Every May we re-open the swimming pool, never quite knowing what we'll find when we pull off the cover.

This year's record-setting winter was exceptionally tough on the pool.    The severe cold caused many tiles to pop off (by the freeze/thaw cycle), and the pool was nearly over-flowing with snow-melt when we removed the cover.  Retiling added an extra day to the process.

After draining and acid-washing, we came to the difficult conclusion that it needed to be completely painted -- a task that no one would wish on their worst enemy.  Worse, speed was of the essence -- because (with the high spring water table) the whole pool could suddenly float out of the ground like a giant, concrete boat!  We therefore must work fast, and it ALWAYS seems to threaten rain when we're trying to paint.

It took 96 hours of concerted effort -- but the results (as always) were most satisfactory -- the pool area is open once again!

Here are some pix from the process: