Pool Finished Shock

After only 3 years we have finally been able to finish the terrace around the swimming pool. More slacking I hear you say, but nay, nay and thrice nay. There were sound geological reasons for leaving the end for another year, as we had to allow the ground to settle after we put in the extra drainage last year.



Bob and Sue gave us some help digging out the ground, and putting the gravel footings down. Bob and I also fitted a pipe loop from the filter to the edge of the patio, so that we didn't have to dig everything up again if we ever decide to get some heating for the pool. Bob was very helpful with this, as he sells pumps for a living. Sue also sells pumps for a living, and she helped us by interrupting Bob in the middle of a tricky bit, to show him a plant that she had just potted( the plant does look nice though).

















It was then time for Tina to get her favorite toy, the cement mixer out so we could build the
concrete base.



We had some fun and games laying the slabs, as the patio on one side of the pool was longer than the other. Bob thought it would be best to lay the outer edges first and then fit a line of slabs to get the ends to meet up.







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As you can see in the photo, we tried to do this, but when we got half way across it became clear that the slabs were going to miss by about 5cm. It is very difficult to build things from two different ends. They managed it with the Channel Tunnel, and that big viaduct near Montpelier was within 1 mm. Our gap was a bit worse than that, so we had to lift some slabs up and cut 2 of them short so it all fitted.



Now it is all grouted and finished, it all looks good.

We even bought ourselves a labour saving roller for our pool cover, to make things easier in our old age.