Do Unto Others...

The day after chemicals and baby barrier, they came to clear out the dirt around the pool area. Well, not exactly ALL of it. They just did the area directly around it and still left us our big pile of dirt. They said that someone would come the next day. They haven't been here yet. It was interesting to hear from the workers that they usually remove the large pile of dirt at the beginning of the process. They were surprised that it was still there. So are we.

Remember how nice I told you the guy was finding us another pebble cover? We got the $40 bill for that today. I read about other pool builders "throwing in" this item or that, but I haven't seen anything like that from this pool builder.

We wonder when everything is going to be completed and anxiously await the completion of our pool. What's sad is that this blog started out so optomistic, but has turned into a venting forum for my frustration with the treatment we have received from people that we are paying to do a job for us. This blog could have been a site for Artesian to recommend to its customers. Instead, it is probably one that they wish that they would avoid. We know several people that were carefully watching our progress so they too could build a pool. I cannot recommend this company to them. I may end up, in the end, with a quality pool that we will enjoy, but I had to speak up for so many things that were simply in our contract and plans. Our supervisor said that he likes to build pools in developments, because then he does not have to deal with people. Considering the way he has treated us and backstabbed us to his boss, that's probably for the best.

I'm still going to remain optimistic that this all we be over soon. I'm ready to go find patio furniture and some plants.

Baby Barrier and Chemicals!

Well yesterday they came and put in the baby barrier. I'm so happy that we can roll it up and put it in the attic.

Today the vacuumed and put in chlorine! At first it looked like appliance green, but it's changing as we speak and is clearer by the minute. I hope it continues, because I definitely would like it to be more on the blue side. When the lights were on at night, we could really see that the water is still very turbid. Hopefully, it will clear up more in the coming days.

Red Tide and Good News

Well, the same day that they started our pool, we asked the supervisor about the vent and the electrical box sticking up behind the spa. He talked to the president of the company and they said that they could move it for $500. $500!!!!!! We called him and told him that we thought that was an unreasonable amount and that because we were already paying more for a negative edge, it was a mistake and that that price was unreasonable. Well one thing led to another, and it was apparent that our supevisor had been telling him that we had been asking for unreasonable things all along. For example, the spa was gunited the wrong size. Our fault. Steps not to plan. Too picky. Equipment pad needed to be moved (we had paid at contract for a new location). We decided afterwards to have it moved to a different location. The list goes on and on. We told him the truth, that we just wanted what we had decided on in our contract and on our plans. He seemed surprised (especially when we told him that my 19 inch spa seat had originally been poured at 26 inches), and he told us that he would think about it. Remember, I told you that I thought that all along he was a good guy. I think he was just misled about us.

We also noticed, after the equipment started up, that the vibration was very loud inside. At one of our contract meetings, we asked if the pad could be placed not against the house to guard against this. We didn't notice that they poured it right against the house. I called on Tuesday and along with asking about chemicals in the pool, asked if anything could be done about the vibration noise and told them that the VP had assured us that they always poured it a two by four away.

Our pool is still the color of red tide, so I called the supervisor again on Friday. He said that he would call the pool technician and call me back. He didn't, but that's nothing new. I then asked him if they had had a chance to think about the vent and the electrical box behind the spa. He replied that they were going to have to remove all of the equipment off the pad to cut it in order to fix the vibration. I was confused, and then realized that he hadn't answered that question, but was saying something great about my other concern. I said, "Oh, wow. Thanks. I'm glad you're going to take care of that." I then asked again if they had had a chance to think about the vent and the electrical box behind the spa. He said, "Oh yeah, we're going to take care of that." I told him that that was great.

Can you believe it? Isn't that great! I think DH's conversation let the president of the company realize that we were not the ones that were being difficult and he wants to take care of us now....or maybe they just want to get us out of their hair. Either way, I'm OK with either one!

They're also going to clear the mountain of dirt out of the yard and do clean up supposedly today, too. It's now 9:20, and there's no sign of them yet, but you never know.

I hope our brown pool is made clear soon!

Cage and Equipment Start Up

Well today the screened cage guys came at 7:30 just like they promised. They got to work right away and did a great job. We were surprised at what a difference it made. It looks wonderful!

Next, the equipment start up guys came and they, too, were very professional. They added the fittings to the pool and the spa. They then finished the electric and plumbing around the pool and by the equipment pad. I got to see the sheer arc and spa in action, and although our water is a lovely brown, it still looked great!

I did have one thing that really upset me. I saw a plumbing fixture and an electrical box just outside our spa right in our view of the lake. I thought that is was something that would somehow tied into the equipment pad later on. I didn't realize that they were permanent. Not only that, they have to stick up about two feet. I asked the guys why and I found out that one is a vent to the spa and the other is for the spa light. They asked if I had been given a plan. I only have a very limited plan. I told them that I was not asked about their location, and found it appalling that they would chose that one spot behind the centerpiece to our pool, to place it. They told me that with negative edge pools, they are careful not to obstruct the view. This may only be a spa, but I think that it is important for the negative effect with this also.

Red Tide!

