All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It all looks so inviting! I LOVE the photo that shows the chairs in the "alcove" taken from what looks like your deck; very nice!! I have no idea how to build a pool which is why we hired ours out so I can only imagine the work/time it must have taken you. Even more impressive is that you actually got help from your teenager!! Enjoy your beautiful oasis!
joanneswimsct

You've built a lovely home and pool. Your outdoor surroundings and landscapes are picture perfect. How long is your swim season out in Iowa?

Thank you both for your kind comments. joanneswimsct, I was so impressed with your pool pictures that I thought I would post also. You have a fantastic location and it's clear your kids are loving having such a great pool.
As for swimming in Iowa, we have plenty of warm days and nights in June, July, and August with some swimming still in early September. I am lucky that both my wife and I are schoolteachers so lots of freedom during those months. My college age sons make good use of it with their friends, too. Physically, it took me most of the winter to recover from building it.

That is one great before and after post. Congratulations on your pool and new home. Everything looks so inviting!

Hi John
I wondered if you were a teacher; either that or retired to have summers off. I couldn't imagine doing so much as a DIY'er; my husband and I decided to re-side our first house years ago and it was a disaster!! Just think: I didn't think a 1/4 inch could make such a difference but over the course of the entire height of our house we were tilting to the right big time as we looked at the finished product!! I got a little confused over 1/4 and 1/8 of an inch as we were measuring...! Yikes! So I made sure it didn't happen again as the next day we tore out what we had done the day before and started again. Unfortunately, day #2 wasn't much better; we finished for the day and it looked great (level) BUT my husband realized too late that he had forgotten to put the insulation in b/ the studs! So we started all over again on day #3... We won't be hiring out any time soon!!
Once again, enjoy your wonderful oasis as soon as it's warm enough!
joanne

Very nice job.....

Let me do stress, that while my son and I worked hard, city code was followed to the letter. This involved having a Union electrician and plumber on site as needed to check my work. I had the plumber pressure check the system before I buried the lines and hook up the filter. He offered lots of working advice and was a great help. The electrician grounded the entire pool, wired the saltcell and pump, and hooked up the power to the fused box. After that, the city inspector checked and signed off all work. If you are building yourself, do not skip these steps and know that professionals like this are important to engage.

John, very pretty. We're in the hardscape biz and I showed your pix to DH, his kudos on the wall work too, very professional. Love how you cantilevered the capstone. Barb in Vegas