Tool Time? Pool Time!

Happy summer to all! While many of you have been indulging in the summer life and laying by a pool, I have been working to get mine in better condition!

A little background of the pool:
When I purchased this house, the pool was literally a cement bowl in the backyard. It had no drains, no returns, no anything. The only plumbing it contained was one pipe that split into the skimmer and the fill function.

After doing some research, I learned that a storm/tornado in the 90s had knocked a tree onto the pool. It busted concrete as well as the electric lines beneath. Instead of fixing in the electric, it was simply covered up by more concrete (SHAME ON WHOEVER DID THAT!)... so the pool light did not work.

Here is an idea of what it looked like before we started. (Note that this is before the privacy fence too.)

Here are some pictures of what we have completed so far:

The Demo Begins... We busted up three slabs of concrete. 

Before installing skimmer #1.

Skimmer #1 installed with plumbing to return and auto-fill.

Pouring concrete around new skimmer to make sure it is set.

Well, Hello, giant digger! This was used for digging straight down, so that we could burrow underneath the deep end of the pool.. to install the bottom drain. The electric pole you see sticking up is where my new outdoor light fixture will go.

This is with the plumbing exposed. But again, this is where the deep hole was.

Installation of the bottom drain.

Installation of Skimmer #2.

Concrete mold for skimmer #1.

Front view of concrete mold. You can also see the return and auto fill hole that were installed.

Last slab of concrete to be poured!

My poor grass has definitely taken a beating.. but SO worth it.

 Skimmer #1 - To be painted.

 Skimmer #2 - To be painted.

Center slab (with light-post)

This is my side project. I wanted to reuse the concrete, so I am making a little sitting area in the back corner of the yard. Just the first step -- I still need to continue leveling it out and then seal them together with mortar mix, or something of the sort. I will post another picture when it's done. I'm hoping to have just a small bench and a  flower pot or something back there.

Check back for more updates! I am considering pouring concrete steps inside of the pool since there are none now, but I haven't decided yet. Sorry that some of these pictures seem really mudding and dirty, as it rained earlier today before I took them.

Thanks for reading-- and I will have finished product pictures soon!