definitely had some ups and downs along the way...

So here's where we started. When we bought the house about 5 years ago, it was advertised as having a "park like" backyard. Basically that meant it had lots (and lots) of trees and bushes. Decent sized yard for a California tract home, but not huge. I wanted the pool to become a nice feature of the backyard rather than having it dominate the backyard.







- - - Updated - - -

As mentioned earlier, concrete demo and tree removal both happened while I was away at a fire. Came home to find the yard looking like this!

 

[tonygiotta]

And so it sat for a couple of months while we continued fine tuning the plan and working on the details. I think my builder was growing tired of meeting with me. He said he had never been asked so many questions about a project before. Despite all of that, I was still feeling a bit rushed. Contract was presented before I was ready, but I was given an assurance that any changes could be handled through the now infamous "change order" process. The permit was applied for before the details were tidied up, but again an assurance that changes could be made to the plan that the builder had submitted to the city on my behalf. Before long, we had a dig date and the excavation crew showed up. Fortunately they were able to fit through my drive through garage!

 

[kimkats]

No more park for you LOL

That drive through is a purrfect fit for the digger! SWEET!

I have a sad that your PB is rushing you towards the pool. His wallet must be flat.

Kim

 

[YippeeSkippy]

LOL <slaps forehead> A drive thru garage!! That's what that is! I was seeing a garage door and looking for the driveway and scratching my head.... ? Is that a common feature there? Lordie here in Georgia you'd have a backyard filled with cars up on blocks if it were common here! OY!

Looking forward to seeing more pics. I'm also sorry if you're feeling rushed by the builder.

Maddie

 

[tonygiotta]

Well, if there's one thing I seem to be consistent about lately, its being inconsistent about my posting regularity! lol

So here we go....

Pushing some dirt around to start grading the yard.



Ceremonial first scoop of dirt being dumped in the dump truck. Fortunately there was someone only a few blocks away filling in an old pool that needed fill dirt!



Starting to lay things out. First real impression of where/how the pool was actually going to sit!

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Yes! Keep those pics and details coming!!

Did they charge you to haul the dirt away .... down to the pool down the street?

Maddie

 

[tonygiotta]

Just scraping the surface...



Getting deeper...



And deeper...



And deeper.



The tractor was entering/exiting the pool where the Acapulco deck will be. The shelf on the opposite side of the pool is going to be the raised hot tub area. The pool is deepest in the center as it is of the sport pool variety.

 

[tonygiotta]

Did they charge you to haul the dirt away .... down to the pool down the street?

Well... they didn't credit me any money back as they already have arrangements with some local farmers to use their properties as free dirt dumping areas. Where I may have saved a bit of money is in the fact that their round trip dump time was shorter which helped keep the dig/steel installation closer to the timeframe it was projected to take. They were planning on the whole thing taking a day and a half. It ended up being two LONG days and another half day to finish it all off.

 

[tonygiotta]

Next up came the steel, and lots of it. Some spa and intake plumbing was also handled at this point in the game.



A view from the backside of the pool. The raised deck surrounding the patio is in the foreground. Rather than forming up the patio areas, retaining walls, planters, etc., my builder likes to do it all with gunite.



And lest we forget, the other half of this project. Part of the reason for the extra day's worth of work, and also another example of building with gunite. This is the skeleton of my raised patio area (in the opposite corner of the yard) with the framework of my fire pit in the middle of it.