Clearwater Outdoor Creations

Review: Fowler Patio and Pool ClaimChronology of Events9 Dec, 2013Started Pool Deck Slate Job. Contractor was La Terre ([redacted] and [redacted]). Started by removing pool coping around pool.La Terre[redacted]###-###-####20 Dec, 2013Poured cement shelf around pool where old coping used to be.Picture 161524 shows poor quality of job.29 Dec, 2013Finished Deck Slate Job. Total cost of job was $13,873.50, paid in full.23 Jan, 2014Pool re-plaster job started. Clearwater Pools, Spas & Supplies, LLC was the contractor.Clearwater Pools, Spas & Supplies, LL[redacted]###-###-####http://www.cwnola.com27 Jan, 2014Started Pool Tile installation. As you can see from the first 4 pictures, the underlayment for the pool tile was installed on 27 Jan, 2014. See picture 1. Temperature that night got down to 26 degrees F. Next 2 nights it was in the teens. See link:http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KHDC/2014/1/1/MonthlyHistory.ht...⇄ underlayment, during the July Inspection, will test at approximately 900 psi compressive strength. The ANSI Standards require a 2000 psi compressive strength underlayment. You can take the underlayment and it will break up in your hand. As you can see from the pictures, the spa hadnt even been built when the underlayment was installed. It was over a week later before the actual pool tiles were installed. That is the reason we didnt have any failure of the tiles on the spa.5 Feb, 2014On 5 Feb, 2014 they installed the pool tiles on the newly completed spa and the pool. See picture 5. Temperature that night got down to 30 degrees F.http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KHDC/2014/2/1/MonthlyHistory.html?...⇄ C150 Standard Specification for Portland cement states: All materials and effected areas should remain above 50 degrees (10C) or below 100 degrees F (38 C) 24 hrs. prior and 72 hrs. after placement. In no case should concrete be allowed to freeze during the first 24 hours after it has been placed. All concrete must be protected from freezing until it has reached a minimum strength of 500 pounds per square inch (psi), which typically happens within the first 24 hours. If concrete freezes while it is still fresh or before it has developed sufficient strength to resist the expansive forces associated with the freezing water, ice formation results in the disruption of the cement paste matrix causing an irreparable loss in strength.Pictures 6 through 10 show samples from the pool of the cement underlayment and the 1/32 thin-set mortar that the tiles were applied with. How can you possibly get greater than 400 psi compressive strength, as required by A118.15 Section 7.2.5 for Porcelain Tile, from a 1/32 thick layer of mortar? Thin-set for tile installations is recommended to be 3/32 to 3/16 in thickness.See Pictures 11 & 12. The mortar is chipping off of the lower portions of the pool tile, well below where the patio shelf was moving (approximately 1 below slate coping). This is occurring on tile that had no cracking at the patio shelf interface. How do you explain that??23 Feb, 2014Finished re-plastering and filling the pool with water. Total cost of job was $10,922.00, paid in full. May, 2014Slate around the Spa and adjacent to the pool starts cracking.5 June, 2014Pool contractor came and chipped all of the pool tiles off from around the pool. All of the tiles fell into the pool so the Polaris could not operate. The pool ended up getting green with algae even though we were treating it. We stopped treating it until we could get it fixed. Clearwater Rep, [redacted], admitted that they had freezing problems with other pools that were done around the same time as ours was. 6 June, 2014Both contractors met at my house and we cut out a piece of the slate coping. In pictures 133907, 133914, 133920, and 133927, you can see where the concrete never bonded when it was poured. In pictures 134028, 134024, 134015, 133954, and 133951, you can see sandy dirt where the concrete was poured. Very poor workmanship and job preparation. In pictures 134031, 134035, and 134100, you can see the crack all around the pool where the coping was poured.14 July, 2014Hired [redacted] P.E. with Southern Earth Sciences, Inc. to inspect the patio and pool jobs and submit a report with conclusions and recommendations. Report was submitted on 14 July to me. Attached is the Inspection Report from Southern Earth Sciences on the Patio Slate Decking and Pool Tile installations. Also attached are time and date stamped pictures of both installations. Link to their website:http://www.soearth.com/I have also linked the Inspectors, [redacted], P. E., credentials. He is a licensed Professional Civil Engineer in the State of Louisiana:http://www.soearth.com/bios/kenneth-meyn.htmlThis independent inspector determined that both jobs had deficiencies; therefore, both parties are liable for the repairs. To repair the slate patio pool coping he recommended:Using epoxy injection techniques, it may be possible to properly adhere the new concrete topping to the tile walls. Alternatively, the concrete topping should be removed and a reinforced topping poured with installed steel dowels, steel reinforcing bars and a bond adhering agent. To repair the pool tile he recommended:Once the pool coping installation is satisfactorily completed, new pool tiles should be installed on the upper sides of the pool with a tile setting material that will be applied within the parameters and ambient weather requirements that are required by the material manufactures application instructions.15 July, 2014Both contractors were sent the report, with the time and date stamped pictures, and were requested to make the recommended repairs. Neither contractor accepted accountability and responsibility for their faulty workmanship. Both refused to make the repairs.August 2014I hirDesired Settlement: Cash settlement of $2287.10

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by Clearwater Outdoor Creations regarding complaint ID 10205643.

Regards,