#Thegreatpoolpondconversion - 191117
There are like 6 major phases of this project.
We’re in the 2nd phase - sandbags and sand. Last week there were 4 sub sections left. Then we finished the lower wall. This weekend we finished the second of 4, completing the backfilling of the lower shelf. And that makes the lower shelf 100% done.
Remaining is the upper sandbag wall, then backfilling the upper shelf all the way around.
Of course there’s a lot of work in those statements. Shoveling sand, reshoveling, raking, pounding, etc. We’ve stopped counting loads, pounds, bags, etc.
Because we want to work smarter and not harder, we spent some time coming up with a new technique. Sure you’ll all say it’s obvious. Well, we’re not experienced contractors.
Remember the dump cart from like episode 5 or so? We stopped using it because we can’t get it close enough to the pool edge all the way around. And when we did use it, the piles of sand are big and take a lot of raking to smooth out and distribute before pounding it to compact.
So we fill the wheelbarrow in the driveway, push it to the pool, and then dump where we need it. A lot of walking and very heavy pushing etc.
Today we realized we could fill the cart, drive it over to the pool, then fill the wheelbarrow and dump that strategically and exactingly into the pool. 1 card = four wheelbarrows. Like I said, obvious. and even though twice the shoveling, the unloading cart to barrow is a bit ‘downhill’
And things went much, much faster after that.
That’s how we made a respectable dent (about 3-4 yards) in our new 20 yard pile of sand so quickly.
We did have a little leak in the tarp this week so there is some wet sand. It’s pretty well packed by now so the water doesn’t percolate down. It just…sits. That’s both good and bad. So we got out the old tarp, which was the new tarp till it ripped and we went back to the first tarp. We folded and redeployed one over the other so now we’ve got three layers and hopefully none of the holes between them line up. Or if it doesn’t rain, that’s good too.
There are no pictures this week. This is from last week.
Look on the left of the sandbags and at the bottom. Now imagine in your mind it’s all filled in. all the way back to the upper wall that’s peeking out behind the purple towel. That’s what’s finished.
next week sandbags and the upper wall