Trust yet verify AND get it in writing so you are covered. It will be interesting if he charges by the hour or the job. I am not sure which way would have you coming out ahead though.
Pool greenhorn needs guidance
- Thread starter clarkboy
- Start date
That’s sound advice. I’m curious to know how they are charging for the job as well. I was just told it was 3k to finish the dig. I doubt they are trying to save us much money. Most likely it’s structured to benefit the builder.
The pool dig finished today, and the builder didn’t run into anymore problems outside of the rocks. It took most of the day to break up the layer of rocks.
I was able to measure the pool. It was 40’ long by 20’ wide and about 9.5’ deep. I’m guessing all of the measurements are larger than the actual pool to account for the rebar and concrete.
We may get some winter weather tomorrow so I doubt much will be done. Will probably need to wait until Thursday for the steel.
At what stages do county inspections take place? I understand it might differ between counties, but there shouldn’t be much deviation between them.
And how are deep end step out benches and stairs formed when no earth is left?
I was able to measure the pool. It was 40’ long by 20’ wide and about 9.5’ deep. I’m guessing all of the measurements are larger than the actual pool to account for the rebar and concrete.
We may get some winter weather tomorrow so I doubt much will be done. Will probably need to wait until Thursday for the steel.
At what stages do county inspections take place? I understand it might differ between counties, but there shouldn’t be much deviation between them.
And how are deep end step out benches and stairs formed when no earth is left?
When you measure the pool you need to add about 6" for the steel, shell, and plaster.
As for the inspections they vary greatly to the point some don't have any inspections and some have to be there when the first shovel full happens. You will have to call your local inspection office to see what your area's time lines are.
Steps and benches can be built with the steel and the inside of them could be filled stuff of any kind or they could be filled shotcrete when they shoot the shell.
As for the inspections they vary greatly to the point some don't have any inspections and some have to be there when the first shovel full happens. You will have to call your local inspection office to see what your area's time lines are.
Steps and benches can be built with the steel and the inside of them could be filled stuff of any kind or they could be filled shotcrete when they shoot the shell.
Is that 6” on each side? The pool was two feet longer and wider by my measurements. I wonder why it would be like that. I’ll ask the next time I see the builder.
Wow I had no idea, I thought inspections would be pretty standard across the board. I’ll give them a call tomorrow to check their inspection schedule.
That explains it then. I was worrying I didn’t have stairs and they just forgot, haha. Is one method more structurally sound than the other? Is there anything I should have an eye out for while they are forming those structures?
Thank you for taking the time!
Ensure the rebar & gunite crew has the plan for bench and stairs. Sometimes these items get overlooked.
It IS 6" for each side. I always forget to say that but it is very important! Bigger is fine as it means more swimming space. Smaller is what I would worry about so I would not say a word just in case they want to charge you more LOL
Yeah it is wild how different the "rules" are depending on the area.
@HermanTX has a GREAT point about making sure those crews have the plans AND follows them just to be on the safe side. It really does not matter how they fill the voids so long as there is a bit of space between it and the rebar so the shotcrete can get behind the rebar to "seal" the shell around the rebar.
Yeah it is wild how different the "rules" are depending on the area.
@HermanTX has a GREAT point about making sure those crews have the plans AND follows them just to be on the safe side. It really does not matter how they fill the voids so long as there is a bit of space between it and the rebar so the shotcrete can get behind the rebar to "seal" the shell around the rebar.
I’ll be sure to ask about that. Thank you!
But how can you overlook stairs? Benches understandable, but stairs that is just incompetence.
I could have measured incorrectly, but I don’t think I made a mistake. It’s a rectangular pool so it should be pretty simple to measure. I measured from the top of the wood boards end to end and across the middle. Should I measure from multiple positions along the length and width?
I understand, bigger is better and smaller is a problem that needs to be addressed. We probably got a gift don’t say anything
! I’ll take the extra two feet in stride. Thank you very much!
There is a reason we say to be there when work is being done..............................in our many years of helping others build their pools we have seen just about everything done or not done
I will list a couple of *lowlights*:-they dug and shoot the pool "backwards"-as in they put the shallow end here and the end on the other end WITH the plans HUNG up by the dig area!!
