Starting the OB process - Queen Creek

[kimkats]

I am here! Lets get this party started!!!

Okay here is YOUR first job with the build. When they say DONE you walk out with your plans and a tape measure in your hands. Is it wide, long, deep, etc enough?? Add about 8" for the steel, shell, and plaster. NOW is the time to tweak or change. (Don't for get it will be about 8" on BOTH sides for a total of about 16" from side to side. Had someone forget that part and their pool was going to be too narrow. It got fixed though so it was all good!)

Kim

 

[QC Pool Dreams]

Tape measure by the door, plans under that, ready and waiting! Great advice, thank you for that! We'll see if they get it done today or if they stop early - there is probably enough time sunlight wise but Im sure not everyone wants to work till 6:30pm, I sure dont!

 

[QC Pool Dreams]

Its been a while since I updated but we've had lots of great progress!

Raised block wall, deck/coping, and waterline tile going in next week and pebble is scheduled for the 22nd so we should be swimming by early March assuming no hiccups (and the heater is working!)

 

[kimkats]

SWEET! It is time for YOUR set of links!

Plaster links:
Ten Guidelines for Quality Pool Plaster Best one of all
All Plaster Finishes Should Last 20 Years
Not All Color Pigments are Good for Pools How to pick a good color for plaster.
A Plastering 'Watch List' | Professional Watershaping | Watershapes
Trouble Free Pool
Trouble Free Pool

Pool care links:
Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule
Pool School - Recommended Levels

Bookmark these:
Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals
Trouble Free Pool
Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Now is also a good time to ask what test kit your PB will be providing so we can fill in any holes.

Kim

 

[QC Pool Dreams]

We did this without a PB so I will be getting the TF-100 test kit - I must say I am probably more intimidated by this portion of the process more than the actual build, there is so much to keep track of test wise and I dont want to screw something up and permanently ruin the pool we worked so hard to build! I am not a chemist lol someone please reassure me that it will be much easier than it seems once we actually have the kit and start testing?

For those that have been following this from the beginning - here is the current progress. Ignore the gross water/mess in the pool, we got a big storm this weekend but we'll make sure to get it cleaned out asap! You can however see the grotto/waterfall that we talked about early on...this is a part that I had a solid idea for but not firm plans for the execution but in the end it came out exactly as I dreamed it up! We poured a 7" thick concrete slab on top of the raised block wall with rebar reinforcement going vertically through the block and then bending it at the top to go throughout the slab. All of this worked around the 5' rainfall water wall that is embedded within the slab for what will hopefully be a fun little grotto style hangout bench for the kids! We cant wait to see the final product with all the stack stone finished, the pebble, etc. it has been a fun process.

 

[ajw22]

I dont want to screw something up and permanently ruin the pool we worked so hard to build! I am not a chemist lol someone please reassure me that it will be much easier than it seems once we actually have the kit and start testing?

Here is my reassurance...

The only thing with pool chemistry that can mess up your pool quickly is having a pH well below 7. That makes the water acidic and it can attack equipment and plaster. Everything else about pool chemistry acts slowly. If your water balance is off for months or years things can get damaged. As long as you are testing regularly and keep your chemistry within Recommended Levels - Trouble Free Pool you will be fine. If something gets out of wack then bring it within guidelines and all should be good.

 

[Newdude]

I am not a chemist lol someone please reassure me that it will be much easier than it seems once we actually have the kit and start testing?

You are so far ahead of the game being here already with a test kit on the way. You’ll have many many helpful members thrilled to walk you through anything. Heck, even multiple times. Pool is looking AWESOME btw.

 

[kimkats]

I have just the person to talk to you about learning how to care for her pool. She had to learn how to do it and fast as she found out the hard way the PB care did not come that far out!! @carnivalday can you help them out??? What was the most helpful info you received?

Kim

 

[carnivalday]

Most helpful? Where do I begin. Probably the reasurrance from everyone here that I could do it! Even tho I was stupid and couldnt pass chemistry in school. Well, I still cant pass chemistry, but Ive learned how to take care of my pool. I was so stupid I didnt even know what to ask. I started with reading this MOST IMPORTANT PAGE ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry - Trouble Free Pool It is the most basic of terms, yet the most important for you. It took me reading it probably 10 times before I even thought about understanding some of these terms. I had to take it term by term...in between coming here and asking all kinds of questions. Take baby steps; understand FC, pH, and CYA. Those are your most important numbers. Learn what these mean, what levels you need to keep them at and why, and what chemicals you need to keep them in order. And last but not least, dont be afraid to ask anything you dont understand. As many times as you need to. Its easy and fun, and you will love your new pool!

 

[carnivalday]

Oh, another thing I learned pretty quickly. With saying that FC, CYA, and pH are important numbers to learn, the others are important too. BUT, once you get the other numbers within range, they hardly change at all. When I got my TA, Salt, and CH numbers where I wanted back in November, they havent changed at all. I keep a spreadsheet (you'll probably use PoolMath app. Im not an app person), and in watching my tests, I saw those numbers stayed pretty stable. It will be your FC, pH, and CYA you'll have to watch. The testing is easy...if you can count drops, you can test. FC numbers will be controlled by your SWG, pH with Muriatic Acid, and CYA with Pool Stabilizer (cyanuric acid). Thats it, cheap and easy. You'll probably be using more Muriatic acid than anything else when you start. Im blopping some in every week right now to keep pH levels below 8, as it wants to creep up on me (new plaster). I bought a 2 gallon box of Muratic Acid (MA) at Lowes back in December, and Ive just started on my second gallon (I think the 2 pack was around $12, so you see its pretty cheap).

