New Pool Build - Massachusetts

[superwy]

As a ski team family, I have new respect for you, suz, knowing your giant slalom gates! Askew, it all looks beautiful. I realized we are very close to you...just in Norfolk. Love watching your build. We are up for in-floor system tomorrow then onto steel, bonding and gunite. It was so hot this weekend that it only makes us more excited. Keep up the good work!

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[Ascew]

Suz,
You are correct, there is a lot going on, just not the stuff I really want. (Sigh, patience) I have been trying to get other stuff done while I “patiently” wait.

There is a lot of grade, and the overall slope to the yard is very steep, but the terraces really do break it up. The grade from the driveway to the pool area in the back yard is actually very gentle. I went out to take a picture of it for you, and realized I still have a mountain of sand sitting on it, waiting to back fill the gas line. Anyway, that is where the main gate / entrance will be. Once the final grade is done, we will decide if we want to put a small retaining wall with one or two steps, or if the slope is gentle enough. The stone steps that he built for us, go down to what we refer to as the lower yard, which doesn’t actually get used very often. Although, now, there is a landing at the backside of the pool, one terrace down that is screaming for a firepit and chairs....hrm...

Your explanation of the guy thinking they were slalom poles is the best possible explanation I can think of! I was drawing a complete blank on ANY explanation.

Not sure I mentioned any of the plans for the wood in an earlier post. There are some live edge boards that I want to turn into a buffet table. Basically, butt up 2 long slabs in the middle, with the outside edges left natural, just the bark removed. Another of the trees had grown in an “S” shape, the “S” being about 18’ long. We cut it in the middle, so about 9’ each side, and ripped it into slabs maintaining the curves. These will be made into live edge curved benches we will place around the perimeter of the pool. Also, at some point, we plan to finish part of the basement with a bathroom, and mini-kitchen. Some of the wood will be used to build and finish that.

Last night hubby cut a bunch of trim pieces for the pool house, so I need to get those painted today.

Thanks for all the kind words about our yard and all your encouragement. It really helps to hear that other people see the progress.

 

[Ascew]

I will be with you forever in that pole light! SO sweet!

You are unforgettable, even without a pole light! You crack me up all the time, and amaze me with your knowledge. You are always pointing stuff out to all of us newbies, things that really could “make a mess” down the road.

That sign---------y'all made that?????????? NICE! Wonderful work!

I love making stuff, I am almost never happy with "out of the box". Have to have my own version of everything.

I am SURE your PB will not expect the money before the punch list is done right????????

Not sure what he expects, but I sure am glad I found this forum and got wise to the …dynamics (?) of punch lists and final payment.

Does the line for the gas look/feel solid enough to take a hit by a person or critter?

Hard to say, right now. My first reaction was pretty skeptical. Upon contemplation, this guy has been in the business for 25+ years, and was recommended by a pool builder who has 30 years of experience and an excellent reputation. I have zero experience. Upon closer inspection, the metal rod is solid, and it is screwed into the cement block. The pipe from the tank across the rock wall is really heavy, heavier than I expected, so it seems good. Right now, it is wobbly, because it isn’t connected to the tank at all (have to wait for inspection, he didn’t come Friday) and it isn’t buried as yet. I will examine it very closely when done. I can always build a little rock wall or mound around it, or something. I have plenty of rock, lol.

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Superwy,
Thank you for your kind words. I have to admit, not sure what an in-floor system is. Is that all the pipes that go under the gunite? Do you have any timeline from your PB? It was so hot yesterday, over 90! Hot for us, but not to some other people here I am sure. We were in and out of the pool all day. Our pool water was up to 84 degrees by 2:00 pm and only dropped to 81 by 10:00 pm. I did the night vacuuming thing, and it really is easier. Using the mask and snorkel and lights it was so easy to see everything. Woke up to a sparkling clean pool this am.

 

[kimkats]

Can you get to the S wood?? That sounds so awesome! If you cannot get to it with ease I guess (LOL) I can wait until you can!

