How to excavate the hole for the swimming pool in order to prepare it for the formwork

Making the foundation and all preparations related to the construction of a swimming pool are not that simple and easy process as you may think. Here we will try to report about issues that can be experienced before, while and after the excavation works for your new swimming pool in Bulgaria. We hope this would help you to understand how to select the place, size and form of the swimming pool in your garden for the perfect swimming pool experience.

Selecting the place for pool and tracing the garden to know where to excavate

Being in this business for many years we consider that excavation works are one of the most important tasks that have to be executed professionally by a skilled builder. Our previous experience shows that each client we have been discussing the foundation works with appears unprepared to answer most of the following questions:

Is there enough space for proving an access for the machinery that will make the excavating works in the yard where the swimming pool will be built?
Is there a place for entering and loading the trucks that will take the soil away?
Is there a place where some of the soil will be stored because it will be used for back hilling afterwards?
How deep is the top soil layer? Where the rocky mass starts from? What is the lie of the rock and to which direction?
What will be the level of the upper edge of the pool? Is it in conformity with the lanscaping of the yard?
Is there a place for making an excavation in which the filter and the pump will be placed?
Are there any electric and water supplies in the yard? Where exactly are they located in order that they are being preserved during the excavation works?

These are some of the questions that need answering before starting the excavation works. We don’t need to say that these questions are important to us for giving you an exact price quotation for a swimming pool.

How much to excavate

It is good to know that when possible the hole should be excavated 2-3 meters wider than the swimming pool itself in order that enough space is insured for building and supoporting the formwork later on. We can say in general that if the swimming pool’s size is to be 5/9 m., then the excavation has to be minimum 7/11 m., the best option is if its size is 8/12 m. On most occasions this depends on the depth of the whole.

The hole for the pool should be dug 2-3 meters wider than the pool (min. 1m on each side)

How deep to excavate

Once we have defined the sizes of the excavation and we put marks on the terrain it is required that we dig some small size holes in the four edges to find out what the condition of the soil’s strata in depth is. If the depth of the solid rock underneath the layer of soil is satisfying this is the best option. It is very possible that the rock is not running horizontally and this will help naturally for the slope of the swimming pool.

The rock below the black earth is easy to be recognized. In this case it was a bit soft and we were able to dig about 50cm durther down.

The depth of the pool

When calculating the effective depth of the swimming pool it is important to add and to dig some extra 30cm to the required pool’s depth – this is for applying of both the laid concrete underneath the pool’s bottom (usually around 5-7 cm) and the concrete pool bottom which is around 20 cm.

In case it becomes clear that the depth of the rock is not enough then we have to decide how we will proceed further. After the excavator has finished working (the machine can only excavate earth), there are two options to continue.

We can try to continue to drill in the rock e.g. with a Kangoo or something more powerful like a hydraulic compressor or we can just raise the level of the pool’s walls to achieve the same depth as with deeper digging. Drilling in rock in such scale will increase the cost of the building works and respectively the total price of the swimming pool to a level that is inacceptable for most people.

In-ground pool above ground?

It is much easier and cost effective to build the pool part-of-above ground, the final result is more than satisfying. Building the swimming pool above the terrain requires some additional building and landscaping works in order to get an aesthetical finishing point of the pool. This is done easier and the final look is impressive you could do a very good job with some imagination.

The concrete swimming pool cna be build part-of above ground

Sand pillow

In case the rock under the pool is reached at a level that is just too deep and not required for the pool – this would get too deep (nobody needs depth of 2.1 m for private pool), then it should be excavated until reaching the strong rock and the swimming pool has to be built on “sand pillow”. This method guarantees the solidity of the future equipment and its non-problem use. The sand pillow can be from only 10 to 20 cm up to 1m high. Anyway cases where sand pillow has to be underlain are rare but possible so we have to take them to consideration.

When these preparation jobs are completed we now can see what the real situation is and we can make the necessary analyses and conclusions related to the pool’s construction before staring the excavation works. Our analyses are then represented to the client offering him an optimal solution. The client has the opportunity to make his own choice and to approve the project offered. Then the excavation works can start.
In Bulgaria, when building a private swimming pool with a capacity of up to 100 cubic meters a building permission is not required.