-they started to make a step in instead of the beach entry asked for even AFTER they were introduced to the child with mobility issues that NEEDED the beach entry!
-They plastered the pool with the wrong plaster with none of the add ons asked for. There was a pool across town that got free upgraded plaster. They mixed up which pool got which plaster. They had to chip out and redo the plain plaster pool but let the other pool keep the nicer plaster as it was cheaper to eat that cost instead of doing it again.
Should you have to be there when you are paying the company to put in a pool? Nope BUT you DO need to be there as almost none of the supervisors are on site when any work is being done. They only tend to show up with their hand out for the next check.
Here is hoping your PB is one of the good ones that is there when needed to take care of problems as they arise.
No need to remeasure. So long as it is close you are good.
Kim
Placed in wrong position. Did 4 steps instead of 5, etc. There are many things that they will just do because, either did not know the plan or just did what they feel is right.
Write on the wood form where you want the items - ie,. 5 steps here - 4 ft long, 3ft bench seat at 18 inches depth. etc.
Point taken! Those sound like real horror stories. Digging a pool with the ends reversed, wow. I work from home, so I’ll be home for most of it.There is a reason we say to be there when work is being done..............................in our many years of helping others build their pools we have seen just about everything done or not done
-they dug and shoot the pool "backwards"-as in they put the shallow end here and the end on the other end WITH the plans HUNG up by the dig area!!
-they started to make a step in instead of the beach entry asked for even AFTER they were introduced to the child with mobility issues that NEEDED the beach entry!
-They plastered the pool with the wrong plaster with none of the add ons asked for. There was a pool across town that got free upgraded plaster. They mixed up which pool got which plaster. They had to chip out and redo the plain plaster pool but let the other pool keep the nicer plaster as it was cheaper to eat that cost instead of doing it again.
Should you have to be there when you are paying the company to put in a pool? Nope BUT you DO need to be there as almost none of the supervisors are on site when any work is being done. They only tend to show up with their hand out for the next check.
Here is hoping your PB is one of the good ones that is there when needed to take care of problems as they arise.
No need to remeasure. So long as it is close you are good.
Kim
Glad I don’t have to remeasure because it is a muddy mess outside.
Don’t they have architectural plans for all of that stuff (structural, plumbing, and electrical)?
I will be involved as much as I can, but I don’t want to be a nuisance.
Trust. Me.
Nuisance away. Nuisance until you can't nuisance no more. It is entirely possible to question everything while not being a jerk. The crews will be gone in hours or days and you will live with whatever is left when they leave.
Often times there is miscommunication between all the subs and the PB and what he interpreted from your last convo. Spell out every detail to everyone you see. Go over it before, during and double check after the work is done. (To the degree of your knowledge/ability)
They may have it but not look at it. They look at it but get in the middle of working and do it how they did the last pool. They may look at it but decide to do it this way, etc, etc, etc,.............................
I even suggest hanging it up where it can't be missed but they can still mess up for one reason or another.
You can "sweeten" the pot by having a cooler of drinks of water and gatoraide in it. You could also offer yummies treats as well.
Ask your PB for the plumbing plan - both for the pool and the equipment pad. See how long it takes to receive that. If you get one, review it, understand it, and have it ready to give to the plumber. It’s 50/50 that the plumber was given it.
I don’t mean to be critical of PB’s and subcontractors but there are too many examples of lack of or no communication from the PB to the subcontractors and to the owner. Some are great, others not so great.
I had a relative building a pool and the PB was a personal friend. It took 2 months of nagging to get the plumbing plan done and the pool had already been dug and rebar done by the time it was received. I told them not to proceed until they had the plumbing plan so everyone was on the same page.
Okay, I’ll make sure to discuss and verify everything before and after the work is done. I guess catching a mistake before it happens saves everyone time and money, and myself a headache.
Just sent an email requesting the architectural plans. I’m going to make laminated copies and tape them to my back patio door right by where the work is being done. I’ll also share here once I receive them, thanks.
Huge. Huger than huge. I had a well discussed plan with my PB and the GC showed up with printed generic internet plans the day of the dig. I immediately told him he had the wrong plans, and his ego wouldn't let him budge so he forged ahead with the wrong dig. Because I caught it and tried to stop it, I had the ammo needed to make the PB correct it.