Dec
12
Posted under
Swimming pool Elk Grove Pool Builder Adds Sunken Barbecue Pit Barbecue Pit
This past summer brought a very busy schedule for California Trademark Pools. One of the pools on the list was this beauty in Elk Grove. The Home Owner wanted something a little more unique than your average pool. Pebble Tec bottom, a large carribean shelf with glass tile on the edges, moss rock on the bond beam which was notched into the water to give a more natural look, and a split waterfall feature. We added a raised spa with a flagstone cap and a natural ledgestone veneer on the outside walls. Raising the spa allows for another water feature through a spillway on the pool side of the spa.
After discussing what he would like to have with his limited space, we decided on a very low maitenance back yard. We started with a pool approximately 600 sqare feet with enough concrete decking to have plenty of room for entertaining. The pool was designed with a black
The next step was designing the barbecue pit. We decided on an area approximately
12′ x 12′ and 24″ deep. This would give us plenty of room for the barbecue equipment and a few chairs next to the pool. Lowering this area required Neil Anderson & Associates to do some special engineering on the pool and spa walls. Drainage in this area was a little tricky, but we were able to hide the sump pump and the bucket inside one of the cabinets for the barbecue equipment. This eliminated a huge eye sore. It’s always a little dangerous when you start having different elevations in a high traffic area, so to help with the safety around the sunken pit we added a stucco seating wall 18″ high. This will help prevent anyone from falling backwards into the pit.
Next on the top side, the Owner decided to add a fire pit. We already had the gas line running to the area for the barbecue, so we were able to tee off that line and easily accomodate another line to the fire pit. We raised it 12″ and added the fire ring along with glass rock. It looks fabulous!
The final touches were a seating wall next to the fire pit, a huge umbrella to help shade the sunken pit, some imitation sod, and plenty of plants in the shrub areas.
This was another satisfied customer by California Trademark Pools and the home Owner has given us permission to show off his yard to anyone that is interested in looking at it.
It’s always a big decision for home owners trying to decide who is the right pool builder for them. We don’t sell all our pools we bid, but the ones we do sell the people are extremely happy when were done.
Here at California Trademark Pools we take pride in our customer service. We are enjoying our 26th year in business with “zero” complaints on our license. It is always a “privilege” for us to be your pool builder of choice. We would be happy to discuss any further questions that you might have regarding building your pool and spa. Please contact our office at 916-683-1202 or my personal cell phone at 916-479-3091.
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Dec
01
Posted under
Swimming pool Time To Check Your Freeze Control Settings
It’s that time of the year again where temperatures are starting to fall so be sure to check the settings for your freeze protection. Freeze protection will automatically turn the pump on to circulate water to prevent pipes from freezing.
Here is how you set Pentairs Easytouch Controller:
Freeze protection switches on a circuit if the outside air temperature sensor detects the temperature is getting close to freezing (below 35° F). The system will switch on all circuits that have been assigned freeze protection, and runs the circuits for 15 minutes to stop the pipes from freezing. This is especially important if there is a pool and spa combination. If freeze protection is set to both the spa and pool circuits, the filter pump switches on and the pool and spa valves alternate every 15 minutes to keep the water moving in both the pool and spa. This process continues until the freeze condition is over.
Circuit Functions:
To assign a circuit function and freeze protection:
Up/Down buttons: Choose the circuit name (displayed on the second line). The generic circuits names are: Spa [Master Spa – Freeze protection on by default], Pool[Master Pool – Freeze protection on by default], Aux 1-7 (EasyTouch 8), Aux 1-3
(EasyTouch 4), Feature 1-8 and Aux Extra. Aux Extra is only available if the Solar output (J17) plug on the EasyTouch motherboard is not being used for solar equipment. Use the Solar button to switch the “extra” auxiliary circuit on and off (see page 4).
Right button: Move to the “Circuit Function” setting to select the circuit function for
the select circuit name displayed on the line above.
Up/Down buttons: Select the circuit function. This is the circuit that you wish to
assign the function logic to. For a complete list of preset circuit functions, see “Preset
Circuit Functions,” on page 34.
Right button: Move to Freeze Protection setting.
Up/Down buttons: Select Yes or No to assign freeze protection to this circuit. If
“Yes” is selected, the circuit will switch on if the air temperature drops to 35° F.
Note: for the POOL circuit the filter pump will have freeze protection. For the
SPA circuit the filter pump will run and the pool/spa valves will switch between
pool and spa at 15 minutes intervals throughout the freeze condition. For the
MASTER CLEANER circuit freeze protection is generally not needed for pool
cleaner pumps since they get water flow from the filter pump. Just make sure
that POOL has freeze protection.
Press the Menu button to save the settings and to return to the Settings menu
options. Press the button again to return to the main menu options or press again to
return to the main screen.
Setting your freeze protection will ensure the safety of your pool pump against the possibility of freezing. Here at California Trademark Pools, we would be happy to discuss any further questions that you might have regarding building your spa and pool. Please contact our office at 916-683-1202 or my personal cell phone at 916-479-3091.
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This past summer brought a very busy schedule for California Trademark Pools. One of the pools on the list was this beauty in Elk Grove. The Home Owner wanted something a little more unique than your average pool. Pebble Tec bottom, a large carribean shelf with glass tile on the edges, moss rock on the bond beam which was notched into the water to give a more natural look, and a split waterfall feature. We added a raised spa with a flagstone cap and a natural ledgestone veneer on the outside walls. Raising the spa allows for another water feature through a spillway on the pool side of the spa. 
12′ x 12′ and 24″ deep. This would give us plenty of room for the barbecue equipment and a few chairs next to the pool. Lowering this area required Neil Anderson & Associates to do some special engineering on the pool and spa walls. Drainage in this area was a little tricky, but we were able to hide the sump pump and the bucket inside one of the cabinets for the barbecue equipment. This eliminated a huge eye sore. It’s always a little dangerous when you start having different elevations in a high traffic area, so to help with the safety around the sunken pit we added a stucco seating wall 18″ high. This will help prevent anyone from falling backwards into the pit. 
Next on the top side, the Owner decided to add a fire pit. We already had the gas line running to the area for the barbecue, so we were able to tee off that line and easily accomodate another line to the fire pit. We raised it 12″ and added the fire ring along with glass rock. It looks fabulous! 