Yet another Texas pool build!

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Here are my thoughts:

nets-PVC tubes to hold them. See that area under you wooden deck? You can mount the PVC like this ---------------to hold them. I have two nets. One almost flat for skimming the top of the pool. The other one is almost like a fishing net. It is to get leaves and stuff off of the bottom.

Now for the fun part. Something standing up like surf boards to hold the towels while everyone is in the pool. I see three or four boards standing on end with hooks to hold the towels. I cannot find a picture of the one I saw one time. It was SO cute! You would have to build a "frame" to hold them up but that should be easy (says the person not having to build it).

That will be in front of the nets and "ugly" stuff for the pool. You can put your robot and hoses there also when they are not in the pool.

That would turn that "storage area" into a cute area. You can put your pool toy storage box there as well BUT make sure the kids can reach the hooks for the towels. The towel hooks are going to sanity savers with the kids. Train them to hand their towels up to be reused all day long. This will save you so much washing and finding towels all over LOL.

Think about having something like this by the pool......with kids you never know.

Amazon.com : Safety Pool Hook R221026 : Swimming Pool Safety Products : Patio, Lawn Garden

Just because it is CUTE and functional!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Personalized-Family-Pool-Ring/2693262

Can you "see" what I am talking about under the deck?

I love the idea of the light out by the pool! You know I like the pole lights like this:

http://www.wayfair.com/Acclaim-Lighting-Chateau-3-Light-85-Post-Lantern-Set-5179BK-5179BW-L6113-K~ITQ1353.html?refid=GX87525348180-ITQ1353_7459427&device=c&ptid=151921513036&PiID%5B%5D=7459427&gclid=CLGXlLi4oMoCFdgHgQodHckChQ

It will NOT hurt my feelings if you do not like my ideas. I just throw ideas out there to see what might stick!

Kim
 
Pool looks great, plaster color so nice in the sunlight love that color. I have lurked through your build for some time and I'm so glad you are finally through the headaches. Your persistence has paid off because your pool is beautiful, all the little details like the deck and back wall-railing all came together perfectly. Congrats, you should have an awesome summer.
 
kimkats said:
Here are my thoughts:

nets-PVC tubes to hold them. See that area under you wooden deck? You can mount the PVC like this ---------------to hold them. I have two nets. One almost flat for skimming the top of the pool. The other one is almost like a fishing net. It is to get leaves and stuff off of the bottom.

Now for the fun part. Something standing up like surf boards to hold the towels while everyone is in the pool. I see three or four boards standing on end with hooks to hold the towels. I cannot find a picture of the one I saw one time. It was SO cute! You would have to build a "frame" to hold them up but that should be easy (says the person not having to build it).

That will be in front of the nets and "ugly" stuff for the pool. You can put your robot and hoses there also when they are not in the pool.

That would turn that "storage area" into a cute area. You can put your pool toy storage box there as well BUT make sure the kids can reach the hooks for the towels. The towel hooks are going to sanity savers with the kids. Train them to hand their towels up to be reused all day long. This will save you so much washing and finding towels all over LOL.

Think about having something like this by the pool......with kids you never know.

Amazon.com : Safety Pool Hook R221026 : Swimming Pool Safety Products : Patio, Lawn Garden

Just because it is CUTE and functional!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Personalized-Family-Pool-Ring/2693262

Can you "see" what I am talking about under the deck?

I love the idea of the light out by the pool! You know I like the pole lights like this:

http://www.wayfair.com/Acclaim-Lighting-Chateau-3-Light-85-Post-Lantern-Set-5179BK-5179BW-L6113-K~ITQ1353.html?refid=GX87525348180-ITQ1353_7459427&device=c&ptid=151921513036&PiID%5B%5D=7459427&gclid=CLGXlLi4oMoCFdgHgQodHckChQ

It will NOT hurt my feelings if you do not like my ideas. I just throw ideas out there to see what might stick!

Kim
Click to expand...

