Typically, I am not the fastest mover when it comes to knocking out my wants for my own home. I tend to do a lot of drawing and planning, but the execution can get lost in the mundane of everyday life. Knowing I was planning to take the summer off work and focus on family and traveling, I didn’t hesitate (once Nick gave me the green light) and pulled the trigger on creating the outdoor oasis of my dreams. Now that we are through the entire construction process, I am sharing all my secrets on what to expect when remodeling your patio and adding a swimming pool. Covering the process step by step and including all the progress pictures.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
The more you know before, during, and to completion about your remodel will hopefully ensure fewer setbacks and make sure you are 100% satisfied with the final product. Find a reputable pool company with several personal references.
STEP 1:
Before you even get to the step of getting a quote, I highly advise starting this process by doing your research. You don’t want to go into your initial meetings unprepared. Understating your cost/budget, style of pool/outdoor space you want and the textiles you are drawn will make for a productive meeting, leaving you with an accurate quote. One thing I will say as is true in most remodels is you are most likely going to underestimate the cost!
STEP 2:
When selecting contractors, the first people I look to for recommendations are neighbors! They would only recommend someone they are completely satisfied with; plus the company will have experience in your neighborhood. Next, ask friends and friends of friends who recently had construction work completed. In Houston, it is so hot many have private pools, so getting tons of recommendations was not hard. Once you narrow down your results, do your research on the company for other reviews. Check their social media pages as well as their website to see if their style aligns with yours.
STEP 3:
Going into our first of three initial meetings; we had our budget, a rough layout, and a list of what we were looking to add. Making for an extremely productive meeting. Ensuring to cover every aspect so they can provide an accurate quote and build a realistic rendering.
SELECTING MATERIALS
Once you have your final renderings and all is planned to a T, then the fun starts, and it goes fast. The time has come to select the final finishes and materials for your backyard area, and it can get overwhelming. To start the selection progress begin with the most crucial factors. For us, that was durability, something that wasn’t slippery, and something that wouldn’t burn our feet. I wanted to choose a stone that would provide beauty and longevity. I then narrowed from there based on to achieve the look, modern Mediterranean, inspired by our Greek honeymoon.
After looking at several options and many different stores, I selected Freska Limestone for the pavers in the extended patio area and around the pool. Limestone is a naturally porous yet durable stone with tumbled edges having a rich blend of creams and whites. Perfect for the light and bright look, I was trying to achieve.
Determining the pool color was extremely difficult for me. I had no idea how to select the pool finish since they would appear differently once covered in water. I went to Google. One thing we new for sure is that we wanted the pool to have a smooth surface so the pebbles didn’t hurt our feet. I selected colors that were smooth the googled how they appeared on other pools. This worked out well; the end result is exactly what we expected. We chose Primera Stone-Wet Edge in Tahoe Coast finish.
We made a family trip to the Maestro Surfaces to select a counter material. Nick and Maddox put in their two cents on the slab (and posed for what they call an “IG post) we should choose for the outdoor kitchen counter — selecting this stunning piece of Satinato Leather Quartzite. A natural stone with a gray base with beautiful diagonal veining with white and a hint of gold throughout having a soft almost wave-like pattern.
For the ceiling of the patio extension, we chose pine wood. The wood-grain is stunning, but it is also an affordable option. Remember, don’t skip over those small details. Those are the ones that make the big difference. Pictured above, you can see the beams we purchased so that there was structural support where necessary.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING CONSTRUCTION
Although this is my first go-around with building a patio extension and pool in MY backyard overall, this isn’t my first rodeo. The difference between designing and construction of someone else’s pool versus it being my backyard/pool is living in the MESS!!! I decided to transform our indoor fireplace at the same time, so the construction took over our house inside and out. But it is short-lived and completely worth it. I documented every step, eliminating all surprises for you! Did you know you had to water your pool during construction? Well, now, you do!
Realistic Expectations
Expect delays, expect little work to get done each week, expect a mess. No matter how you try to contain the mess or control the situation, it is entirely out of your control. In Houston, pool sub-contractors are few and far between. They set their schedules and basically tell the pool company when they will show up to work. Just know this ahead of time; it will save you a lot of heartaches. For our project, it seemed like one major step was taken every week or so. Typical time frame (in Houston) is 6-8 weeks for pool completion from dig day to finish. Another realistic expectation, know that something is going to go wrong and things will need to be fixed…it’s part of construction!
With less than two weeks to go and have the backyard of our dreams, we left. Not only did we leave our house, but we left the country for two weeks with a quick trip to TN right before that! We set up a camera so that I could peek in from time to time. Just as our vacation was winding down, our contractor sent me the finished photo. Ready for your first look? I chose a small picture with less than great quality so that all the details weren’t revealed. I am saving that for later!
The anticipation to get home to feel, touch, and absorb every aspect was killing me! We got back later in the afternoon and jumped right in and have lived there since. We even enjoyed our first rainstorm under the new patio while grilling out. I still have to put the final touches on the décor, but I could not be more pleased with the final product. If you take the time to do your research BEFORE you start your patio remodel or adding a swimming pool it will be worth it! You will know what to expect, and a lot less stressed!
Thoughts?
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