10 architect tips for building a pool

Pools, like stairs or windows, are an architectural element that never goes out of style. Its advantages are obvious: they are used to take a dip when the weather is hot, to practice sports, to humidify a dry environment, as a decorative element or as a space around which to organize a meeting with friends. Its drawbacks are also well known: they take up space, are expensive, and require good maintenance.

What has changed over time are the trends regarding its design, construction and performance. If you are about to incorporate one of these anachronistic volumes of water into your home, in this article you will find all the practical factors and tips that you should take into account residential pool plans. In addition, you will get to know some of the most beautiful pools in our country that will serve as inspiration for decorating ideas for your garden!

Where are you going to dig? The land

Although it is not inconceivable to design a terraced pool, the most common and recommended thing is to build it on a firm and horizontal surface. Wet, loosely compacted or rocky soils should be avoided. If you are not sure of the type of soil in your garden, always consult a professional. Also keep in mind that a pool does not have to be dug into the ground; it can also be built above ground.

One of the most unknown facts regarding the construction of an underground pool is that, due to differential settlement and to avoid the appearance of cracks, you have to wait a whole year before placing the final finish on the entire surface adjacent to the pool. That is why it is important to provide a provisional finish, such as grass or wooden flooring.

What is the best place for a pool?

Since you will not be able to move it, deciding the location of your pool is of tremendous importance. If you orient it to the south in an area with maximum sun exposure (not only in summer), you will increase its comfort and its hours of use. Make sure that it is not exposed, on the other hand, to the prying eyes of neighbors or passers-by; the pool should be an intimate area.

For reasons of integration, accessibility and supervision of pets, children or the elderly, you want the pool not to be far from the house, but not too close either: chemical odors or noise derived from its activity can become annoying. Also keep it away from areas of deciduous trees or trees with roots in the ground, and you will save on maintenance.

Avoid windy areas, both for thermal comfort and because the wind carries a lot of debris. If you do not have any hidden corner, you can always consider the possibility of building a wall or planting some hedges strategically.

What are you going to use it for? Measures

If you want to have a garden with a pool and not a pool with a garden, its measurements should always be proportional to the surrounding space, as well as its number of users and its main intended use (recreational, relaxing or sporting). Also keep in mind that the larger the dimensions, the higher the cost.

The average depth of a pool has been updated over time. Unless you want to practice scuba diving, the 2.5 meters of a few years ago are no longer in use. The trend now is to maximize the surface where the foot is made (depth between 1.2 and 1.6m) to have more space for play and socialization. Less depth also means less cost, since fewer liters are needed to fill the pool, fewer chemicals to maintain it, and less time to filter and recirculate the water. For the same reason, shallower intermediate platforms, where you can soak only your legs, are also a growing trend.

How is it made? Construction

There are multiple materials and techniques to choose from to build a pool, tailored to any pocket and schedule. Just keep in mind that, as a general rule, the cheapest and fastest solutions are usually also the least durable.

- Fiberglass / polyester: The traditional prefabricated pool. They are the cheapest and fastest to install, but also the most susceptible to wear and cracking. Due to its prefabricated condition, the catalog to choose from is also more limited.

- Stainless steel: A prefabricated solution not so cheap but just as fast. They are much more resistant than plastic ones and are better adapted to difficult terrain.

- Concrete: Concrete pools (whether reinforced, block, formwork or shotgun) are the most durable and offer greater adaptability to the terrain and more shape and design possibilities, although they are also the most expensive and slow to build. .

- Overflowing s: Undoubtedly the most spectacular and, obviously, the most expensive (with regard to its perimeter collection and pumping system). Its opportunity is conditioned by the environment, both by the need for a slope and the presence of a panoramic view. They are one of the types of trending pools this summer.

- Elevated: Elevated pools do not require excavation and are built directly on the ground. Although they are bulky, they are removable and quick to install. They can be made of wood or steel.

- Transparent: If you want a magazine pool and the budget is not a problem, both in the case of above-ground pools and infinity pools, it is possible that one or more of the faces of the pool are made of a transparent material such as methacrylate or plexiglass. Do not forget that it requires extra cleaning.

What will it look like? The finishes

As with its construction, the possibilities of finishing a swimming pool are very varied in terms of materials and textures.

