For anyone interested in seeing a gunite pool being built- ahh! crawly/jumpy things!

[luvflorida]

We are having a 15'x30' free-form inground gunite pool installed in our backyard and we are documenting each step by taking photos.

I know there are poeple from time to time inquiring on here about swimming pools, so I thought some of you might find it interesting to watch the step-by-step process.

We started by taking pictures of the backyard before anything was done and we'll update with photos everytime a new step is completed. I have a few pictures to start with and I'll put them up just as soon as I can. Which really means as soon as my DD14 can help me!

Okay! Picture one is our backyard, looking away from the house down to our shed.

Picture two is the backyard looking toward the house.

Pictures three and four show day one of digging. Day one the equipment arrived and the workers outlined the grass with spray paint at the site of the digging. They actually started to dig a bit and put up the wooden frame, which will be removed at some point. The heavy equipment is going to leave some very large ruts in our lawn that we'll have to repair later on.

Picture four is looking down into the yard from the steps of our screened in back porch. This was day two. They arrived at 7:30am and dug out the pool, which is going to be 3 feet deep at one end and 6 feet deep at the other end. It took them about four hours.

That's it for now. Any questions, just ask!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am in! We are thinking about it. Thanks

 

[denisem]

Please do! I'm sure I'll have tons of questions, too...

Denise

 

[luvflorida]

Please do! I'm sure I'll have tons of questions, too...

Denise

The first pictures are up. Any questions, please ask!

 

[sweet angel]

Cool. I'll be following along as well. We currently have an above-ground pool, but I'd love to have an inground. What's the draw of the gunite? Is it less expensive? Less maintenance? Longer lasting? Please say "all of the above"!!!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Looks interesting. I wonder what the wooden frame is for.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am most impressed that you started talking about it--what, 1 or 2 weeks ago and look at you!!!

Welcome to pool-hood!

Looks interesting. I wonder what the wooden frame is for.

The wood frame is a more firm border--b/c once they start digging, the spray paint disappears--The frame maintains the borders of how far out to be digging the hoel. Once dug..they'll build more of a frame structure and attach mesh to it and then the cement pond is poured. Not sure at what point it will differ for the gunnite construction though.

 

[luvflorida]

Cool. I'll be following along as well. We currently have an above-ground pool, but I'd love to have an inground. What's the draw of the gunite? Is it less expensive? Less maintenance? Longer lasting? Please say "all of the above"!!!!!

I believe the gunite is supposed to be longer lasting and less maintenance. I'm not sure if it's less expensive than other in-ground pools.

 

[luvflorida]

I am most impressed that you started talking about it--what, 1 or 2 weeks ago and look at you!!!

Welcome to pool-hood!

Thanks! It's really exciting to see the progression.

The gunite differs in that the cement is dry and is blown in with some type of gun. I'm sure there is a more technical explanation than that!

 

[Sandy22]

Thanks for sharing! How soon do they expect to complete it? Will you also install a fence?

 

[Pop Daddy]

your killing me, stop it

 

[luvflorida]

Thanks for sharing! How soon do they expect to complete it? Will you also install a fence?

It should take around three weeks to finish. Yes, fences are required by law, where we live anyway. We had a fence company come out a few days ago to give an estimate. Wow, we knew fencing would be expensive, but we didn't know HOW expensive!

 

[luvflorida]

your killing me, stop it

Bring your rubber ducky and a floatie and come on over!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks! It's really exciting to see the progression.

I tried digging up old photos--but couldn't find the beginning phase. I have after the shell was poured and they are removing the support braces before putting back in the dirt (you have a concrete shell in a hole in the ground).


I hope it goes quick for you.....

Here's my hole in the ground last summer....

And with the finish...and then with water...

It took 2-3 months of waiting on permits..and then a 12 week build (incl. screen)....but we love our pool!

 

[Hermosa11]

Hey, I'm in for the viewing!

 

[Pop Daddy]

Bring your rubber ducky and a floatie and come on over!

 

[denisem]

Stupid question #1 - how did y'all go about finding a reputable pool company?

We moved to Ocala, FL about 6 months ago and those we've asked for advice (realtor, inspector, landscape guy) are hesitant to recommend anyone - which worries me. I did a BBB search for Blue Haven (one of the larger pool companies) and they don't seem to have the best record.

TIA!

Denise

 

[What the Heck]

Also, how much does it cost?

 

[chamonix]

12 weeks?! It took 12 weeks to build that pool? It's beautiful, but, man, that's a long time!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Our pool was about $19K, screen/florida room demo/reconstruct was about $6K, and solar heater was 3K.....so total about $28K--then $500 for tree removal (root structure was in the area we were digging). We also spent $1200 to upgrade our power box (to meet code) and bury power lines. Had to pay to bury the phone line, but I don't recall how much that was. Cable was buried for free. This was all done b/c you cannot have any wires of any kind crossing the water or within a certain distance of water's edge. We also had to pay few extra dollars b/c we couldn't keep the tile on the porch (a bad install by previous owner) and had to have it stucco'd/painted like the rest of the deck. We used a home equity line of credit to build our pool.

As far as finding a reputable company---the bigger...the more problematic they are. We have lots to chose from in Brevard County...I went with one that the owners were there for every stage of the process and they didn't subcontract anything out except for the dig. Everything else--they were there for.

Interview at least 3 companies---call around...invite at least 3 for an estimate after you phone screen them.

Stay away from pool companies that subcontract out everything (IMHO) and if you can help it--stay away from those that are super busy and popular....quality of customer service tends to slip...and your standard pool build might take longer than expected.