Congratulations on your new pool dig! May I ask what area you are located in? We have been on again and off again on a pool as our tastes tend to be much higher than our wallet allows so we are also considering contracting on our own or hiring someone to manage it. How has the process been for you obtaining all your own people and crews?

I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts!

Thanks!!

Ollieboy!

It is a very hard decision, just today I had three guys out in my backyard joking about how I should have put in a round above ground pool so when my kids are tired of it he can pull it off and I can put in a garden....all that naysaying has me wondering if we did the right thing, then my heart starts going to all the children we hope to serve in the next 25 years and what joy and skills we can bring to them with this pool...then it all vanishes!! :)

I never thought I had expensive tastes, but quality does make a difference...I didn't want rock falls, slides, spas, etc...but I did want a solid built pool that would not cause me a headache just 5 years into it...we want our time to be spent helping out our community not telling them camp is cancelled due to a crack in the pool! I am fortunate in that I did contract a large scale remodel on my house and through that experience I found some great contractors who showed up, were honest, and had a great work ethic..generally if you find one of those, they refer and then they refer so you amass a long list of reputable people.

Building a gunite pool I knew I had to seek out experience...with a pool, any stage done wrong could wreck the whole project...so I had to put more funds on this part, and try to save money on the decking (saved over 3k just on materials!!) It does rob you of time, I spent a whole day taking over 17 calls, meeting 5 different subs and still schooling my kids! :) But, I remind myself it's just 8 weeks or less of this...a sacrifice on time we can afford. So, if you're considering contracting out yourself, try to invest more in the pool build, find the deals on decking and you'll be happier in the end. I did call several references/vendors and ultimately, with me at least it comes down to trusting that the man upstairs who is prompting us to do this ministry has it under control...even if I get burned on one or two things, I hope that my ability to handle it in a loving manner has some impact and there was a reason for it happening, I never question why things happen, but how I could have best responded....

Sorry, waxing philosophical on you! Good luck with your decision and maybe scale back on the fluff stuff and get a really well built pool that will serve you and any future family that may have your home...I see rock wall with water feature as a receptacle for mold/mildew and one more thing to clean, if it helped keep my pool structurally sound longer, then I might invest...but I'm a practical lady with a practical mission...build it good, make it last! :)

Tara

May God bless you and your ministry! That is a wonderful 'dream'. Look forward to your progress!

Congrats Tara.....Great to hear your pool project is underway. I think we all had that "am I doing the right thing" feeling at the onset of our pool builds....I know we did also. Three years later......no regrets.

Your hard work and initiative are being put to good use and for a good cause. The pool is going to look wonderful on your lot and your efforts will create lasting memories for many.

Hi Tara,

Thank you so much for the thoughts and great ideas to remember. We too want a structurally sound and headache free pool with not many frills. Basically want to dip but planning on atleast a minimun pool size that that kids can jump into safely.

I wish you the best in your build and I am so happy to read what the pool is for....makes it all the better.

Thank you again Tara and we look forward to watching the build on the forum.

Rebar!!

Crew got here early, we are having rains here for 48 hours so I am thankful they were able to finish before being soaked to the bone and frozen!! Plumbing goes in tomorrow then I call for inspection...hope all goes on schedule and no blips besides the RAIN!! Two years ago our governor asked for all the residents to pray for rain (2 year drought) I do believe our prayers have been answered in FULL!!! Hate to pray for no rain, stuck in the mud here :)

This rain is unending!! The plumber came today and bless his heart had to endure this red clay...he did a great job from what I can see and amazed that he didn't sink straight into this muck. I'll post pics tomorrow, it was dark when he finished and yes, still raining...just a constant drizzle. On a good note, my precious neighbors said they could use all that dirt!! They're going to be moving it and helping me build up some areas around my barn to keep water out for the horses...they're having a rough time with all the water of late.

I got to see the equipment and pool lights, it's Jandy and looks like a solidly built system...I have been soo very impressed with everyone on this pool build and how hard and dedicated they are to their craft...OUTSTANDING!!!

I got the pavers delivered today, that part does seem daunting...wow 15 pallets that weigh over 3,000 pounds each...my upper arms will be rockets when we're done with that! Hoping they don't sink into the ground!!

Amazing job on the pool shell...inspection coming up first of the week and should have gunite next..looked at the forecast, more rain...I feel like Pooh and Piglet floating away in this incessant rain.

Tara

Plumbing day...

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Mud everywhere...adding sump pump today...wet..wet...wet...

Inspection tomorrow....weatherman got the forecast wrong....

Tara

Congrats Tara! it looks great and your backyard view beyond the fence with the trees will be real nice when your sitting pool side. We almost went with pavers but would of had to pull up our old pavers in our existing patio because we were going to mix 3 colors in 2 size blocks on the pool deck. It looks real nice and adds a lot of character mixing it up but would not of looked right transitioning from our old paver. We decided to go flag because changing materials makes a better looking transition. Flag has a little more upkeep with maintaining grout joints and sealing periodically.

