The hidden cost of picking the wrong Brisbane pool builders

Living in a country as hot as Australia, a swimming pool is more of a necessity than a luxury. Unfortunately, installing and maintaining one is expensive. The average backyard pool makes up a third of your annual power bill, using more electricity than a washer, dryer and dishwasher combined. Reduce these costs by choosing the […]

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Why Brisbane Pool Builders Are Suggesting Raised, Rectangular Pools To Clients

Adding a pool to your home means that you’ll be faced with many decisions. Where you’ll want your pool placed and how big or deep your pool will be is something that most homeowners plan, but few have a think about what shape they want their pool to be or if it should be raised […]

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Landscape Your Pool To Perfection With These Pool Plant Ideas

Having a pool is a beautiful addition to any backyard, but it can look a bit barren without anything around it. Many of our clients have been asking us what they can do about this, and we always recommend that the best option is to beautify your pool area with landscaping – in other words, […]

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What Causes Algae In A Swimming Pool?

Imagine that overnight your sparkling-blue Brisbane swimming pool you just had installed turns green and unsightly. What could explain this sudden change? There is a culprit lurking everywhere, silent and ready to green your blue pool in no time – a seemingly harmless single-cell organism called algae. What is Algae and how can you prevent […]

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Requesting a quote from a Brisbane Pool Builder

So you’ve decided you would like a Pool, however where & how to start on your project, can be a confusing and frustrating time. Cold calling Pool Builders, setting up site meetings (hoping that the appointments are kept), absorbing the myriad of information, options & ideas from the various Brisbane Pool Builders, and then trying to make sense of the quotes with their different allowances and inclusions. Not to mention the vast array and options with pool equipment!!

However the process of obtaining an accurate quote doesn’t have to be difficult and can be achieved with a few simple steps. You will notice that most of these steps involve some time and thought from yourself, who better to make sure you get what you want!

 

STEP 1 – PLANS

As it is very difficult to see what is hidden under ground, having some plans of the house & site are extremely helpful to ascertain where a Pool may or may not be built. These can be obtained by contacting your local council and also “Dial before you Dig”. While “Dial before you Dig” will mainly show where council infrastructure is entering your property, it is a free service and can be very helpful. Your local council will charge for any plans, but at some point those plans will need to be purchased, so you may as well begin your project with the right information.

Below are some of the plans that will be needed –

• Site Plan – Shows your house situated on the site, with boundary lines marked
• Sewer Plan – Shows the position of council sewer on site
• Storm Water Plan – Shows position of council stormwater on site
• As Constructed Drainage Plan – This will show where you sewer & storm water run.

 

STEP 2 – Pool Position & Design

Before getting any Brisbane Pool Builder to quote, give some time and thought into the points below. A great idea is to go to your local hardware and buy a tape & some line marking paint, then start marking out the areas in your yard where you would ideally like to place your pool.

If you have absolutely no idea of what you want to achieve, then maybe contacting a Landscape Designer or Architect would be a better place to start.

The idea of a “Free Quote” is great, but you should really have a basic design to achieve this. Designing takes time, and if someone is not getting paid for their time, then maybe the best design and result is not achieved.

Key Points –

• Start with the general area where you would like the pool located, thinking about how it might tie in with existing entertainment areas, or if you are going to create a whole new entertainment area within the pool. Most pools are fairly simple structures and what creates the “WOW” is how it fits into its environment.
• Give some thought as to where you would run your pool fencing, as this is the “Frame” around your picture, it will dictate things like the size of pool, amount of paving around the pool, and how well the area integrates in your yard.
• Start to mark out the general length & width of your pool, look at how much paving you think you would like between the pool fence and the water line of the pool, what sort of access you would like to have around the pool. The majority of pools today use a 400 x 400mm paver or tile, so it can be beneficial to work in increments of 400mm when measuring from water line to fence lines & gardens.
• Think about where you would like your shallow and deep ends (most pools work on between 1m to 1.8m, but this can be tailored to meet your requirements), position and shape of benches and steps, and any Water features or spas that might be in your design.
• Lastly is the “Datum” of the pool, this is the height that the finished pool will sit at. Some sites are flat and this is easy to decide on, however many are sloped and the height the pool is placed can impact on costs and overall aesthetics.
• Once you have given these areas some time and thought, transfer it onto a basic mud map, which can then be given to the Brisbane Pool Builders you have quoting.

