lasik1

Our contractor just finished the concrete pool deck with the styrofoam forms. He sponged the concrete after pulling the forms, but there are still significant holes/pits(pea sized) on the cantilever surface where the wires held the forms, and one area about 6" long where the cantilever has larger peanut(unshelled) sized defects like the concrete failed to fill the form. When I asked him about it, he says the Spray Deck will fill the defects- will be done in 10 days. I fail to see how a thin coating will fill these holes, and am concerned. Considering that our filter/ pump connection failed 5 days after install due to the pad being so unlevel that the base of the pump was suspended in the air and not on the pad, I feel my concerns have merit. Comments?

I assume you are referring to waterline tile- the consensus seems to be that it isn't necessary, but prevents damaging the finish of the pool if you need to clean a "bathtub ring" and also helps with leveling the look of the waterline if necessary. Our pool is a dark blue granite look finish, we tried many samples of tile, none of the patttern tiles looked right, so we went with solid blue 2x2 glass and we like it.

We are puttting our fiberglass 12x25, 9000 gallon pool in next week. While waiting on the permit, I have decided to add a waterfall and solar heating system. Our pool came with a one HP Hayward superpump. The waterfall will be 4 ft. wide and 3 ft. above the surface. The solar system will be on the roof 30 ft. up. My installer wants to use a separate waterfall pump. Our vacation home has a similar pool and waterfall, and waterfall runs great on the 1.5 HP pump there- even has 2 settings- standard and Niagara-I just turn the valve. Should I insist on one pump, or does he know something I don't?

Thanks for the replies- I found some glass mosaic tile that is great and am using that.

Our Ocean Reef "Marathon" 12x25 arrived today, in the dark blue granite finish. Our installer is recommmending waterline tile, but I haven't seen one I liked from his samples and I'm wondering if I can do without it for a cleaner look and saving some $$ as well. Anyone go without it and are happy? Are there web sites with more tile samples to see- maybe I haven't seen a good match? Thanks from Key West.

You probably have your pool in, so this won't help. We took delivery of our Ocean Reef "Marathon" pool today, in the dark blue granite finish. It looks amazing, and we love the wavy walls of this pool. Ocean reef is blowing out the pools they have left in Florida as they closed the plant there due to the economy. They are still operational in Tennessee.

We have brick paver coping on our gunite pool at our vacation home, and are currently(shell delivered today) installing a FG pool at our main residence. This time we are going with a cantilever deck in concrete, even though we have a paver driveway. The brick pavers are nice, but the mortar collects black mold and is starting to fail due to repeated sessions with the power washer and wire brush. In south Florida, our humidity can be extreme, hence the mold. I like the way the cantilever deck mimics the clean "drop in" sink look so prevalent in homes today, and with the "spray deck" finish we will be able to customize the deck color to our taste. I also am hoping for less maintenance.