Post #142171 by pariartspaul on Sun, Feb 20, 2005 8:12 AM

Aloha! Well it's almost time for me to begin my dream project for the backyard and I thought I’d share my plans with all you creative TC’rs to help inspire me to get going. We're finishing up some indoor remodeling projects and soon I'll be getting into it. It's my little lagoon and waterfall. I want to call it "The Tiki Grotto".

I want to make it out of concrete, like a koi pond, but I want a pool filter hooked up to it and it will be chlorinated. The idea is to have this little lagoon like a pool, but have it look like it is totally natural lava rock formation with a sandy beach at one end and waterfalls in the middle. It would be about 3 1/2' deep at the deepest by the waterfall, and there would be seats built into the sides so can sit in it on a hot summer day with your mai tai or blue Hawaiian. I think I can work out the plumbing so the pool filter feeds either the waterfall or the fill line via a valve so you can control the strength of the flow.
I want to build it using independent contractors rather than go to a pool builder. I've done quite a bit of research already on the steps involved and I've got info. on local plasterers, metal workers, diggers and gunite contractors. I want to do the plumbing myself using a regular in ground pool filter. I'll need electrical help also. So I thought I'd throw this basic design out to all you tc'rs and get your feedback, since you all are so creative. Our local ordinance says that if it's less than 3 1/2' deep you don't need a permit, so I guess I can do whatever I want

This first picture show the main section of the yard as it is now. There’s a flagstone patio that leads to the house on the right. You can see a section of our fake lava rock attempt from last year; it’s a little raised planter and there are some built in benches on the other side of it. The section of fence at the back is actually a double large gate that opens up. The street is about 15’ past that in the back, so there’s plenty of good access space for contractors to get in.

This picture is the same view with a photo paste-up of a rough design I’m thinking of. So as we’re looking at it, the first part of the lagoon about up to the lava rock on the right would be very shallow, like only about a foot or two deep so you can lay in the water and still sunbath. Past that there would be the deeper section, with some steps coming in from the patio on the right. The seating would be on the left around the waterfall. At the back, it would curve around to the right and go a little into the patio area, very shallow, and there would be another smaller waterfall in there, next to the seating area and a table and chairs. The very back would end with rock, and then beyond would be a little white sandy beach section big enough to lay on.

This photo is from the same spot but looking in the other direction at the back of the yard. There’s a nice grassy area for sunning. At the back left there is a thatch covered storage shed that you can’t really see too well in the picture – it’s in the shade.

So here’s a photo paste up of kind of what I’m thinking of. I’d like to keep a section of lawn for lying in the sun, and beyond there would be a giant concrete tiki head with maybe some stone ruins at the base. This would be fun to make huh?!

So that’s my plan. Ambitious isn’t it? Have any of you done anything along this line? Any feedback or pictures would help inspire me. Mahalo! Paul

[ Edited by: pariartspaul on 2005-02-20 08:14 ]

[ Edited by: pariartspaul on 2005-02-20 08:16 ]