Well, our pool is now full and no one has even contacted us. I know everyone works for a special color for their pool water to be. Well, I now have the color "red tide". NOT what I was looking for. I know that everything will clear up with chemicals. I hope that it isn't staining our pool. They left no fence around the pool, so we also have been worried about children and have been watching it all the time.

First thing tomorrow, we intend to call them to see what happens next.

Water!

One of the pebble guys came today to acid wash our pool. After he washed it with the acid, the finish looked very good. After he got done, he put a hose in it and left. I tried to ask him what to do, but he didn't speak any English. No one has called us or told us what to do next. We're excited about the water, but wonder what to do next.
Our pump is not ready to be used. Some plumbing and electric still needs to be done. Out Aqualink is a bare wire on our wall. The pool is currently half full. It's Saturday night, and we have Sunday and possibly Monday (holiday) to go. Our well water is very brown, and I don't know how good it's going to be for the finish. I’ve read that leaving the water sitting without treatment can cause staining on the pebble. I have to say that the kids were really excited. I dared them to go down inside the pool and put their feet in. They both did. They kept on checking the progress of the water. Konnor even sat poolside in a beach chair with sunglasses and a tropical drink.
I chose this pool company because the pools that I saw that they had built were beautiful. I really liked the owners. Why has this turned into such a difficult journey? I think that they are just getting too big, and are unable to know what’s going on with all of their customers. They have to rely on their supervisors, and mine has probably blamed all the delays on me.

They need to provide information to their clients. Give people a booklet of what to expect during a pool build to answer customers’ questions and to cut down on office calls. Nothing was given to me about the process and what to expect. Even if the pebble guy spoke only Spanish, we should have had the information from the beginning about what to do, or he should have handed us an information sheet. I find it sad that on what should be one of the most exciting days of a pool project, fill day, we were left alone with our concerns.

Go! It's Pebble Day!

At about 7:45, the pebble guys showed up. I talked to one of the guys about my pebble covers. I had been told that I needed 3, and last night I noticed that they use one on the side of the spa also. He was nice and found another one for me in the truck.

They began the process soon after arriving, and as they sprayed it on, Konnor said it looked like cinnamon cream cheese. It did! I wondered if it was a look that I wanted. Then they started to trough and spray it, and I knew. I loved it! It looks very nice with the tile and brick. They were all very precise and hard workers. They did a great job. You could see what it's going to look like, when it was wet. But now that it is drying, there is a film on everything. After acid washing I'll post more pictures.

While they were here, the screen guys showed up to put up the cage! Talk about scheduling miscommunication. They were very nice and said that they would be back on Monday to put it up. Isn't that great?

Get Ready, Get Set,...

A lot has happened since the last entry. Wednesday they fixed the leak, patched all the holes, and trimmed my side of the seat. Yesterday they came and prepared the pool for pebble, and the tile and brick guys fixed the tile that was removed and the chipped brick. While the plumbing guys were here, my supervisor showed up and told me that they would be coming to do the pebble on Friday. I was confused, because all along they had told me that they wouldn't do the pebble until after the screen. When I asked him about that, he said, "Well we need to do it the way you want..." Good so far. And then, "because you seem to want everything done your way." OH SNAP!

I couldn't believe it. I said, "YOU don't need to even go there with me." I went on to tell him that he had spoken to me several times like that and that he shouldn't do it anymore. I also told him that I felt that I was walking on eggshells when I spoke to him. I told him that if they didn't keep on telling me different things everytime I talked to them, things would be fine.

I asked them about the order of doing things because they had told me differently. I told him that we were in week 17 and that I just wanted it to be done right. If waiting for the screen was best, that's what I wanted to do. He told me that they did it all the time like this, and that it shouldn't be a problem. I told them as long as they were responsible for anything that happened, they could go ahead and do it.

He also said that I didn't need to be here for the pebble. I was on a roll so I told him that that's what he had said with the gunite, too, and that I didn't know that I should have been out there following them around with a tape measure! I decided that I need to be here.

Also, Friday we're supposed to have a cold front coming with a leading band of rain. What else is new? From what I understand, if they do it in the morning, we should be fine. I hope it works out for us.

Holy Moley

Well, yesterday was a pretty busy day. The electrician came and ran all of the electrical except for the low voltage stuff. The plumber also came, but couldn't finish. He needed some more materials.

He's coming to finish fixing the leak in the spa. He had to chistle out a hole. You can see right through it!

So, now it needs to be fixed and the tile needs to be replaced. He is also going to fix the seat so that my side isn't so wide. Cross your fingers for me on that one. He's going to try to make my egg shaped bottom of the spa into what looks like more of a circle. Doesn't the spa look like you could jump right in?

Yesterday my supervisor said that I would be swimming by the end of next week. He also told me that the plumber would be here today. I called this morning to work out a time when I could come home from work to talk to him, and guess what? He isn't coming until tomorrow. Surprise!

The good news is that they're making progress. Unfortunately, right now it's one step forward, one step back. I hope that everything goes OK from now on.

He also called to make sure that I wanted the Sandy Beach Stonescapes. He was getting ready to order the materials. I hope I'm making the right decision. The screen guys are supposed to measure for the screen today or tomorrow. I was told that one in December. What do I believe?