You can see more sampels of swimming pools built by our company here

You can contact us if you are looking for a Builder in Bulgaria. We are general builders covering all aspects of construction including Property Renovation, Repairs and Property finishes in Bulgaria. Click here to >> Contact us <<

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Possible problems when building a pool

In-ground swimming pools are the most permanent constructions, so it’s important to be sure about your choice of builder for your swimming pool.

Choose a professional - Some builders offer construction services only, and you will need to hire extra a pool company to deliver and install the pool equipment separately. Here we will try to report about the problems that could arise when building a swimming pool in Bulgaria.

Just imagine your pool is ready and it is leaking or the filtration system is not working properly. The builder is blaming the pool company and the pool company is blaming the builder. If the pool company don’t work side by side with the builder this is most likely to happen. Our advice is to hire one company to build your pool which will then stand for its job and gives you the full guarantee and post guarantee repair and maintenance service.

Swimming pools in Bulgaria?
About 10 years ago there were just some swimming pools in the summer resorts and other places near the sea in Bulgaria. From Bourgas down to the Turkish border there were several communal swimming pools and private ones were hardly to be found.

At that time only a few companies were involved in the construction of swimming pools and they covered the whole country. Generally, these companies just delivered and installed the machinery and the equipment and did some of the finishing works. All major construction works were and are still carried out by companies that have no experience that is required for this type of building.

As a result of this a large amount of the swimming pools in Sunny Beach resort and along the Black Sea coast have problems keeping the water into the pool because of leaks that appeared due to of poor quality construction works and they have to be filled up with water on daily bases in order to avoid leaving the pool empty in the heat of the summer.

Everything has its price, especially with the swimming pools. If you save some money on materials and labour (skilled professionals) you will have problems in the future and instead of enjoying your new swimming pool it may bring you some negative emotions.

We believe this post will be useful to those of you who have decided to have a private swimming pool built and our professional advices will help you in taking the right decision.

Proper excavating and formwork
It is very important when designing the swimming pool to plan enough space in order to provide an access for the building machinery. Quite often because of such lack of space and savings, when doing the excavation works, the walls of the hole for the pool are dug vertical in order that they serve as an outside formwork. Then the wall is reinforced with steel, the inside formwork is put, and the concrete is poured in the wall.

From professional point of view this is impermissible. In this case when the concrete is poured in the wall, earth will fall in the gap between the bottom and the walls and it can not be treated against leaks. Besides, it becomes impossible to vibrate the concrete to the required extent and the wall will not be waterproof. The following hydro insulation (waterproofing) of walls and bottom will not be enough to stop water leaking; it cannot be effective if water penetrates the concrete. If the concrete shell is poured in thus miserable way then the only option will be high quality waterproofing, professionally applied. which is very expensive and this procedure will lead to additional expenses.

Waterproofing construction joints
Waterstops are used to waterproof construction joints, between separately cast slabs. They are generally PVC or vinyl. Waterstops are embedded in concrete joints to create a fluid-tight diaphragm. On most occasions this waterstop tape is either saved or it is not properly installed. The consequences can be very unpleasant – water leaks and delay of the project.

PVC Tubes and fittings
Delivery and fitting of the pool shell equipment (pipes, tubes, inlets, drains, skimmers, lights, etc.)that is placed at the bottom and into the walls is also very important for the quality of the construction works. The installation has to be fitted according to the technical instructions. If installed correctly there will be no risk to ruin the reinforcement and to damage the system. Otherwise the pipe installation can be partially cut off which will lead to its blockage and impossibility to perform its functions. It is recommended that the pipe installation is fitted inside the concrete and not outside it for safety reasons because the fill up with earth that will be made around pool could damage the pipes.

Checking for leaks
When the concrete shell of the pool is ready it has to be filled with water, after 28 days of pouring of the concrete (see how to work with concrete), in order to be tested. There should not be any leaks of water. Anyway if such leaks appear in some places they have to be treated according to technological requirements with the needed materials. After the leaks are removed then the next step will be applying the waterproofing, minimum two coats but three is better, and glass-ceramic tiling installed.

Possible problems that may emerge at this stage are related to the quality of their application and also to the unsuitable weather conditions - if it is very cold or very hot, or wet when the glass ceramic tiles are fitted, then they could fall down by next winter.