 

[QC Pool Dreams]

You guys are all the best! Thank you @ajw22 @Newdude @kimkats and @carnivalday I appreciate the reassurance and all the help! I will start posting levels and everything as I get the information. We are supposed to be filling on Sunday so it is coming up quick!

 

[Newdude]

You guys are all the best

Just wait a but longer. This is the slooooooooow season once half the world closed their pools. It’s going to be HOPPING in another month or two and you’ll have 10x the people to ask.

 

[ajw22]

We are supposed to be filling on Sunday so it is coming up quick!

Confirm what start-up guide you and your pool builder will be following for the first 28 days...

Plaster Start-Up Guides - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Test the pH, TA and CH of your fill water and post it. It will give you a good idea of what you will be doing with your water chemistry.

Keep track of all chemicals your pool builder adds from day 1. It helps knowing what they did once you take over the pool maintenance.

 

[QC Pool Dreams]

Confirm what start-up guide you and your pool builder will be following for the first 28 days...

Plaster Start-Up Guides - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Test the pH, TA and CH of your fill water and post it. It will give you a good idea of what you will be doing with your water chemistry.

Keep track of all chemicals your pool builder adds from day 1. It helps knowing what they did once you take over the pool maintenance.

Took the OB route so no PB guidance but I was planning to use the Pebbletec salt water guide and then TFP post-28 days if that works? My test kit should be here Thursday so I will run a test on the hose water as soon as it comes in!

I currently have the following chemicals (from our equip supplier) - not sure what else I'll need?

 

[joeramirez]

Thanks for the update! Would love to see more pictures. We are looking to build a similar pool in New Mexico and are learning so much from this forum.

 

[joeramirez]

If you don’t mind me asking, approximately how much are you building this pool, for as the OB?

 

[QC Pool Dreams]

If you don’t mind me asking, approximately how much are you building this pool, for as the OB?

Do you mean how much are we spending or are you talking in terms of how much we are managing...sorry not reading the question right this morning! Happy to share whatever details though so if you clarify, I will definitely get you an answer!

@ajw22 I tested the water and got the following
PH 7.7
FC 1.5 + CC 0.5 = TC 2.0
TA 230

Thinking I need to add some MA to bring the PH down as the pebble is curing? TA is high, FC low, so I'm sure Ive got work to do....Out of the 4 things the pool equip supplier provided I know the MA, what/when would I use the Liquid Chlorinating Compound, CLOR Save and Big Tabs?

Also I tried to do the CYA test with the hose water but I am wondering if that cannot be done until there are acutally chemicals in the water or something? I could always see the dot at the bottom of the cylinder, the water/solution was clear so I cant imagine I would ever not be able to see it? Lol felt quite dumb on that one so I assume I was missing something there!

Pool just finished up filling as we speak, have a pool guy coming to help with the startup this afternoon, and we are excited!

 

[Newdude]

I’m sure as the OB there are 100 things you would have/ could have done differently. But what you DID do.......... WOW. Just WOW !

 

[ajw22]

@ajw22 I tested the water and got the following
PH 7.7
FC 1.5 + CC 0.5 = TC 2.0
TA 230

Thinking I need to add some MA to bring the PH down as the pebble is curing? TA is high, FC low, so I'm sure Ive got work to do....Out of the 4 things the pool equip supplier provided I know the MA, what/when would I use the Liquid Chlorinating Compound, CLOR Save and Big Tabs?

Also I tried to do the CYA test with the hose water but I am wondering if that cannot be done until there are acutally chemicals in the water or something? I could always see the dot at the bottom of the cylinder, the water/solution was clear so I cant imagine I would ever not be able to see it? Lol felt quite dumb on that one so I assume I was missing something there!

CYA does not naturally occur in water so no reason to test for it outside the pool.

Ignore your TA for now. Focus on keeping your pH in the 7's with MA. As you adjust your pH it will take your TA down over time.

What start-up guide will you be following?

Plaster Start-Up Guides - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

CLOR Save is stabilizer(CYA). Add it using the sock method when your startup guide says to add stabilizer.

Big Tabs is trichlor. No reason to use that if you have liquid chlorine and stabilizer.

Follow your start-up guide for chemistry for the first 28 days then transition to TFP Recommended Levels - Trouble Free Pool

Time to create your signature with details of your pool.

Start logging your tests and sharing them with PoolMath

 

[QC Pool Dreams]

I’m sure as the OB there are 100 things you would have/ could have done differently. But what you DID do.......... WOW. Just WOW !

Thank you! Tons of help/credit from this forum along the way really helped it all come together! We still have some stack stone to finish up on the waterfall and then the limestone paver 'caps' along that wall and top of the grotto and then we are thinking of adding some wood/faux boxwood type elements in the back and along the side wall to give it a little life but overall we are super happy with the way it came out!

CYA does not naturally occur in water so no reason to test for it outside the pool.

Ignore your TA for now. Focus on keeping your pH in the 7's with MA. As you adjust your pH it will take your TA down over time.

What start-up guide will you be following?

Plaster Start-Up Guides - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

CLOR Save is stabilizer(CYA). Add it using the sock method when your startup guide says to add stabilizer.

Big Tabs is trichlor. No reason to use that if you have liquid chlorine and stabilizer.

Following your start-up guide for chemistry for the first 28 days then transition to TFP Recommended Levels - Trouble Free Pool

Time to create your signature with details of your pool.

Start logging your tests and sharing them with PoolMath

Thank you for translating all these things for me I was planning to use the pebbletec startup and then over to the TFP guide post-28 days. I will work on my signature now - thank you!