Swimming Pool Costs in the U.K.
Discussion
The costs of the pool will vary depending upon the method of construction, purpose and design.
Pools are traditionally constructed from concrete, waterproof rendered then tiled.
However over the last few years there have been a few other options
Mirror polished stainless steel panels welded together
Panel Pool:
The advantages of these type of pools is the installation time, although material costs may be higher you can save in the long run.
Concrete pools take months to cure, then the render need to be applied then tile adhesieve then tiling and grout. If one stage of this process is done wrong you can see render and or tiles coming off the walls.
The panel pool, as shown in this example, can also have a seat or bench cast in then lined in the waterproof membrane afterwards.
The finished results:
Please ignore the ongoing works this was taken before hand over to the client.
Concrete pools when constructed correctly can look brilliant too. Its all down to the selected finishes, the layout of the pool surroundings and the atmosphere created with a colour selection and lighting. Expensive pools with excellent filtration systems can be wasted by poor tiling or just too many clashing colours.
Think about the type of look and theme you want, this is where a good designer or architect can make all the difference.
Its also worthwhile to carefully plan your lighting, personally I would always recommend lighting in a pool. Especially at night it can change the whole look of the area
For example:
I would like to note that at some stage in their life cycle all pools can develop leaks. This in itself is not an issue, provided there is a properly thought out strategy to deal with the situation should it arise.
If you obtain a quote from a contractor that is significantly cheaper than all others ask why. Sprayed concrete pools are common place in the continent, not so much in the UK. This can be a cheaper alternative than a traditional concrete pool so dont treat this as a like for like basis.
Ask the pool contractor to bring samples of all inlet fittings, lights, lighting deckboxes etc in and around the pool. Lots of them use the white plastic fittings that can ruin the look of your pool.
You'll be parting with a considerable amount of money. Ask for references, to see the finished pools and if possible to speak to the owner of the pool. (Pref one that was completed 2-3 years ago to see how the client feels about it) Find out what problems they've had.
Most pools will have niggles just after commissioning but its all down to how well they are rectified afterwards.
You've got my contact details and I will be more than happy to help.
Andy
Pools are traditionally constructed from concrete, waterproof rendered then tiled.
However over the last few years there have been a few other options
- stainless steel pools complete with are mirror polished finish that arrive in sections and are welded up on site
- Pre formed stainless panels that have a laminated, usually blue, pvc liner that bolt together and then have a sealant applied to the panel joins.
Mirror polished stainless steel panels welded together
Panel Pool:
The advantages of these type of pools is the installation time, although material costs may be higher you can save in the long run.
Concrete pools take months to cure, then the render need to be applied then tile adhesieve then tiling and grout. If one stage of this process is done wrong you can see render and or tiles coming off the walls.
The panel pool, as shown in this example, can also have a seat or bench cast in then lined in the waterproof membrane afterwards.
The finished results:
Please ignore the ongoing works this was taken before hand over to the client.
Concrete pools when constructed correctly can look brilliant too. Its all down to the selected finishes, the layout of the pool surroundings and the atmosphere created with a colour selection and lighting. Expensive pools with excellent filtration systems can be wasted by poor tiling or just too many clashing colours.
Think about the type of look and theme you want, this is where a good designer or architect can make all the difference.
Its also worthwhile to carefully plan your lighting, personally I would always recommend lighting in a pool. Especially at night it can change the whole look of the area
For example:
I would like to note that at some stage in their life cycle all pools can develop leaks. This in itself is not an issue, provided there is a properly thought out strategy to deal with the situation should it arise.
If you obtain a quote from a contractor that is significantly cheaper than all others ask why. Sprayed concrete pools are common place in the continent, not so much in the UK. This can be a cheaper alternative than a traditional concrete pool so dont treat this as a like for like basis.
Ask the pool contractor to bring samples of all inlet fittings, lights, lighting deckboxes etc in and around the pool. Lots of them use the white plastic fittings that can ruin the look of your pool.
You'll be parting with a considerable amount of money. Ask for references, to see the finished pools and if possible to speak to the owner of the pool. (Pref one that was completed 2-3 years ago to see how the client feels about it) Find out what problems they've had.
Most pools will have niggles just after commissioning but its all down to how well they are rectified afterwards.
You've got my contact details and I will be more than happy to help.
Andy
Edited by amccan10 on Friday 16th March 13:55
Edited by amccan10 on Friday 16th March 14:02
CharlesdeGaulle said:
amccan10 said:
Couple look slightly 'municipal' though, and the one above looks dis-proportionately small for the property.
Every project is quite different and we have to work within the specification and budget offered to us.
This one is a bit like a hot tub.
Its located on the south coast of Ireland. The client was building a new guest house and wanted somewhere to sit at night and look out onto the water. He owns another propery 30 miles away with 2 pools and an outdoor flume too.
Andy as my mail to you I will be looking for a pool as the photo of the Lap Pool,they all look very nice and some lovely locations.
As you say a lot of pools constructed in Europe tend to be Gunite these days,if done correctly can be fine,in Spain I have seen some where the Re-Bar has not been correctly fabricated with the wrong spacers and after 5 yrs the rust marks have appeared,I think as you have said that you only get what you pay for.
Pool lights are a must.
This will also be the first pool that I have had that will require heating for most of the period,something else to consider,what type ?
Thanks once again and I will be in contact.
As you say a lot of pools constructed in Europe tend to be Gunite these days,if done correctly can be fine,in Spain I have seen some where the Re-Bar has not been correctly fabricated with the wrong spacers and after 5 yrs the rust marks have appeared,I think as you have said that you only get what you pay for.
