PHASES IN REMODELING A SWIMMING POOL

The Process of DESIGNING AND BUILDING A POOL REMODEL

1. INITIAL DESIGN MEETING

The first phase is design. We will meet with you at the pool location. We will listen to your ideas and dreams for the remodel and come up with a preliminary plan. We will take a picture of the pool area. We will ask you to think about the type of rock you like, interior finish color if redoing the interior is necessary, and what kind of deck topping you want. But don’t worry. None of these decisions has to be final. Remember this is the dreaming stage. So let’s dream together. In order to proceed to step two you will be required to pay a fee for the design work based on 2.5% of the estimated price with a minimum of $500. This fee will be deducted from the total estimate when you decide to go forward with the lagoon.

Time elapsed: 1-3hrs.

2. PLANS AND DESIGNS

During the next two weeks we will draw up a set of plans showing the pool, its dimensions, and the location of all the pool components that we will be adding or changing from drains, to falls, to pool equipment. We will have a list of all the equipment and amenities we recommend. We will also create a virtual photograph of the design. We have found that the photograph gives a better idea of our design than a simple plan view of a pool. We will also prepare an itemized estimate of the whole project.

Time elapsed: 2 weeks

3. PREPARATION

The initial phase of our work involves moving the rock to the site and preparing the area. We may be cutting out decks, exposing plumbing, moving anything which might impede our access to the area and removing screens for access. We will also be draining the pool. By the way when the rock arrives it will look as if we have ordered much too much. This is partially an optical illusion. It takes a lot of rock to build a waterfall. For every foot of height there must be lateral space filled with rock for support. In fact there is a lot more than “what you see” when we build the waterfalls, walls and planters.

Time elapsed: 2 to 4 days

4. STONE WORK AND PLUMBING

Once all the prep work is done our stone masons will go to work. All the major stones are placed by Lucas. We install all of our plumbing lines and conduit for lights and irrigation as we build so that nothing is visible at the end of the job. This part of the job is fascinating to watch. Enjoy.

Time elapsed: 2-4 weeks

5. FIELDSTONE COPING

If you have chosen our field stone coping it will be installed as the other rock work is being done.

Time: 1-3 days

6. COPING, TILING AND SEALING

If you are having the interior of the pool redone we will remove the old coping and tile, add new coping and tile and then grind around all the fixtures in the pool and seal everything with hydraulic cement to assure that there is no leaking.

Time: 2-4 days

7. PLUMBING

After the major rockwork is finished our pool plumbing specialist will install the rest of the required piping along with all new equipment.

Time elapsed: 1-3 days

8. INSTALLATION OF DECKING

Once the stone work is complete, or almost complete we begin on the deck. Depending on the material selected and the area to cover this can take from three days to three weeks. Remember, if you have chosen flagstone, every piece of flagstone will have to be cut by our stone masons to create a very tight fit.

Time elapsed: 3 days to 3 weeks

9. ELECTRICAL

Our licensed electrician will then hook up all new and old equipment. If you need more power at the sub-panel to run extra pumps or other equipment, he is qualified to do this work.

Time elapsed: 1 day

10. LANDSCAPING

All landscape plants as well as micro-irrigation will be installed at this time.

Time elapsed: 1-3 days

11. LIGHTING

After the landscape is planted, the lighting will be installed to highlight the various features of your new lagoon.

Time elapsed: 1-2 days

12. CLEANING UP THE SITE

After the rock work and landscaping are complete the whole site will be cleaned up. All excess rock will be removed. Sod will be replaced as needed and irrigation will be repaired or installed.

Time elapsed: 1-4 days

13. INTERIOR FINISH

A couple of days before the interior finish is to be applied the crew will clean the pool completely and “bond coat” the whole pool to insure that the new finish adheres to the old pool shell. If there are hollow spots due to poor initial construction, these will be repaired. The interior finish is mixed on site and applied with trowels. Do not worry if the color you see is very different from the sample you picked. You are seeing the color of the grout, not the stone. The next day one of the crew will return to wash down the walls and expose more of the stone. Over the next few months, as more and more of the stone is exposed, the color will become richer and richer. After the stone is washed down he will turn on the water to begin filling the pool. Please let the water run until the pool is completely full (half-way up the skimmer).

Time elapsed: 2 days

14. CHECKING OUT THE FALLS

By this time we are as excited as you are to see everything operating. Lucas will be on hand to turn on the falls for the first time and make any adjustments to the various flows. We will also have one of our crew who is experienced in balancing out a pool add the initial chemicals to begin this process. Please let the pool run 24 hours a day during this process.

Time elapsed: 3-4 days

15. INSURING YOUR SATISFACTION

When everything is running we will walk around the whole project with you and make note of anything with which you are not satisfied. Any deficiencies will be corrected immediately and you will also receive instruction on how to maintain you new lagoon.

Time elapsed:1-4 days

16. WARRANTEE

We warrantee our work for five years. (The average pool company warrantees its work for one year or less.) The equipment comes with warrantees that vary from one to three years. We only use the top of the line equipment and it has been our experience that any equipment problems (which are extremely rare) are addressed immediately by the manufacturer’s certified technicians. Of course, we cannot warrantee any previously installed equipment or material.

17. PARTY TIME!

When everything is finished we will wait for our invitation to the party we know you are going to have to show off your beautiful new lagoon.

PRICES FOR A LUCAS LAGOONS REMODEL START AT $45,000.00

Remodeling a Swimming Pool by Lucas Lagoons

Contact Lucas Congdon today! Or, meet Lucas Congdon, an award winning exterior designer for Lucas Lagoons located in Sarasota, Florida. Lucas Congdon designs and builds lagoon pools with grotto waterfall water features using only natural northern stone from the northern states or natural Florida limestone rock. Watch Lucas build a stone waterwall or watch one of his master stone masons. Materials included in building the luxurious exterior designs and lagoon pools are flagstone and travertine, brick and pavers, and other natural stones for decking. Lucas Lagoons can build everything included in an exterior design such as front entry features, outdoor kitchens, outdoor bedrooms, custom pool slides, natural streams, overflowing pots, and decorative concrete bridges. Landscapes include tropical as well as native plants of Florida plus palm trees such as foxtail palms, coconut palms, sylvester palms, areca palms, and more. Lucas Lagoons also installs landscape lighting, screen cages, fire pits, beach areas, and any other amenities to complete a long lasting and natural exterior design. Lucas Lagoons works in Southwest Florida including areas such as Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa, Venice, Nokomis, Englewood, Osprey, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Anna Maria, Lakewood Ranch, and can also build in the United States if needed. Visit Lucas Congdon's other websites such as Exterior Designing by Lucas and Bubbling Boulder Fountains.