continued from Pool restoration pt 4

Next is the tile line. This is the fun part, where its becoming about the final look, the aesthetics, and not just the steps needed to fix the structure.

We’d been bouncing ideas around for awhile, and went to about five different places to look at them in person, eventually narrowing it down to four tiles. I put this in the parking lot to get a sun lit picture with light curb to simulate the coping and tar for the dark plaster I’ll be using;
Untitled by bradisdrab, on Flickr

I asked friends and family and the consensus was the third one, with the hint of blue, but at 6x the cost I couldn’t rationalize it.

We ended up planning a combination of the first two. These ones were just porcelain tiles, but since we live in CA and don’t have to deal with freezing or extremes it shouldn’t be such an issue.;
Untitled by bradisdrab, on Flickr

The green is slightly larger than the rust/orange, so I planned to space them eveny and use it as an accent.
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One of the reasons we settled on these is because it would go well weth the slate facade we were thinking of using on the retaining walls around the yard.
Untitled by bradisdrab, on Flickr
I also grabbed some quarter round for the step edges and such.

Holding it up I could tell the curves were too tight for tiles that large;
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That could only mean one thing, time to head back to Harbor freight!
Tile saw! I love being so close to #harborfreight by bradisdrab, on Flickr

I managed to get this tile saw for a deal, and started chopping some of the tiles in half to fit the curve, it ended up getting pretty late the first night when I finished putting up the first tiles,
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but I managed to get pretty far considering I started late and had to make a few supply runs;
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I used 1/8 plastic spacers, and if I’d had it to do over again I’d have pulled them back out as the mortar dried rather than leaving them in to dry,
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but overall I’m happy with how it was coming along;
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Next was the main drain, I’ve heard it didn’t *need* to be replaced, but I figured while I was updating everything else, why not?;
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I pulled it out, and some of the plaster around it was still a bit funky;
Untitled by bradisdrab, on Flickr

I ground out the bad stuff and prepped it for the new cover;
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and cemented it into place;
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Another solid day’s work, with some help from my friend Kyle, and we’d managed to get most of the way across the pool.
Untitled by bradisdrab, on Flickr

My fiance Leslie made some time to help with the tile for the deep end and saved me a ton of time, since I could stay on the ladder and she could prep, mix mortar, cut tiles, or pass me whatever tool I needed.
Untitled by bradisdrab, on Flickr

Its hard to tell in the photos, but I realized at this stage that the pool itself isn’t centered/symetrical. the diving board, light and drain don’t line up with the steps. I’m not overly troubled by this, but its an interesting observation, and something to keep in mind for lining up the last of the tiles.

Since it was a favorite we placed the blue tile in the center as an accent and worked the pattern out to the sides from there. That way we wouldn’t end up with an offset tile.
Untitled by bradisdrab, on Flickr

We worked until we reached the skimmer ;
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Wasn’t sure what to do about the skimmer, all along had been trying to convince myself to leave it tiled white, because it seemed like a lot of work;
Untitled by bradisdrab, on Flickr

But deep down I knew I’d always look at it and regret not going the extra mile, and Leslie was there to encourage me, so I chiseled it out;
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We figured out the cuts and got it done in a couple hours, and even used some of the bullnose to make it a bit more slick looking;
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The last of the quarter round bullnose I put as planned onto the steps;
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And this is where I am at now!
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The tile is all there and I’m planning to clean it up and grout it this weekend, hoping to replaster very soon…