I Love New Estimates!!

So, we had other people come out for estimates for the pool on Saturday and Sunday. At first we wanted the first guy to do everything. We felt it would be easier having one person doing all the work rather than piecing it together with different people. This guy worked a lot with the pool guy so we thought the jobs would be seamless. Unfortunately, we would be paying for that ease. Paying a lot.

Saturday, a guy I went to high school with came and gave an estimate on some of the landscaping. He would do a retaining wall, add planters with a sitting wall around the hottub, and add a fire pit area with pavers and stone benches with columns at the end of the benches. He would also run electrical for lighting in those areas. His estimate was right on target.

While he was there, another tree guy came out. He price was lower, but we feel more comfortable with the first guy that came out last week. The first guy will compete with lower estimates, so I need to call him back and set up a time.

On Sunday, the concrete guy came out. This is the guy that did our stamped driveway. I love what he can do. I love it much more than what the first guy suggested two weeks ago. It is more of what I envisioned and is much more cost effective. And prettier!! In fact, he can do more than what we expected by running the concrete up to the edge of the pool and hiding the ugly white vinyl edging that is usually seen around a pool.

So, it looks like the decision on the contractors are done. Now, we have to get the minds working together, get the time lines in sync, and get going. I cannot wait. I feel much better about these decisions, especially the end result of what it will look like. I have more input on colors, designs, layout, lighting, etc. The first drawing was basically done. He showed me two colors of concrete possibilities and they both looked the same to me. I seriously could not tell a difference in the two. Basically white. I am so NOT a white person. I like to think of my design ideas as unique. We are using his plans, but have changed it a bit. We moved the fire pit and made it much smaller. The sidewalk coming down the side of the house is more curved and closer to the house. Instead of pavers in the joints, we are doing a different type of stamp in the concrete. The surface will be a slate stamp like our drive, but we will have two circle stamps in two different larger spaces. It is going to look amazing. I wish it was done now.

Luckily for us we are having a very warm winter. Unfortunately, it is raining a lot.

I also had the tile guy come Saturday to look at putting tile around the top edges of two guest baths and the top of the mud room shower. We have enough tile to finish the guest baths but need the edge or trim. The mud room is very unique. The paint is lime green, purple towel holder, a red coal scuttle for trashcan. Add in orange, yellow, red, and blue items. Very cool. I am looking for some kind of funky red or mixture of colored tiles for above the shower.

See, I told you. A busy weekend. And I didn't even mention we hosted a Super Bowl party.

Tide Gal