Well I need some help. Here is Swampville, our ugly 80s pool filled with toxic waste. Folks in the getting started forum are helping me get it all sparkly clean.
I need advice on the horrible concrete squares and cracked concrel te surrounding the pool as well as the retaining walls. I even dislike the fence. We have done a major reno on the house and have virtually no money left for a while.
What can I do besides pressure wash those concrete tiles? How do I get rid of the ants that are all over the place? We will paint the fence, which I think will help alot, but I do not like the retaining wall at all. I have to live with it. We will also be painting the side of the garage and doing some gardening which should also make a positive difference. We also will do some landscaping, adding some classic New England style shrubs, plants, and some sort of privacy screen hedge on the righthand fence side.
You can see snow on the side of the old barn. The barn is kind of charming and I am plugging away at prettying that up too. Just yesterday we finished moving 4 truckloads of an old woodpile that was covered in stinging nettles and thistle from behind the white picket fence right behind the pool.
I will post pictures of my progress, but would love to hear anyone's suggestions, esp on the pool surround, with no real budget other than our own labor and possibly some type of pressure wash rental.
This was yesterday. It looks better, but we have so much to do!

I need advice on the horrible concrete squares and cracked concrel te surrounding the pool as well as the retaining walls. I even dislike the fence. We have done a major reno on the house and have virtually no money left for a while.
What can I do besides pressure wash those concrete tiles? How do I get rid of the ants that are all over the place? We will paint the fence, which I think will help alot, but I do not like the retaining wall at all. I have to live with it. We will also be painting the side of the garage and doing some gardening which should also make a positive difference. We also will do some landscaping, adding some classic New England style shrubs, plants, and some sort of privacy screen hedge on the righthand fence side.
You can see snow on the side of the old barn. The barn is kind of charming and I am plugging away at prettying that up too. Just yesterday we finished moving 4 truckloads of an old woodpile that was covered in stinging nettles and thistle from behind the white picket fence right behind the pool.
I will post pictures of my progress, but would love to hear anyone's suggestions, esp on the pool surround, with no real budget other than our own labor and possibly some type of pressure wash rental.
This was yesterday. It looks better, but we have so much to do!