Pool lights are a must.
This will also be the first pool that I have had that will require heating for most of the period,something else to consider,what type ?
Thanks once again and I will be in contact.
amccan10 said:
I would like to note that at some stage in their life cycle all pools can develop leaks. This in itself is not an issue, provided there is a properly thought out strategy to deal with the situation should it arise.
Can we have more on this point? We currently rent a house with a pool, which looses an inch of water a week. It takes about 1.5 hours a week to top back up. Landlord is not that interested in this point, particularly as he is having to put a new boiler in. As I pay for water I am!It's a concrete in ground indoor pool.
surveyor said:
Can we have more on this point? We currently rent a house with a pool, which looses an inch of water a week. It takes about 1.5 hours a week to top back up. Landlord is not that interested in this point, particularly as he is having to put a new boiler in. As I pay for water I am!
It's a concrete in ground indoor pool.
Tile or liner ?It's a concrete in ground indoor pool.
Indoor/outdoor?
Covered?
Temperature ?
surveyor said:
Can we have more on this point? We currently rent a house with a pool, which looses an inch of water a week. It takes about 1.5 hours a week to top back up. Landlord is not that interested in this point, particularly as he is having to put a new boiler in. As I pay for water I am!
It's a concrete in ground indoor pool.
It's a concrete in ground indoor pool.
surveyor said:
Tiled. Cover, indoor, normally about 28, but unheated for 2 months. The leak pre dated the boiler breakdown though
All pools will require a certain amount of fresh water to top up losses in the filtration system.The main losses are:
Filter backwashing.
It is necessary to reverse the flow through the sand filter in order to clean the sand bed. Every time the filter is backwashed you will discharge a fair amount of water down the drain. Depending upon the design of your system the water used to backwash the filter could be responsible for a drop in the pool water level.
Sample Board
To keep pool water crystal clear many of them will be fitted with an automatic sample board.
More often than not the sample line will run to drain. The reason for this is to is introduce fresh water into the pool system and dilute the quantities of undissolved solids. (Undissolved solids will make the pool water look cloudy)
An low usage indoor heated pool fitted with a heat retention cover when not in use not use should not loose much water.
As yours is unheated this could be a cause for concern.
Can you tell me the dimensions of the pool and this will give me an estimate to the volume of water you are referring to?
Does the pool have an accessible undercroft? (a crawl space around the pool)
Kneetrembler said:
This will also be the first pool that I have had that will require heating for most of the period,something else to consider,what type ?
The type of heating will depend upon entirely upon your site. What's best for one job may not suit another.If the house has a large boiler it would be worth while connecting into the system and running heated water through a 3 way valve and into a heat exchanger as part of the pool system. This is what most commercial UK systems use.
However if this is not the case an electric heater would probably be installed.
(This also common for commercial jobs in the middle east.)
The other options would be to look into ground source heat pumps, and solar panels to provide power to an electric heater.
Its only been commercial installations I've been working on personally.
As such I've not installed the greener options, all too often the QS wasn't interested in the long term gains.
Also for larger pools they're just not suitable as they were too small.
But for domestic applications the higher purchase price could be offset in the long term.
cuneus said:
Mobile Chicane said:
My neighbour has a pool and reckons it costs him 7k a year to run.
That's 5k for the maintenance contract, 2k for heating. The pool is only operational from about May to October.
However it is quite some pool. Cost 80k to install.
More money than sense and taste then - that's hideousThat's 5k for the maintenance contract, 2k for heating. The pool is only operational from about May to October.
However it is quite some pool. Cost 80k to install.
Show us yours then.
I appreciate that 'pool design' has come on a bit in the last 10 years, however that is a delight.
It's lined with natural green slate and sandstone surrounding. The view is lovely.
I open it on summer evenings so that swallows and bats can snatch a drink from the surface.
cuneus said:
amccan10 said:
cuneus said:
er what about evaporation?
An unheated pool loosing an inch of water a week due to evaporation seems quite high does it not?amccan10 said:
The type of heating will depend upon entirely upon your site. What's best for one job may not suit another.
If the house has a large boiler it would be worth while connecting into the system and running heated water through a 3 way valve and into a heat exchanger as part of the pool system. This is what most commercial UK systems use.
However if this is not the case an electric heater would probably be installed.
(This also common for commercial jobs in the middle east.)
The other options would be to look into ground source heat pumps, and solar panels to provide power to an electric heater.
Its only been commercial installations I've been working on personally.
As such I've not installed the greener options, all too often the QS wasn't interested in the long term gains.
Also for larger pools they're just not suitable as they were too small.
But for domestic applications the higher purchase price could be offset in the long term.
Thanks once again,If the house has a large boiler it would be worth while connecting into the system and running heated water through a 3 way valve and into a heat exchanger as part of the pool system. This is what most commercial UK systems use.
However if this is not the case an electric heater would probably be installed.
(This also common for commercial jobs in the middle east.)
The other options would be to look into ground source heat pumps, and solar panels to provide power to an electric heater.
Its only been commercial installations I've been working on personally.
As such I've not installed the greener options, all too often the QS wasn't interested in the long term gains.
Also for larger pools they're just not suitable as they were too small.
But for domestic applications the higher purchase price could be offset in the long term.
I am quite interested in the long term gain so would also be interested in Ground Source Heat Pump and also possibly Solar Panels.
Thanks very much for your very detailed replies,I will be in contact end May once I have the property.
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