Once renovation is done, this is going to be a really pretty pool.

I would continue to keep the spa empty. That exposed gunite is not good to keep submerged. A new drain cover is an absolute must!

I have found that photobucket's site will allow larger and more detailed pictures than flickr. Posting from photobucket is easy. Copy and pasting the 3rd option on each pic, one per line here in the message box works well. TFP uses the 4th option, btw.

The reason I am mentioning it was your tile related comments. I looked at the pics you posted and it seems that the expansion joint seal between the coping and deck is gone.

This let water in. It likely wicked through the mortar holing the coping all the way to the thin set holding the tile, weakening it.

It's quite possible the coping bond is also compromised. Tapping the coping all the way around with the handle end of a bat and listening for hollow sounds will confirm or deny this concern.

Welcome to the forum!

Scott

Thank you, Scott! Will look at photobucket and pasting pics into message for easier viewing. Unfortunately, seller filled spa after photo was shot so we need to figure out how to drain. I have Pool Guy coming to see us next week to give us the info on what we have and how to use it, plus schedule repairs for what ails it and long-term plan for budgeting a renovation. Big week! Will take a look at the expansion joint seal/coping bond, too.

On a related note, I saw the local Habitat for Humanity station is selling mosaic swimming pool tile for about 1.35/sf, and wonder if I should stock up now for future retiling project? We've tiled several bathrooms, showers and floors, and wonder if this is something we can take on ourselves as part of the renovation. Anyone have experience tiling the waterline tile in their pool? Have searched retile and re-tile in the forum but am not coming up with much.

Thanks, all!

Careful with the H4H tile. Make sure the tile batch for the perimeter is all the same and assuming you like the pattern. There are many tile patterns to choose from and if you are in an area where you have to concern yourself with freeze thaw cycles, that will play into what is appropriate.

I would have an experienced pool tile guy do it. Given that the pools will need sand blasting because of the paint, it makes sense to do the renovation in one shot, not in steps.

Start saving. This won't be cheap. Done properly though and maintained well, the only work on the pool going forward will be the expansion joint getting resealed every 5 years or so.

Scott

Greetings fellow Okie :^) I love the look of the back yard, especially the Bamboo and the privacy it provides. I'm hoping to do something similar in my back yard with Bamboo. if I can find a way to keep it from taking over everything.

Hi Jason! We have some distant cousins that are Marshes, and we occasionally attend the annual Marsh family reunion. I'm trying to think which branch of the family tree... will have to ask around.

There is a bamboo forum here on GW that I got some good advice from, and also googling bamboo barrier/rhizome barrier has some info. From what I understand, it's quite the undertaking. There was heated discussion in the OK Gardening forum when I brought it up there. People either love or absolutely hate it, I guess!

My plan is to trench (3ft deep - will have to hire out or rent some crazy machine) and install the rhizome barrier as much of the way around as I can. I have to deal with the fact that the bamboo has escaped under the backyard fence and infiltrated all the neighbor's yards, too, so if I don't have cooperation with them, the bamboo will just continue to run wild.

Wow, small world huh? The family reuinions I've been to have always been down in Sulphur, OK. Is that were you attended?

Right now I have black bamboo growing in big pots because I dont want all of the neighbors hating me. At least you can blame the previous owners of your house and show the neighbors that you are more considerate by trying to solve the problem. Unfortunately the area that I want to plant the bamboo is right on the utility easement for the whole block (electric, gas, cable and phone all run through my yard), so digging a 3 foot trench isn't something I care to do. I was hoping a foot or so would be sufficient.

Mia,
Did you ever get a chance to do anything with the Bamboo? I have decided to go ahead and trench my fenceline and plant the black bamboo. Thanks for your advice on that by the way. My project starts this weekend!

Hi Jason, we've not made it to any reunions in Sulphur - I'll have to ask G'ma what the branch of Marsh family we are on. I didn't see your message from December, sorry!

We have gotten as far as planning stages on the bamboo - so not too terribly far. I did get all the utility lines marked by Call Okie (sure enough, the bamboo goes right on top!), definitely necessary, and I found that back there in all that bamboo is a huge manhole cover, so the neighborhood drains go right through our backyard easement. Evidently former owner figured "heck, it's the utility's problem to find their lines if they need them." I did have discussions with two affected neighbors, and one gave me quite the earful about how he and our house's owner had done everything they could to eradicate the bamboo, up to and including pouring diesel on it. I said "wow, the owner told me how much all the neighbors loved the bamboo" and he said "well, we couldn't get rid of it so had to embrace it. So we do like it, kinda, now." and he told me the other adjacent property owner would not do a thing to try to contain it or eradicate it, so I am left with planning to try and dig it out of our lawn area to beat it back to the bamboo strip at the fenceline, then rhizome block my side. That's really all I can do, as it would be silly for me to try and block it from the neighbor if they aren't going to participate from their side.

Good luck to you! Keep us updated, would love to see a pic! Let me know which barrier method you use and how it works for you, too.