Poles love to relax by
the water. Regardless of whether
we spend our holidays on the exotic sea, we can go boating on the native Masuria, or lie on the Baltic coast. It is not necessary to convince anyone
of the pleasure of spending the summer time on the water. However, to swim on hot days, we do
not have to go anywhere. Just
build a small pool in the garden. Deciding
on this, not only will we provide relaxation, but also a guarantee of peace and
intimacy.
Contrary to appearances,
the construction of a pool in a home garden does not have to go beyond the
capabilities of the wallet.What's more, when planning a swimming pool with an
area of less than 30 m2 , we do not need to have a building
permit. Such an intention is
enough to report to the competent administration body, attaching the date,
scope, type and manner of conducting the work. You must also enclose a statement
about the right to dispose of the property and construction project. After one month we should get a
building permit which is valid for the next two years. If, however, the pool area is to
exceed 30 m2, we must obtain a building permit. We attach the same documents to the application,
additionally enclosing 4 copies of the project prepared by a person with
building permits.
Fig. Lafarge. A garden pool contrary to popular
opinion does not have to go beyond the portfolio's capabilities
Fig. Lafarge. A garden pool contrary to popular
opinion does not have to go beyond the portfolio's capabilities
Choosing a location
There are several key
factors that we must necessarily take into account when constructing, for
example, that the place should be naturally sunny. It is also better to avoid the close
proximity of trees and shrubs. In
addition, you need to check the load capacity of the ground and determine the
level of groundwater. Such
research should be outsourced to a specialist geological company. It is worth remembering that no
installations or roots should run at the construction site.
Size and shape
When determining the
parameters of the pool, we must pay attention to the fact that the bigger it
will be, the more expensive it will be its exploitation. Low comfort can also cause an
irregular shape that will make swimming and covering difficult, which is why
the classic rectangle works best. The
standard depth of pools in Poland
is 1.5 meters,
but if we intend to jump into the water, it will have to be deepened by at
least one meter more. Let's also
remember that the pool can be built into the ground or set directly on the
ground. In the case of a high
level of groundwater, a second option is recommended.
Which technology to
choose?
The selection must be
made at the stage of planning works. When
it comes to the skeleton of a folding pool on the spot, we have a choice:
· Impregnated wooden frame construction,
· The construction of steel or aluminum
sheet joined with screws,
· The construction of polyester resin,
polypropylene and glass fiber reinforced resins,
· Brick construction from blocks. For its implementation, the
application of cement is recommended by Lafarge. It can also be used for hardening the
soil and for the majority of masonry works.
Regardless of the technology
chosen, the interior of the tanks requires lining with pool foil. The bottom of the pool is poured out
of concrete! - In Poland,
the most popular way is still the construction of a concrete pool, poured out
on site using formwork.Behind this solution is not only durability, but also
the ease of giving the desired shape. The
basin is most often made of reinforced concrete. The concrete mix can be prepared by
ourselves, eg on the basis of expert cement or ordered from the nearest
concrete plant. It is recommended
that the mixture meet the XF3 exposure class according to PN-EN 206-1. We should look for the exact
parameters of the material in the project - advises Sławomir Rutczyński,
Lafarge technical advisor.Reinforcement prepared according to designer's
calculations ensures even distribution of loads as well as taking over forces from
concrete contraction. Remember
that before pouring concrete, the reinforcement should be cleaned, i.e. get rid
of traces of grease, rust or oil paint. Only
proper preparation ensures good cooperation between concrete and steel. When finishing the pool, it is
necessary to reach for materials resistant to mechanical damage, the action of
chemicals or solar rays. They may
be ceramic tiles (necessarily frost-proof and non-slip) or a classic pool foil,
ie a PVC lining reinforced with a polyester mesh.
Additional installations
To keep clean water in
the pool, special installations are necessary to ensure its movement. Ready-made systems are available on
the market, including skimmers, overflow gutters, pumps, filters, nozzles and
bottom drains. Remember to always
choose them individually to the size of the pool. We also need to equip the pool with
filters, because the water parameters in the pool should be similar to those of
drinking water! It is also worth
purchasing a basic set for cleaning the pool, ie manual or mechanical vacuum
cleaner, and a net for catching contaminants.
Size and shape
When determining the
parameters of the pool, we must pay attention to the fact that the bigger it
will be, the more expensive it will be its exploitation. Low comfort can also cause an
irregular shape that will make swimming and covering difficult, which is why
the classic rectangle works best. The
standard depth of pools in Poland
is 1.5 meters,
but if we intend to jump into the water, it will have to be deepened by at least
one meter more. Let's also
remember that the pool can be built into the ground or set directly on the
ground. In the case of a high
level of groundwater, a second option is recommended.
