Pool Construction Days 6,7, 8 and Done!

On Monday this week the cement guys came and put up the forms to pour the deck, but the weather looked too threatening to pour. Good thing they didn't as we had the tail of Tropical Storm Fay blast through that night and added 2 inches of water to the pool! Tuesday it was still raining a bit. Wednesday they poured the cement then power washed down to expose the pebble finish. Thursday morning Damon from the pool company came and vacuumed all the grout and other garbage that had fallen in the pool and shocked it with chorine. Then he gave me (Sarah) "pool school". I learned how to work the vacuum, back wash the filter and use the test kit. Then he said it was ready to swim in! We waited for the boys to come home from school, and this was what happened.

So all in all it was 2 weeks from the first day of construction to swimming in the pool. They said it would take 5 days and that the pool would be in by noon the first day. It wasn't much longer than that. The pool was in on the second day because the entry to our back yard was so narrow because of the second garage. And then there were a lot of rainy days in there. There still is a little work to do. When the surrounding mud is dry they will come in with a bobcat and level it out for us. Then Clint and I and the boys will try our hand at laying sod and landscaping.

Family Home Lifting?

Can you think of better captions for these photos?

Pool Construction Wednesday--Day 6

The Catalina Pool people did come, but it was plumbing and electrical stuff. Mostly it rained. We'll have to wait for a dry day before they can pour the washed pea-gravel decking.

Pool Construction--Tuesday, Day 5

Bricks! Walah! Umm...doesn't that water look inviting? The CoverPools guys came and built a pine box for the cover roll and motor. Can you see it on the deep end between the diving board rails and the pool edge? The tracks will go along the bricks and we'll be able to open and close the cover in under 60 seconds with the turn of a key. Essential with four boys under 7 who mostly can't swim!

Pool Construction Monday (Day 4)

Monday morning they brought in the bobcat and leveled the sand and soil. They put in place the safety rails and the rails the diving board will sit on. They won't be permanently set until the deck is poured.

Our little chlorine froggy buddy. Notice that the water is clear with just some sand on the bottom of the pool.

Putting in the concrete footings. Tal was so jazzed about watching this!!

Pool Construction Day 3--Over the Weekend

Please excuse the screen grid in all the coming photos! Over the weekend they continued to backfill with sand between the pit and the pool shell as they filled the pool with water.

Pool Construction Day 2

This was parked on our street this morning!

They needed the extra big crane because it was not able to enter our back yard.

I was impressed with "Daddy's" (It's a family business) ability to steer the pool using the shovel of his backhoe.

This crane part was amazing to watch. We had 5 neighbors out taking pictures!

It's in!

Pushing sand between the shell and hole.

I'ts 9 feet deep.

Filling with water.

Pool Construction--Day 1

Digging out the tree stump

Laying out the surveyor's chain and guide boards. Next they scraped up the turf with the Bob Cat.

Jack has a front-row seat from the dining room.

Cole joins him. This is where we sat all day Thursday!

The shallow end is dug.

Half-way dug.

The hole is done!

Preparing for the Pool the Day Before the Crew Arrives

When the trucks showed up the afternoon before, we knew we had to hurry up and finish prepping the yard for the pool.

The boys and I hauled away the bricks that enclosed these plants and then dug out the greenery to be restored afterwards (Talmage took this picture).

Clint removed the fence that reached between the house and his shop. That took a lot of digging to get those posts out. He kept the fence intact and will use the parts to reassemble it afterwards.

Preparing for the Pool, one week ago

This tree is standing right where the deep end would be, so Clint got to play Paul Bunyan.

It was Tennessee Cedar, like the one Seth used to make Clint a farewell pen. Thanks, Seth! It smelled yummy.

So this is the amazing thing about Bartlett, TN. Any bulk item you want to get rid of, a fridge, an entire tree--you just put it at the curb and they haul it away. We doubted they would really do it and were afraid of a huge fine, but sure enough they came and nabbed a 6 foot high--21 foot long pile of branches with 3 grabs. Then the guy pulled a rake off the truck and tidied up our lawn! We couldn't believe it. This in a poncho in the pouring rain! We applauded from the porch.

You asked for it, Pics of the Cresap Home

His and Her garages

Side view of Clint's lair. It is 800 square feet, compared to the attached 2-car garage that is 400 square feet. You could park 4 cars in there. I'm so happy for Clint. I think I did a good job finding his dream shop for him.

Looking down on the front door.

To the left of the entry way is the dining room, for us the "Library and music conservatory, ahem!" You can see a peek of the kitchen. Happy Birthday balloons for Katie Hale.

The living room, with a peek of the hallway that goes to the nursery and Master.

His and her closets.

You can't tell from the pictures, but this is about the biggest room in the house. 15x15. It takes five large steps to get from the shower (double shower heads!) to either of the sinks. Clint says, "I like my Mater Bath because I can play raquetball in there." Kind of silly, but nice.

The diningroom and kitchen are off the other side of the livingroom.

Back hall off the kitchen and diningroom, connects to the garage, back door and laundry room.

His and her Hondas :).

Upstairs hallway looking to the right from the stairs.

Boy's bath. In the toilet room there is a tub.

Attic #1

Office/Lego room.

Upstairs hallway looking to the left from the stairs.

Jack's room/Guest room

Attic #2, Attic #3 you get to via pulldown stairs in the hallway.

Tal and Cole's room. Notice the bunkbeds which were finished 2 days before we moved from San Diego! Gorgeous job, Clint.

A row of bins for each of the 3 older boy's clothes.

The End. Hope you enjoyed the tour.