The Investors have to be aware that climatic conditions in Bulgaria are not very favorable for pool’s maintenance. In some areas, including the areas along the Black Sea coast winter can be very severe. Within winter period from December till March, freezing and cold may last few weeks. If the tiles are not professionally tiled and the pool itself is “unprepared” for winter season then some unpleasant surprise are quite possible such as an unexpected need of repair and additional expenses.

We have tried to point out some of the problems that may emerge when putting the swimming pool in operation.

We would recommend that you make efforts in order to find a reputable company that has the required experience in pools construction. Also it is very important when choosing a company to find out if the company will be responsible for maintenance of the pool within the warranty term and after this term expires.

Our company guarantee you that upon enquiry we will make you an offer at competitive prices in accordance with your requirements. If our offer is acceptable for you we will build your swimming pool in shortest terms and also we can take care of your pool’s maintenance on request.

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Pool Maintenance Tips

Take Good Care Of Your Pool & It Will Take Good Care Of You.

Your swimming pool is a place for fun and relax but as many other things in life these also don’t come for free. Each swimming pool requires a daily maintenance to preserve the water clean and safe, especially in the summer’s hottest days - you might want to check it twice a day. There are several jobs that your pool requires on a regular basis like:

Water Testing & Chemcal Treatment
Cleaning of suface, walls and bottom
Sandfilter backflushing / Cartidge filter cleaning

With a little care and the right knowledge, your pool can remain clear, clean and healthy all summer-round.
Below is a basic guide to pool care. Think of it as a short course on what you need to know to keep your pool its bluest.

Just imagine – your drinking water may not be good enough to swim in. After all, tap water often has high levels of minerals and low pH – two factors that can harm your pool and prevent chemical treatments from doing their job. The two most important things to remember about the health of your pool are that it must be sanitized and it must be balanced. The best way to sanitize your pool is with chlorine. Keeping the pool balanced, which means keeping the five basic pool water components (pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, total dissolved solids and stabilizer) within their proper ranges, helps your sanitizer work more effectively

Water testing kits

A reliable test kit is as important to pool care as a thermometer is to a nurse. Buy a good one and use it often. There are many types of test kits available, including test strips. For the most accurate assessment of pool water, find a test kit that allows you to test for chlorine, pH, acid/base demand, alkalinity, hardness and stabilizer. Remember to store your test kit in a cool, dark place and replace your test kit reagents after a year (a new one for each summer season).

Chlorine is most important

Nothing purifies water like chlorine. Wind, rain, dust, and people introduce bacteria and algae into your pool, along with other contaminants. When enough chlorine is added to offset these unwanted introductions, your pool is said to have a “chlorine residual.” This is what sanitizes your pool continuously. While there are many types of chlorine, they all have several important things in common. First, it’s the most cost effective way to sanitize your pool. In fact, chlorine has been the product of choice for 100 years. It’s safe enough to sanitize drinking water, and powerful enough in the right concentrations to kill deadly bacteria, germs and viruses. Unlike chlorine alternatives, chlorine oxidizes while it sanitizes — keeping your pool crystal clear. Remember to test your pool daily, and keep your chlorine level within the 2.0 to 4.0 parts per million range (ppm).

What does pH mean?

In a pH test, you are determining the level of acidity or basicity in your pool. Keeping your pH levels within the proper range is not only important for swimmer comfort, it’s also important for keeping your pool’s finish in good condition. All you need to remember is that a proper pH level is around 7.4 to 7.6 on a pH test kit’s numeric scale. 0-7 reflects a low or acid pH. If pH falls below 7.2, it could lead to corrosion of metallic pipes, etched plaster, rapid loss of chlorine residual, and possible irritation to swimmers. Low pH readings cause your chlorine to dissipate a lot quicker. PH level 8 to 14 means the pool has a base pH level. This will lead to cloudy water, staining, scale deposits, filtration problems, and reduced chlorine efficiency.
Solution: To maintain an ideal pH level in the water, use a pH Increaser (pH+) when the pH drops below 7.2 and a pH Reducer (pH-) when the pH rises above 7.8.

The ABC’s of Pool Care

(A) Maintain your pool with Stabilized Chlorine tablets every day

(B) Shock your pool once a week Shocking Chlorine.

(C) The day after shocking, add a dose of Algaecide.

This simple formula will work if you follow it diligently.

Shocking Chlorine

Shocking with chlorine or non-chlorine chemicals will burn out the chloramines in the water that may have formed. Also known as super-chlorinating, this practice will fight water problems like cloudy water, skin and eye irritation, and foul odors. These symptoms are usually a result of the presence of those dreaded chloramines. Shocking should be done at least once a week.

The Use Algaecides

Algaecides are special chemicals that combat or prevent algae growth. Algae comes in several varieties and may appear as a soft green floating mat or clump on the pool’s surface, a slime on the pool bottom, black spots on the pool walls or in crevices, or as a yellow dust on the walls and floor. Algae is generally harder to kill than bacteria, which is why you use a supplemental algaecide in addition to bacteria-killing chlorine.
Make sure you have a minimum chlorine level of 2.0 ppm, and that your pH reads 7.4 to 7.6 before adding an algaecide.

The Importance of Calcium Hardness

Anyone who has ever washed their hair in hard water knows that hard water makes it difficult to get a good lather. But in your pool, just the right amount of calcium is essential. Too little and your pool f nish and equipment can prematurely deteriorate. Too much and your water could become cloudy, scale could form and stain might start. 200 to 400 ppm is the general range for calcium hardness, while 300 ppm is ideal for most pools. If it is required to reduce the level of calcium hardness the only way is to dump some of the water and top up with fresh, containing lower natural hardness.

Pool House Diagram

The Pool House is a simple diagram that clearly shows the chemical structure of a healthy pool. Think of the various elements within your pool water like the different components you’d use to build a house. The foundation for crystal clear water begins with a total alkalinity of 70 to 140 ppm. Moving up to the first fl oor, pH levels should be maintained as close to the ideal of 7.4 as possible. A proper chlorine level of 2 to 4 ppm forms the second fl oor, and a stabilizer reading of 40 ppm tops everything off as the roof. Calcium hardness is the walls which keep the fl oors in place, and should be maintained at 200 to 400 ppm.

With this basic information on water chemistry you can fully understand the chemical implications of maintaining properly balanced water. We recommend taking the time to understand these factors as they will save you both time and money, leaving you more of both to spend on enjoying, not maintaining, the water in your swimming pool

Recommended Levels:

   pH					7.2 to 7.8

   Total Alkalinity			75 - 120 mg/l 

   Calcium Hardness			200 - 400 mg/l 

   Free Available Chlorine		1.5 - 3 mg/l

You can contact us if need a swimming pool for your house in Bulgaria

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Famous swimming pools

The world’s most photographed / most famous pool

This is the pool of Hearst Castle in California. The impressive outdoor pool of Hearst castle is built like a roman temple. William Randolph Hearst resided here in the early 1900s, inviting lots of stars, managers and politicians. A State Historic Monument, the Hearst Castle in California features two swimming pools, stunning expanses of gardens, and a 115 room house.

World's most photographed swimming pool

(more…)

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Swimming Pool Building Tips

There are some things you should know before ordering your swimming pool

Have the perfect swimming pool built in Bulgaria Definition: Swimming pool, sometimes shortly called pool is a sport facility used for practicing water sports such as swimming, water ball and diving. It is an artificially enclosed body of water mostly built of concrete but plastic or metal could be used too. Designed in various different shapes and sizyes generall there are two types of them: open-air and in-door swimming pool.

And if this dry definition on Wikipedia seems boring be sure that the swimming pool is the most exciting attribute of your property. The description above does not give even the slightest idea of this wonderful and thrilling source of coolness – your swimming pool.

Why do you need a swimming pool?

The swimming pool is probably the most important extra and it is a must if you own a property in Bulgaria. Forget about anything else and build a pool in your backyard. No matter whether your property needs reconstruction or it is newly built think about the swimming pool first:

when viewing an old house with an yard
when viewing a plot of land for building purposes
when buying a new house without a pool

See samples of swimming pools built by our company

Most people who buy properties in Bulgaria do not pay much attention to the pool probably because they are with limited budget. They prefer to invest in the property design and materials rather than in building a pool. They do not think of its location in the yard, its shape and size and the arrangement of the sun beds area. Usually they design and build their new house in the centre of the yard, landscape the garden and put a high and solid fence to surround the plot. Anyway these mistakes people make when designing or building their new homes in Bulgaria are not so frightful.

