New Pool Build Frederick County Maryland

[mrd5]

PCR,

Out of curiosity, which builder did you go with? We're down in Northern VA and are just wrapping up a renovation with the new Aqua Bright coating. The only installer in the greater DC area that worked with AB was Pools Patios & Porches in your neck of the woods (Frederick MD). Just curious if you were working with them too.

-Mike

 

[PCR]

Rebar-"invite" the PB to the house and ask how and when will they be taking care of that. It needs to be covered in gunite so the rust does not bleed through to the plaster.

-returns-can you share a picture of your plan and use paint or such to show where all of the returns are? Two sharing a valve can be okay. We really need to work on the placement.

Kim

Hi Kim - sorry for the delay! Life is busy on top of pool build going on (kinda wish pool build was as busy as life right now

I spoke to the pool builder, and they will take care of the rebar with hydraulic cement. Hopefully not just by having a big lump out of cement at the problem spot

As far as the returns, you can see in that last picture above where the returns are. I've put some circles around them here - I hope! They are three sets of two close-together returns each. (There is a second one where the sunshelf circle is - just can't see it in the picture.) Each set is tied together near the pool and then has its own run back to the equipment pad. Just wondering whether this is a common approach to the return design to have pairs of returns close together like this. Each set is angled to push flow in the same direction around the pool. Have a couple other questions/concerns to post but off to work now!

And thank you, Jim, for your comments. You have a great plan and so nice that you have known people doing it that you can easily have a back and forth with and adjust things as you go! We are also trying to drop conduit in where we think we need it - pre-arranged with the PB but apparently nobody told the person they have out here on site managing the build as he forgot one and filled in its trench already, so they are going to have to dig that trench back up again :-(

 

[PCR]

PCR,

Out of curiosity, which builder did you go with? We're down in Northern VA and are just wrapping up a renovation with the new Aqua Bright coating. The only installer in the greater DC area that worked with AB was Pools Patios & Porches in your neck of the woods (Frederick MD). Just curious if you were working with them too.

-Mike

Hi Mike - sent you a PM.

 

[Rsmith]

Welcome to TFP. We are just down the road from you off of Penn Shop. Good luck with the build.

 

[kimkats]

I was worried you would would say those were them. Those returns should NOT be that close together. That is a total waste of effort They need to be spread out evenly all over the pool. FULL STOP on the work until they fix them.

If that is how they want to leave them they should remove one line and make it a single line to one return in each spot. I have helped build a LOT of pools and have NEVER seen them group them like that.

Ask your PB what his thoughts are on this set up and why. I bet they set them up wrong trying to keep from digging and running pipe

 

[PCR]

Welcome to TFP. We are just down the road from you off of Penn Shop. Good luck with the build.

Thanks! We are up and down Penn Shop all the time for swimming or gymnastics or something! We should have just moved to Mt Airy

 

[PCR]

I was worried you would would say those were them. Those returns should NOT be that close together. That is a total waste of effort They need to be spread out evenly all over the pool. FULL STOP on the work until they fix them.

If that is how they want to leave them they should remove one line and make it a single line to one return in each spot. I have helped build a LOT of pools and have NEVER seen them group them like that.

Ask your PB what his thoughts are on this set up and why. I bet they set them up wrong trying to keep from digging and running pipe

Thanks, Kim! I haven't seen ones plumbed like this either in any of the builds I've followed on this forum and wondered what others thought for my own information as much as anything. I guess for better or worse, they are staying where they are given we are past gunite now. Hopefully they do the job - if not, then they will have to be fixed one way or the other. I did ask a number of time to see the returns marked on the plan, and I was told they would be once the plumber analyzed the pool layout and decided where they should go - that never happened. I was hoping to get input on their locations from folks on this forum before excavation/stub out but obviously couldn't. The PB's plumber designed them on the day he came to do stub out; I was outside talking to him about it and I can assure you the design isn't a mistake - it's deliberate. They may work fine - I am hoping for the best! I do have to give him credit, though, on something else. The PB design was originally to have one 3hp variable speed pump handle the returns, slide, waterfall, and bubblers. I was not totally comfortable with that, but didn't pursue it beyond asking a question about it. However, the plumber said that to get the best and most customizable waterfall effects, we really ought to have another pump just for the waterfall. And so the PB added in a second pump and plumbing for it at no additional charge based on the plumber's recommendation. While I don't want a massive electric bill, it seems sensible to have the extra waterfall pump to me. Anyway, I'm trying to stay optimistic it will all work out!

 

[kimkats]

Well it could work..............think about this.............the first one could be angled to push the water along the top of the water and the back one could be angled to push water along the bottom of the pool.

Thinking about this.............I would as the plumper what HIS thoughts and reasons are. He is the one that did it so see what he was thinking! If it is a sound way of thinking and he has seen good results it might be something to think about in the future. New is not always bad! Please share what he says here!

Kim

 

[PCR]

Hi all - back with a few pictures of our still-not-nearly-completed pool. (6/22 was date we were originally given :-( First pics relate to a question. The step into the sunshelf is supposed to be centered on the back of the curve - directly between the two bubblers and behind the light. Instead, it is 3 feet to the right of center which throws off chair placement and umbrella shading. The step was not done with rebar; just shot on gunite day. It is five inches high and about 18 inches front to back. PB has no idea why the step was shot offset and has said it cannot be fixed, but I thought I would ask here. Would it compromise the shell to bust out the step where it is and move it over to where it is supposed to be?

