Here are some pictures

Here is a link that might be useful: Our Pool Build

Hi mom of three!

Isn't it amazing how quickly your yard can change in a day?! The pool shape is great, I'm sure you are excited! I'll be following your build....:) Keep the pictures coming!

Hi momofthreeboys! I have 3 boys, too.

Congrats on your pool build. The dig looks great. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress.

Thank you so much for showing interest. I love this site so much. I could look at the pictures of pools all day! The steel crew arrived this morning at 5:30. I was so excited I jumped up and watched!

Lookin good...every phase is more & more exciting.... I see that you are getting crab mosaics... we have one and I wish we had more, it's one of our favorites.

You must be so excited! It looks wonderful so far!

Congrats!! I've seen you posting before, good to see your own project is finally underway :-) Let's see if we can get your pics to show up...

Before digging:
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After excavation (day 2):
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Please tell me how you did that! THANKS!!

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll136/momofthreeboys_2008/Our%20Pool%20Build/?action=view&current=PoolBuild-plumbing003.jpg
http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll136/momofthreeboys_2008/Our%20Pool%20Build/?action=view&current=PoolBuild-plumbing004.jpg
http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll136/momofthreeboys_2008/Our%20Pool%20Build/?action=view&current=Day3-steel001.jpg

Okay, we have our shell! I want to post the pics in here and I know people have told me how, and I really appreciate it so much,. but I cannot figure it out! I do have Photobucket, so here are the updated pics. I REALLY appreciate all the kind words and feedback from everyone.

I also have a question: how often should we wet down the gunite?

Here is a link that might be useful: Our Build

Looks great! The shape is very nice. Your PB is really moving fast. Gotta love that!

We watered ours 2-3 times per day. My 8 year old son loved doing it for us.

Looking good momofthree!
We also watered our gunite 2X daily. Funny, none of my teen girls wanted to water our gunite... :)
Just remember in Photobucket to click on the HTML link and paste in your message for this site, your pics should show then...

COngrats! You'll be swimming soon!

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So any suggestions for the equipment pad? I did not realize it would be so close to the pool. I am now thinking about a CABANA! Funny how things really snowball when you are building a pool.

Coping wnd Electricity and Tile is happening this week, then deck next week, then plaster, then WAter!!

I dont want to Jinx it, but it seems to be moving right along.

Trying to decide on Plaster. We ordered plain white, but now I am looking at these Pebble finishes and wondering...

Sorry for the slow reply, but it looks like you figured the picture posting out :-) The pool is progressing nicely! The noise from the equipment pad will mainly be from the pump. With a 1 hp pump it probably won't be too bad, but if it is objectionable then you can plant some growies around the pad. Something with a shallow root system so you won't have problems with the pool piping.

I have 2 different friends that went with white plaster on their pools and both regret it. When you get stains on white plaster it is really evident. Also it just doesn't look as inviting as colored plaster or pebble. If you can afford the upgrade then I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Thank you for the guidance.
Here is another question:
Ansylbrite Exposed aggregate pool finish VS.Sunstone Pearl (similar to Pebbletec)
Which is better?
Are either rough?
Does a dark pool attract snakes?

No pebble finish should be "rough", the larger aggregate finishes feel like the surface of a basketball while the smaller aggregates are even smoother than that. Every once in a while you'll see someone complain about a pebble finish but I suspect that's due to poor application (too much plaster removed during acid washing for example).

Water is going to attract the local wildlife regardless of the pool color. It's easier to see snakes in lighter color pools though. In 8 years at our house I had only seen one live snake. I finally saw my 2nd one now that the pool is in :-) Unfortunately it made it's debut while my daughter and her friend were swimming after dark! Good thing the pool light was on!

Okay, we have tile and coping and electricity. Tomorrow is the electrical inspection. Tuesday should be the rough grade for the deck (concrete) and the equipotential grid (something required by our county). Hopefully the deck will be done this week and the fence is scheduled for Friday. Monday should be the plaster. We decided to go with the Sunstone Pearl- Black Pearl finish. It is about $300 extra from the regular white plaster. Does anyone have this? It is similar to pebbletec.
Here is the tile and coping:

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Thanks for all the comments.

Oops I meant $3000 extra!

