Akita Pool

[EddieWalker]

Forecast was for cooler temps to day and a little rain. With big rains expected Friday and Saturday. I decided to go for it and have the concrete delivered this morning. Four yard minimum was $510. The sprinkling lasted until he was done dumping it, and then it remained in the 70's until noon.

I made a huge mistake and only had him dump the 2 1/2 yards that I needed. Then I had him just dump the remaining gravel and sand onto my grass so I could mix it up later in my mixer to fill up the cement blocks. I paid for four yards, and it doesn't matter to them if they add water to it or not. The mistake was not realizing how much deeper my pad was in the middle. As I started spreading and smoothing it out, I realized I was short. I figured the most important thing was the footings under the cinder block, so I got that area all leveled out. Then I ran to Lowes and bought 20 fifty pounds sacks of Readi Mix and started mixing. What should have taken an hour job, turned into 5 hours. Fortunately, the original pour never got so hard that I couldn't liquefy it and blend it into the new stuff, but as you can see in the pics, it's not pretty. Good thing I'm covering it all in tile!!!

 

[Bird]

Good looking supervisors you have there.

 

[bindian]

Forecast was for cooler temps to day and a little rain. With big rains expected Friday and Saturday. I decided to go for it and have the concrete delivered this morning. Four yard minimum was $510. The sprinkling lasted until he was done dumping it, and then it remained in the 70's until noon.

I made a huge mistake and only had him dump the yard and a half that I needed. Then I had him just dump the remaining gravel and sand onto my yard so I could mix it up later in my mixer to fill up the cement blocks. I paid for four yards, and it doesn't matter to them if they add water to it or not. The mistake was not realizing how much deeper my pad was in the middle. As I started spreading and smoothing it out, I realized I was short. I figured the most important thing was the footings under the cinder block, so I got that area all leveled out. Then I ran to Lowes and bought 20 fifty pounds sacks of Readi Mix and started mixing. What should have taken an hour to spread, turned into 5 hours. Fortunately, the original pour never got so hard that I couldn't liquefy it and blend it into the new stuff, but as you can see in the pics, it's not pretty. Good thing I'm covering it all in tile!!!

It's amazing how concrete work can get under estimated, but never over estimated. I have made fast trips to Lowes also.

Like Bird stated above.................Good looking supervisors you have there.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Drunkwater]

I would caution against redguard in a pool application. Polyurethane based products aren't designed for continuous submersion, and have weak chemical resistance. Have a look at the Mapei product line, they've got a complete line of waterproofing from mortar right on up to the tile grout designed specifically for pool applications. Don't be too concerned about flexibility, despite being 'cement based' products, the waterproofing layers remain flexible. The Mapei products will be compatible with standard commercial drains.

Schluter is overpriced and overrated IMO. Best left to designer homes. There are plenty of equivalent products at a fraction of the cost.

I'm enjoying following this project, keep it coming!

 

[EddieWalker]

I would caution against redguard in a pool application. Polyurethane based products aren't designed for continuous submersion, and have weak chemical resistance. Have a look at the Mapei product line, they've got a complete line of waterproofing from mortar right on up to the tile grout designed specifically for pool applications. Don't be too concerned about flexibility, despite being 'cement based' products, the waterproofing layers remain flexible. The Mapei products will be compatible with standard commercial drains.

Schluter is overpriced and overrated IMO. Best left to designer homes. There are plenty of equivalent products at a fraction of the cost.

I'm enjoying following this project, keep it coming!

I agree with you about Schluter products, but for those willing to spend the extra money, it's alright. Just not what I want to use.

From their website, Redgard says it's designed for swimming pools. Do you have some other information that I should look into? I'm not committed to Redard, it's just a popular product there that is easy to get, and that I've been using for several years now on showers that I've remodeled for clients.

My favorite tile supply company here in Tyler told me about the waterproof mortar to use for swimming pools, but I don't know the brand name of it. My thinking is that the mortar will acts as a second layer of water proofing over the Redgard. Then the tile and grout would be the third layer.

The block is being delivered tomorrow, Sunday, and I'm sure it will take awhile to get it all set. After that, I'll plan to give it at least a month to cure. Im in no rush at all to move forward with that part of this project, so I still have lots of time to make a final decision.

The Akita Pool is just part of what we are doing. Our back porch is only 9 ft deep and 12 feet wide. We are tearing it down, and expanding it to the edge of the pool and as wide as we can possibly make it. The Akita Pool is the focal point, and nice accent, but the porch itself is the main project that we want to get done.

 

[CincyFlyer]

One of the problems with Akita's is they blow their coat. ...

Our dearly departed Alaskan Malamute blew about three sweater's worth a year. I couldn't get anyone to spin it into yarn, however.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've used Redgard a couple of time on concrete floor and a tile shower remodel. Easy to apply, rolls on easy. No issues for me and I know contractors around here use it indoors and out.

 

[EddieWalker]

Block seems to be about the same price everywhere. Lowes had it for $1.47 each plus $65 for delivery. I also had them deliver thirty 80 pound sacks of Type S mortar. I think the delivery fee is the best money spent ever. He used his forklift to put the pallets right where I wanted them. It would take me all day, and it would be a very long, painful day to do this on my own.

 

[EddieWalker]

Our dearly departed Alaskan Malamute blew about three sweater's worth a year. I couldn't get anyone to spin it into yarn, however.

With four Akita's, I have no idea how much hair we end up, it's just become part of life. Same as dealing with dust in the house. Fortunately , my wife seems to have some sort of OCD about constantly cleaning the house!!! One thing that we are doing is removing carpet and wood flooring. Everything is going to be tile!!!

 

[jenkinsph]

Looks good Eddie.

I was about half way through a pad Saturday working with sackrete and had the mixer electric motor lock up. I was able to get it off and fixed up on site and back in business but that was a close call. I like the 50 pound sacks from Lowes, good for old men and same cost per pound as the 80 sacks.