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  • Cryers Technical Ltd
  • Unit 1-9 Stanley Mill
  • Kirkebrok Rd, Harrop St Reception
  • Bolton
  • BL3 4JE

DIY and Self Build Swimming Pool Construction. Swimming Pool Types

DIY and Self-build swimming pool construction: –

Hot news, For DIY and self-build pool construction you don’t have to be a Rocket Scientist, and neither are we all footballers that can afford a no limits credit card Turn-Key solution. From the smallest plunge pool in the rear of a terraced house to a full-blown feature outdoor garden pool or an indoor pool with high-end construction, all is possible from a DIY pool perspective.

 

The different pool types: –

From the basic framed pool placed on your garden lawn. Some add-ons being an insulated and boarded base if you are having heating. All of which can be taken down and garage stored over winter. This type of pool can also be left in place all year, with some being partly sunk into the ground with surround decking for a bit more wow factor. If left in place all year, winterised for weather protection.

 

A move up on a frame pool is an outdoor excavated pool, this can take the form of a pre-manufactured glass fibre pool tank being lowered into place. The smaller ones can be manhandled the larger one craned in place. Just a tip, it’s best to get them without pipework and fittings pre-installed, as depending on where and which side of the pool your pump, filter and heating is going to be located, many times pre-installed fittings can be poorly located for your garden layout. Some ground preparation is required, the level of which depends on if you have heavy ground water, drain sumps can be installed. Most Tank pools will require a compacted base and the ground side of the walls to be backfilled to stop the weight of the water when filled pushing the walls out of shape.

 

The next step up in outdoor garden pools is the in-ground construction of a reinforced concrete base with block and rebar reinforced walls. The excavation can be by a local building company, man with JCB its that simple. Steel mesh in a concrete base is standard stuff, vertical rebar placed so it lands in the hollow section of concrete block and you are away. Some pre-construction thought is needed, construction quality insulation and if you are having bottom drains this pipework needs to be in place before the concrete base is poured. As you build the walls pipe conduits for jets and any skimmers being fit can be easily built into walls. Lighting and maybe even a swim jet can also be an easy addition at this stage.

 

The last step is an indoor pool. You will need planning permission for this one and best to consult your local authority. Our advice is all the rules of the outdoor pool still apply, construction method and materials suitable for the job. Loading calculations and building regulation which are mandatory. Ground insulation is part of the building regulations.

 

Other considerations with any pool type can be respect for your neighbours, a pool pump or heat pump running 24/7 if installed incorrectly can cause an undesirable level of noise. Positioning of equipment is also a consideration.

A link to what is termed “Part L of the UK Building Regulation”

A general guid into planning permission

For any swimming pool electrical installation there are very specific requirements that come under BS7671 Section702

 

With all pools, no matter what the water volume there exists a requirement to sanitise and clean the water to an acceptable hygiene level. This can take the form of the simplest of pump and filter system with manual measurement and a sanitiser such as chlorine or bromine being added. Up to a fully automatic pool system with circulation, filtering, sanitation, heating and even lighting being fully Web enabled and monitored 24/7, and everything in between. As we have said before anything is possible all without the aid of the footballer’s budget.

 

From a fully DIY construction or where the heavy lifting is required for excavation, concrete and blockwork, it is nothing that a good local builder could not assist you with. We offer totally impartial free advice on pool construction to suit any budget when buying pool equipment and pipework from us. We can advise on construction materials, what is new in the market and more often than not offer information and advice that the pool industry in general will not disclose unless you are taking a full design and build package from them.

 

For all your equipment needs, we at Pool Experts offer some of the most competitive prices on the market, we sell premium quality pump and filter systems, pipework, heating, lighting and accessories, you do the rest and save £1000’s. With your purchases comes free advice from initial concept, layout, advice on construction materials and methods for the heavy lifting stuff for base and walls. Various wall finishes is a budget consideration, tiles, paint, liners etc. We would work out pipework routes for you, equipment requirement, plant room layout and drawings. And hold your hand along the way right to completion and initial switch on, and beyond into the maintenance years

Our Technical Help line number is 01204 659608

The main points to consider with any DIY pool build

In a single sentence. For the correct filtration of any pool it is a balance of water volume being taken out (Suction, drains/skimmers) for filtration time, the pump and filter flow rate, the heating capacity and its flow rate and the flow rate of any ancillary equipment such as sanitation, then its return jets back to the pool.

There is no point in massive pumps overpowering drains and skimmers, mismatched to a filter flow rate not sanitising the water correctly, flowing through a heater that has the incorrect time in delivering heat to the water.. Balance is the trick for efficiency. !!!!!!

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