Really coming along nicely. Cant wait to see your pool finish and decking.

Thanks! I feel like everything is going so slow now. The tile and coping was completed Friday and the deck forms will be laid out this Friday at the earliest. Then there is another inspection and then they pour the deck.

I am also worried the Black Pearl finish will be too dark. Will we be able to see the bottom? Will the Colorlogic loghts looks good?

I am very excited to see your pool coming along nicely. I love your tile and look forward to seeing your build progress.

Deck guy is coming tonight!!! I just get so excited to have any little bit of progress. It is summer now and I really want to be able to swim!!

Leaning towards the Sunstone Pearl finish in the Blue Pearl.

I am very thankful for this pool forum. I really appreciate how encouraging everyone is. In addition, I have learned SO much.

The tile and coping look great! What kind of decking are you going with?

Quote: "I am also worried the Black Pearl finish will be too dark. Will we be able to see the bottom? Will the Colorlogic loghts looks good?"

You can see the bottom, but you don't "perceive" that you can see the bottom. In other words, if there is something sitting on the bottom like a pool toy then you can easily see it. If nothing is sitting on bottom it looks like you're staring into a bottomless body of water, it's like an optical illusion. Some people like that and others don't. Personally I love the look.

Regarding the lights, the darker the finish then the less light will be reflected and therefore the darker the pool will appear. It depends on how bright you want it to look. With 2 lights it would probably be passable if the lights are set to white or a light color, but may be marginal on some of the darker colors.

Thanks for that information. the deacking is plain old concrete. I am leaning towards the Blue Pearl now for the plaster.

I only have 1 light.

Hi there, I am also trying to pick a sunstone pearl color and am considering the blue pearl. Have you seen it in person or seen pics or a sample. If you have could you tell me what the surface itself looks like and what color the water is with the blue pearl. I like you started with white, liked the black but thought it was too dark. I just want a nice darker blue color and am hoping blue pearl could be it. Thanks for any info you can give me!!!

Hi there, did you check the website for pics? I am not really sure what it looks like but I am thinking it is close to Tahoe Blue in Pebbletec. We decided to go with the Black Pearl after looking at "Belly Flop"'s pool in the Gallery section. If you go to the Gallery section there are some awesome pictures of different finishes.

To answer your question I think the blue Pearl will be a beautiful blue color.

I have to say, I am incredibly thankful for this website. If it had not been for all you other pool enthusiasts, i never would have even HEARD of Pebbletec. My pool is DONE!!

We had plaster yesterday (the 8th on July). It was 34 days from excavation. I consider myself VERY lucky. Friday they are coming to put 4 gallons of acid in and then Tuesday the pumps will be turned on. The pool is rather cloudy and green at this point from the dust coming off the pebble finish. I am assured it will looks crystal clear very soon!

We decided to go with Black Onyx. It took us 15 hours to fill the pool with 2 hoses from the fire hydrant and one from the house. I will post some pics now and then some more after the acid on Friday. Thank you so much everybody!!
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Is it normal for it to be greenish before the acid and start up?

Congrats on the fill, it looks great! It is indeed normal for it to be greenish until the equipment is started up and you start filtering & chlorinating. The black finish will look quite oasis-like once the water clears :-)

Were you happy with your builder? If so, can you share the name? We are still looking. Thanks.

Thank you! Our builder is Anthony and Sylvan. They were nothing short of fantastic. ALWAYS responsive, always available. Every single sub was incredibly thorough, conscientious, and courteous. Most were family owned businesses with a father and son and then some hired workers. We are in Laurel, MD. I know each A and S is different, so we were lucky to get a good office.

This was a great time to build a pool because the business is really slow around here. In my mind, there is no better time to spend money and BOOST the economy. I was happy to not be competing with other people getting pools built.

Total price for pool was about $48,000.
Original contract was for 37,000. We added Black Pearl Pebble ($3,000) a 6 inch thick concrete sidewalk on the other side of our house, 500 extra sq. ft. of deck and numerous yard drains.

6 ft. fence by Long Fence was $12,000.

It was all worth it!

Thanks, MO3B's. Looks like they are happy! Glad you are, too. The pool is gorgeous! Love the tiles and finish. Congrats.