IB, Eliminating steps as a design mantra! How interesting, and to my mind, boring...This would tend to presume designing for sites that are more or less level, something that obviously doesn't work in many areas of the country. Steps can often have religious or cultural significance, and are often used in places like Bali to deter evil spirits from free entry into a garden or dwelling, where most all garden entries will force one into climbing up a few steps, entering, and then descending into the enclosed garden, even when the site is virtually flat. Steps are also often used in a Japanese garden context to force a change of views, or focus attention by slowing one down to take in the experience at that point in the garden. I was looking through some books at our excellent local book store, Builder's Booksource here on 4th St in Berkeley yesterday evening, and stumbled across a book on Organic Architecture that featured work on Frank Lloyd Wright and son, with particular emphasis on their 1920's work in Los Angeles. Every single project had massive amounts of steps, and often featured interior rooms with changes of levels within them to designate changes of function and mood. I especially liked a bedroom that located the bed at a 4 foot change in level with the steps located right at the bed. Maybe not for everyone, and especially restless sleepers prone to accidentally rolling out of bed, but it had the charm of being in a tree house and looking down upon the world. I personally will always find a hillside garden with steps more interesting than a flat garden, and hillsides also provide many more opportunities for views, changes of perspective, and more opportunities for planting combinations, as well as opportunities to use plants that arch, drape and cascade in ways that a flat garden doesn't. Even in virtually flat sites such as Viscaya in southwest Florida, the use of steps up and down and framed views of water make an essentially flat site much more visually interesting. As well, walking up and down steps everyday also works wonders on a common American predicament, the flabby *ss! I wouldn't want to live in a world without steps, even when they don't appear to be necessary! I hope the OP does submit pictures of the intended application of these massively wide proposed stairs down to the pool, as perhaps the photos will make a case for why Laag's logic either does or does not apply. At the opposite extreme of these proposed super sized steps, the mayan temples in the jungles of Guatemala and southern Mexico are their opposite, so impossibly narrow and steep, that they give one vertigo in climbing up to the top, but evoke a powerful visual presence as well as exertion to make it up and down, clearly intended to stimulate feelings that can only be guessed at 100's of years later.

I see lots of participants post progress photos. I have been posting our's to Facebook because that is where the family tends to congregate. Here is the link https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151468994612211.1073741826.724297210&type=3 (let me know if that link doesnt work) Sorry but the chronology is not great. If that is not a good solution then I will gladly try and post here too. Progress for the past week has been slowed by weather and this issue about the stonework. Would be thrilled if anybody could weigh in on the options. Again, if you have any questions/comments about our project please just say so and I will do my best to respond. It is a big and scary project. Appreciate any and all feedback.

I have a BeadCrete finish. It feels very smooth under your feet. It consists of glass bead embedded in a plaster matrix. I am located in Ontario, Canada. The finish was very expensive ( approximately $18,000.00) for a small pool. The finish is applied by spraying it on. It is very inconsistent! There are areas of high bead density (50 beads per square inch) and areas of low bead density (10 beads pers square inch ). This produces a very uneven colour. In some areas there are no beads or matrix at all ( exposed concrete ). My finish is dark. It looks terrible. As I previously mentioned, I have complained numerous times to the Canadian distributor ( who installed it ) and to the American head office. All with no results. I am dissatisfied with both the pebbletec product itself as well as the customer service. Also be aware that it will build up a calcium carbonate film over time which will necessitate you to empty the pool and have it acid etched every couple of years to restore the finish. Otherwise, it will have a whitish film on it. Carefully investigate the finish requirements and maintenance requirements of the finish you pick. I am considering redoing my finish with ecofinish. It is suppose to be smooth. Does not get a calcium carbonate buildup over time. Has anyone used this finish?

Salt is extremely corrosive to all materials with the exception of porcelain and glass. I refuse to do a salt water pool unless my clients sign a waiver. Porcelain or glass would be a good choice for the waterline. Cleaning and then sealing the stone on the raised beam will help. Even if you use a good sealer that says it will last for 10 years don't always take the manufactures word. Some 10 year sealers haven't actually been out for 10 years yet. They do lab testing that simulates time. I would keep on a sealing regimen every two years. I have used a 10 year sealer and within a year the salt started to pit the travertine coping. Luckily I had warned my client about it so the expectation was set but that tells you how corrosive salt is. A good quartzite stone very durable. Some stone may look like quartzite but may have sandstone or limestone in the mix. A picture would be helpful. Hope this answers helps.