Building a New Swimming Pool
Are you contemplating building a new pool? The following tips should help you with those all important decisions like whether you should have a pool, what shape should it be, should I do it myself?
What to Consider When Designing and Building a Swimming Pool
As we come into summer, the thought of having a pool in your back garden becomes more ever more appealing. However, there are a number of factors to think about when considering building your swimming pool.
Designing Your Swimming Pool
Before you even begin to contemplate how to install your pool you need to think about the design and position of your pool. Think about sun, shade, wind direction and proximity to buildings and garden features. You’ll need to decide how big the pool should be and whether your budget will stretch to accommodate its length and depth. Don’t forget an outdoor swimming pool might require heating and lighting if you are to get maximum use from it, so it will depend on utilities – most importantly water.
The size and shape of the pool also needs to take into account how you want to use the pool. Will the pool be mainly for fun, exercise, diving etc – this will all determine what your end pool will look like.
You also need to give some consideration to the position of flow controls, lights or steps/bays. Think through what extras you may want and where they will be positioned. You will also need to decide how you are going to heat your pool. Most pools in the UK are heated to maximize their usage. There are numerous options for heating pools including air to water and ground source heat pumps, solar systems, gas or oil pool heaters and electric heaters for above ground installations.
Position of Your Swimming Pool
When thinking through where you would like your pool to be, be realistic about the need to excavate a significant area of land, probably in your garden. Think about the logistics of doing this before you commit yourself to any cost. How will you access the garden with the necessary machinery, and are you prepared for the mess that will make? If you don’t have sufficient side or rear access to your property it might be time to re-think. A project like this will involve the removal of a lot of earth – how will you dispose of it?
Types of Swimming Pools
There are two main types of swimming pool: aboveground pools and submerged pools. Aboveground pools tend to be cheaper because you don't have to dig a hole and fit them but submerged pools are more traditional and provide easier entry for children or elderly people.
What about the construction of my pool?
You will need to decide the construction of your pool. There are three common finishes for submerged pool: a reinforced concrete shell finished with tiles, marblite or special paint, a prefabricated panel shell supporting a PVC liner or a glassfibre one piece shell.
These all require different amounts of maintenance and will affect the overall price of the job and the installation time.
Fibreglass pools
Fibreglass swimming pools are made in one piece in a factory before being taken to site on a very large lorry and craned into the hole that has been dug for it. The main problems with Fibreglass pools arise from lack of expertise and poor quality control. There are manufacturers that make an excellent product and many more that do not – make sure you shop around as they are prone to defects and are often sold by fly by night firms. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that your supplier has been in business for at least 5 years at his current business address. A poor quality fiberglass pool will only last a couple of years.
However, on the positive side fiberglass pools are less costly than the other options and easier to install.
Tiled pools
The only reason nowadays why anyone would choose to install a tiled pool is that they look the best and are considered the best option amongst experts in the pool business.
There is simply no doubt that from an aesthetic point of view nothing compares with a beautifully built ceramic tiled pool.
However be aware that tiled pools have been known to leak. There are firms that specialise in sprayed concrete that can be used to successfully build water tight tiled swimming pools using a modern process called shotcrete. The other disadvantage of tiled pools is that they can take a long time to build. However the wait could be worth it if you like the look of a tiled pool.
Should I use a Swimming Pool Contractor/Tradesmen when considering a new pool or go the DIY route?
There is a long list of points to consider when building an outdoor swimming pool, and you’ll probably take one look at them and decide to call in a professional swimming pool contractor. Depending on the size and scale of the project and the extent of your skills you might feel able to take on the work yourself, or perhaps some of it, but don’t make any assumptions before you’ve decided on a budget and thought through all the decisions. Using a tradesman who has expertise in designing and building swimming pools can make your life considerable easier. Swimming Pool Contractors can take care of the entire process of building a swimming pool: that means wiring all the electrics, digging the hole, getting rid of the earth and all the other jobs right up until the pool is ready. They will also help you with the design, build, or repair a swimming pool.
When you use a swimming pool specialist you should expect them to provide you with a full specification, including things such as:
1. Initial site survey including information on groundwork required
2. Design Options
3. Planning application procedures
4. Construction Options including choices of; material and installation, pool filtration and flow control, pool heating, pool surround andfinishes and pool lighting
5. Supply and installation of all types of swimming pool covers
6. All the necessary calculations and running costs for your swimming pool project
Choosing the right Swimming Pool Specialist
If you decide to go down the pool specialist route getting an experienced quality specialist who knows what they are doing is very important. A bad pool contractor could result in you losing an awful a lot of money. A few things to consider when choosing a specialist:
Years in the business
Go with someone who has a good track record and who has been in business for a number of years
Good references or a recommendation
Ask for a list of references. Most reputable pool builders will not hesitate to provide you with one. Call the references and ask them if they were happy with the build process as well as if they have been satisfied with the customer service for any warranty issues they dealt with. This will let you know if a builder will stick by you in the long run should any problems with your pool arise.
Member of the Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association
Whether you are looking for a Swimming Pool Specialist in London or Manchester, consider using a Swimming Pool contractor who is a member of SPATA - the Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association. SPATA is a member of BSPF, the British Swimming Pool Federation and of EUSA, the European Union of Swimming Pool Associations. Members SPATA have to meet strict criteria before they can be accepted by the association. For more information read about SPATA in the professional bodies section.
Use the services of xpertfind.com
Don’t forget xpertfind.com provides rating and feedback for all their swimming pool specialist. If you decide to hire a swimming pool specialist, make sure you shop around and obtain quotes from reputable professionals. xpertfind.com can help you get these quotes. xpertfind.com makes it quick and easy for customers to find swimming pool contractors for a whole range of jobs and we have national coverage. So whether you are looking for swimming pool specialists in Birmingham, in Liverpool or in Surrey, you can post your swimming pool job online and let us do the hard work of finding 3 local quality swimming pool contractors who can provide you with quotes. Who you go with is your decision.