Spasa

The single biggest advantage of concrete pools today is the infinite design possibilities. They are normally designed to fit your property, to complement the architecture of your house or the landscaping theme you want. Shape is only limited by the imagination of you or your pool designer. Because of their greater strength, concrete pools can be installed in almost any site and, with proper advanced planning, almost anywhere within a site. The wall of the pool can become part of the foundation for the house so that the pool water laps the house walls. They are suitable as indoor pools - some even have both indoor and outdoor parts to them. Concrete pools can, with the co-operation of your neighbour and proper engineering, be placed right up to the property boundary.

Concrete pools can incorporate many features that are difficult or impossible in other pools, such as deep ends, shallow ends, wading areas for small children, deeper diving areas, seats, swim-outs, rockeries - either on the pool edge or down into the water, beach areas, level decks and vanishing edges where the water actually flows out of the pool over a feature edge.

As with all in-ground pools, construction of a concrete pool begins with the excavation which is dug to the shape and depth required. In hard ground, it’s normal to "over dig" and backfill with sand to provide a better base for the pool. After excavating, the pool shape is formed out of disposable materials, the steel reinforcing is placed in position to provide a strong inner frame for the pool, and the concrete is then "sprayed" onto the walls and floors and "cut" to the final shape. It’s deliberately left in a rough state for better adhesion of the finishing coatings.

The standard finish is a row of ceramic tiles at the waterline, a bull-nosed coping or edging, followed by a white or coloured cement render. Some popular variations in the final surface finish include; colour enhancement using oxides, ceramic-coated quartz chips, pebble coatings, epoxy resin paints, and the top of the range pool can be fully tiled in an unlimited array of colours in mosaic tiles.

A well-designed and constructed concrete pool can provide a permanent avenue for relaxation at home with family and friends, and result in a considerable increase in your property value.

Fibreglass swimming pools have come a long way since the early 1970s when pools were hand made and manufactured without the assistance of any form of equipment. Today fibreglass swimming pools have rapidly increased in popularity due to the application of advanced swimming pool technology. Earlier fibreglass swimming pools were only available in a basic blue colour.

Buying a pool in winter isn’t as crazy as you might think as it allows time to plan ahead. A fi breglass swimming pool takes approximately six weeks to settle after installation. This time is necessary for the surrounding earth to fully compact ready for your selected paving.

Winter is also the best time to establish your garden and pool surroundings. With water restrictions, it’s a good idea to make the most of the winter rain to maximise your garden’s potential before summer.

Another benefit of landscaping in winter is that most plants are entering their growth cycle, so initiating your pool and garden plans in winter means that your backyard will have longer to mature before the summer entertaining period.

Vinyl-lined pools have advanced in construction and technology in recent years. They are structurally very strong and the liner material is now tougher and thicker than that used years ago, leaving you with a very attractive, non-abrasive and easy to maintain finish.

Vinyl-lined swimming pools are generally less expensive than concrete ones, due to the construction of the shell. Vinyl-lined pools can be constructed using buttressed brick walls, double brick with concrete and steel-filled cavity or specially insulated to provide naturally warmer water. The base of the pool can be custom-shaped with a shallow and/or deep end and fi nished with concrete. Once the shell is complete, the interior is measured for the liner to be tailor-made for your pool. As the liner is installed, it is vacuum fitted, moulding to the shape of the pool perfectly. A locking strip holds the liner in place.

Vinyl won’t chip, crack or fl ake and is the thickest and toughest flexible pool surface product treated to resist algae and fungal growth. Liner pools provide a sanitised and treated finish that resists the growth of algae, bacteria and fungus and has special UV filters to resist fading and harmful sun damage and will never get black spot.

If manufactured, installed and maintained correctly, a vinyl-liner can last 15 years or more. The above benefits mean you will use less chemicals to maintain a safe and hygienically clean pool for the whole family.

Renovation of a vinyl-lined pool is a very simple process. Once the old liner is removed, the pool is remeasured and a new liner is installed, giving a new lease of life and colour. Many old concrete pools are renovated using vinyl.

Tropical Pools - Winner 1999 Innovative Award

An above ground pool offers homeowners many benefits they cannot get with a below ground pool. They cost less, are easily erected and can be taken down and moved when you move house.

Most customers install the pools themselves or, alternatively, SPASA members that sell above ground pools will be able to direct the customer towards a trained installer.

These pools have also changed with the times, with suppliers offering many design options. There are now even saltwater options available or, if you prefer, automated liquid chlorine injection feeders, which are becoming increasingly popular. Not all manufacturers can offer these options, so check with the suppliers before making your purchase.

As with any pool, fencing requirements must be adhered to, although in many cases, only minimal fencing is required as the pool itself can be the safety barrier.

