TRENDING
Man Builds His Family An Amazing Natural Pool
From Something Ugly to Something Gorgeous
It was just an ugly patch of dirt sitting in their backyard, but when this family decided to convert it into a recreational swimming area, they had no idea how much trouble it would be for them….or how spectacular it would look at the end!
Just Some Dead Grass
The Swiss family had been trying to decide for several years what to do with their ugly patch of dirt and dead grass they called a backyard. Finally the dad decided what to do. Not only would he build something that would bring massive amounts of recreational enjoyment to the entire family, but it would be something that would add greatly to the property value….
Conceiving a Plan
The husband and father of two (who worked in IT) surveyed his small lot and decided that the most ideal recreational feature would be a swimming pool. Nothing too large, but it would certainly have to be fancy!
Breaking Ground
Finally construction began! The process would prove long and strenuous indeed, but the man was determined to complete it before winter, which would halt construction indefinitely. Plus, it would be available for use by the following summer. Just in time for the warm weather and a little fun in the sun.
The Work Commences
The man encountered some wildlife while digging around in the dirt (including a family of tortoises!) which his daughters promptly transported to a nearby park. Nothing was going to stop this pool from being built!
Conduits
The man’s oldest daughter (who was a business student) captured and chronicled the entire project from beginning to end. “Here you can see the water conduit for the ‘fountain’. The conduits are all leading into the garage where the filter system will be.”
Three Weeks In. . .
The entire process was moving a little slower than expected. The man had planned for the hole to be dug and the tarp lining to be in place within the first two weeks, but the hole was just barely finished three weeks in.
Family Aid
With construction running a little behind schedule, some of the family gave up their weekends to grab a shovel and pitch in. “My little sister helping like a pro.”
Slow But Eventual Progress
Despite beginning to feel a little overwhelmed and unmotivated due to the apparent lack of progress being made, the family gave the man some reassurance (a few hugs all around) and told him that a few minor setbacks were inevitable. From then on, he decided to just plow through it and get it accomplished!
First Amenities
After another week and a half of dedicated labor, the tarp lining was finally installed. The man even took the opportunity to plant some young bushes and lay down some gravel!
Sealing It In
The first layer of sealant was a felt material. It would soak up any slight leakage that might occur from the plastic that would eventually go on top.
Plastic Protection
“On top of the felt, we put one huge plastic foil. My father ordered all materials like felt and plastic foils in Germany. There is actually quiet a community around those DIY ponders.”
Filtration
“This is the filter system for circulating the water from the pond through those barrels.”
The Appearance of An Actual Pool
Close to three months after ground broke, the sweaty family was finally looking at the first resemblance of their swimming pond! But the work was far from finished….
Fruits of Their Labor
“I remember that day… We had to fill the pond with those heavy-ass rocks. We were five men and worked around eight hours to build the walls of the pond etc. We were tired to death by sunset.”
Filling It With Water
After months of exhausting work, their once-crappy backyard was beginning to look updated and modern. The man thought that one truckload of rocks and gravel would be adequate to fill in the space, but it looked like a second truck would be needed to fully cover all of the black tarp and plastic (plus a few extra bags for refill as needed).
More Pond Than Pool
You likely assumed that the square enclosure in the center was the actual pool, but the plan was to make it an actual pond! Additionally, the man also replaced the ugly chain link fence with a beautiful wooden fence (and a few more bushes for some added beautification).
So Peaceful and Serene
The man and his wife envisioned many quiet evenings out in this backyard. In the evening sun, it lit the water and put the entire backyard in this gorgeous golden light.
Some Spotlights
When the sun went down, the pool area was left in the dark. To remedy this issue, the man installed two spotlights inside the pool to illuminate it when the sun set.
Just In Time For Winter
Despite a couple setbacks, the man did manage to complete the pond area before winter arrived. Once temperatures reached close to -22°C, the family realized another added benefit of having their own private pond in the backyard: their own ice skating rink!
Brave Cat
Even the family cat decided to venture out into the cold to check out the new water feature that sprouted up in its territory.
The Last Step
Once spring arrived and the ice melted, the man got right down to work on assembling the last and final step in the backyard transformation: the patio!
Part 1: the Back Door
The entire patio would eventually wrap around most of the pool, but the first part of the project would begin with a lanai that stretched the length of the house and would extend just far enough for you to step down into the water.
Some Lovely Aqua Foliage
The man took the opportunity once the snow and ice dissipated to install some really authentic plants in the water, giving it that true natural pond feel.
Part 1 Completed
It took close to a month, but the first part of the second half was finally completed. The man used a high-quality birch wood material for the deck.
Small Fountain Feature
Though construction on the patio was well underway, the man wasn’t quite finished with the pond. A small fountain was installed with water trickling down a flat rock. Nothing too gaudy, just another added feature for the purpose of relaxation and serenity.
Part 2: the Pond Perimeter
The final stage of the patio assembly began with laying down the trestles that would serve as the foundation.
Wrap-Around
While the man initially planned on having the porch wrap around and enclose the entire pond, he decided that leaving it open on one end would not only allow easier access to the pool for maintenance, but it would also give the backyard a slightly unique aesthetic appearance (and cut down a bit on costs!).
Completion
“Finally finished! It was summer and we could start to enjoy our self-made swimming pond!”
Adding the Final Small Touches
With small finished touches here and there like potted plants, decorative ornaments, furniture, and a porch swing, it seemed like the family’s relaxing backyard pool/pond was finally finished!
Natural-Built Beauty
The man had created quite a little oasis right in his own backyard! The project had all began close to eight months earlier, but looking back on what it once was compared to how grand and mesmerizing it was now just took the entire family’s breath away.
Incomparable
The man looked over the fruit of his labor and thought back to that sandlot of a yard he had before with the dead, wilting grass. He knew that this was going to make his family truly happy, as many blissful evenings and afternoons would be spent out there barbecuing, playing, socializing with friends, and just growing closer together.
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