We are mid-build of a 16x32 gunite pool with attached spa. We’ve had two issues that I need reassurance and advice for.
First, our contractor chose to shoot the gunite on a day that we had a major afternoon rain event. They completed most of the gunite by noon, and then covered the freshly scraped edges with a tarp and left. As they were finishing up it started raining, and then more rain, and more, and then snow the next day. (Crazy North Texas weather). There was flooding in the yard (not impacting the pool area), pool shell had a lot of standing water, etc. Everything was completely saturated. By the next morning (when it snowed), we went out to find that an interior portion of the gunite had collapsed into the pool. The contractor assured us that this is ok, and that the water is good for the gunite, and it is the structure (not to worry about leaking). They came out within 4 days to re-shoot and scrape that area. Now it appears to be repaired, but there is a definite seam where the original and new areas meet. Since then, we have continued to have rain at least 1-2 days a week. The ground has remained saturated, and water is seeping through the seam. Is this ok? I understand that gunite is not water tight, and I imagine that there will always be areas for water to seep in from the ground into any seam or hole where there is a pipe. Am I on the right track? And do we just trust that the structure is sound since the rebar and dirt behind the gunite remained undisturbed? This doesn’t create an issue for the plaster later?
Secondly, I discovered a major flaw with the built-in spa after the gunite and stone work was complete. There is not a defect, but a major error that changed the outcome of the raised spa. Long story short, we were supposed to have a 12” raised spa edge above the decking. The contractor has confirmed that the spa was dug one foot too deep and will be level with the decking instead of raised. He has offered many, many apologies. You can imagine my fury and disappointment, which I conveyed to him as well. So now, I am in a predicament. I do not want to request a complete tear out and redo of the pool. Redoing just the spa is not an option in my opinion, due to concern with the integrity of the pool structure. I’m willing to just live with it, but should I be requesting something of the contractor in exchange to make it right? He has offered a few additional sitting boulders around the spa, but this is not equivalent in my opinion. If I request a monetary concession, how do I come up with a number? Or am I better off requesting additional concrete decking around the pool or something else? I know how much the spa portion of our pool is costing us, but we are still getting the spa, it’s just not the same look we wanted. Is there anyone who has experienced a similar situation and still had a positive outcome? What would you recommend?
First, our contractor chose to shoot the gunite on a day that we had a major afternoon rain event. They completed most of the gunite by noon, and then covered the freshly scraped edges with a tarp and left. As they were finishing up it started raining, and then more rain, and more, and then snow the next day. (Crazy North Texas weather). There was flooding in the yard (not impacting the pool area), pool shell had a lot of standing water, etc. Everything was completely saturated. By the next morning (when it snowed), we went out to find that an interior portion of the gunite had collapsed into the pool. The contractor assured us that this is ok, and that the water is good for the gunite, and it is the structure (not to worry about leaking). They came out within 4 days to re-shoot and scrape that area. Now it appears to be repaired, but there is a definite seam where the original and new areas meet. Since then, we have continued to have rain at least 1-2 days a week. The ground has remained saturated, and water is seeping through the seam. Is this ok? I understand that gunite is not water tight, and I imagine that there will always be areas for water to seep in from the ground into any seam or hole where there is a pipe. Am I on the right track? And do we just trust that the structure is sound since the rebar and dirt behind the gunite remained undisturbed? This doesn’t create an issue for the plaster later?
Secondly, I discovered a major flaw with the built-in spa after the gunite and stone work was complete. There is not a defect, but a major error that changed the outcome of the raised spa. Long story short, we were supposed to have a 12” raised spa edge above the decking. The contractor has confirmed that the spa was dug one foot too deep and will be level with the decking instead of raised. He has offered many, many apologies. You can imagine my fury and disappointment, which I conveyed to him as well. So now, I am in a predicament. I do not want to request a complete tear out and redo of the pool. Redoing just the spa is not an option in my opinion, due to concern with the integrity of the pool structure. I’m willing to just live with it, but should I be requesting something of the contractor in exchange to make it right? He has offered a few additional sitting boulders around the spa, but this is not equivalent in my opinion. If I request a monetary concession, how do I come up with a number? Or am I better off requesting additional concrete decking around the pool or something else? I know how much the spa portion of our pool is costing us, but we are still getting the spa, it’s just not the same look we wanted. Is there anyone who has experienced a similar situation and still had a positive outcome? What would you recommend?
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