Thanks for the ideas! The problem I have putting the poles on the deck posts is I plan on putting my grill and big green egg there. I want to be able to be at the pool level while I grill so if the kids are swimming and something happens I can react. If I put the poles there they'll block the grill. I am probably going to mount them to the fence somehow.

I have a flat net and a fishing type net like you do. The Polaris is actually doing a great job getting leaves out the pool. I try to keep on top of them but sometimes it blows through the night and I don't have time before work. The pool is clean when I get home. I just have to make sure I keep it cleaned out and check the skimmer baskets. I think most of the trees that drop this time of year are done. I just have the two behind the pool that will make a mess probably in spring time. It hasn't been too super cold here so maybe I might skate those making a mess this year.

I really like the pole light but I am too lazy to run the electrical for that. At least with conduit under the deck you can't see it and I can hook a couple normal porch lights on the posts for the deck. Plus I need a really insanely bright light out there if I need to light up the yard for some reason. It is really dark right now because it is so big and the lights on the house don't really make it to the ground because they are on the wall out the back door which is 12 or 13 feet back under an awning.

I have lots to do don't I. I might be to busy this summer to actually swim doing all these projects.

Atx1 said:
Pool looks great, plaster color so nice in the sunlight love that color. I have lurked through your build for some time and I'm so glad you are finally through the headaches. Your persistence has paid off because your pool is beautiful, all the little details like the deck and back wall-railing all came together perfectly. Congrats, you should have an awesome summer.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I really love the plaster. It was a pain but in the end I think it was worth it. If I would have went with another company in my budget I would have had less deck, smaller pool, etc...
 
I was thinking of them on the wall not the poles BUT the towel holder/stuff hider would have used the poles.

I like your idea of the grill and such down there. Good reason for it!

You could mount the PVC holders straight up and down to the retaining walls so you can grab the net as you need it.

Now to find a good place to put towels.........OH I know! Look at this idea to mount to the step rails!

Amazon.com - 4 Assorted Wood Surfboard Wall Hooks - Bath Towel Hooks

CUTE!

Kim
 
It is warm enough now for me to work outside. I just have to wait until after final inspection.

Kim I live the surf board hooks. Those are awesome.

Look what I found tonight! The pool lights have disco tech mode... Click the picture to see.
 
kimkats said:
Your own light show! I love it! Now to set it to music!

Did you have "pool school" yet?

Kim
Click to expand...

Yeah I had it the day the pool finished filling. He showed me how to do everything I just hadn't gone through all the light settings on the LED's. He showed me how to turn them on/off and pick a color I just hadn't spent the time trying all the settings because I was laid up and couldn't stand that long looking at each one. The thing with the lights are it takes forever and a day to get to the color you picked. I think it is a pretty archaic design for how they are controlled. In all honesty they should have a separate controller line that can just tell the lights what color they should be. If you have an older pool then flip a dip switch or something to use the old setting style but for new pools it is silly the lights have to turn on/off 12 times to get to a specific color.
 
Well went in to see the pool builder yesterday. We are really close on being done. There is a few items left. Mainly they need to clean my deck/walls. They haven't since the pool was plastered and there is an oil stain left by their pressure washer when they prepped the shell for plaster. If they can't get the spot out then they'll have to replace a paver.

Here is what is left:
1. Final inspection (I ordered alarms for two windows and my back door. The rest of the windows I am going to try to slide by. I have heard that the city really doesn't check windows and only two of my windows you can get outside from. The rest my builder thinks the inspector should consider 2 story windows because my slab is so tall.
2. Fence needs straightened up.
3. Sod needs to be placed in a couple areas.
4. Some of my lawn sunk by the pool equipment. That needs to be fixed.
5. Salt needs to be added and SWG started.

I am almost done!!!! I can't wait for them to be out of my life. A update on the company...

