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If you are considering having a swimming pool built, Oyster Pools can do everything for youÄ We will design your pool to your specific requirements, ensure that your pool blends into your existing garden and compliments your existing property, while at the same time working within a budget. This balancing act is what we have been doing for the past thirty years, and is the secret to our ongoing success, and the reason our customers are happy to refer us to family and friends.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements and, if you wish, we can arrange a no obligation site visit to assess the pools location and associated costs to build the pool on your property.
The first thing you need to decide is, will it be an indoor or outdoor pool?
Outdoor Pools
These are the most popular pools built in the UK. They are designed to be used throughout the British summer, usually April to September. This type of pool is summerised (opened) at the start of the season, and winterised (closed) at the end of the season. We offer both these services to our customers.
An outdoor pool is designed to maximise you and your families enjoyment in the summer. Whether this is teaching your children to swim, enjoying exercise at your own pace or relaxing with friends and family for special occasions, an outdoor pool will make your summer special.
Indoor Pools
As the pool will be enclosed it allows the customer to enjoy their pool all year round. There are many types of pool enclosures available.
Conventional building
Usually an extension to your existing property or a free standing building away from the house. They require the same forethought and planning as building a new house, and are therefore the most costly way to enclose your pool, but do offer the most luxurious finish to your pool project.
Conservatory
Usually attached to the house with the pool inside, fully or partially glazed. A less costly option than a conventional building, however they do become expensive when you have to enclose a large pool, because of the extra strengthening required to bridge large spans. Additionally, due to the large amount of glazing, they require comprehensive environmental control systems with ducting to prevent condensation forming on the glass. These are only technical issues which need to be allowed for, and once they are overcome, the end result can be beautiful and practical. We have completed many projects with our colleagues at Finch Conservatories, and we will be happy to pass on your details for a competitive quotation.
Planning ®
All indoor enclosures will require planning permission. Planning is very specific to the county you live in, also if you are within a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), or conservation area. Planning permission usually takes between 2 - 6 months to achieve, but this does vary. At Oyster Pools and Leisure we'll be happy to guide you through this process. If you are working with an architect, it is important we are involved in the early stages of design of the pool and enclosure. Please contact us for more information.
Environmental Control
Any time a body of water is enclosed in a building there will have to be a level of environmental control. This can be as simple as an air heating dehumidifier or as specialised as one machine which will dehumidify, heat the air, control humidity and reclaim the unused heat back into the pool water. It is our aim to not only provide our customers with the pool of their dreams, but also a pool which does not cost the earth to maintain. With indoor pools which have to be heated throughout the year, a tailor made environmental control system can cut your ongoing heating cost by 30-40% per annum. We have a separate section on environmental control. Click HERE for more information.
The next important question is what construction your pool will be, as this will distinctly influence the quotation price.
Construction Types ©
The three most popular methods to construct a swimming pool, are:
1. Formed Concrete and finish - This involves forming a reinforced metal framework, which is then filled with concrete. The concrete is then sealed by the finish, either tiles or other sprayed polished aggregate finishes. This construction method is usually used for high value contracts or commercial installations. If you require a tiled finish to your swimming pool this is the construction method which will have to be used. This method has high material costs and is very labour intensive and is therefore the most costly method of building a pool.
2. Concrete Block & Liner - This is the most popular method of swimming pool construction in the UK. The pool is excavated then concrete strip foundations are formed around the internal perimeter. The walls are then built using 9” solid concrete blocks. Once the walls are built, it is rendered to a smooth finish and the floor has a smooth cement screed applied to it. The tailor made vinyl butyl liner is then fitted to the pool to make it water proof. The liners are available in a multitude of different colours and patterns to suit your desired effect. As a general rule, as this method is less labour intensive and requires fewer materials, a liner pool can cost up to 40% less than a concrete and mosaic tile pool. The money saved can then be reinvested into other leisure items such as a hot tub or sauna, or both.
3. Panel Pools - Rather than using solid concrete blocks to form the pool shell, a panel pool is built using prefabricated panels. The majority of panel pools are made from galvanised steel, which is then back filled with concrete to provide the necessary strength and support. The floor has a smooth cement screed applied to it, and the tailor made liner is fitted to make it waterproof.
Although panel pools have a lower material cost, they are more difficult to install so have a higher labour cost. They also have a tendency to move while being back filled with concrete and if you experience a problem in construction, there is less flexibility in a panel system compared to block and liner system.
The next important question is, how will you heat your pool?
We have a specific page for pool heating which is shown on the navigation bar above. This will help guide you through the available options. Click HERE for more information.
There are of course many smaller questions which will need to be answered, but these have covered the basic ones for now.
Please call on 01291 690614 if you wish to speak to an advisor who can help with your pool enquiry, or click HERE to request brochures or contact us via e-mail.
Refurbishment
If you already own a swimming pool which is in need of refurbishment, we have nearly 40 years of practical experience at hand to help you. We can turn the most run down pool which never gets used, into a beautiful asset to your property, which you look forward to enjoying in your spare time.
Below are two recent examples of swimming pools we have refurbished for customers:
Before.
This is the pool prior to the start of the renovation project. Oyster Pools built the pool in 1988. The customer wanted to update the pool in 2007, to make it more attractive and safer for his family to use throughout the summer.
After.
Here we see the finished refurbishment. Work undertaken:
The refurbishment took approximately 4 weeks to complete.
Before.
This pool was built around 1982 by another firm, but Oyster Pools have been servicing it for many years. The customer's elderly mother lives at the property, and because of the condition of the pools construction and equipment, it was becoming a hazard to look after. The pool heating system was damaged beyond repair.
After.
Here we see the finished refurbishment. Work undertaken:
The refurbishment took approximately 3 weeks to complete.
It takes more skill and technical expertise to renovate a swimming pool, than to build a new pool, as you never exactly know what problems may arise until you begin. This is why so many customers have chosen Oyster Pools to undertake their renovation projects.