Copper, "I think this missed a spot RIGHT here!" LOL
Make sure to get a footie print on the equipment pad with him!
Kim
Make sure to get a footie print on the equipment pad with him!
Kim
New Pool Build Los Angeles
- Thread starter Tony411LA
- Start date
Just saw this thread. We bought our tile in person @ tileclearance.com they are located in Chatsworth. The owners name is Vinnie and he gave us a great deal - just $1 over his wholesale price. He has way more stuff in his store than what's online and can get most tiles. Not sure what you worked out with your pool builder. Just throwing in my opinion to join the thread [emoji1303][emoji4]
Hi Tony!
Dig looks good! Congratulations on finally getting the pool you have been wanting!
Wow! They are working on 150 builds? Sounds similar to my PB. Just make sure you continue to stay on top of things and it will probably be fine. It is frustrating that you have to do their work for them when these things cost so much.
What did you decide about the stairs? My pool is jus a little larger than yours and I have the stairs that Kim suggested to you. I'm short which is why I wanted the low rise, plus hubby and I are only going to get older... Everyone uses and loves the stairs. They are great for sitting, the deck is a natural handrail, and they don't take up too much swim space.
Dig looks good! Congratulations on finally getting the pool you have been wanting!
Wow! They are working on 150 builds? Sounds similar to my PB. Just make sure you continue to stay on top of things and it will probably be fine. It is frustrating that you have to do their work for them when these things cost so much.
What did you decide about the stairs? My pool is jus a little larger than yours and I have the stairs that Kim suggested to you. I'm short which is why I wanted the low rise, plus hubby and I are only going to get older... Everyone uses and loves the stairs. They are great for sitting, the deck is a natural handrail, and they don't take up too much swim space.
Copper, "I think this missed a spot RIGHT here!" LOL
Make sure to get a footie print on the equipment pad with him!
Kim
I'm sure Cooper will have several footie print on the pad.
Hi Joannie,
I told my PB that I was going to probably source my own tile. He said he'd give me $5.00 a square-foot credit. (But that doesn't sound like much to me.) Thanks for the info on tileclearaance.com. I work in Woodland Hills, so I will try to check it out on my lunch hour.
Hi Denise,
After reading your build thread, I can't imagine going through half of what you had to deal with. But in the end, your pool came out beautifully, so I hope you and your family have put all of that behind, and are enjoying your pool.
I compromised and instead of steps, I put a four-feet "L" shaped bench in the corner. It was a "compromise" because I really wanted the stairs (not only because I will be getting older), but because yours came out looking so great great. Again, it's one of those "pick your battle" situations. But I am getting the LED bubbler I wanted on the ledge, so all is peaceful again....for now.
- - - Updated - - -
Needless to say, the grading inspection DID NOT happen today....But there is always tomorrow? :?
Esloser
0
It does stink! I hired a national pool builder and was told I'd have a dedicated project manager that would be on top of the project. NO - he showed up the day of the dig to lay out the pool shape (which was wrong and changed on the drawing without notifying me). I never saw him or anyone else from the pool company after that. I had to constantly manage the subs - point out differences between the drawings and how it was agreed with the PB and clean up after them. And then, once the project was complete and my backyard left a natural disaster - never heard from them again. No call to see how it turned out. Nobody came out to visit and see the finished product for themselves and verify the quality. Nothing.... crickets....
Granted it turned out to my liking. But, that is because I managed it and made sure things were done to my liking. If I had relied on the PB that I paid quite a bit of money to, I would be pretty unhappy right now.
Granted it turned out to my liking. But, that is because I managed it and made sure things were done to my liking. If I had relied on the PB that I paid quite a bit of money to, I would be pretty unhappy right now.
I'd negotiate that if you find a tile you like. Most wholesalers can't even buy it for that cheap.
Esloser, your pool came out beautifully, so I hope mine will too despite the lack of PB involvement. The site manager is supposed to come out Friday, so we'll see. I have my grading inspection tomorrow, so you'd think he'd be there for that, since nothing is currently scheduled to happen on Friday.
