10 architect tips for building a pool

 Pools, like stairs or windows, are an architectural element that never goes out of style. Their 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. Their drawbacks are also well known: they take up space, are expensive and require good maintenance pool plans.

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 factors and practical tips that you should take into account. account. In addition, you will get to know some of the most beautiful swimming pools in our country that will serve as inspiration for you to take decoration 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. It is advisable to avoid wet, poorly compacted or rocky soils. If you are unsure 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 to place the final finish on the entire surface adjacent to the glass. That is why it is important to provide a temporary finish, such as grass or wooden decking.

What is the best place for a swimming pool? The ubication

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

For reasons of integration, accessibility and surveillance of pets, children or the elderly, you want the pool not to be far from the home, although not too close either: chemical odors or The noises derived from their activity can be 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 don't have any secluded corners, you can always consider building a wall or strategically planting some hedges.

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 be always proportional to the surrounding space, as well as to its number of users and its main intended use (leisure, relaxing or sports). 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 go scuba diving, they are no longer the 2.5 meters they were a few years ago. The trend now is to maximize the surface area where you stand (depth between 1.2 and 1.6m) for have more recreational and socialization space. 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, in which you can soak only your legs, are also a growing trend.

How is it made? The construction

There are multiple materials and techniques to choose from to build a swimming pool, tailored to any pocket and agenda. 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 quickest to install, but also the most susceptible to wear and cracks. Due to its prefabricated condition, the catalog to choose from is also more limited.

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

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

- Overflowings: Without a doubt the most spectacular and, obviously, the most expensive (regarding 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 this summer's trend pools. 

- Elevated: Above ground 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 and infinity pools, it is possible that one or several of the sides of the glass are made of a transparent material such as methacrylate or plexiglass. Don't forget that it requires extra cleaning.

What will it look like? The finishes

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

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

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

- Microcement: A continuous coating, spectacular for its absence of joints. However, its installation is very artisanal 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, composed 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, during the day, be 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, it is becoming less and less common to resort to traditional blue .

Dark colors like jade green or charcoal gray convey more of a cold 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 you have to be careful with their cleanliness because a lot can be seen on them. plus the dirt at the bottom. If you are inclined towards this option, consider purchasing 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 and more common: they are more comfortable and safe (especially if among its users there are children or elderly people), and they give a lot of play in their relationship with platforms of intermediate depth. For more modest pools, the traditional steel ladder continues to be 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 diving board. However, if you are one of those who prefers to have a small water park at home, don't forget that you can install everything from slides to an artificial wave machine.

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

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

Regarding this last point, the big decision is between traditional chlorination and saline. The first requires a smaller initial investment, but has a known irritating effect on the skin and eyes, while the second, although more expensive at the beginning, pays off in the long run. Don't forget to provide a space for the purifier and the pump far enough from the pool and the home, since this machinery makes a lot of noise.

For the most environmentally friendly, there is the option of building a natural pool, whose chemical-free filtration 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 until the last minute, the lighting of a swimming pool is very important, both because its correct placement extends bathing hours as well as because it offers the not inconsiderable option of coloring the water at night, as well as highlighting some 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 increasingly present: not only are they cheaper and allow you to change their color at will, but they also offer the possibility of elegant lighting by light strips. There is also the option, usually complementary, of floating lighting elements.

When placing the luminaires, it is advisable not to place them too deep, so as not to have to empty the entire pool when maintenance needs to be carried out, as well as not to point them upwards or in the direction of the home, to avoid glare.

Is it legal? The normative

To build a swimming pool it is essential to carry out the project and obtain a license, so it is advisable to hire an architect. Generally 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 the neighboring plots (or the road, if any), or the connections of the drains with the municipal network.

Finally, point out that, depending on the speed of the administration of each municipality, obtaining this license may take some time. So if you are thinking about enjoying your new pool in summer, don't forget to start the procedures at least the previous winter.