We are hoping to install almost 2000sq/ft of limestone pavers in s. louisiana. The bids I am getting in are also around $13sq/ft for install only.That is on top of the concrete bed (approx. $5sq/ft) and the paver price. Just finished interior remodel, and paid less than $5sq/ft for tile installation. Don't know what the huge differential in price is between interior installation and outside. We are continuing to get bids in hopes of finding something reasonable. shellip

What are you trying to do with the lighting? Light up the entire deck? Provide enough light to see the entry/exit to the door at night? Just aesthetics? That will make a huge difference in what light you will need. We recently installed a solar double-bulb security light on each corner of the back of a house and it lights up the whole deck (which is the length of the house). We installed a single-bulb light directly on the wall outside of the door and it provides enough light to illuminate the walkway.

where do you live? will the pool be closed 9 months of the year, for example? while we adore our RI pool, i wish the previous owners had built it further from the house. we have 3 months of pool and 9 months of pool cover. so if you can site yours a bit further from the house, with a patio in between, you'll enjoy your yard more. also, be 100% on top of what your local code requires as far as gates, alarms, etc. most of the 'pretty pools' shown at houzz would get a big frown from the inspector. you'll save a lot of time and a lot of money on discarded designs if you go in knowing whats what. you can not depend on contractors to know the code on pools.

cpartist wow that ks truly beautiful. How did you get away without having to put up a baby barrier? I thought it was mandatory? Thank you. We are retirees so no babies. We have a fence around the whole property and when we got our CO we had alarms on all windows and doors. Anyways, I love your design, and everything about your pictures. I totally see your points in regards to having a stem wall, I'm just not sure we can justify the additional cost. 3 of the pool builders we have been in contact with have told us a stem wall would increase the price by $7,500-$10,000. I honestly don't know what the price would have been without the stem wall because I never asked. Most of our friends are older and I figured it would be easier on them too if they didn't have to climb up and down stairs to get to the pool. Also with you bring in South Florida and not having a screen how do you like it? How are the bugs? I prefer not having the screen. When I go to a house with screening, I feel like I'm in a cage. However, We have no large overhanging trees and I'm also only 3 blocks from the bay and we almost always have a breeze here so the bugs haven't been bad at all. (Unless you consider the army worm caterpillar infestation we just had in our planter box. All those pretty pink flowers are now gone between what the caterpillars ate and what we pulled out. Sigh.) If I lived further east, I would have definitely done a cage because the bugs are definitely more prevalent. Thanks again!