Also, our pool is supposed to be 9 feet deep - water depth. And as per the plans, there would be a few feet of 9 foot depth before it starts going up to 8 feet. Before gunite we did measure, and it seemed ok. Once gunite was shot, what we actually have is 8'7" water depth right at the main drain and then an immediate fairly steep rise going up to 8 feet and then continuing. So we have 8'7" at one point basically. I think a couple inches difference is fine as I can see the process is not necessarily going to result in an inch-perfect measurement. However, 5 inches LESS in a deep end seems unacceptable to me. If anything, they should err on the side of deeper for a deep end. We clearly stated, documented and paid for a pool that is 9 feet deep, and to be nearly a half a foot off of that does not seem right to me. I brought it up with the PB and was just told "too late to do anything about it now". I THINK it's probably still to "code" for a diving pool but not 100% sure. (I know that the depth needs to be a certain amount at specific distances out from the diving board wall but it is listed by Type I,II,III etc pools and I don't know what type mine is???) I would appreciate any thoughts on this issue. Thank you!

Here are a few pictures of the retaining wall, steps and upper level of the patio. We really like the pavers we chose - Techo Bloc Elena with TB Hera for a border, both in Shale Grey. We were hoping it would look like the display we saw with the multiple shades of grey and not like a prison yard, and luckily that is what we have. Well, ok, it looks pretty grey overall in the pictures, but in the wider landscape and once we get some plantings in and around the deck area, I think it will be pretty!

 

[PoolGate]

I am in MD as well (Montgomery County) and the code is 7 1/2 feet to dive. I think you are probably the same. I would look for some sort of compensation though. Maybe some extra decking. We specified 8 1/2 feet in the deep end but are going to change to 10 feet. PB said $400-$600 to add extra depth and that it would also add depth to the shallow end.

 

[kimkats]

The step should be able to be fixed. It will not be easy (manual labor) but if care is used it can be done.

Bottom depth-How thick is the gunite? Can you tell? That is the question to find the answer to before you move on having the PB break out and up the bottom to make it deeper.

This is something best talked through with your PB and yourself. What can be done and what should be done.................Let us know what he says when you talk to him.

Kim

 

[Mcow]

This is random but just wanted to say I really like your paver deck. We went with a very similar product (actually almost identical) but in beige to match our brick. It was a tough decision so glad to see it in your pictures!

 

[Rsmith]

We did a similar paver patio, same color. Love it. Yours looks great!

 

[PCR]

We did a similar paver patio, same color. Love it. Yours looks great!

Thanks! Your pool looks so pretty in the tiny picture under your name! Do you have a build thread?

 

[PCR]

This is random but just wanted to say I really like your paver deck. We went with a very similar product (actually almost identical) but in beige to match our brick. It was a tough decision so glad to see it in your pictures!

Thanks! I just found your pool build thread - love your stone coping! That is an upgrade here, and things were just adding up too fast to throw that on top for us, but it looks so nice. Your pool will be beautiful!

- - - Updated - - -

The step should be able to be fixed. It will not be easy (manual labor) but if care is used it can be done.

Bottom depth-How thick is the gunite? Can you tell? That is the question to find the answer to before you move on having the PB break out and up the bottom to make it deeper.

This is something best talked through with your PB and yourself. What can be done and what should be done.................Let us know what he says when you talk to him.

Kim

Hi Kim - My first conversation with them about the step and depth resulted in an answer that nothing could be done about either. I am pushing back on the step at least. It and the umbrella hole in the shelf are both significantly off kilter so I'd like them where they were supposed to be if at all possible. For the depth - I will try to guess from the weep holes about the gunite thickness. The main drain I would guess sets the depth at that point to some extent so I was sort of expecting to be told that they couldn't change the depth right there, but the too-steep slope may be due to too much gunite and I am going to see about that. Thank you for your help and cheerleading - believe me I need it at this point!

 

[PCR]

I am in MD as well (Montgomery County) and the code is 7 1/2 feet to dive. I think you are probably the same. I would look for some sort of compensation though. Maybe some extra decking. We specified 8 1/2 feet in the deep end but are going to change to 10 feet. PB said $400-$600 to add extra depth and that it would also add depth to the shallow end.

Hi neighbor! What a great spot you have for a pool! Good luck with your build. Who are you using? I was looking on the internet for diving code but will call the County - thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Rsmith]

No. Found this site (unfortunately) after our build was done and never bothered to put the pool porn up for all to see. I would have never hired the PB that we used had I found this site first. Maybe Ill put it together and set up the thread one day. Good luck with yours, its looking great so far.

 

[Big Will]

No. Found this site (unfortunately) after our build was done and never bothered to put the pool porn up for all to see. I would have never hired the PB that we used had I found this site first. Maybe Ill put it together and set up the thread one day. Good luck with yours, its looking great so far.

We would love to see a thread and pics along with a recap of your experience. It will be VERY helpful to someone down the line

 

[PoolGate]

Hi neighbor! What a great spot you have for a pool! Good luck with your build. Who are you using? I was looking on the internet for diving code but will call the County - thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks! We are using Catalina Pools out of Silver Spring. Good luck with the build!

 

[PCR]

A few more progress pictures of the lower patio going in.
View from upper patio; the upper patio is same pavers as lower one, but top is just really dirty right now

Outline around coping going in