After thawing out from what seemed endless days of snow, sleet, ice...we hit 65 this weekend and on Friday our pool was shot!! :) It's coming together great and the crews we've had working on it have been very diligent and hardworking....keeping it watered...which was a bit of a challenge, we have not outdoor spickets working due to needing to replumb well water lines that were dug into to dig pool...so we had to hook lines up to our washing machine...always a need for necessity and invention around this farm! :)

{{!gwi}}

Once the plumbing is filled in, we can start on moving dirt and working on the deck...lots to do! Glad the weather has improved!! :)

Tara

I am now concerned they didn't shoot it high enough. See the difference between the AC units and the top of the beam?

Scott

The pictures are misleading a bit, it's never easy trying to get ground level..I'll have a paver deck with 4 inches of crush-and-run and a layer of sand underneath it...we have enough pitch to angle it out...I think! :) Thanks for the eyes, it helps to keep my focus on areas that need attention!!
Tara

PROGRESS!!! Life has been hectic here...got behind posting pics! So fast forward to tile/coping/deck!

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Plan on using country manor block to build columns on the raised patio and seat wall on two sides then a pergola...right now I've got to fill beds and decide what to do on the far side of the pool, I have 1.5 pallets leftover of the pavers (Belgard bergerac) and thought I might could use them to build a little wall on that side? I had planned to put 10 Hameln grasses along the strip for some green on that side, but I may have room for the pavers and plant?

A huge PRAISE for all the subs I've had so far, they've all been wonderful (my local plumbers could have realized they did not connect the new well pipe to the spicket, but I'll give some grace and just call them back out) the paver crew was outstanding! The tile/coping crew were so nice and did a great job cutting the Peacock Pavers and placing them. They worked soo very hard and even remained cool when my guaranteed deliveries of rock/sand were 6 hours late!! Oh, the little hiccups just make it that much more memorable.

Tara

Thanks for any help!
Tara

Here's one more long shot! :)

{{!gwi}}

Tara,(you are an angel among us)

Thanks for posting your pool build. I used to be a school teacher & God used my profession to bring two very unexpected foster children into my home. One 13-year-old former student and her 5-month-old baby sister. Needless to say, I have a special place in my heart for foster families.

What a special gift you are giving to the precious children who come through your camp. The memories that they will create will be priceless. May you continue to be abuldantly blessed while creating this wonderful ministry.

Can't wait to see the finished product.

txmom!

You truly are the hero in this story! I know my limits and I wish I had your ability to take those children in! I have such a heart and huge admiration for all that you did to take those children into your home, a friend of mine who is helping me make this happen suggested we should offer the summer camps not only to the foster kids but to the children of the host family....they, too, have made so many sacrifices to invite others into their home. We will be working this summer on our lifeguard/swimming certifications (just got all of our infant/child CPR certs) and hope to be ready to open it for families such as yours next summer...final pictures will be a ways off...it's a pay as you go deal and lots of diy dirt moving! :) But it will happen...we're over the hump we feel! :) Thanks for your encouragment!

Blessings,
Tara

Pebble Sheen (French Grey) goes in on Tuesday!! Fence on Thursday! Think I'm going to wait the 30 days to add salt, want to make sure it's as cured as it will get! Plus, we're out of town 2 of those weeks, so will add it in when we get back....added some landscaping this past week to clear up the mud sections...long going when it's diy...but fun to see the changes! :)

Will post pictures of the fill in! :)

Tara

Have a couple of questions about using well water to fill a pool. Our outside spickets run on well water...I have never truly tested it for long runs, but generally the first 2-3 minutes I run the pump I get rust that generally clears up 99% after it's running...my best guess is that the sleeve they used to run the pump lines down 60' to my source of water has rusted, they must have used steel not the kind that won't rust....

I have a lot of water in our well b/c it taps into an underground river...I did buy a house filtration system that I can hook up between two hoses and check the filters for rust, but what considerations should I know before I fill it up? Pebble sheen is supposed to go in on Thursday..any help would be appreciated!

We do have the option of running the city water into it, but it means unhooking the washing machine (which I'll desperately need the next 3 days) and running hoses around...even considered calling my local volunteer fire dept..any ideas??

Thanks!
Tara

Pics look great! Excited to see everything progressing! I'd prob. unhook the washing machine & use the city water, but I'm no expert in that area. Hope someone chimes in about the water.

Finished!! Well, since I was gone from 5:30am to 9pm on the day they started filling the pool, I think the well question is mute! :) I'm not sure if this is the final color or it will change over the next few weeks but it really looks inviting....now, I just need to get all that mud moved! If anyone has any tips on what I should be doing now that it's filling up..please share!!

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Thanks for all the help! This has probably been the easiest pool build I could have imagined!! That was my biggest fear in doing this as an owner/contractor...I am so thankful for the crews lined up by Sceadu and his great attitude in making the shell part of the pool come to fruition!! THANK YOU!!!

Tara

Quote: "If anyone has any tips on what I should be doing now that it's filling up..please share!!"

For starters, if you haven't already visited the site, take a look at pool school over at troublefreepool.com

Did you use Peacock Pavers? I understand there are only four color choices. Can you tell me which you used?
Thanks!

Those are Peacock Pavers. She got a good deal on them becasue they were a leftover. I don't recall the color.

OOPPS!!! The pavers were Belgard and the coping was Peacock pavers. I had to read the first few posts to verify.