- Gresite: The traditional coating for swimming pools, made up of small tiles. It adapts to any type of surface and its installation cost is low, but having so many joints makes it more expensive to maintain (it is recommended to rehabilitate it every two years).

- Porcelain stoneware tiles: A very elegant solution and increasingly in vogue, especially with large pieces. By reducing the number of joints, the cost of maintenance is greatly reduced and, in addition, many manufacturers already offer special pieces to avoid dangerous straight edges.

- Microcement: A continuous coating, spectacular due to its absence of joints. However, its installation is very traditional and expensive: it is essential to work with highly specialized operators to avoid the subsequent appearance of cracks. Ideal for small pools.

- Reinforced sheet: This solution, consisting of a sheet that is both waterproofing and finishing, made up of 2 layers of PVC and a polyester mesh between them, is one of the most modern and with the best features. Like microcement, it allows a seamless finish and maximum adaptability to the perimeter. It offers excellent sealing, maintenance and resistance to bacteria, and also has a wide variety of colors and finishes.

What sensations do you prefer? The color

The color you choose for your coating will be, during the day, the color of the water and, by extension, that of the pool. That is why it is important that you take into account its implications. Like so many other things, pool color preferences have changed over time and with fashion, making it less and less common to resort to traditional blue.

Dark colors like jade green or charcoal gray convey a colder sensation and are more elegant, but they age much faster because the sun and chlorine deteriorate them sooner. On the contrary, light colors such as white or sandy brown transmit more warmth, but care must be taken with their cleanliness because dirt on the background is much more visible on them. If you are inclined towards this option, consider the possibility of acquiring an electric pool cleaner.

Where do you enter? The access

In terms of access to the pool, the construction of built-in stairs integrated into the pool is becoming more common: they are more comfortable and safer (especially if there are children or older people among their users), and they give a lot of play in their relationship with intermediate depth platforms. For more modest pools, the traditional steel ladder is still the ideal option, due to its reduced price and economy of space.

With the change in depth trends, one of the most characteristic entrances to the pool is also disappearing: the springboard. However, if you are one of those who prefers to have a small water park at home, do not forget that you can install everything from slides to an artificial wave machine.

How much does it cost to build a swimming pool? Price and maintenance

With so many variables at play, it is very difficult to determine the average price of a swimming pool without knowing the details of the project. However, and boat soon, it could be around €10,000 for a medium-sized pool without large additions. Maintenance, although it also depends on its characteristics, is around €600 per year.

Regarding this last point, the big decision is between traditional and saline chlorination. The former requires a smaller initial investment but is known to be irritating to the skin and eyes, while the latter, although more expensive initially, pays off in the long run. Do not forget to provide a space for the treatment plant and the pump far enough from the pool and the house, since this machinery makes a lot of noise.

For the more ecologists, there is the option of building a natural pool, whose chemical-free filtering is produced through plants and algae. In any case, you must be very careful with its design to avoid the proliferation of insects, and keep in mind that its correct maintenance requires at least one deep cleaning per year.

How to light a pool? the luminaries

Although it is a decision that is usually left to the last minute, lighting a pool is very important, both because its correct placement extends bathing hours and because it offers the not inconsiderable option of coloring the water at night, as well as highlighting any of its elements or guidelines.

The traditional option consists of installing halogen spotlights in a location and interval proportional to the shape and dimensions of the pool, although LED luminaires are becoming more and more popular : not only are they cheaper and allow you to change their color at will, but they also They also offer the possibility of elegant strip lighting. There is also the option, usually complementary, of floating lighting elements.

With regard to the placement of the luminaires, it is advisable not to place them too deep, so as not to have to empty the entire pool when maintenance is required, as well as not to direct them upwards or in the direction of the house, to avoid glare.

Is it legit? The normative

To build a pool it is essential to carry out the project and obtain a license, so it is advisable to hire an architect. In general , it is an easy license to obtain, which depends on municipal regulations , and which takes into account factors such as whether the land is buildable, the distances to neighboring parcels (or to the road, if any), or the connections of the drains with the municipal network.

Finally, it should be pointed out that, depending on the speed of the administration of each municipality, obtaining this license may take time. So if you are thinking of enjoying your new pool in the summer, do not forget to start with the procedures at least the previous winter.