1. Scheduler quit.
2. My girlfriend got fired.
3. Sales Manager quit
4. Construction Manager quit.

So now my finishing items are being done by either the maintenance/startup guy or being scheduled by one of the pool designers. I guess they have a new construction manager but he is new. I am just so happy my pool is just minor punch list items at this point.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
NICE! ALL of that stuff can be done by YOU if needed. Do you have or can you get a replacement paver if needed?

lawn sunk? What?

Look at all the people who quit. Your girlfriend quit BEFORE he was fired at one point. That place is a mess!

Do you know if they are going to do anymore residential pools after these are done?

Kim
 
kimkats said:
NICE! ALL of that stuff can be done by YOU if needed. Do you have or can you get a replacement paver if needed?

lawn sunk? What?

Look at all the people who quit. Your girlfriend quit BEFORE he was fired at one point. That place is a mess!

Do you know if they are going to do anymore residential pools after these are done?

Kim
Click to expand...

I have no extra pavers because one of the subs on my job took away all the extra materials and they can't get them back. They have to order more pavers to fix that (What's new). The good news is the supplier here in Austin will give me a couple samples if I ask so I am not too worried about it. I might have the original sample they gave me in the garage I'll have to check. You are right that I can do all the remaining items myself. I am pretty happy where I am at. The only major item to me is the final inspection. If there is anything they catch I want it found out now. That is why I pressured them to get that done this week. Once I have final then I am no longer concerned by anything else.

The lawn sunk because when they filled in where my plumbing runs with new dirt they didn't compact it well. After all the rain nature did its thing and compacted that soil. So I have a spot in my yard where it sunk in pretty good and someone could twist an ankle on it.

I honestly don't know what they plan on doing when this is all over with. The only way I'll know for sure is if the residential office closes down or they change the signage. It is close to my house and I drive by it every day so I will notice if it happens. I know there a little over a dozen pools in various phases. I know a few need some stuff ripped out and redone so I feel for those people. I can say that the office seams DEAD. There isn't much activity. Before when I would stop in it seemed much more active. That could be because they lost 1/2 of their employees in 2 weeks. I am sure I'll be interacting with them for at least a few more weeks so I'll see if more people start showing up or if it seems like the final hurrah. The good news is I will be pressuring the commercial arm if I have any warranty issues because I don't see that going out of business any time soon.

On another note I think this company could make some serious money on residential pools if they would get their head out of the sand and hire some quality people to run the business. With the fact they have such a successful commercial side they can pull off any pool they want. It is a matter of execution. Not many residential pool companies can build a 900k pool on the side of a cliff but they managed to pull that off. I think the commercial side has a lot of knowledge for large scope pools that most residential pool companies don't have. After all they have done a Great Wolf lodge.
 
10% - Due at signing
30% - Start of Excavation
30% - Start of Shotcrete
20% - Start of Decking
10% - Start of Plaster

All change orders were due on the next payment even if it was decking or something like that. If I changed something with the deck before Shotcrete I got billed for that at Shotcrete.

I was really hesitant on this. The PB wouldn't budge and the sales guy (who ended up being a felon and was arrested shortly after fired from my PB) promised me that all would be done and final inspection would be done prior to plaster. I asked for that to be in writing but for some reason I missed it somehow. After all the ordeal and when we were scheduling the plaster I had to make a judgement call. According to my contract they weren't willing to schedule my plaster until I paid the final 10%. I could see the company starting to fail in my eyes and I thought it would be more than 10% of my costs to hire another PB to plaster my pool and get the handrail. So I paid them 10% to get the plaster and took the risk on the handrail. At least if the handrail wasn't installed that would have been something I could have contracted myself with less risk so I took the chance.

Even though I missed this I managed to get all other items the felon promised me in my contract. They weren't too happy about it either. For example behind the scenes they have a spreadsheet and the spreadsheet states exact quantities of materials. For example they only quoted 200sq ft of sod on my job. I think it ended up being over a thousand or more. The construction manager wanted to only provide what was in the spreadsheet but I pulled out my contract and it stated "Replace all sod/sprinklers due to construction". Since my entire yard was grass he had to fix ALL of it. He wasn't too happy about that. I also think part of the reason they had to order more of everything several times is the original orders for pavers/wall block/coping was all done off the spreadsheet. It seemed to me like it half of what was actually needed. I also had the handrail in there. He wanted to only buy so much length of handrail and I pointed out that the contract said "Provide handrail to all deck areas above 30" off the ground". So he either had to bring back in more dirt to pile up to remove the drop off the deck and more sod or extend the hand rail down the steps. He chose the latter. My advice to everyone is make sure EVERYTHING that was promised by the designer is in writing on the contract. I went back and for probably 10 times getting everything added. It paid off because I can say several high cost items that they tried to weasel out of that they couldn't on my build because I was on top of my contract. I see a review online for my company of another person complaining because they installed a fire pit and want extra money for the gas line. Their contract didn't spell out that the gas line was included.

I know people say to withhold payment until all is done but I really don't think I had an option in this. Thankfully everything is getting done and they have been responding (although at a snails pace) and getting everything done as I want. It helps I am within spitting distance of their office and now don't actually email or call anymore. I come in every time I have a question and I make the owner stop what he is doing to come out and talk with me. I do it at least 1 or 2 times a week now. I know what his truck looks like so I always know when he is there and don't stop if he isn't. I think he wants my pool done...

I think if this company wasn't part of a big outfit they would have bailed on me before plaster. The problem is the other parts of the company are alive and well so a lawsuit is still possible and I don't think they'll file for bankruptcy to prevent it because that would kill their large projects. And to be honest I knew I was getting in with a newer PB but part of the reason I made the decision is because I knew that the backers of the company had a long history in PB and the other parts of the company were doing well. Plus their design was SO much better than the other PB's I interviewed. Yes it was a royal pain and I wouldn't wish it on anyone but my end product is WAY more than I could have imagined and I really think it is what we wanted.
 
I wish I was done!!!

This just keeps dragging on forever. They have very few punch list items done but my current pressure is for my final inspection. They called for final electric (which I was told was already done so another lie) but they couldn't because they never pulled a plumbing permit. I am a bit freaked out because I don't know if that is going to require tearing up parts of my yard to accomplish the inspection for that permit. They wanted to get out of getting that permit and I told them they couldn't because they tied my hose bib and fill line to city water so they needed that inspection. Now their plumber is out of town until Monday. I'll be down there on them Monday until they get him out there. I want this over with.

On top of that I have been pushing for lien releases. I have good reason to believe they aren't fully paying subs for work so I am demanding lien releases. I was told before Christmas that they had paid all of my subs and my job was paid in full. I went in over a week ago and the owner said he was waiting for one more lien release before he gives them to me. He told me I would have them this Monday. Then I just got an email from someone else "who is handling my lien releases" and he said that my subs wouldn't be paid until they sign the lien release. So what is it? I thought they were all paid in full??? Just a bunch of liars.
 
JamieP said:
Ugh. I'm sorry this continues to be a seemingly never ending battle for you. What a relief it will be not to have to deal with these guys anymore. I really hope that is soon for you.
Click to expand...

I am really looking forward to be done. I hope I never have a warranty issue.

Helen203 said:
The lack of inspections and lien releases is bad news for you, at the end of a bad build. Ugh for you.
Click to expand...

Good news is they just emailed me the lien releases. They don't realize that I know who worked on my job though and told me that it was all of them but I don't have the one for the deck contractor. I am waiting to hear back from them on that one.
 
ummgood said:
I am really looking forward to be done. I hope I never have a warranty issue.



Good news is they just emailed me the lien releases. They don't realize that I know who worked on my job though and told me that it was all of them but I don't have the one for the deck contractor. I am waiting to hear back from them on that one.
Click to expand...

Good for you to be on top of all that. It sounds like you're doing as much as you can to protect yourself. Bravo! (although sad that it has to come down to this.)
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply