How to choose a pool type?

Thinking of building a new pool or renovating the existing one? Do you doubt what options are available on the market for both new construction and upgrading existing construction? Then this is your post!!!

I came into contact with the world of swimming pool, wellness and spa construction during my stay in Germany. There I had the good fortune to be the architect for J.D. Schwimmbad-Bau & Design; a leading, award-winning company in the swimming pool industry with projects all over Europe. Thanks to this I have had, and still have the opportunity, as I continue to work side by side with them, to leave my small footprint not only in Spain and Germany, but also in Switzerland, Russia, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Italy, Austria, among others.

The world of swimming pools is wider than many of us think. Although in Spain, or at least in the Valencian coast, what abounds most is the concrete pool, there are other possibilities such as prefabricated pools that come directly from the factory or formed by prefabricated pieces which are assembled on site, that is to say, in the same place.

So, concrete or prefabricated pool? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

The concrete pools, the fundamental thing is that they have to be perfectly carried out by professionals, to obtain a good result and to avoid possible problems. They offer total freedom in terms of size, shape and finish. Cascade or infinity designs, they accept a thousand types of overflows and finishes as they are tailor-made for the consumer.

Prefabricated pools come completely finished from the factory. They only require a reinforced concrete slab on which to rest, the sides are filled with lean concrete or thermal insulation adhered and crowned with a perimeter band. Depending on the manufacturer they are usually reasonably priced. The watertightness of the same is assured as it is factory-finished.

The only drawback is that the shape and size depend on the supply available from the manufacturer and that the finish is usually in some type of plastic or similar. Although it is not very common to use this system here, the results are surprisingly good.

There is another system that we could also define as prefabricated to measure. This system works in the same way as the previous one and requires a reinforced concrete slab, backfill on the sides and perimeter tie straps at the crown. This typology could be a combination of the two previous ones since it offers the quality of the factory finish and a greater freedom of design as the concrete ones. Since these pools are custom-designed. The size, shape and sometimes even the finish is defined by the developer. One advantage is that there are no limits as far as dimensions are concerned, since it can be divided into transportable modules which are then assembled on site. This makes it a great solution for large pools such as public, sports, hotel, etc., as they are easy to transport.

This type of pools offer a thousand possibilities, with overflow, without; applying liner or not; you can even choose the color and type of stairs: circular, straight, with wider steps to lie down or with stainless steel steps.

Beyond the typical spotlights you can insert lighting strips inside the pool or in the staircase; design the type of overflow, the size, the finish, in one occasion we designed an overflow with an LED strip to give diffused light on the wall.

One of the most interesting projects I have done was an outdoor pool where the pool floor went up to the height of the terrace. Then when they wanted to use the pool again, the floor would come down and the pool basin would fill up with water again. A marvel!

So what is its main disadvantage? Obviously, they imply a higher cost.

This is just a preview of the possibilities that exist in terms of types and designs of swimming pools. Without going into technical issues, blinds, water quality, heating system, insulation or all kinds of attractions (jets, massages, geysers, fountains) that exist to make bathing a relaxing and pleasant experience.

Which one do you choose?

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