This image is from the real estate listing we found on the internet when we were looking for our home. We thought it was amazing and fell in love with the property before we had actually even set foot in the home. Lucky us. Six months later we were moving in.
The home and the pool are about fourteen years old. The pool heater had just been replaced so it was new but everything else was original.
At first glance, the pool looked great but what the photos didn't show was the tile was oxidized, the grout was discolored and the surface of this concrete pool was beginning to fade and had several stains along the bottom.
We were moving from the Midwest where pools are seasonal and hard to justify. As a result, we had never had a pool before and knew very little about them or what was current or "cool" when it came to pool design. So we made the decision to contact a pool professional.
I had really liked the glass block wall between the spa and the pool itself.
I especially liked it at night when it allowed the glow from the spa light to shine through the block into the pool.
But what do I know about what is cool for a pool? Apparently, nothing. I quickly learned that along with the institutional type railing in the shallow end of the pool, that glass block is a dated look. The pool company also pointed out where the block had already been repaired once. It was only a matter of time before it would leak again so while we were resurfacing the interior of the pool we decided we would also rebuild the spa wall.
The pool was drained in a day.
Within several more days, the tile was chiseled off.
I learned that the pool has a hydrostatic relief valve that keeps the pool from floating up after the pool water is drained off.
The result was some muddy underground water entering the pool. About this point I began to worry that we had made a big mistake.
They began constructing the waterfall wall where the glass block had been.
Then they began tiling the water line and the spa.
I really did like the retro look of the original tile but we wanted to replace it with something a bit more updated with a modern clean appearance. We chose a glass tile in blue that has a few iridescent tiles that create some sparkle and interest.
Next, they covered the tile, cleaned the interior, and began applying the Pebble Tec finish which is a cement with pebbles and colored glass mixed together. Pebble Tec will last twenty years or more and is much more fade and stain resistant than a traditional plaster finish.
The Pebble Tec is sprayed on first and then hand- troweled for an even smooth coating. We went with the blue color and infused it with blue glass beads for an added shimmer.
We also added a new pool filter, new LED pool lights that can change the color of the pool, and the drain covers were replaced with new ones that meet current safety standards.
It has only been a couple of months, but we noticed that after we put in the new pool filter that our electric bill decreased by about $70 a month. Our electric bills here are not big so that has been a significant change for the better.
By the end of the week, they were refilling the pool using two garden hoses. A pool the size of this one took about a day to refill.
It was rather scary looking on Wednesday but by Saturday night, it looked amazing.
( the lines are the shadows of the pool cage)
I'm lovin' it!
Have a great week. I am sharing my pool restoration post here
and here too.
xoxo,
p