I definitely plan on negotiating that credit. I visited the tile place you recommended in Chatsworth, and found a tile I really liked at a great price. So much so that I want to tile my Baja shelf with it too. My shelf size is only 4x5 and for my dogs. The only issue is my PB wants to charge $75 per square foot to install plastic-facing versus mesh-backing. Vito, the owner of the tile store (cool guy, by the way) says that is ridiculous, and it's no more complicated than installing mesh-backed tile. I think my PB is referring to the old paper-backed, which was more challenging due to not being able to see through the paper, and also the paper tearing if it got too wet, problems you don't have with plastic-facing glass tile. I sent my PM an email tonight for clarification, and will call her tomorrow too. Thanks again for the recommendation.
This has been an exciting day...at least for me. I passed my grading inspection just before noon, and called my PM to let her know. She said she would schedule the rebar, but it probably wouldn't happen until Monday or Tuesday, which I was okay with. About 50 minutes later, I hear a noise in my driveway, and it was the rebar guys unloading the rebar. When I went out to greet them, I was sure it was a mistake, one guy says, "you just passed your inspection, right?" So my rebar was started today. They worked for 5 hours, and cut out at 6:00, but will be back to finish up the spa tomorrow. I am super excited. :grin: One step closer. :grin:
Here are some pics. I feel weird taking pics while they work, so I waited until they were done for today.
If I can get plumbing completed by Tuesday, pre-gunite inspection on Wednesday, I might have gunite by next Friday....That would be AWESOME...But forgive me. How dare I dream the impossible?
Here are some pics. I feel weird taking pics while they work, so I waited until they were done for today.
If I can get plumbing completed by Tuesday, pre-gunite inspection on Wednesday, I might have gunite by next Friday....That would be AWESOME...But forgive me. How dare I dream the impossible?
lol I knew his name was either Vinnie or Vito [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] I'm glad he helped you out! Ours was plastic facing and didn't look any harder to install than the mesh. Plus it's better in the long run. $75 is absurd.
I spoke with my PB today and the plastic-facing is no more expensive to install than mesh-backed. However, I will need to sign a waiver, if I am not willing to pay $75 sq ft for the industry standard installation, which includes waiting 30 days for mortar bed curing and 30 days before the glass tile is exposed to water. Aside from that, the prep and materials used for the $75 sq ft installation is the same as the $10 per square foot installation. How many people are willing to wait that long? Obviously I don't want to wait a month between each process, but I certainly don't mind waiting two weeks for each. And just based on the logistics of a pool build, I think two weeks between each process is what will occur naturally.
- Jun 18, 2015
- 712
- Pool Size
- 11000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Tony!! Did you see the photo I posted of the glass tile that wasn't installed correctly (wrong thinset) plus wasn't cured correctly?? Please be careful.
It's looking like a POOL! [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122] I love the size!! [emoji4]
It's looking like a POOL! [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122] I love the size!! [emoji4]
Rebar already?????? Happy day at your house for sure!!!
Now go out and measure, adding 6" or so for the gunite and plaster. It is deep, wide, long, enough? NOW is the time to fix or tweak.
Kim
Now go out and measure, adding 6" or so for the gunite and plaster. It is deep, wide, long, enough? NOW is the time to fix or tweak.
Kim
Thanks for the words of caution. I didn't see the posting, but will surely take a look at it. I will most likely be supplying my tile, and the manufacturers recommended waterproofing, thinset and epoxy grout, so I've got that covered. However, paying $75 a square foot to then have to wait 2 months for the curing process is just not in the budget. However, I can always withhold payment after each process. That will surely stop the build...JK. ;-) But seriously, maybe I need to take a poll to see who did and didn't follow the recommended curing times when using glass tiles.
I am a little nervous about the size. At least the length. I wanted a spa and my partner was adamant about having enough length for laps. When they initially staked out the pool, we thought, "It's huge", relative to our yard size. We debated about it, and considered shortening it by 4 feet. But I searched all over The TFP forums and read 30 feet is the minimum for laps, and everyone encouraging folks to go bigger. Plus, I didn't want to see it once it was done, and wished I had gone bigger. My PB says it always looks bigger when it's first staked out. However, now that we have steel, it looks even bigger. When does it look smaller?!?
- - - Updated - - -
Rebar already?????? Happy day at your house for sure!!!