Above ground pools can be supplied as braced or braceless models, and most suppliers offer deep end options. Modern above ground pools can now be installed partly, or in some cases fully, in-ground and with clever landscaping, you can hardly tell the difference between these pools and below ground pools and they are a fraction of the price. Why not visit a display centre for more ideas?

Pools are normally located in the backyard, although some are placed at the side or even the front of the house. The main consideration is orientation. Following are some points to consider:

Positioning the Pool
Pool positioning is most important from a heat retention standpoint. Avoid windy spots if possible. Plan to keep the pool away from nearby buildings and overhanging trees. Trees not only cause problems with leaves, they and nearby buildings block sunlight and prevent the pool warming up naturally during the day. A pool with little or no natural sun will be up to 4°C cooler.

How Deep?
You’ll need around 1.2 metres of water under you for lap swimming so that you don’t touch the bottom when making your turns. In other pools, 1 to 1.1 metres is suitable for the shallow end of the pool. For the deep end, between 1.7 and 1.8 metres is quite satisfactory, though there is a growing trend for pools to be no deeper than 1.5 metres. Your SPASA member can provide you with advice based on their experience in the industry.

Variable Sites
Pool manufacturers and installers have techniques for installing a pool on just about any site you can imagine. On extreme slopes, for example, concrete piers or retaining walls can be installed to support the far walls of the pool. The end result can be spectacular, with the far wall seeming to float off into space. In other cases, such as sloping ground which has been terraced, an above ground pool can be installed using the terracing as a natural feature. If you have an unusual site, don’t be deterred. Talk to several SPASA member pool installers. Ask to be shown pools in a similar situation to yours. You’ll find they’ve done it all before and can offer a solution to solving any site queries.

How Big?
In the early days of pool ownership, big was beautiful. Today, however, more and more pool owners are installing pools to suit their requirements, rather than following a fashion. Smaller blocks, for example, will happily accommodate a smaller pool. Shapes, too, can be designed to fit smaller or irregular spaces. Pool builders have recognised the new trend and now provide pools to suit any requirement. As well as space, another consideration is the amount and type of activity you expect in your pool. If you have children and will encourage them to invite their friends to the pool, you’ll take their needs into account. How many friends and relatives will you be inviting to join you for a swim? Will there be older family members coming over on weekends, or during the week while you’re at work?

Landscaping
Most pool contractors in Western Australia can refer you to a good landscaper. Designing the landscaping concept around your pool is very important and greatly enhances the appearance of the pool. The types of plants used, amount of watering required and leaves that may drop, all need to be considered. A carefully planned garden will mean less time spent on pool maintenance and more time enjoying the pool. As much as we love the Australian bush, when it comes to pools, the outback is the best place for it. Australian native plants and trees tend to be messy around pools and are generally to be discouraged. Jacarandas are also frowned upon as they clog skimmers, leaf baskets and even block pump impellers. Setting a pool under trees not only leads to a messy pool, but a shortage of sun, resulting in a colder pool not used as often as it could be.

Windy Locations
If you can’t avoid installing your pool in a windy spot, there are ways to protect against heat loss through convection. Hedges, for example, make excellent windbreaks, while at the same time forming part of your landscaping. Another technique is in the fencing you choose. As discussed in the article on fencing in this magazine, pool fencing is now required by law and here you have a choice. Providing you keep in mind the need for child supervision, you could install one section of solid type of fence to block the worst of the wind.

Soil Types
In Western Australia, around 80 per cent of pools are installed in sandy soils. Between fi ve and 10 per cent involve the removal of limestone during excavation, with the balance being clay, gravel or rocky sites. Disposal of excess soil is becoming more and more difficult. Contractors are always on the lookout for people wanting a "clean fill", as it is far cheaper than going to a council tip.

Display Centres
Most fibreglass pool manufacturers have their own display centres. Western Australia’s swimming pool display centres offer the most extensive range of pools on display anywhere in Australia. Some concrete pool builders have a small display centre or will use their own pool or recent clients’ pools for display purposes. If you would like to see a range of pools already in place, you could visit some of our display centres, details of which can be found on the SPASA website www.spasawa.com.au

Considerations for Locating the Pool:
Sun: Does the sun reach the pool and areas intended for sunbathing or is it obstructed by nearby buildings?

Shade: Will there be shady spots to escape the sun when it becomes too hot?

Wind: Does the wind blow hard or swirl in the proposed pool area - will a windbreak be necessary?

Vegetation: Are there trees and shrubs close to the proposed pool area? Overhanging trees in particular will shed leaves and insects directly into the pool.

Supervision: Can the pool be easily seen and supervised from the living areas of the house?

In Summary
First discuss your pool preferences with your family to determine the type of pool you would all enjoy. Then discuss your conclusions with a SPASA member. With so many different shapes and sizes to choose from, you’ll find there is a pool to suit your exact needs. Today’s pool construction techniques are all sound and will provide you with a pool offering you many years of fun and enjoyment. The one you choose will depend on your own preferences and circumstances.