Ex-pats:Graham Denby has pool trouble in Portugal

Jun 24 2009 by Graham Denby

WELL, IT’S getting a lot hotter now up here in the Alentejo and the afternoon breeze is very welcome.

The main recourse in the heat, for the folks who have one, is the use of their outdoor pool.

It’s not massively ‘Algarvian’ up here, pools are not built in as standard, but still there are a good number.

These are not only for the owners but, in a rough order of preference, for grand-kids, family, friends and guests. Most pools are built with the house but some are added later, as the budget allows.

Pool building is a specialised job and one or two have been caught out when proper expertise has not been used.

When faults have been found, from leaks, construction and tiling faults, problems with the pump/filter/dosing units etc, it has often been a tortuous route to get it sorted amicably. Back to insisting on the right man for the right job.

As for us, in an ecologically protected zone, a ground pool was not really an option. Besides, Fat Boy Murphy would have broken the diving board!

Having said that it was essential to have some sort of facility for cooling guests so we decided to have a surface splash pool.

I walled an area in about 20 x 15ft and infilled with rubble – most of the hillside stuff - topped off with soft sand, no punctures and easy to level.