no thanks-- I want a change. You see the patio is currently ALL concrete. It gets so hot it is not usable in the summer. I love the idea of having something usable. I figure if we are out there enjoying it, the maintenance will come. If it is just too difficult to maintain, then I'm willing to hire someone to help me out. Plus, I've got kids and isn't that what I had them for-- a little hard work pulling weeds is good for developing character (that's what my dad told me, and I've always been told I've got lots of character!) Anyway, I need a change from what I've got and patching up the concrete isn't enough of a change.

Jennifer and Tresw, Thanks a lot for your advice. In fact, we swam today in the pool, yeaaaahhhH! Well, not really swimming, because the water was cold, about 60F and because I let the garden hose running in fresh water for an hour to lift up the level, but as a side effect it got even colder... But the clarity is now great. It is amazing comparing to a week ago, when was a swamp... What a miracle. I got the 4 way test kit, as suggested by TRESW and the readings were not that bad. Chlorine was really really low 0.4-0.6, but Ph was just right 7.6 and TA was 80 ppm (could have been 70 ppm, but with the background coloring I could not really say). The leaks are really big issue though. I broke the cement around the skimmer and now I can see the top plastic of the feeding tunnel (about 3-4 inches deep down), and it has about 0.5 inches water. What is even more worrisome is that the water is about 2" above the pool level, which means that the walls are all filled up with water all the way to the concrete deck and it is overflowing from any crack the water can get through. Also, the lines around the concrete deck are wet, as I dug about an inch deep around and now water started amassing around. And this is on the other side of the pool... I am having a serious leakage, that is for sure. I will rent these days a power hammer from Home depot and I intend to break to pieces the deck. The problem is I have not decided what to do with the debris yet. Any suggestions? As for the dead animal, I am no longer worried. I cleaned, and shocked, and cleaned, and shocked and now I believe there is nothing left from it... I hope. I certainly will avoid any contact of the water with my mouth for the next month or so, but overall I think I am over this now :) Thanks for all support and advice. If something else comes out, please shoot. I am ready to make some pics and post them online for discussion. Best, Lubo

xjrule14, Any interuption in a deck such as a skimmer opening opening are prime targets for cracking. I'm surprised that an expansion joint was not placed from the pool to the skimmer and skimmer to nearest expansion. It's a common error that deck contractors should be aware of. Coatings applied to the concrete will not fill any existing cracks. Any other cracks that existed before will show up again. Proper repair would consist of replacing that section of deck that is cracked and providing the proper expansion joints. Fortunately, most coatings match very well. Good luck.

"... I dig decomposed granite :)" Fine. Me too. Love it in fact. Just because I like something doesn't mean that over-using it is a good idea. Over-use being using it in places or ways that isn't compatible with "best" use. That's a term that calls for interpretation but my experience says your proposal leans toward over-using. In my mind, DG is soft PAVING and I can't see how paving nearly the whole yard is superior to planting it with appropriate plants. If you used DG where it would make sense to have paving, I think you would me going in the right direction. Can't say I understood the pictorial example you provided. It looks more like concrete to me, too. On pea gravel I would say it's an even worse thing to consider since it does not make good paving. It's more like a mulch that's potentially troublesome.