Sabot's Backyard Improvement Project

[Sabot]

Howdy all!

I wish to start off by thanking many of you for your guidance through my research. This is our first pool which we have ever owned. We will be using the BBB method once we have a firm grip on pool ownership.

Along with the pool build we are constructing a new covered patio area, a stand alone spa, solar heating for the pool, build a new storage shed and various small landscape projects.

I am behind posting so I will do a series of photos and a brief time line:

We signed the contract on August 25 2007. Layout on September 10, excavation week of September 10’th, rebar install on September 21 and plumbing on September 24. Once the plumbing inspection is done, we are then onto Gunite.

Layout:

Excavation:

Rebar:

Plumbing:

I still get amused to see so many water lines which are used in a pool install. We have 11 of lines total for our pool.

Equipment Pad:

 

[JasonLion]

That looks like excelent progress. Best wishes that everything keeps moving along on schedule.

 

[Sabot]

Below are updated photos of the build:

Gunite shoot:

Rockwall Install on the back beam:

 

[DLSDO]

Looks great so far. Have you decided on a pebblesheen color yet?

 

[Sabot]

I am sorry for the delayed answer: Prism Blue.

The install seems to be moving right along. For those of you whom have built pools, is our pool moving along in a timely fashion? It seems like it is to us but this is our first pool.

A small mistake yesterday, the PB ordered and then installed the wrong colored tiles. Our Super was all over it and made the corrections. I am not micro-managing this project like I normally do. I have full confidence in my West Point Grad Superintend. To keep my mind off the project, I stay busy with Cub Scouting and fishing. Being a neat freak of sorts, I can’t stand seeing my back yard looking like a construction zone.

 

[TizMe]

Pool looks good !!! Love the stone work ....I saw a pool being built once and it always amazed me how the stuff sticks to the sides of the pool. Laws of gravity (I would think) would now allow it to do that!? :?

 

[ktdave]

For those of you whom have built pools, is our pool moving along in a timely fashion? It seems like it is to us but this is our first pool.

Let's see, you're about 4 weeks into your build. I would say you're moving along just fine. 6-8 weeks is probably average completion time for a gunite pool with spa like yours. It also sounds like you have a good supervisor. My measly no-spa pool took 12 weeks, so with all that said, ANYTHING can happen.

GOOD LUCK! It's looking great and keep the pics coming!

 

[Guest]

For those of you whom have built pools, is our pool moving along in a timely fashion? It seems like it is to us but this is our first pool.

Let's see, you're about 4 weeks into your build. I would say you're moving along just fine. 6-8 weeks is probably average completion time for a gunite pool with spa like yours. It also sounds like you have a good supervisor. My measly no-spa pool took 12 weeks, so with all that said, ANYTHING can happen.

GOOD LUCK! It's looking great and keep the pics coming!

yea, your pools looks nicer than mine

 

[DLSDO]

I know what you mean about the mess. Everybody warns you that the construction site is a disaster area....but until you actually see it....oh my!!

 

[Sabot]

Here are a few more pictures of the project. It continues to hum right along. The deck was poured on Monday. Final electical work is scheduled for today as is minor brick work. Pool cleanup & Patio cover construction is scheduled for Friday. Sundeck looks to be mid to late next week. Spa install & Plaster after sundeck, in about 2 or so weeks. (We decided that we want most of the project done prior to plaster) Fingers crossed, next week our solar system maybe installed. With luck, our project should be completed by end of this month!

Deck Pictures:
Rebar

Deck

 

[Sabot]

Sorry folks... I have not been uploading pictures of late. The pool is almost done. Pool school next week... Our free time over the weeks where consumed by building fences, moving 14 yards of mulch, 9 pallets of sod and various other action items to get the yard ready.

Below is a good picture on how we mounted our solar panels to gain our HOA approval. All panels had to be on the rear side of the house. Lucky for us, our house faces south.

 

[Guest]

looks awsome, jsut curious. Is that one little 2 hp pump driving 6 water features and your regular returns, or is there a valve for each return and you have 6 returns. im kinda puzzled here, or am i not seeing a pump.

 

[Butterfly]

Absolutely beautiful. Looks sunny & warm enough to take a swim? 8)


Joyce

 

[Sabot]

Good evening,

We have one pump which can drive four water features. The other two lines goes to various returns. I need to get a recent picture of the equipment pad which shows the solar connections. When we are heating with solar, we will turn off the water features.

As for going for a swim... the water temp is a warm 68 degrees right after the fill. The solar should go on tomorrow.. maybe a little heat might be good.

 

[Guest]

Good evening,

We have one pump which can drive four water features. The other two lines goes to various returns. I need to get a recent picture of the equipment pad which shows the solar connections. When we are heating with solar, we will turn off the water features.

As for going for a swim... the water temp is a warm 68 degrees right after the fill. The solar should go on tomorrow.. maybe a little heat might be good.

thanks for the info, why swim in 68 when you probably have a 100 spa ready to go.

 

[SeanB]

Looks great! So, which one do you want to use for the slideshow?

 

[Sabot]

I won't swim in the pool unless the solar warms it up. We have been using the hot tub since it's arrival.

I need to take some morning pictures when there are less shadows. I would like to use one of those in the slide show.

 

[ktdave]

Great looking backyard getaway Sabot!

Thanks for sharing! I'm sure your family (and guests) will enjoy it a lot!

 

[Sabot]

After work today I decide to brush the pool using my new Whale brush. After I brushed the pool, I was a bit warm. I decided to put on the old trunks and continue the brushing inside the pool. The temp was 68 degrees (our thermo is floating in the skimmer. Is this a good spot for it? I saw public pools putting them in there.) this morning and held since we topped off the pool the other day. Good news is that the brush worked great. Even better news is that all of us except for the wife swam in the pool today. (Brought back memories of swimming in the Great Lakes in early June... OUCH!) Our solar panels came on line around noon today. We noticed a rise in temp around 3pm today. The water temp at the skimmer was 70 degrees. By the end of the day, the temp rose to 72 degrees. Not bad for a half day of solar production... We are going to add a solar cover tomorrow to see if that brings up the temps even more. I really didn't expect a temp rise of more then a degree or two but we where really happy to have a four degree rise in around four hours.

 

[Guest]

I would put it in the deep end. I think it gets you a better reading because it is the bigger body of water. I think they put them in the skimmers because they dont want people messing with them.