DIY Pool Project – There’s a Big Hole in my Garden!

Taking care of the house is a responsibility I take seriously.  It took my husband  and I four  years to pay for the lot and another two years after the house was built to pay for the construction of our home.  Every two years I would have the façade repainted. The elements are really harsh and take its toll.   Every time I had extra money I would do a home improvement project like  replacing the bamboo fence with steel frames and wires or putting decorative stones around my garden (because I couldn’ t stand the  whacked-up painting job that was causing the walls to chip).

Last summer though, I undertook my most ambitious project to date.  I decided to transform our garden into a pool.  Couples who have experienced building a house on a tight budget know that  sacrifices have to be made.  I wanted bigger rooms but since the budget wouldn’t permit, I opted instead to have one third of the lot landscaped.

THE HOLE
Years after, though, the garden was no longer being used as much and the househelp made it into a big “sampayan” area.  The neighborhood cats found nocturnal resting places in my lanai which was really bad because the children are asthmatic and allergic to animal hair.  So just like that, I told my trusty driver/BG/PA  “Randy,  puntahan mo yung kapitbahay natin. Itanong mo kung sino ang contractor nila sa pool.”  Within a week, there was a big hole in my garden!

PEGS

SOLID STRUCTURE

MAJOR PROJECT UNDER WAY

COOLING OFF PERIOD

 
HARDHAT  ON
For this project, I had to put my invisible glittery tiara off and put my hardhat on.  I made countless trips to construction depots and hardware stores to get the best deals.  I familiarized myself with the cost of hollow blocks, gravel and sand, tiles etc.  The pool project turned into a landscape project and a total paint job of the house.  I dealt with the contractor,  took control of the budget and made sure everything I wanted was done.  Taking on a project like this is no small feat.  Prepare to handle problems everyday. Breathe in , breathe out….
My advice is to get a fair and trusted contractor.  The one I chose had already made several pools in my village which I visited prior to the construction of my own. There is no average pool cost. It will all depend on the size, depth, materials to be used and the features you want added.  Don’t be bullied into spending more than you have to.  HAGGLE!  Buy your own materials if you can.  Make sure the pool is SAFE.  Most of all, TREAT THE WORKERS KINDLY.  Happy workers will do a great job.  🙂
I’m very proud of the result of my DIY project.  The husband taught himself how to swim, the children are happily splashing in the pool whenever time permits.  My son M even had friends over for a small pool party on his last birthday.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!