| Portfolio |
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Current Projects |
Current Projects
Pool Remodel -West Los Angeles
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Client request new finish and tile... main issue was a part of the
bond-beam had cracked and since the tile is attached to this part of
the pool, the tile was also cracked... and of course the pool was
leaking profusely. Note the beautiful shape this pool already has.  |
Site problem -pictured here is a "gash" left by the "dissolving"
bond-beam. A crack proceeds at an angle from the bottom tip of the
gash below the tile. |
Close-up of crack... you can see the tip of
the gash continues as a crack below the tile. |
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Day 1 -demolition begins May 27, 2009 Immediately at the site of the crack, we discover that the bond-beam was very soft, almost "like sand."  |
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Day 1 -demolition begins May 27, 2009 |
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Day 1 -demolition begins May 27, 2009 The whole pool is stripped of the existing plaster and coping  |
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Day 2 -demolition May 28, 2009 More of the bond-beam was exposed discovering some rebar in the structure was actually completely deteriorated.  |
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Day 2 -demolition May 28, 2009 A corroded spike of rebar rising from the bottom was once a solid piece. The gunite encasing it was just too soft and porous exposing it to damp soil. Rebar should normally be fully encased in cement (gunite) protecting it from the eroding moisture of damp subterranean soil.  |
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Day 2 -demolition May 28, 2009 Our talented crew performing many tasks simultaneously; removing the old skimmer, preparing for an automatic water-fill, saw-cutting the deck for new plumbing and creating a new planter for the backyard. We will also be "splitting" the main-drain into two suction in-takes to make it safe and to code. We fallow strict code guide-lines.  |
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Day 2 -demolition May 28, 2009 Alex Jason saw-cuts a slice at the edge of the deck creating a planter and making an access to the pool to improve the plumbing by adding additional returns lines. This old pool had only two 1" return lines pointing in the same direction from the deep end. We will update the plumbing of the whole pool with three 1.5" returns lines in three strategic places for optimum circulation and we'll use 2.5" suction and return supply lines. Removing all of the needless restrictions will improve the over-all efficiency in filtering, heating, and electrical pump energy consumption.  Pumps use far less energy when large enough pipe sizes allow for less restrictive water flow. Many old pool systems would compensate "cheaper" smaller sized plumbing with "over-sized" pumps which would only needlessly consume large amounts of energy. A smaller pump or a finely tuned variable speed can "out do" the work and efficiency of systems with miss-matched pumps and plumbing sizing. Don't make your pool "just pretty" ... make it work well too to improve efficiency in terms of filtration, heating, power usage, and over-all energy consumption. A well designed system translates into $$$$ in savings. |
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June 1st, 2009 -plumbing The trenches are dug and placement of the new plumbing begins. Alex-Jason lays in a 2.5" return line which will supply water to the three 1.5" returns. "Over-kill?" We don't think so. The costs difference between larger sized plumbing and smaller plumbing is negligible, especially compared to the over-all gained energy efficiency of less restrictive plumbing.  |
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June 1st, 2009 -new steel At the site of the original crack, all the "soft" gunite is removed and a new steel network is installed.  |
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June 2nd, 2009 -Main-Drain update... The new codes require safer suction ports, main drains have to have "special" anti-entrapment covers and/or have "split" two suction ports three feet apart for a single suction intake.  |
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June 2nd, 2009 -adjustable auto cleaner Something special... an adjustable vacuum port for an automatic pool cleaner using a 3-port valve for fine tuning. Our client can fine tune their cleaner right at the deck next to the skimmer. All 2.5" pipe on the suction line allows for very low flow restriction.  |
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June 3rd, 2009 -gunite day At the site of the crack repair over the new steel, Andy shoots gunite at 3500 psi to insure tinsel strength of the pool wall patch.  |
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June 3rd, 2009 -gunite day The fresh gunite is shaped to exactly match the contours of the existing pool. The patch will be 100% un-noticeable and even be stronger than rest of the pool.  |
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July 3rd, 2009 -coping, water-line, & deck
treatment By this time, we had poured a new coping, installed hand-cut quartzite stone for the waterline, and begun the "deck treatment" which will be a simulated stone inlay.  |
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July 3rd, 2009 -coping & deck treatment This shows the poured coping which is a textured "stamped" two-dye release colored cement. Note the circular lid for the automatic water-fill, also made of concrete. On the surrounding deck, you can see the faux stone saw-cuts in preparation for the acid-stain color treatment.  |
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July 3rd, 2009 -coping & water-line This is the custom hand-cut quartzite stone for the waterline of the pool. Our client chose a beautiful "Gold Rush" color stone. Note the two-dye release textured stamped concrete coping right above the stone work.  |
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July 13th, 2009 -Acid-stain Deck Treatment The ordinary pre-existing adjacent cement deck was scored in a flag stone pattern and then "acid-stained" to give the patterns a stone-like mottled appearance. Later, grout will be added to further the laid flagstone effect and then a sealer will be applied.  |
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July 17th, 2009 -Placing the Mosaics before
the Refinishing At the top is a starfish, the second step has two geckos, and the lowest step has three baby turtles.  |
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July 17th, 2009 -Refinishing the Pool
Begins The waterproofing cement coating is pumped from the street thru a hose and applied to the raw gunite. 
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July 17th, 2009 -The Pool refinish is Done The refinishing is completed with a "surprise" Dolphin mosaic, a gift from the spouse.  |
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July 17th, 2009 -The "Surprise" Dolphin
Mosaic A perfect accent.  |
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July 17th, 2009 -The Grand Slide is
Constructed The same day, we assemble the slide and tested the placement for it. ... it was meant to be! 
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July 18th, 2009 -Installation of the Slide The slide is so big, the "ladder end" sits off the concrete deck. We pour a thick rebar enforced slab of concrete extending the deck to accommodate the slide. Plus we added a precisely placed water supply within the slab making for a cleaner low-profile water supply to the slide... no hoses going over the deck. 
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July 20th, 2009 -Installation of the Slide Today the slide was secured to the cement and made 100% stable. Note how the white PVC pipe comes right up the water supply of the slide, it is not connected just yet. The grey flexible pipe will connect the the white pipe. 
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July 20th, 2009 -Installation of the Slide This picture was taken just before the slide was secured to its site, but the whole pool remodel is finally coming together. This hand rail will be installed just over the steps of the pool.  |
July 18th, 2009 -Coping and deck close-up |
July 24th, 2009 -Almost completed... this
shows the stamp color coping, the acid-stain deck effect, our
matching "pour-a-lid," handrail, and the mosaic starfish in the pool
on the first step at the shallow end. Our clients tell us that their
friends ask if they got a "new pool." ... more pictures to come. |
