CAVE RENOVATION . . . TOOLS FOR THE JOB

For the DIY enthusiast reforming or part reforming a cave can be both a challenge and very rewarding. The fact that caves don't tend to have perfectly square rooms, clean lines or flat surfaces makes for an ideal do it yourself project. Walls do not need to have glass plaster finishes, kitchen units can be made rustic by building them out of simple brick or decorative stone. Bath surrounds can be as thick or curved as you like and installing electrics is up to ones imagination - lights can go anywhere, even in the floor.

Hand tools in Spain are very cheap, power tools in the rural areas can be slightly more expensive, it may be more economical to buy big tools such as powerful hammer drills and generators in the UK and bring them with you, it all depends on your circumstances. Nearer the coastal regions big stores do sell discounted and cheaper power tools but this can be uneconomical due to the drive.

If you are planning a spot of DIY (and why not!) there are a range of tools that are worth investing in, some typically Spanish and designed exactly for the purpose. A good example of this is the "mattock" - it looks like a garden spade with the head bent backwards on itself and is used for "pulling" rubble instead of shovelling it, ideal for clearing trenches and loose cave rock.

Other essentials:

• SDS hammer drill
• Extension
• Club hammer
• Bricklayers hammer
• Chisels
• Float
• Rubber bucket (designed for mixing yeso)
• Spirit level
• Wheel barrow
• Wood chisels
• Set square
• Plumb line
• Halogen light
• Shovel

Just a few of the tools we found most useful during our cave renovation. Of course not everyone will want to take on renovation work but many of the tools mentioned such as the float and rubber bucket are handy things to have. Every cave needs a little plaster from time to time.