Fibreglass pools are a single-piece shell that is prefabricated and delivered to fit in a prepared excavation, usually with a concrete base. Plumbing connections are then made to the plant room and then the whole area is back-filled ready to add the finishing touches.

A liner swimming pool is where a vinyl liner is used instead of a fixed structure like masonry or reinforced concrete. The pool needs excavation, but the ‘structure’ of a liner pool is not reinforced and is not watertight, to allow movement in the groundwater pressure. The flexibility of the liner means your pool won’t collapse as the ground naturally moves. Liner pools tend to have a constant depth of 1m with a graded slope or steps.

A masonry swimming pool is where the pool is built with masonry concrete block walls. These are tied to a poured concrete base – it is a common way to build the pool walls in private and smaller commercial pools. The masonry blocks create cavity walls that have poured concrete in between. Blockwork is quicker and cheaper to construct but it can limit the shape of the pool.

There are several advantages. You are not limited to prefabricated shapes and designs and your pool will last 50+ years plus with the right maintenance. You can also choose the finishings and surrounds that suit your garden, rather than being restricted.

This type of swimming pool construction involves excavating the ground and then creating a concrete ‘shell’ that is reinforced with steel rods and is shuttered and then the concrete is added. Sprayed concrete can also be applied to a pre-assembled steel reinforcement frame.

1. Research the different swimming pool construction options
2. If you don’t want a reinforced concrete pool then speak with a structural engineering company that will help you
3. If you decide you want a reinforced concrete pool then give SWJ a call
4. We can come and complete a site visit to get an idea of the viability of your pool and discuss your options
5. You can then get an initial quote and design from your pool & construction company to see if you can realistically afford to build a pool.
6. We can then complete a thorough site investigation if necessary
7. Once you’re happy the build is potentially within your budget, you can then get final quotes
8. We recommend you use a specialist firm for your swimming pool build. You don’t want to be faced with additional costs because the company you’re using has not built a swimming pool before.

You don’t have to have planning or building regulations to build an outdoor pool so you need to be sure you use experts to build your pool including a structural engineer, a specialist pool company, and possibly a building contractor or ground worker.

Plant is the machinery/equipment like pool circulation and filtration equipment required to treat the  water in your swimming pool. A Plant Room for a domestic outdoor swimming pool needs about 3m² of floor space and should be no more than 6m from the pool.  You need to be sure you have the space for a plant room if you are planning a swimming pool.

Heave is the weight needed to counter the rising (uplift) of a swimming pool – regardless of how it is built. There are two sources of uplift; Hydrostatic, uplift pressure from water in the ground and ‘heave due to removal of overburden pressure’ – when soil is no longer compressed by the weight of the soil above (because it’s been removed to dig your swimming pool).

Once you know the pressure (uplift) you need to ensure the weight of the intended construction method will be able to resist any uplift – when the swimming pool is full of water and when it is empty to be cleaned.

SWJ Consulting would suggest that a site investigation is commissioned which will involve excavating pits into the ground to find out the geology of the site. The nature of the soil will help us decide on the best type of construction method for your swimming pool and will also help you determine costs. Digging into bedrock will be more expensive, for example, because it is more labour intensive. read our blog on whether you can build a swimming pool in your garden

If you are looking for the cheapest and quickest installation then the best kind is a vinyl liner pool – but they are not expected to last longer than 6-12 years and you may need to replace the liner. If you are looking for flexibility of design and longevity, then a reinforced concrete pool is the best and will last 50+ years with regular maintenance. Read our article on different types of swimming pool construction.

You do not need planning permission or building regulations for an outdoor swimming pool as it is considered an outdoor project (provided the pool is unenclosed with no heated air surrounding the pool). Indoor pools do need building regulations and may also require planning depending on the structure of the building.

To determine the feasibility of a swimming pool you need to consult a structural engineer to determine the geology of the soil you are intending to excavate and the levels of ground water. With this information you can then get an accurate quote from a pool installer or construction company.

You need a structural engineer to build a swimming pool as they need to calculate the heave to counter uplift. In other words what weight is required to stop the swimming pool from rising when it is not full or when there is increased uplift pressure from the soil or groundwater

There are three main factors that will affect the cost of your swimming pool, the size of the pool you want, the construction method you will use and the location you are building it in.