mitons-pool

The pool

When we moved into the property in March 2016, it seemed that the pool had not been used for ages. It was a dark green and the bottom was filled with loads of silt, leaves, dead animals etc. So we drained it (where do you empty this much water when you live at the top of a pyramid shaped hill?). We had heard that the previous owner had his fair share of pool problems and we were to find out why. Once drained, we found that the cement render had cracks all over it, on all sides and the floor. BACK TO RUE DES MITONS PAGE.

Renovations; the pool Renovations: the living room. Renovations; Ensuite Guests room. Cordes

The pool summer 2016. But did not start out this way....

Now to repaint it with the rubber based paint at €500 for one can!

But then we found out the paint started flaking, plus the render cracked and came off again!. What do we do? We had heard that rubber paint should not be applied if the day is over 30 degrees, so maybe that was it. But that was not why the plaster h… — But then we found out the paint started flaking, plus the render cracked and came off again!. What do we do? We had heard that rubber paint should not be applied if the day is over 30 degrees, so maybe that was it. But that was not why the plaster had cracked?

So we had the liner put it.In the process of doing this we had to dig to find where all the pipes led to, only to find that there was no barrier between the earth and the stone blocks of the pool. This is where the moisture was coming from! It was f… — So we had the liner put it.In the process of doing this we had to dig to find where all the pipes led to, only to find that there was no barrier between the earth and the stone blocks of the pool. This is where the moisture was coming from! It was forming a liquid barrier between the wall and the plaster, no wonder it came off.

So I excavated the top soil, grass and weeds, then levelled it in preparation for the sand based for the tiles. But after doing all this, thinking that it would be easy to get the tiles and sand delivered, it was not to be possible. Everyone said that the road was too narrow and could not deliver 140, 50 x 50cm tiles, plus 4 cubic metres of yellow sand. I sent this photo to all the suppliers, all came back with a no go. So now what? Well the next best option, a wooden deck.

Looking down on our property from behind us on Rue des Mitons.

We had to remove every bit of the existing plaster, then once dried out, we re-rendered it completely.

Finished paint job, now to fill it up. Summer is on its way so we felt we had made good progress.

So once again, we drained the bloody pool, and once again re-rendered it. But then we figured not again, so lets get a liner! to hell with not understanding why this was happening.

Note the gaps in the concrete blocks. Shoddy workmanship. Okay, so all fixed up and working now. My next task was to build a tile border around the pool, easy huh?

I bought 74 planks, 70 support batons, plus 55 concrete feet. It took me about three days to lay it all. So now we have our decking in place in readiness for the summer season of lounging by our pool!

Our pool and garden, showing the proximity to the nearby Aurosse valley. The lower road (with parking lines) is the only road to the top of the medieval village, or Le Cite. Taken May 2018.