 

STEP 3 – BUDGET

This is always a hard subject to broach between owners and builders, however it is one of the most vital. From a consumer’s point of view you are wanting to get as much as possible for as little as possible (human nature??). From the builders side, his company flourishes on providing you with value for money, and meeting your expectations.

No matter what your scope of works is for the builder, whether it is only the pool itself, or includes additional paving, pool fencing, boundary fencing etc, it is important for the Brisbane Pool Builder to know the financial boundaries he is to work within.

 

STEP 4 – SITE MEETING & QUOTE

Now it is time to arrange your site meetings with the Brisbane Pool Builder. Allow up to an hour for each meeting, as there will be plenty of questions (from both parties) to be answered.

Within the quote itself, look carefully at any “Allowances” that are included, as these can and will influence not only the overall costs, but also the finished quality of your pool.

Example of Allowances –

Provisional Sums –	This is mainly associated with the excavation of the pool, and with all earthmoving contractors charging the same hourly rates, beware of the lowest allowance, as sometimes it will not be realistic.
Prime Cost Items –	These are items like coping, pavers and tiles. There is a huge difference in quality of materials when you compare a coping P.C of $35 to one of $55 per lineal meter. On an average pool you might save $500, but is the trade-off for what may be an inferior finish worth it??

Lastly, once you have received your quotes and compared them, it is always good to have a second site meeting with at least two of the builders you would prefer to work with. At this meeting any “grey areas” or alterations can be discussed further, with all parties going in the same direction with the same expectations.

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Where to position your inground pool

WHERE TO DIVE IN? POSITION POSITION POSITION!

Whether you’re starting your block from scratch, or already in an existing house, one of the biggest decisions you’ll face, after deciding on a new swimming pool, is where to put it.

I meet with new clients daily and there are so many things to consider. From privacy, sunlight and accessability to existing trees or things like sheds, it can seem overwhelming. The good news is though, there are many many options to make your family pool the oasis you’ve dreamed of.

Here is some advice to take help you choose your pool’s position.

Sunshine
Take a look at what you’re working with. Where does the sun rise and fall? If you’ve got plenty of natural light chances are you’ll get more when you sell, and save on your power and heating bills, and pool will be that much more enticing if you sell down the track. Just like any outdoor area, north facing pools are generally more appealing.

What lies beneath?
I recommend looking below before you choose your shape. Check sloping land. Not a lot of blocks in Queensland are flat blocks these day. A sloping block does work though because with the right landscape and layout you can use the slope to your advantage.

Alsocontact your local council for any plumbing and sewrage plans, especially if you’re renovating and adding a swimming pool to an older property. You want to know where your pipes are. And if you can, take note of underground rocks and roots.

What is underground can help determine if a cascading infinity pool, a tropical oasis or lap pool is going to work for you. Add to that too whether an inground or partial inground pool solution is right for the aesthetics and environment and the decision becomes easier.

Size can matter
Having a smaller space isn’t a problem, but it is important to consider that if the pool is close to your house, you want to make sure you’ve got room to move and laze around but still have a seamless connection.

If you’ve got more room, you’ve got more options. Either way, a small or larger pool set-up can be equally appealing. It’s about what suits your family, your lifestyle and your block.

I’ve always said at Eco Pools, we haven’t found a pool we couldn’t place, or a swimming dream we couldn’t make happen so hit us up for a site visit. We can help look at options that work for you. Also, check out our gallery and see the pool and landscaping solutions we have done for all different blocks.

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10 Step process to build a concrete pool in Brisbane

Step 1: Excavation –The digging begins

Step 2: Steel, Internal plumbing & concrete – The concrete will need to cure for 28 days & engineers recommend keeping pool shell damp for 14 days

Step 3: Fencing requirements & measurements – Who’s going to build your fence?

Step 4: External plumbing & solar installation can take place during the 28 days the concrete is curing

Step 5: Installation of power – Your Electrician can now install power points, pool lights & earth wire

Step 6: Coping & tiling – Can start after 28 day curing process is complete

Step 7: Installation & Certification of fence – Resuscitation sign must be attached to fence

Step 8: Cleaning of pool shell – Pool can be internally finished at this point

Step 9: Pool to be acid washed & filled with water within a 48-hour period

Step 10: Pool is finished

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