For many months we worked with the DEP trying to get the permit process shortened. We were told it could take as long as six months. Well, on August 31, the DEP finally presented us with a permit to proceed! We had expected to have the pool completed by April so you can imagine how we felt when the permit finally arrived. The pool company had us penciled in for the first week of August to break ground and the work actually started, due to rain, August 11.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The above water tile has been installed. You can't tell from the picture, but it is beautiful and compliments the dolphins that are being installed soon. Framing for the cement beam around the pool and Jacuzzi is almost done. |
|
| The cement beam around the pool has been framed and poured. You can see the bump outs where the dolphins will sit. |
|
| The cement beam is being textured and painted. |
|
| The final plaster coat is being applied. Once applied, it is important to get water in the pool so that the plaster doesn't dry too quickly. |
|
| WATER!!!! Just as we were filling the pool, the water line was broken by a contractor digging just a mile down the road. About three anxious hours later that was fixed. Thanks to Scotty, he monitored the water line break and, at about 11:00 PM, he started up the pool fill. Now we are waiting for the finishing touches. The heater, filters and balance of pool equipment will be installed. The propane tank will be delived on Monday to heat the pool followed by about a mile or two of decking and landscaping. | |
| Framing for the deck begins. The posts that hold up the frame are buried six feet in the ground. |
|
| The beams for the deck are in. |
|
| How ugly can this get. It almost looks like they tried to make this as ugly as possible. Now we have to figure a way to hide it all. Another job for Scotty. |
|
| Even our great grand-daughter is getting into the swing of things. |
|
| You can only ask so much of a three year old. She keeps telling the guys to hurry up. She wants to use HER pool. |
|
| She made it! The water temps were on the low side but you just can't keep her out. It only took her two weeks to learn how to swim. What a water baby. |
|
| To the left of the pool, you can see a dirt ledge. We found that we needed a 60' long retaining wall to keep the dirt off our neighbor's property. So, that took a few extra days to build. |
|
| The mandatory fence is being built. |
|
| Look at the little white disk in the foreground. There is a 250 gallon propane tank buried underground. It is used to heat the pool and Jacuzzi. |
|
| Waterfall from Jacuzzi into the pool. |
|
| Two pair of water-spouting dolphins flank the pool. |
|
| All that is need are the finishing touches. The deck needs to be stained and the plants planted. The blue solar cover is in place. We just received our certificate of completion for the pool and deck from Gulf County. We are now waiting for the DEP to give the OK. |
|
| The grilling area has two large propane grills and an eight foot long eucalyptus picnic table with twelve chairs. The child-proof gates have been installed as well as the wheelchair ramp. |
|
| We're not done yet. A lot more work needs to be done. We hope to cover the grilling area and all the night lighting has to be installed. The Jacuzzi needs to be trimmed and tiled. |
|
| Pool open and ready for use. Landescaping is almost done. All that is left is the deck and railing paint. |
|
| 8'x8' Jacuzzi with waterfall. |
|
| Deck and grills are ready for use. In 2010, we will be building a bathroom (toilet, sink and shower) and screened in cabana at the North end of the pool. It will also house the pool equipment. The building will be about 30' wide by about 12' deep. The roof of the building will hold the solar panels so that we can heat the pool in the cooler months which should help offset the propane costs. |