I do take a deep breath before I answer some of the questions or point out something that might not be right as I do not want to cause any problems but...............better to point it out and it not be a problem than for them to find it out AFTER it is done.

The table sounds wonderful as well. WOW! You have some skills and seem to be passing them on to your son! That is a life skill he will be glad to have later in life!

Kim

 

[SuzfromTexas]

I realized we are very close to you...just in Norfolk. Love watching your build. It was so hot this weekend that it only makes us more excited.

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Superwy,
It was so hot yesterday, over 90! Hot for us, but not to some other people here I am sure. We were in and out of the pool all day. Our pool water was up to 84 degrees by 2:00 pm and only dropped to 81 by 10:00 pm.

I have a little understanding of the heat up there in MA.... Throughout my adult life, about every 2-3 years we would spend 2-4 weeks in the summers visiting in-laws on Cape Cod, Buzzard's Bay, Bridgewater, and Lakeville. I absolutely loved it up there and had wanted to retire there somewhere in the area. Parts of it reminded me of my beloved Austin. And then to have the beaches and ocean on top - priceless!

But, I promise you, it NEVER failed that when we went, we ALWAYS heard on the radio, "We're in the middle of a heat wave! We haven't had heat like this since..... (insert month and year of when we were last there!). I swear, no joke. Not only did so many relatives we stayed with NOT have a/c (how does anyone live without a/c??), but your heat up there is different!!! I'm not sure I can explain it, but stifling is the word that comes to mind. And the humidity is WETTER than ours if that is possible. Of course, we were close to the water. But even when the humidiy might be less than ours in Houston, it just felt wetter. Part of that was due to no a/c to pull out the water vapor from the air. But honestly, even outside, it felt wetter!

So let me tell you, we Texans don't have a huge edge over you guys on heat. If I lived there, Suz would definitely have a pool!! No doubt! To me, the problem with the heat here is the length of the season. I think having a pool will change my attitude towards the heat here. But always in the past, I hibernated come July and August. And in August for the last 10 years, you could always find me online searching for waterfront properties in Maine and Vermont. Each year I swore we would move!!! I even have an email folder dedicated to real estate agents and homes for the northeast. My family never paid attention to me - just said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, Ma. It must be August again!"

I compare our summers to your winters..... too intense and too long. BUT, at least down here we don't have to salt and shovel snow and drive on icey roads. So that is better.

Nope..... you guys can hold your heads up high regarding your summer heat and humidity!!!

Suz.

 

[canpool]

Nice setup! We have the same liner.

 

[superwy]

Suz, come north for the summer! It is worth the trip. Heading to Falmouth this weekend then up to New Hampshire in August. Hoping to to be swimming after that!

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[SuzfromTexas]

Suz, come north for the summer! It is worth the trip. Heading to Falmouth this weekend then up to New Hampshire in August. Hoping to to be swimming after that!

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Who knows.... I just might hold you to that invitation! I would love to go back up to that area. Maybe next summer if all goes well with me and the pool! Or.... I might be on our Texas TFP tour! Hard to say about ol' Suz!!
Take care.

 

[Ascew]

Can you get to the S wood?? That sounds so awesome! If you cannot get to it with ease I guess (LOL) I can wait until you can!

You have to let the wood dry for a year for every inch of thickness, so, the benches need to sit for 2 years. Which is fine by me, I have so much work to do. This pool project/lanscape/deck changes, we are on the 4-5 year plan for completion.

I do take a deep breath before I answer some of the questions or point out something that might not be right as I do not want to cause any problems but...............better to point it out and it not be a problem than for them to find it out AFTER it is done.

Please don't stop pointing stuff out to me, I have so much to learn! I am planning to do my first water test Sunday. System numbers look great, water looks great, PB said everything looked fine yesterday and with company coming tomorrow....don't want to freak myself out today. I am already freaked out trying to figure out how to make this mess look respectable.

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Nice setup! We have the same liner.

Thank you! Do you love it? I have been wondering how much the dark liner helps the pool hold its heat. Our pool has been 80-84 degrees for a while now, even at 10:00 pm one night it was 81. With no heater! We couldn't be happier.

