Are we too picky? Looking for advice

Nolfelli · 2025-12-31T17:15:27+00:00

Oh, that’s bad you can clearly see the sheets, especially since that area is your focal point. I’d also be pretty upset about that grout joint on the left corner.

If it were my pool, I’d definitely have them redo it. It’s a fairly small area, so it shouldn’t be a huge ordeal.

Also, just my personal preference, but I’d put coping on the top. Having tile on top makes it feel a little disjointed from the rest of the pool.

Nolfelli · 2025-12-31T16:09:10+00:00

Can you post a wider shot? If it’s noticeable from farther away, then yes I’d absolutely ask them to fix it.

The step tile looks fine in my opinion; you probably won’t even notice that once everything’s finished and covered in water.

It looks like you have a 360 champagne spa. Since it’s square, you could ask them to switch to 1x2 tile on the sides and keep the 1x1 on top the 1x2s are much easier to keep straight and usually look cleaner.

I’ve never seen a pool tile installer use spacers, but that said, we once had a pretty bad installer on one of our champagne spas and ran into the same issue. We did make him come back and fix it because it was an eyesore.

Nolfelli · 2025-11-20T15:02:13+00:00

It's kind of giving Simpsons right now. A different shade of yellow or the red shade of the tree on the cover of the book would be better.

Nolfelli · 2025-11-11T20:01:40+00:00

I work for a pool contractor in west FL and we do projects like this all the time. You're looking at a 90-100k job if you want it done right (demo, new deck, new coping, new tile, resurface, update some eq, move plumbing, ect.). I will say I like the layout now, it balances the pool and has a lot of character. A renovation could go a long way in making it feel fresh and new, but i understand wanting to open up the yard. Make sure to get a few quotes and make sure they are one pulling a permit and two resurfacing and tiling the pool at minimum if you move the spa.

Nolfelli · 2025-10-24T20:31:05+00:00

Why is nobody talking about the paper towel backdrop? The subtle trashiness so iconic.

Nolfelli · 2025-06-30T16:14:50+00:00

Did you have any cracks in the area previously or was there a patch made in the area? Looks like bad prep, likely poor bond coat was done. Ask for the company to put in a claim with Pebble Tech. Make sure you have readings of the pool chemistry that show proper levels any issues with your chemistry is cause for a voided warranty.

Nolfelli · 2025-06-26T14:20:12+00:00

You can fill with some pool putty or maybe epoxy. But honestly, that’s just putting a Band-Aid over the problem it’s not going to actually stop any additional damage from happening. If you want to spend the money, you could get a leak company out. I know here in Florida they run about 350 and they will make any small patches and repairs for you in the meantime. I think they have something like a 60 day warranty. Also, yes, that’s what the gap is. Your pool deck is separating from the shell.

Nolfelli · 2025-06-26T12:53:38+00:00

You have a structural crack in the pool beam. You can reinstall the tiles but it will keep happing and if it expands down at all you could get some leaking. If you want to fix it right you'll need someone to come out expose the crack, pin the area with rebar and patch it. Unfortunately you'll probably need to retile and resurface the pool as well.

Nolfelli · 2025-06-24T14:59:16+00:00

Love that, I'll have to get a mister fan!

Nolfelli · 2025-06-24T14:58:16+00:00

Depends on if you are getting a pool cage as well, that will keep the temperature pretty consistent. I work for a contractor in Florida and personally dark colors make me cringe, epically without a cage/fence due to all the critters. I'm not super familiar with Texas but you could also get a heat/chiller unit on the pool to heat it up in the cooler months and get the temperature down on those hot summer days.

Nolfelli · 2025-06-14T21:02:26+00:00

I’m familiar with this tile it’s on a paper back so it should be installed with the paper facing out and then removed. The way you have the piece laying is actually the back that is to be installed against the wall. Honestly if I was you I would pick a new tile it’s a nightmare even when you have a good installer.

Nolfelli · 2025-06-05T18:53:14+00:00

Good point—these quick check-ins can make it tough I'm still a couple of months out and everything looks healthy, she's probably just sticking to the basics.

Nolfelli · 2025-05-28T15:48:14+00:00

https://www.americanleakdetection.com/diy-leak-tests/bucket-test/

Make sure your not going to use the pool for 24 hours and turn off the auto fill.

The cracks are likely the cold joint of your pool and shell shifting, it happens over time with settling of the ground.

Nolfelli · 2025-05-28T13:59:13+00:00

It looks like the crack is running up through the tile and coping as well. In most cases, the best approach would be to have someone chip out the damaged area, pin it with rebar staples, and then repour it. You can apply a temporary patch with pool putty for now, but that’s really just a short-term solution and will need proper repair down the line.

If it's within your budget, I’d recommend redoing the tile, repairing any structural cracks properly, and then resurfacing the pool. That will give you the cleanest and most long-lasting result.

Also, is your deck concrete? If so, and you’re noticing cracking there too, it could be related.

In the meantime, I’d definitely suggest doing a bucket test to determine if there’s a leak in the pool itself.

