11m x 4m outdoor swimming pool in 3 weeks (with paving)
Discussion
CDB1983 said:
Great thread and your pool looks amazing!
We are looking at installing a pool next year. How do you heat yours and can you prevent it from freezing in the winter? I've been looking at covering our garage roof which is south facing and around 70m2 with solar panels and running a ground source heat pump.
Also do you have to drain it every year or do the chemicals do a good job of keeping the water in check for longer periods?
Ours is heated with an air source heat pump - at the beginning of June (outside air temp in the early 20s) when I turned it all on it was costing around £5/day to heat and filter the water, but now the air temp is higher up in the 20s and we're getting a decent amount of sunlight on the solar cover it's costing less than £2/day. We're considering photovoltaics to top up some of the electricity used, we'd need around 20 square meters to power the thing.We are looking at installing a pool next year. How do you heat yours and can you prevent it from freezing in the winter? I've been looking at covering our garage roof which is south facing and around 70m2 with solar panels and running a ground source heat pump.
Also do you have to drain it every year or do the chemicals do a good job of keeping the water in check for longer periods?
As for winter, you generally don't empty pools out - if you check the earlier parts of this thread you'll see that the water went in at the same time as the concrete so that there isn't undue pressure on the sides. We drop the water level 150mm blow the skimmer and add winterisation chemicals, you also float some weighed down plastic bottles in it incase the water freezes as they'll get crushed rather than your pool when the water expands (if it even freezes).
Thanks for the replies I thought i would ask as theres lots of info online but its very USA centric 
It doesn't sound as much hassle as I had imagined and the costs really aren't out of the way. I did worry about the emptying as we only have a septic tank which I don't believe holds as much as a pool so it would prove difficult. If the water can stay for years than that would work really well.
It sounds like the heat pump is the way to go to keep the wife happy in terms of costs (She doesn't swim so won't appreciate it) I was planning on installing solar in any case as it seems like a waste of a large otherwise unused roof not to. (I'm back in Europe now so theres usually some grants etc as an incentive)
I did wonder regarding the filling as the concrete goes down. The water table here is very high so i'm thinking it will have to be semi submerged with decking around it in order to prevent it popping out of the ground. (the pictures a google search brings up look frightening)
Insulated cover also sounds like a great idea. I doubt the pool would get much use from the end of October until April in any case as thats our busy season with work. (Also it snows)
It doesn't sound as much hassle as I had imagined and the costs really aren't out of the way. I did worry about the emptying as we only have a septic tank which I don't believe holds as much as a pool so it would prove difficult. If the water can stay for years than that would work really well.
It sounds like the heat pump is the way to go to keep the wife happy in terms of costs (She doesn't swim so won't appreciate it) I was planning on installing solar in any case as it seems like a waste of a large otherwise unused roof not to. (I'm back in Europe now so theres usually some grants etc as an incentive)
I did wonder regarding the filling as the concrete goes down. The water table here is very high so i'm thinking it will have to be semi submerged with decking around it in order to prevent it popping out of the ground. (the pictures a google search brings up look frightening)
Insulated cover also sounds like a great idea. I doubt the pool would get much use from the end of October until April in any case as thats our busy season with work. (Also it snows)
Julian, the USP of your build and the tension of the telling was the fact that it had to be done very quickly. Now, some time in, are there things you'd wished you'd been patient for or taken more time over? If time hadn't been a driver, are there things you'd have done differently? Any regrets about any aspects of it?
CDB1983 said:
Thanks for the replies I thought i would ask as theres lots of info online but its very USA centric
It doesn't sound as much hassle as I had imagined and the costs really aren't out of the way. I did worry about the emptying as we only have a septic tank which I don't believe holds as much as a pool so it would prove difficult. If the water can stay for years than that would work really well.
It sounds like the heat pump is the way to go to keep the wife happy in terms of costs (She doesn't swim so won't appreciate it) I was planning on installing solar in any case as it seems like a waste of a large otherwise unused roof not to. (I'm back in Europe now so theres usually some grants etc as an incentive)
I did wonder regarding the filling as the concrete goes down. The water table here is very high so i'm thinking it will have to be semi submerged with decking around it in order to prevent it popping out of the ground. (the pictures a google search brings up look frightening)
Insulated cover also sounds like a great idea. I doubt the pool would get much use from the end of October until April in any case as thats our busy season with work. (Also it snows)
I'm in France. When I constructed my pool it was when the water table was at its lowest.(summer).It doesn't sound as much hassle as I had imagined and the costs really aren't out of the way. I did worry about the emptying as we only have a septic tank which I don't believe holds as much as a pool so it would prove difficult. If the water can stay for years than that would work really well.
It sounds like the heat pump is the way to go to keep the wife happy in terms of costs (She doesn't swim so won't appreciate it) I was planning on installing solar in any case as it seems like a waste of a large otherwise unused roof not to. (I'm back in Europe now so theres usually some grants etc as an incentive)
I did wonder regarding the filling as the concrete goes down. The water table here is very high so i'm thinking it will have to be semi submerged with decking around it in order to prevent it popping out of the ground. (the pictures a google search brings up look frightening)
Insulated cover also sounds like a great idea. I doubt the pool would get much use from the end of October until April in any case as thats our busy season with work. (Also it snows)
Mine is a concrete filled block construction on a 250 mm concrete base with steel reinforcing linking every aspect.
Then rendered and Mosaic tiled.
It stays very cool until the late June sun arrives.
It is only sun heated with no other type of heating but I like it fresh. The bonus being that it is very easy to manage the chemical balance and is cheap as chips to run.
Not everyone's cup of tea but I have a very phyisical job and it helps with recovery( being an old git).
I tend to get out of my truck and undress while walking across the garden and straight in for a cool down.
I may ,in time ,link the pump up to a few panels on my lean to but that's about all for me.
Here's a pic.
Chris Type R said:
I think a big advantage to Julian's setup is the integrated (and I think insulated) cover.
Cheers Chris.Yes, it was a very important factor to me. It is integrated and provides solar heating (in a passive way - rather than powering anything). I would strongly recommend them if you are having an in-ground pool build.
It not only acts as a safety device and keeps unwanted stuff out, but it massively reduces heating costs and evaporation (which would otherwise be quite considerable.
magooagain said:
Not everyone's cup of tea but I have a very phyisical job and it helps with recovery( being an old git).
I tend to get out of my truck and undress while walking across the garden and straight in for a cool down.
I may ,in time ,link the pump up to a few panels on my lean to but that's about all for me.
Here's a pic.
I tend to get out of my truck and undress while walking across the garden and straight in for a cool down.
I may ,in time ,link the pump up to a few panels on my lean to but that's about all for me.
Here's a pic.
- scrolls down very slowly and carefully
magooagain said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Julian, the USP of your build and the tension of the telling was the fact that it had to be done very quickly. Now, some time in, are there things you'd wished you'd been patient for or taken more time over? If time hadn't been a driver, are there things you'd have done differently? Any regrets about any aspects of it?
If I was doing it again with more time to spare I would have done a concrete build with mosaic tiles. However, I have no regrets that I didn't wait and do this.
I would have gone for gas heating too, but again have no regrets about going for oil.
That bloody shed is something I regret though!
Now that huge tree is down I am thinking for putting up a really nice fence (or maybe even a continuation of the courtyard wall) to hide the shed and oil tank.
Cheers
We have our "ghetto pool" up, the Costco 18ft by 10ft oval pool with pump sand filter and solar heat mat. Less than £500 and I have to say, it is flipping awesome!! Filter seems really good, water's crystal clear still, we use a 5 in on chemical / stabiliser / anti algae, £50 for 5kg, and it needs about 25g per day so far. Pool is currently 27.2 degrees c off the small solar heater!
We have a £20 swim tether and belt off amazon, I did 45 mins at lunchtime on it, works a treat, seems very natural swimming position.
So for less than £650 we have a 20k litre pool and are heros of the street, all my daughters friends are round each night! They have an amazon echo for music, a few inflatables and a water polo ball!
Always wanted a pool. this makes us want a proper one more! Next year....!!
We have a £20 swim tether and belt off amazon, I did 45 mins at lunchtime on it, works a treat, seems very natural swimming position.
So for less than £650 we have a 20k litre pool and are heros of the street, all my daughters friends are round each night! They have an amazon echo for music, a few inflatables and a water polo ball!
Always wanted a pool. this makes us want a proper one more! Next year....!!
Chris Type R said:
s3fella said:
Always wanted a pool. this makes us want a proper one more! Next year....!!
If only the weather was like this every year though.Just bought a sand filter & bigger pump for ours today - overkill, but can foresee a bigger pool in the near future.
Have read this thread over the last week and its inspiring!
I have come to the decision that I would love a swimming pool for the same reasoning as Julian. My future wife also loves to swim.
Utterly brilliant thread from all involved. Thanks Julian for delivering with the updates! Please consider putting Forky in a time capsule near the pool so he stays preserved!
I have come to the decision that I would love a swimming pool for the same reasoning as Julian. My future wife also loves to swim.
Utterly brilliant thread from all involved. Thanks Julian for delivering with the updates! Please consider putting Forky in a time capsule near the pool so he stays preserved!
CinnamonFan said:
Have read this thread over the last week and its inspiring!
I have come to the decision that I would love a swimming pool for the same reasoning as Julian. My future wife also loves to swim.
Utterly brilliant thread from all involved. Thanks Julian for delivering with the updates! Please consider putting Forky in a time capsule near the pool so he stays preserved!
Cheers! I have come to the decision that I would love a swimming pool for the same reasoning as Julian. My future wife also loves to swim.
Utterly brilliant thread from all involved. Thanks Julian for delivering with the updates! Please consider putting Forky in a time capsule near the pool so he stays preserved!
It was a really enjoyable build and thread. Everyone has been fantastic and Forky is safe!
Go for it, you won't regret it. Weather like this is an added bonus, but we use it all year round.
Mr Roper said:
I’ve enjoyed reading your build thread...
After a very long and very tiring weekend helping my parents move into their new house to have this as a reward at the end made it all worthwhile.
I think the kids and I will be visiting more often ??
Nice pool! Thanks, it was a great journey. I agree, you will certainly be visiting more often and that will bring you all closer. After a very long and very tiring weekend helping my parents move into their new house to have this as a reward at the end made it all worthwhile.
I think the kids and I will be visiting more often ??
madazrx7 said:
Surely this thread deserves at least weekly updates? Just to see how it's all "maturing"
I fear that would become quite boring!!!If it helps I had a great swim this morning and we have friends over tomorrow for a few days, so with their consent I'll post some photos of the pool in action a year on!
Cheers
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