After the Thanksgiving holiday, Michael’s team was in place to put the gunite into the pool. This was quite an operation, with a large 850 cfm air compressor on a truck, towing a mixer and pump.

Michael and Bryan reviewed the plans to ensure everything was in place and ready for gunite.

Michael and Bryan review plans

Starting to gunite the swimming pool

The sand and cement is mixed and then pumped through a large hose to the pool forms. The operator controls the nozzle where water is mixed with the sand/cement material and sprayed against the forms over the rebar.

Spraying Gunite

After seeing the process, we then loaded the truck and headed off to join the gang cutting Christmas trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

This was the fourth annual Christmas Tree Cutting event, which has been described as an ‘upscale tail gate party’. It was a fabulous California blue-sky day in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We had approximately 45 children and adults enjoying the afternoon.

Yes, the post-party party was at the Calise residence back in Los Gatos.

The forms came off the concrete haunches today and they look good.

Completed concrete haunch in south-west corner.

Next step is for the steel I-beams to arrive and be placed on the concrete haunches.

Meanwhile, Michael Benison’s team was rockin’ with the rebar in the swimming pool.

Rebar in swimming pool.

The workers would bend the #3 rebar (3/8 inch in diameter) with a special tool that they have.  This is exactly how the rebar will need to be bent at a 90 degree angle once the hollow core concrete panels are in place.

Bending #3 rebar at a 90 degree angle.

Done!

My friend, Roshan, dropped by the job site to inspect the project.  He thought it was going well and approved the work (so far).

Roshan approves the progress to date.

Bill Brown’s team and Michael Benison’s team continued to work in parallel on site in complete harmony.

Thanksgiving is approaching rapidly and, as they say, ‘pressure makes diamonds.’

Pouring Concrete into Haunches

There was a small pumper truck for the haunches. Everything was set up nicely and the pouring was completed.

Small pumper with mixer for haunches.

Pumping concrete into haunches.

Completing Plumbing Rough-In for Pool

The plumbing for the swimming pool continued to progress nicely.

West side of pool where cover will go.

Looking east with plumbing rough-in.

Michael advised me to move the inspection well to the north side of the pool (from the west side). This allowed us to take advantage of the existing excavation.

Inspection well rough-in.

Next step is for the City of Monte Sereno to inspect the plumbing rough-in and the rebar in the swimming pool.

We have two activities going on in parallel – Bill Brown’s team is making the forms for the five concrete piers that will support the existing walls; and Michael Benison’s team is re-shaping the swimming pool.

Concrete Forms

The five piers that will support the I-beam that will, in turn, hold the existing walls in place need to be formed above grade. This required making the forms out of sono-tubes and building the custom rebar cages.

The City of Monte Sereno made some changes to the plans for the rebar cages.

Red-lined changes to the plans for the rebar cages.

The rebar cages need to be inspected prior to pouring the concrete above grade.

Forms for concrete haunches.

Rebar inside forms.

Rebar inside forms.

Forms for Re-Shaping Existing Swimming Pool

Michael’s team was at the back of the property, busy re-shaping the existing pool.

Pool excavation looks good.

Darren arrived last night and we woke up to pouring rain in the morning.

We surveyed the mud at the project site and weren’t too thrilled about getting wet.  Thus, we spent the day preparing for tomorrow, although we did get the first HDPE tubing threaded into one of the rebar cages.

Both Kel and Darren have told me that I need a truck. Both explained, independently, that a ‘work truck’ is required and it will yield a rapid payback through savings and not destroying my vehicle.

Kel zoomed through Craig’s List and sent me three recommendations. I reviewed the alternatives and selected one person to contact in Antioch.

It looks like Darren and I will be able to see the truck, a Dodge RAM 1500, on Sunday evening after we finish work. Darren’s flight back to Edmonton leaves on Monday morning at 6:30 am so the timing should work fine.

At the end of the day, Darren and I met with Michael Benison of MWB Pools and Spas. Michael outlined what we need to do to move forward. Everything looks good with Michael so it is a matter of making a decision. Darren liked Michael.