New Pool Build Los Angeles

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Right, I want the inspector's job! I wonder if he gets to keep all of that?

The shell looks great!! Isn't it a big change? I was so used to dirt that the gunite was almost shocking. Their work looks so good. I'm impressed!

Congrats! Another milestone checked off!
 
kimkats said:
Oh happy day!!!! It looks like a real pool now!!! SWEET!!!

Now it is time for YOUR set of links!

Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule

Pool School - Recommended Levels

Bookmark these:

Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals

http://www.troublefreepool.com/calc.html

Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Make sure to ask any and all questions you might have no matter how small! We have all been where you are at one point.

It is also time for you to ask your PB what test kit he will be giving you. Let us know so we can fill in any holes it might have.

So........did they have any suggestions for tweak or changes they thought you might want/like?

I am glad you were there to fill in what was not on the plans.

Kim:kim:
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My own set of links!!! I am so excited. Thanks Kim!

My contract states: "A one-time only pool orientation, and instructions at completion of the pool." It doesn't say anything about the start-up, so I don't think I am getting a test kit. And that's okay with me, since I plan on getting a TF100 test kit anyway.

There were a couple of suggestions they made in relation to the seating heights in the spa, which I actually had to ask them about first. They suggested making the bench seating in the corner a foot longer on each side, in order to accommodate four people more comfortably. I went with the idea, but didn't notice until later in the evening after they left, that they curved the ends of the bench instead of a making it 90 degree angle. The curve does not look right with the straight lines of the pool. And since I planned on putting a line of marker tiles outlining the bench, it will make it more pronounced. I understand for safety reasons, I can't have a razor sharp edge, but the curve he made was more for a freeform pool.

IMG_0424.jpg

I sent an email along with pics to the PB last night, and hopefully they can address it. I just wish I had noticed it before the gunite crew left, because it would have been an easy fix at that time. I'm not sure what is best. Can they add concrete to the curves to square them out? If that is possible, should I be concerned that it could break off in the future? Or can they use a masonry saw to remove the curves or at least make them less pronounced? It's not the end of the world if they can't fix it. But you never know unless you ask.

I started "bonding" with the pool yesterday afternoon, and was told to try to water 4 times a day, but at least 2 times at a minimum. They didn't tell me for how long to water, but they did say the shell needs to cure for 28 days....Interesting because my PB says only 2 weeks for the cure time. I think I will push my PB for 3 weeks.
 
jimim said:
nice shoot! looks really nice! congrats!

but what cash grab for the inspector.

jim
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Thanks Jim. Yeah, it's a nice little racquet they've got going. $350 for 4 hours to watch over someone who's been doing their job 20+ years.

SuzfromTexas said:
Right, I want the inspector's job! I wonder if he gets to keep all of that?

The shell looks great!! Isn't it a big change? I was so used to dirt that the gunite was almost shocking. Their work looks so good. I'm impressed!

Congrats! Another milestone checked off!
Click to expand...

I don't know if he gets to keep it all. The check was written to him personally, so maybe?

Thanks Suz. I am thrilled with the concrete, but now comes the sit and wait period. My PB says nothing will be done for 2-3 weeks. But I don't understand why they can't start working on the grading and decking. In LA that process requires a pre-deck inspection to ensure the drains are in and the grading is correct. But they could be doing the now, while the pool shell cures. I'm trying to understand if there is a logical reason for the delay.
 
Goob said:
Yea!

I'm hoping the guys don't mind me hanging around taking tons of pictures. I'm fascinated by how they do this stuff.
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Goob, at first, during the excavation phase, I did feel self-conscious taking pics, and now wish I had taken more. But I was so fascinated by the gunite phase, I kept taking picture after picture. I even took some movies. It didn't feel weird at all. I also think these guys are so focused on what they are doing, and also probably get their pics taken all the time, they don't even notice. The gunite phase is definitely my most favorite phase...so far.
 
AmyJo said:
Tony!!! It's BEAUTIFUL!!! I know you are overjoyed! [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]
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Thanks AmyJo. I am overjoyed and extremely happy to have gotten to this point. However, I still have not decided on a tile choice. Everyone has given me a lot of different places to find tile, and I thought I found what I wanted. I need 148 sq feet, but there's less than 100 sq feet available, so the distributor is still looking. I figure since the pool shell has to cure, I am in no rush. I will be posting some tile pics soon to get feedback.
 