Which technology to
choose?
The selection must be
made at the stage of planning works. When
it comes to the skeleton of a folding pool on the spot, we have a choice:
· Impregnated wooden frame construction,
· The construction of steel or aluminum
sheet joined with screws,
· The construction of polyester resin,
polypropylene and glass fiber reinforced resins,
· Brick construction from blocks. For its implementation, the
application of cement is recommended by Lafarge. It can also be used for hardening the
soil and for the majority of masonry works.
Regardless of the
technology chosen, the interior of the tanks requires lining with pool foil. The bottom of the pool is poured out
of concrete! - In Poland,
the most popular way is still the construction of a concrete pool, poured out
on site using formwork.Behind this solution is not only durability, but also
the ease of giving the desired shape. The
basin is most often made of reinforced concrete. The concrete mix can be prepared by
ourselves, eg on the basis of expert cement or ordered from the nearest
concrete plant. It is recommended
that the mixture meet the XF3 exposure class according to PN-EN 206-1. We should look for the exact
parameters of the material in the project - advises Sławomir Rutczyński,
Lafarge technical advisor.Reinforcement prepared according to designer's
calculations ensures even distribution of loads as well as taking over forces from
concrete contraction. Remember
that before pouring concrete, the reinforcement should be cleaned, i.e. get rid
of traces of grease, rust or oil paint. Only
proper preparation ensures good cooperation between concrete and steel. When finishing the pool, it is
necessary to reach for materials resistant to mechanical damage, the action of
chemicals or solar rays. They may
be ceramic tiles (necessarily frost-proof and non-slip) or a classic pool foil,
ie a PVC lining reinforced with a polyester mesh.
Additional installations
To keep clean water in
the pool, special installations are necessary to ensure its movement. Ready-made systems are available on
the market, including skimmers, overflow gutters, pumps, filters, nozzles and
bottom drains. Remember to always
choose them individually to the size of the pool. We also need to equip the pool with
filters, because the water parameters in the pool should be similar to those of
drinking water! It is also worth
purchasing a basic set for cleaning the pool, ie manual or mechanical vacuum
cleaner, and a net for catching contaminants.
TYPES OF FILTERS
Mechanical
Most often gravel,
anthracite or sand, they are often equipped with devices determining the degree
of water pollution.
chemical
They allow to maintain a
pH of 7.2-7.6, which is optimal for both human skin and metal devices included
in the pool equipment.
disinfectants
They contain chlorine or
other compounds (ozone, bromine, iodine, active oxygen).
Heating and roofing
Due to the geographical
location of Poland,
thermal insulation alone is not enough to prevent heat loss. To be able to enjoy the bathing period
as long as possible, it will be necessary to install heating devices. The choice of installation depends on
the size of the pool, the possible possibility of roofing and the temperature
of the water that we want to maintain. The
most popular heating methods include oil or gas boilers, electric heaters or
solar collectors. A cheap and
often used solution is a boiler connected to a heat exchanger. A good solution is also to connect a
heating installation for heating the pool water. In this case, assembly costs will be
significantly reduced.
If we remember to cover
the pool overnight, we will effectively reduce not only heating costs, but also
water losses due to evaporation. Typically,
inexpensive solar films, PVC fabrics or blinds are used for covering. What is important, the latter are very
durable and safe, because even an adult can move around such cover. An alternative is the roofs made of
lightweight polycarbonate panels and special balloons filled with air.
Recommended product for
swimming pool works:
This multi-component
Portland cement with an increased strength class of 42.5 MPa - used everywhere
where we need to get durable concretes in a very short time and at the same
time we care about their high durability. Thanks
to high early and final strength, this product is ideal for preparing
high-class concretes from C16 / 20 to C35 / 45. Its properties allow you to accelerate
the pace of construction work. Thanks
to the appropriately selected composition of mineral components, the use of
cement reduces the risk of shrinkage cracks, voids and cracks or efflorescence
on finished elements.
Detailed information
about the Expert cement can be found on the manufacturer's website
www.lafarge.pl and under the number 800 23 63 68 free helpline.
Choose cements marked
with "Certain Cement"
The Certain Cement mark
is awarded by the Association of Cement Producers. To receive such a certificate, the
manufacturer must meet the highest standard and technical requirements at the
production, packaging and distribution stages. Cement is labeled with the Confidence
Cement logo that guarantees customers the safety and guarantee of purchasing
products of the highest quality. The
aim of the association's action is to protect the consumer against products
that do not meet the standard requirements, which has a direct impact on the
safety and durability of the structure.