Now go out and measure, adding 6" or so for the gunite and plaster. It is deep, wide, long, enough? NOW is the time to fix or tweak.
Kim
Thanks Kim. I will be sure to do that today
Something doesn't make sense here.
After we received our proposal with a $35 labor charge for glass tile installation, I searched the internet to see what was the prevailing price in Southern CA.
Google pulled up a post on Houzz by a premium pool builder in San Diego which claimed that a fair labor rate for glass install is $35 to $40.
As to the difference in rates for waiting or not waiting, why should the PB charge you for your time? You are the one who is waiting. I am assuming he has other projects to do. He doesn't need to watch the mortar bed or tile cure.
Could he be concerned about getting paid? Meaning, is there a progress payment due after the tile is set that would be delayed if he had to wait?
As to the size of the pool, how thick is the bond beam? 12 inches? Take that into account when assessing the size of your deck area now. That 12 inches or so will be recovered by the coping.
We are also putting a big pool in a small yard. The bigger the pool, the cozier the yard feels.
After we received our proposal with a $35 labor charge for glass tile installation, I searched the internet to see what was the prevailing price in Southern CA.
Google pulled up a post on Houzz by a premium pool builder in San Diego which claimed that a fair labor rate for glass install is $35 to $40.
As to the difference in rates for waiting or not waiting, why should the PB charge you for your time? You are the one who is waiting. I am assuming he has other projects to do. He doesn't need to watch the mortar bed or tile cure.
Could he be concerned about getting paid? Meaning, is there a progress payment due after the tile is set that would be delayed if he had to wait?
As to the size of the pool, how thick is the bond beam? 12 inches? Take that into account when assessing the size of your deck area now. That 12 inches or so will be recovered by the coping.
We are also putting a big pool in a small yard. The bigger the pool, the cozier the yard feels.
Hey LDV,
I thought the $75 for glass installation was outrageous too. And I am sure if I pushed the issue, they'd bring it down to within reason, but they have already told me it would only be an up-charge of $10 per sq. ft, if I sign the waiver to forgo the 2 months curing time. I don't want to wait 2 additional months before swimming, so I probably would not go that route, even if they did bring the cost down to $35-$40.
You're probably right about the progress payments. There is a very significant payment due at the completion of tile, coping, and concrete, so I am sure he doesn't want to have to wait 2 months for that payment. And if he has to wait, that's basically the interest he's charging.
I'm trying to visualize where the coping will be and how that will make the pool smaller in reality. On paper, the dimensions appear reasonable, 8 feet from waterline to house, and on the left and right sides of the pool 14 feet from waterline to property wall. I also have a covered patio that is 10 x 20, so that also provides additional outdoor living space. I'm good with cozy.
- Jun 18, 2015
- 712
- Pool Size
- 11000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I LOVE the size!!! I'm sure you will too once it's done. Our's is only 6'6" wide and I keep wanting to pushhhhhh out the wall. I think yours is perfect. Does anyone really wish they had built a *smaller* pool??
I don't think you have to cure a mortar bed for 30 days, but will review the instructions I have. Thinset I know is supposed to cure for 21-28 days.
As for appearance - my uneducated guess is that the biggest risk is if you have any clear tile. I will find the photos and post of the same time I've purchased, but set in the wrong Thinset plus filled immediately. I'm so sad for the owner! The clear tile appearing tan is horrific.
Sample:
Bad installation:
I don't think you have to cure a mortar bed for 30 days, but will review the instructions I have. Thinset I know is supposed to cure for 21-28 days.
As for appearance - my uneducated guess is that the biggest risk is if you have any clear tile. I will find the photos and post of the same time I've purchased, but set in the wrong Thinset plus filled immediately. I'm so sad for the owner! The clear tile appearing tan is horrific.
Sample:
Bad installation:
- Jun 18, 2015
- 712
- Pool Size
- 11000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hi again - so it is 30 days curing time for the shell, not the mortar bed. Sorry about that. Since ours is a renovation, I get to fortunately skip that part (which is possibly the ONLY thing good about renovating). This is among the information sent by our glass tile company, but they also said to follow whatever the material supplier for waterproofing, thinset, grout, etc recommends:
