STARTING THE POOL

We were faced with the possibility that if we did not finish the pool before the rainy season we might negate the hard work that had gone into the excavation. The pool was essential to the success of the business we were setting up at Sky Hacienda, so we decided to go ahead with its construction.

Firstly, we built adobe walls around the shallower part of the pool to act as forms for the concrete. We carved steps out of the earth to one side.

We used stones on the bottom of the pool to reduce the amount of cement needed and to provide support for the reinforcing steel.

The stones were laid out in rows and then the lines of reinforcing steel placed over them.

The steps were given an initial concrete cap.

Arming the steps with steel was a very labour intensive job.

Each piece of steel had to be cut and bent by hand to form the correct shape.

Every piece of reinforcing steel was wired together by hand.

At last the pool was ready to receive the cement.

We will pour the floor of the pool first.