Our New Pool!

[Steve Machol]

It was a very intersting process to watch our new pool being made. Here's the show - from start to finish:

Marlena & Steve's New Pool

By the way I just installed this new Gallery program. I'll be using it for future OptiBoard pictures.

[Diane]

Steve,

I hope that you both enjoy it tremendously. Just don't get sunburned. I enjoy swimming at night for that reason. Good time to cool down.

Now the rest of the landscaping begins.....Is it pretty dry where you live?

Diane

[Steve Machol]

Yep - it's pretty dry although we have had an unusually wet winter this year. In fact the rain delayed to pool because it washed some of the sand bags into the hole and damaged the rebar.

[John R]

Boy could we do with one of them over here now.....

Basking in 70+ temps....
Thank god i'm not working this week, tis far too hot.
but boy the views are something else....

[Suzy W]

Great looking pool Steve. Don't have too much fun with it!:D
Looks like it was an interesting process to watch.


Suzy

[Joann Raytar]

So, when's the first pool party?

[Steve Machol]

Actually it's on Easter. You're all invited!

[Texas Ranger]

Steve, great looking pool, know you'll get lots of use out of it in Arizona! and thanks for the link to "gallery". looks like a good tool to help educate patients about the eyewear making process...

[Steve Machol]

The Gallery program is very nice. However it has a few server requirement (NetDBM, ImageMagick) in order for ir to work. It took me about an hour to compile and install ImageMagick on my server. Once that was installed the gallery program worked flawlessly. :)

[Pete Hanlin]

Just promise that they'll be no pictures of you in a Speedo floating around in the pool! ;)

(Actually, I think you're probably more of a conservative boxer-style suit type, but...)

Did you get the photos of the group at Expo that I sent to you, or are they already posted and I'm just missing them?

[Steve Machol]

Yeah I got them. Thanks. I haven't had time to post them yet but I will. It would be easier to do them in the new Gallery program since with that it's easier to add and edit new pictures as needed. I'll try to redo all the VEE pictures in this format as soon as I can.

And yes - definitely boxers here! ;)

[Foveator]

Around photo 31, it shows all of those pipes coming up throughthe floor of the pool. Besides the larger drains, what were they? I didn't see them in finished photos.

Is that a "gunnite" type of pool?

How long did it take to install?

Use it in good health, (probably with a wireless networked laptop on the table).

--Jeff from CT, where pool season is only 3 months long...and the rest has to do with UCONN basketball.

[Steve Machol]

Foveator said:
Around photo 31, it shows all of those pipes coming up throughthe floor of the pool. Besides the larger drains, what were they? I didn't see them in finished photos.

That's the in-floor cleaning system.

Is that a "gunnite" type of pool?

You can see then spraying and shaping the gunnite on day 18. The final surface is pebbletec.

How long did it take to install?

From the day they started digging until the day Marlena could finally get in the pool - 36 days! :colo:

It was truly an amazing process to watch. And a little scary when after 2 days of solid rain, the sand bags (to plug the ramp) started to cave in and bent the rebar out of shape.

http://www.machol.com/gallery/album01/day14_3

[Jim Schafer]

Hi Steve,
Good move selecting the Pebbletec finish. Most everyone I know is replacing the marcite finish (that slowly dissolves over a 7-10 year period depending on how well you balanced your pool chemicals) with Pebbletec or with a diamond bright system. Both are suppossed to last the life of the pool.
This fall I am going to redo our pool deck with thin pavers and probably go Pebbetec on the pool.
Our pool made it through 12 years and is now showing its age. During the 2001 Christmas holiday season, my two sons, nephew and I resurfaced the original white "cool deck" finish with a 3 color acrylic spray on finish. We taped off areas for a brick edge with large smooth stone look. It was a lot of work and came out great. Trouble is, it will need resurfaced every decade or so. With the pavers it will last the life of the pool.
Nothing like floating, drinking Old Milwaukee and grilling on a sunny afternoon.
Enjoy your pool,
Jim

[hcjilson]

I guess this is the best of all of your collective efforts to stick it in the ear of those of us blessed by living in the Northeast..........

WHERE by all indications.....

Winter is still in progress!!!!! :angry:

hj

[Steve Machol]

Jim Schafer said:
Hi Steve,
Good move selecting the Pebbletec finish. Most everyone I know is replacing the marcite finish (that slowly dissolves over a 7-10 year period depending on how well you balanced your pool chemicals) with Pebbletec or with a diamond bright system. Both are suppossed to last the life of the pool.

Since we plan to live in this house for the rest of our lives we decided it would be worth it to pay a litttle extra for the better surface.

And Harry - it was 94 degrees here on Easter. Sorry about the Winter thing, but 115 is right aound the corner for us. Then we hit the Monsoon season in July/August when we get the delightful combintation of both high temperature *and* high humidity.

However the pool should make surviving summer a little easier this year. :ccol:

[Jim G]

Noticed Marlena in the pool. Is she in training for the Polar Bear Society? Hey guy, the water is only up to about 70!

Yeah, 115 is close BUT, jump in the 90+ degree pool and you'll get goose bumps (pimples). And, 115 is much more livable than what Harry's putting up with. Only had the top up and a/c on in the lit'l red car 4 times last summer.

Also, please explain to the Borders that 94 with humidity of 12% is really quite nice...besides it was only 89 where we were.

Enjoy. Marlena's Ace job must be bringing in big bucks...!!!

[Steve Machol]

Jim, the water's actually been between 72-74 degrees. Definitely takes a minute or two to get used to, but it's not too cold for swimming. However it's been unusually cold the last couple of days and even Marlena hasn't been in the Pool.

[varmint]

Oh man, I didn't see this thread until today. I could have made that Easter pool party!!! Is that big fridge on the patio for holding beer & elixir?

[Steve Machol]

Yep. That's what is was for. :D

[Texas Ranger]

Steve, I suppose that you're just beginning to appreciate your new pool, about now that it's into June? wishing you well, always.