Any pool builder on the board?
 

Couple of questions on choice of color of aggregate finish.

Anyone?

I'm not, but my guy is coming over any minute now. Want me to ask him something?

Rick,

we currently have a light blue(ish) colored pool (hydrazzo). We are starting a new house and we are considering a dark colored pool (black or similar). My concerns, safety (can see the bottom?; can see varmint?), impact on water temperature, general maintenance (worst than light colors?)

I see the cool factor but I'm afraid it might wear off (like new car smell)...

I appreciate the feedback.

We went with BeadCrete in a medium blue with crushed abalone shells. Daytime it looks like the Adriatic....Nightime with the underwater lights on it was almost surreal.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1300918547.jpg

French Grey..works well.

I've swam in black pools in the NE. Mid summer they were almost too warm to be refreshing. I guess it would be worse in FL?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1300919226.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1300919254.jpg


I bilt this

My guys said they do hide varmints, but also hide stains and dirt. So it will always look clean. He said opinions on water temp. vary greatly. No consensus.

French grey? I'll google for pics

RKT, I would love a daytime shot and perhaps a close up of the finish if its possible.

many thanks mate !!!!!

My wife reminded me the name of the color is Shadow Welcome to Beadcrete
Very easy on the feet!
A pic and a short youtube just after the pool was finished but before all the landscaping went in.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esi_eSG8r7s

The pic:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1300924763.jpg

Johnco installs pools in the Louisiana area. Try PMing him.

Great info, thanks! Your pool is VERY nice!

Thank you. I found the pool build pictures from day one. Now only if we can figure out how to get them to slideshow from the oldest to the newest. We never used flickr before tonight. There are pictures of the crew installing the BeadCrete included.

rojospeedster's Photostream

That beadcrete looks awesome, but pricey!

XBMWGUY does it for a living (or has a crew do it for him).. PM Frank he'll help you out

Not your best post Tabs. The view (and the pool) suck.

We are in Texas and have a black pebble finish pool that we like a lot. Our builder said the temperature effect is minimal, but without a control in the experiment, it's really hard to know. Our pool gets full sun for 4-5 hours per day, we have some live oaks that provide some shade. Last year it got a little warm (above 90) but my friends with light bottom pools had the same problem, one had a very light grey finish, no shade, and his was much warmer than ours. So I think the amount of sun is the bigger factor than the color, as are depth and size, ours is 25k gallons, I've heard smaller than that, you will have problems with getting too warm. Seeing the bottom is not a problem, at least it hasn't been a factor for us, and we have several ledges and a beach-entry.

Some pics:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k7...l/IMG_2922.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k7...l/IMG_3226.jpg

I wouldn't hesitate to do another dark bottom pool, but as always, YMMV.

-John

I think it's all personal taste and what "look" you are going after. In general though, I prefer lighter shades. The darker finishes can sometimes make a pool look more like a pond. YMMV.

FWIW, Pebble Tec and Pebble Sheen are the predominant (non-plaster) finishes out here in the desert: Pebble Tec

Tabs, If that's you... You look like Robert De Niro.

I love the pool and the setting, spectacular. Down in So Fla we don't have those views...

Thanks for the info.

Input
 

I've been the in the pool industry in S. California for over 40 years; along with traveling and working with pool builders all over the world. I see or visit at least 10-15 pools a week in the largest pool owners area in Calif and maybe the world. Surface is about (3) basic needs: look or style of the pool, reflection of sunlight, and type of material (which plays into the cost to install or replace it. White Plaster or Tile is what you see on commerical Pools and Spas due to Health Department codes. Plaster can be in many colors and shades, and the least costly to do. But your installation, start up, and weekly care (pool servicemen/company) needs to do they job! Pebble Tec or Pebbie Sheen give you a more or finished look (my opinon) and can be designed to better match your decking/Couping, stonework, tile, etc. An seem to hold up better with less chemical damage issue's, but come at a greater installation cost. Tile, Marble, or a stone surface are at the top of the cost chair. A white pool reflects sunlight and color in part from the tile. A surface color give you depth in color; but the darker the pool color the less your light brighten the pool. (but remember you are not building a airport runway) And if you are using "color" or LED pool lights the number and placement can and will be a factor on a older pool. A new pool the builder would set and use more pool lights. But LED color lighting give your pool a speical look at night, and you can have 15-20 "moods" pre-set. Dark pools do warm up better from the sun and in some area's get hotter than the customer may want to swim at. In a non-commerical pool (I built a commerical pool>teaching>swim lessons>thus it's white plaster), I like :Dthe fench grey shape in a Pebble Sheen ( a little smoother than the Pebble Tec surface). It's not to dark to take the lums away from your light, but give you a very nice day shape to your pool. Anyone offering to do this work should have tons of samples to look at. Get them wet to see the true color of the sample; ask for refenence's, and see his or her contractors licence. DON'T TAKE THE LOW BID, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!
Hope it helps
art
agrimmitt@pelican

Thanks for the insight Art.

We will install a Gem finish as the pebble type finishes are not liked at home...

The contractors I'm dealing with both have over 30 years in the industry with over 25K pools built. I have checked references and spoken to owners. Checked licenses and insurance also.

Great recommendation!

Cheers to beers around the pool!
 

Sounds like you have done your homework! Porsches or pools it's all the same; know who your doing business with. If you come out west in August (Montery Historic) or October for Rennisport>drop me an email. We can meet up at the track or with a group of Pelicans. Dinner or wine tasting is a normal after event thing!:D I got a emai/call from Gary Stratton in Florida, he coming out in October and we hope to get some face time and dinner together.
art

I be owner bhuilder, that ain't me, but a relative who now owes me money...

To put that pool in required moving 200 cubic yards of dirt and rock, as it was all slope. It took 4 days with a Bull Dozer. The footings for the 240 feet of Retaining walls was about 65 yards of concrete. The Retainer in back of the pool was 104 feet of 5 foot and about 30 feet of 6 foot Retaining wall which all required engineering. The Garden Wall at the top was 200 feet. The pool took about 55 yards of Gunite with the rebar set 4 inches on center(as it acts as a Retaining Wall) The bottom of the pool against the slope is 18 inches thick..all of which required engineering.

That statue was Bronze and about 5K at the time, there were 6 Copper Lions Heads that poured water. The Ballustrated Railing was 60 feet, and cost about 7K for material alone which also included 3 columns and precast steps up to the pool. I ran 3 Whisper Flow pumps..had Commercial grade Electrical Sub panel. The Custom Coping was 4K, later one of the Lakers decided to use the same Coping. The Tile was about 3500. Those are 1990's prices...


The comment from a friend after she saw the pool was, "You always wanted to be a Caesar didn't you.' It is a very formal pool.