What to expect from your custom concrete pool

To paraphrase Victorian-era poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson: In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of... swimming

A pool in the backyard has long been a Kiwi aspiration, however, waiting until the summer months to do something about it is only going to end in disappointment, says Donna Richmond, Sales Manager and Co-owner of Auckland Inground Pools.

“I cannot understate the importance of proper timing and planning. You really need to be thinking about what type of pool you’re wanting at least 6–9 months prior to starting construction.

“The design of a swimming pool is actually quite technical, however, it is only one facet to the overall design scheme; you need to take into account the logistics, especially if you’re undertaking a home renovation at the same time, as well as the building consent process. Each of these will greatly impact the timing of the pool project.”

Custom concrete pools: the perfect addition to your lifestyle

“A pool needs some careful thought, it’s not just digging a hole and lining it with concrete. I always advise customers to engage the services of a reputable landscape designer. They will be able to work out the ideal placement of the pool—to work with the existing flow of the property—as well as determining the placement of compliant pool fencing and any hardscaping.

“It is an added expense but at the end of the day it is money well spent and may save time and money further down the track.”

Donna says Auckland Inground Pools works directly with many designers from Northland to the Bay of Plenty and is happy to give recommendations if needed.

“Auckland Inground Pools has been in business for more than 20 years and we have the experience and expertise to ensure every facet of the project is properly considered.”

“All Auckland Inground Pools are 100 per cent custom designed to work within the parameters of site size and client budget. That’s why we recommend that customers have working plans in place before coming to see us.”

One of the biggest advantages of custom concrete pools, is that they don’t have to conform to the parameters of standard ‘drop-in’ models, making them an ideal solution for difficult sites or sites that are constrained in some way.

“Once council consent is in place, we can profile the pool, start digging the hole and erecting the formwork,” says Donna. “How long the whole process will take comes down to the individual complexities of the site and build. There aren’t too many sites that we can’t build on, although it’s imperative to get a proper geo-tech survey if your site is sloping or consists of sandy-loam soil or known rock in the area.”

“Even with custom concrete pools it’s important to realise that you’re not necessarily comparing apples with apples, so, like any construction project, it pays to do your research and, where possible, see for yourself the quality of their work before engaging someone to build your pool.

“Equally important, is the level of service and communication you receive before, during and after the project. If you can, speak to clients who have been through the process and get firsthand accounts of the quality of service they received.”

This is particularly key, Donna says, if you’re going to be acting as project manager as well as client. Having all the information to hand so you can make a reasoned decision will help ensure the project runs smoothly.

“If you choose to manage the project yourself, without the assistance of a designer, architect or project manager, you need to be fully aware of all of the requirements before starting. As I said, it’s not just about digging a hole, the proper fencing is a very important element of the design and needs to be carefully considered at the design stage, particularly prior to consent being sought. Make sure you have consulted your local council around the current rules for pool fencing, otherwise you’re likely to find your application for consent will be prolonged.”

On the plus side, Donna says once your pool project is completed it’s good to go.

“We take care of the initial water-balancing so that once the pool is filled you can begin swimming. After that, we advise our customers to engage the services of a reputable maintenance team.”

A properly designed and constructed concrete pool, which is also properly maintained, should see it lasting 20–25 years before renovation is required. Similarly, all the plant and hardscaping components should easily last 20-plus years if regularly serviced and maintained.

Learn more about incorporating a custom concrete pool into your landscape design.