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We might need a MA pool tour, if that is what it takes to get Suz up here.

 

[SuzfromTexas]

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We might need a MA pool tour, if that is what it takes to get Suz up here.

It wouldn't take much arm-twisting at all to get me up there! So maybe next summer or the next. We'll have to make a 4-5 year plan!

Enjoy your family and company tomorrow. They are all going to be thrilled with your pool! It's the fun that matters!
Suz.

 

[Ascew]

Thank you. I know they will enjoy the pool, I just wish it looked a little better. The guy that came to spray for mosquitoes and ticks told me it looked like a bomb went off. Actually it was more like " Bleepy bleep! It looks like a Bleeping bomb went off here! Bleepy Bleep!" I couldn't help but chuckle. If only his boss could here him, lol. The fence company didn't show, and didn't return my calls either, so I can't even get the rugs out before they come. Ah well, it is construction after all. Have a couple more pics. John, ie Picasso came and put the last couple steps in from the pool level to upper terraces. He also cleaned up a section of the wall to the right. I tried to get a video, but another pool guy decided it was time for my lesson.

That was the last thing on the PB's list. Unless there is a problem, I won't see him till fall for the pool closing. On Sunday, I will be running my first set of TF-100 pool tests, and I will also be bringing a water sample down to the PB shop for testing. Curious if the numbers come out the same. Can't believe it is almost time to start my second thread! Pool testing, and questions! Anyway, Pics!

Before:

After:


I did manage to get the last 15-20 feet of drainage dug, had to use a connector to make the last bit of run and got that back filled at least.

 

[Carnut12]

Love the progress, my neighbor has the same liner, mine is going to be close, but a little lighter with slight blue spots. I love the water color a gray liner produces!!!

Looking Great!!!

 

[kimkats]

All in time, all in time! This way they will really be able to see all of your hard work when you are done!

Kim

 

[SuzfromTexas]

Ascew Quote: The guy that came to spray for mosquitoes and ticks told me it looked like a bomb went off. Actually it was more like " Bleepy bleep! It looks like a Bleeping bomb went off here! Bleepy Bleep!" I couldn't help but chuckle. If only his boss could here him, lol. End Quote.


The best laugh I've had in weeks! One of those great belly laughs! I wish I had been there! Thank the guy for me the next time he comes around!!!! Awesome!
Suz.

 

[Carnut12]

Who knows.... I just might hold you to that invitation! I would love to go back up to that area. Maybe next summer if all goes well with me and the pool! Or.... I might be on our Texas TFP tour! Hard to say about ol' Suz!!
Take care.

It is amazing how many pools are being built in MA on this forum, we have almost as many as TX right now. It's fun to keep up with all of them, it helps keep you calm when you see they all have delays....

 

[SuzfromTexas]

It is amazing how many pools are being built in MA on this forum, we have almost as many as TX right now. It's fun to keep up with all of them, it helps keep you calm when you see they all have delays....

Man.... ain't it the truth!!!! (as I sit twiddling my thumbs waiting for a third scheduling of Pebble sheen! But I'm ok, I'm ok, I'mok, I'mak, I'm-a-k........)
Suz.

 

[Ascew]

But I'm ok, I'm ok, I'mok, I'mak, I'm-a-k........)
Suz.

Lol, are you sure you didn't get plastered today?

 

[Ascew]

I am so tired tonight, because the visit went so well. My nephew really enjoyed the sundeck. The weather wasn't great, but the pool maintained a nice 81 degrees! We got to swim for a bit before the storm, had a bbq lunch and chit chatted inside till the storm passed, did a bit more swimming and then called it a day. The sundeck was perfect for my nephew! He loved being able to stand up in the pool and run around a bit between mom and dad! I hope next time he comes the weather is better, but I think he enjoyed it regardless. The pool was just his size!

 

[amandahein3]

Too cute! What is the depth of yours? Just perfect for him!

 

[Ascew]

Our ledge is 18" deep, with 14" of water. I think it is supposed to be 12" but it varies a bit with rainfall. We got quite the storm today, fast and furious in the middle of the afternoon.