New Pool Build in Houston, TX - Spa and Fire Pit Question

[cmatte2]

Hello all. Brand new to TFP and already spent hours perusing threads. We are under contract and went to pick out our finishes yesterday and ran across a decision that we are struggling with. So I am asking for help here!

Pool is free form 38’ x 14’
Spa is kidney shaped 6’ x 9’ raised 12” above pool
Fire pit is round 4’ raised 12”

We are using Rustic Tuscany travertine coping for the pool, spa, and fire pit. We have a 23’ Long 12” raised wall on the back of the pool with two 2’ x 2’ columns. The wall will be Rustic Tuscany 2” x 4” split face stone. The columns will be finished with 6” x6” tiramisu colored tiles laid in a brick pattern.

Our issue is what to use to finish the outside 12” walls of the spa and fire pit. We wanted to use the split face stone but it adds an additional $1500 to our price. So our other options are to use 12” x 12” Rustic Tuscany travertine or the 6” x 6” tiramisu tiles laid in brick pattern.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Cory

 

[SpringPool]

If it was me I would stay with the split stone. It will tie everything together. Depending on your pools cost 1500 is minimal.

Could the tile store get a 3x6 rustic Tuscany tile or travertine? That may cost less but still help keep the look if layed in a bricked pattern.

Are you going with automation? I know I save 500 by not getting a remote control for our pool and just using my iPhone and app.

 

[cmatte2]

I know $1500 is trivial in the big scheme of things... but it keeps going extra $1000 here, $800 there, $500 here, etc... Just want to stop at some point. A big part of me wants to just go with the split stone and be done with it so we get what we want. I am sure it will be way more expensive to change it later if we do not like the tile or travertine.

Good suggestion on the 3x6 tile. I will check with them and see.

We are doing the automation with a Pentair system that uses an app for iPhone. It was not cheap to go fully automated.

 

[SpringPool]

Yeah automation is expensive but I believe worth it. I don’t know if you can get the pentair without a remote but could be an idea.

We had had the same dilemma with our patio tile. It was more but we wanted to “be done with it” and not have regreted not going with the upgrade.

 

[mikew2069]

I know $1500 is trivial in the big scheme of things... but it keeps going extra $1000 here, $800 there, $500 here, etc... Just want to stop at some point.

I feel your pain like no other but at the end of the day, you're spending so much money, you need to make sure you love what you end up with. If you don't do it like you want, you could end up looking at it every day and kicking yourself.

 

[cmatte2]

Thanks for the responses. We decided to go ahead and do the split face tile how we want. We just do not want to regret our selections. I’ll create a new thread once the build begins. Should start excavation in 2-3 weeks.