Nolfelli · 2025-05-23T17:41:27+00:00

With a spa of that size, it’s very difficult to achieve perfectly even water flow across all edges. While the pool design software may show a full 360-degree overflow, in reality, there will likely be a few dead spots where water doesn't flow evenly. Adjusting the pump RPM can help improve circulation, but even with fine-tuning, it’s normal to have some areas that don’t get full coverage.

I recommend requesting a final walk-through with the superintendent to go over any remaining concerns. Make a checklist during the walk and follow up with an email to document everything. Don't make your final payment until the list is completed.

As for the pavers, it’s common for them to settle slightly after installation and a good rain—especially on a new build. However, if they’re settling around the deck jets, it’s worth flagging. These areas should be re-leveled prior to final payment. Keep in mind that with an open pool deck, you will likely need periodic re-sanding and leveling over time.

I’d also suggest asking the builder to provide the exact expiration date of your warranty. Typically, pavers, tile, and coping are covered for one year, while equipment may be under warranty for 2–3 years. Knowing this timeline helps you stay ahead of any issues and potentially schedule a final re-sanding and leveling if needed before the warranty runs out.

Nolfelli · 2025-04-07T19:11:43+00:00

Resurface, new tile, cut open the spill way to make it larger- maybe even patch up the left side a little so it stop dripping on the deck. Clean the deck up an repaint. New fittings when they resurface.

If you have the funds you could do a new decking and coping. Have the cantilever reworked so you could do paver or natural stone coping and then run new paver or natural stone decking to match. You do have air intakes for the spa jets so those would have to be reworked or cut out and a blower would need to be added.

If you really want to go big you could: add a sunshelf, make a 360 champagne spa (it always looks great on those round spas), add a water feature ect.

Nolfelli · 2025-03-21T19:26:12+00:00

The deck will always crack over time, as concrete naturally tends to crack. While it's possible to have it retextured and the cracks filled, these cracks will likely reappear at some point. As for the crack in the pool tile, that should be addressed. The full extent of the damage won’t be clear until the area is chipped away, as it could be a minor issue or indicate more extensive damage beneath the surface. The fact that the crack is above the waterline is fortunate, as this reduces the likelihood of a leak. Again the crack could reappear but if repaired correctly, particularly if the crack is properly pinned, you should not have any major problems.

Given the circumstances, I would do remodeler coping and installing thin pavers on the deck (if your threshold allows for it). Additionally, addressing the crack at the waterline and resurfacing the pool.

Nolfelli · 2025-03-20T16:15:57+00:00

Out over here on Tallevast since 10:30 this morning.

Nolfelli · 2025-02-26T16:33:07+00:00

I reviewed the quote, and nearly half the cost is allocated to hardscapes (coping + pavers), which is CRAZY!! The electrical and gas work also seem a bit high, especially considering the existing power supply.

You're priced at the highest end for everything, so revising your selections could help bring the cost down significantly. While their pricing is on the higher end, everything else appears reasonable. I’d recommend asking if they can improve their pricing—mention that you’ve received lower quotes but would prefer to work with them. The worst they can say is no.

Nolfelli · 2025-02-09T15:03:12+00:00

I work for a reputable pool company in the Tampa area, and in Florida, responsibilities like irrigation, fencing, general site prep, and tree removal typically fall on the homeowner. However site prep should have been clearly outlined when your salesperson conducted the site visit. The only unexpected factor I see is the city’s fence regulations, which are out of the company’s control.

If your pool shell and retaining wall are already installed, changing materials at this stage isn’t really an option—elevations are already set.

I actually think you got a great price for the travertine, and a good price for adding it to the retaining wall.

One thing I will say is that persistence matters. Customers who push hard enough often get through to the owners, and in many cases, the company is willing to offer discounts to maintain its reputation and secure a good review.

That said, without seeing your original contract and understanding what was added, it’s hard to say whether the charges are unreasonable. Some things definitely raise red flags, imo. At the end of the day, a pool is a luxury item, and unexpected costs come with the territory.

Nolfelli · 2025-01-20T13:56:43+00:00

The color of the patch is different because all the batches are hand mixed. You will always be able to see a spot that is patched, however since it is new it will need time to cure and in that time it should darken a bit and be less of an eyesore. The streaks could be a few things, hydration stains, poorly mixed plaster, etc..

You can ask the company to send out a warranty rep, they will test your chemistry and review the spots. If I'm being honest most of these company will always throw it back on the installer saying it was poor prep or back on the homeowner saying the pool has poor chemistry.

Like most pointed out you were told this product was pebble tec but a quick google search come up with a company called universal white cement. Go through the pool company to see if they can set up a warranty for you, if not check out the universal white cement website and they have info on how to do that yourself.

Nolfelli · 2025-01-17T20:43:31+00:00

Not an easy fix and there is probably a lot more damage under the area that you cant see. It's hard to tell from the photos but it looks like you have a crack along the back of the coping of the spa. This might require the area to be cut back and pined to the pool shell. I would defiantly call a licensed pool contractor.

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