They should be able to re do that are but if not.........it is very pretty like it is so.........it is all good.

Gurrrrrrrr on finding a tile you like BUT there not being enough of it.

I would ask the PB why they cannot work on the outside of the pool. There might be a good reason????

Kim:kim:
 
I felt like my pool sat forever after the gunite. It's usually a mystery around the schedule of pool workers. It seems like the decking and inspection things could be done now. Maybe your PB is using this time to catch up with other builds. You have a good attitude giving him the benefit of the doubt. What I understand least about many PB's is their lack of communication. I don't know if they get hyper-focused on the job that day and don't realize how we PO's can't read their minds. Or do they think we can't possibly understand the ins and outs of scheduling. I'd rather know something about why there is such a break. This happened several times during my build, mostly due to all the rains during that unusually wet spring. I also remember being told nothing would be going on, and then I'd drive up and see workers at my house. I wonder if scheduling isn't often done more 'on the fly' than we realize so they can best utilize crews. (except for the really big stuff) A glitch occurs at one job, so go ahead and send the crew to a different job. Hang in there! Tell us your frustrations! We all understand.
 

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Tony411LA said:
By the way, I was required [by LA city] to have a deputy inspector on-site the entire time while they shot the gunite. He was there to confirm the PSI was the correct specification, and also that the gunite thickness was as specified. I also had to pay the deputy inspector a $350 fee, payable directly to him on-site. The interesting thing he was buddies with the gunite crew. But he did do his job, because he called out a couple of issues that they promptly resolved. All in all, it was a great experience....less the $350. :pth:
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That really does sound like a scam, why would you need to pay him? The city pays him.
 
I wouldn't worry about the spa benches. They can add mortar or something post gunite, but I'm not sure how much. If they can't add to square off the benches, then they can shave off some, maybe won't even need to do much. I was surprised what the plaster guys can do to reshape things that are off on gunite. Even squared off, the plaster guys can make sure they aren't sharp edges.

I do have a quesiton about the spa bench. I know that's just a corner shot, and I'm not seeing the whole inside of the spa..... But is the bench large enough to sit on? Have you sat on it to check? In the picture on my computer, it looks like a skinny bench. (at least it looks like it would be for me! LOL!!!!)
 
kimkats said:
They should be able to re do that are but if not.........it is very pretty like it is so.........it is all good.

Gurrrrrrrr on finding a tile you like BUT there not being enough of it.

I would ask the PB why they cannot work on the outside of the pool. There might be a good reason????

Kim:kim:
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I asked my project manager why they didn't start on the grading and decking now, and she said it's because the city requires a pre-deck inspection (for bonding) and won't do that until after the coping and tile are completed. But this extra time will allow me to take care of some of the other projects the PB is not responsible for, like irrigation to the planting beds, stuccoing the rear wall, and running the LV lines for landscape lighting.
 
SuzfromTexas said:
I wouldn't worry about the spa benches. They can add mortar or something post gunite, but I'm not sure how much. If they can't add to square off the benches, then they can shave off some, maybe won't even need to do much. I was surprised what the plaster guys can do to reshape things that are off on gunite. Even squared off, the plaster guys can make sure they aren't sharp edges.

I do have a quesiton about the spa bench. I know that's just a corner shot, and I'm not seeing the whole inside of the spa..... But is the bench large enough to sit on? Have you sat on it to check? In the picture on my computer, it looks like a skinny bench. (at least it looks like it would be for me! LOL!!!!)
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Hi Suz, after reading my post again, it was a little confusing to me too. I was referring to an L-shaped bench area in one of the corners of my pool, where I had originally planned for stairs (KimKat's suggestion). But I could see how in the picture it could have been mistaken for spa seating because there is a return on it.

But all is well, my PB says it's no big deal. Since it's not structural, they can square it off when they do the coping. Another crisis (at least in my head) averted. :crazy:
 
LOVE it! Purrfect for them! Did you add the water just for them to be able to play in the pool and wear themselves out before the boom-booms? I threw Bullets fav ball in the pond over and over to get him good a tired. He did not even move when the neighbors started!

Kim:kim:
 

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