In the building industry everything could be done and everything is possible. Is is only a matter of price. The correct and advanced planning of your swimming pool could save you many future costs especially if you contact us on time. We will advise you how to plan and build your pool and our professional assistance will save you many troubles and money and will allow you to concentrate to more important things in your life – your family and your business. ‘InvestConsult’ Ltd has a wide experience in designing and construction of houses and swimming pools, landscaping, construction of covered BBQs and mini golf courses and we belive that our know-how is helping us and our clients. We can help you get an unique property at reasonable cost.

If you are 100% sure you wish to have a pool there are a few things you should think in advance.

If well designed and well maintained the pool will be the most attractive place for relaxing, fun and sport activities, a place for family gatherings and meetings with friends or simply a place for escape from the summer heat. You should think of the questions why you want it, who will use it, will there be any children considering their age as well. Answering these questions in advance will help you to clear up pool’s shape and depth. For example if you intend to use the pool for water sports it is advisable its maximum depth to be no more than 1.60 m. (a swimming pool with depth of 1.20m. throughout would be ideal). If you have children, the pool should be designed with either a special lower section or better a separate lower part. You could always rely on our professional help and advices even if you did not think out these details in advance.

The professional design and well constructed pool together with the landscaped adjoining area will add a finishing touch to your yard. If you still hesitate (or feel unsure) whether you need a pool the answer is YES. Having a pool skillfully combined with the surrounding area will no doubt increase your property value. Properties with pool are much sought after (especially if you are going to rent it out), easy to sell and more expensive. If your budget is limited and you are wondering if you could afford it call us from the very beginning of your building project and we will help you save money and finance building it.

Save from your house

There are many options for saving money during the building process of your new house – mainly from the quantity and the quality. Saying “quality” we do not mean the quality of building itself, it is the quality of the building materials or in other words their luxury. If you replace some expensive building materials with cheaper and more ordinary ones you will save several hundred percents of the costs for these materials. The difference will be hard to notice but most important you will be able to save money. The other option is to reduce the size of the house – do not built a cellar or a covered garage (if you are using the property as a holiday home); you will not actually need fourth bedroom or a second floor. A well-sized single storey house, with three bedrooms is a perfect choice for you and your family and will save you money. Now you can afford to have a pool, BBQ, kids play area or mini golf course instead of a cellar, for example.

A brand new swimming pool

The construction of a pool together with a new house on an empty yard is not a very difficult task. Please do not follow us wrong. Pool’s construction is serious responsibility just there is no any particular challenge that makes many building companies think they could make pools.

At first site it seems quite easy but only the real professionals know how responsible is to design the pool and that finding the right builder for the pool is of great importance. Unfortunately it is difficult to come upon reliable builders who will build your pool in time and of high quality. Usually you find out what is the quality of the building works (and the quality of the pool) when your new swimming pool starts loosing water about 10 m 3 per day. Then it becomes clear that there is a hole or a leak (just a few mm.) somewhere at the bottom or at the walls of the pool. These hidden technical defects are very difficult to discover and the repair could cost you a lot.

Our advice:

Be careful when choosing a builder for your pool. Sometimes cheap proves to be more expensive. Contact us and require your free quote.

If you already have a house and a landscaped yard and you wish to have a pool, the challenge is much bigger and you can discriminate the skilled builder from the … unskilled one in this situation. We have the experience in building swimming pools in a landscaped yard and we would be glad if you contact us. There are some special features you should be aware of in advance as well as some details we would request from you before starting the project.

Access to the yard

If you already have a new solid fence that surrounds the property be aware it has to be partially damaged or removed to provide access to the building machinery – the excavator.

When the excavator starts digging the hole for the pool you will be surprised to see how much earth will appear. Even from a rather small pool sized 4 x 8m., the quantity of the excavated earth will be around 90 3m. It is more or less the height of a single storey house. Of course this mound will not be located in one centralized spot in your yard. It is very precious to be thrown away. Part of it will be used again for filling the excavation around the pool (the hole should be bigger that the pool size because of placing the shuttering) and the other part will be used for leveling the yard and only the upper layer of the earth which is most fertile for the garden. So you may soon have grown up plants with fresh and green leaves.

Due to the big dimensions of the hole digging by hand is impossible and the excavator is a must. Even a fairly small excavator is as big as a mid-sized family car. So this building machinery requires enough free space. If your garden has been landscaped, you have planted flowers, bushes and trees and have maid pathways be aware that they could be damaged and should be restored. This could be such a waste of time (growing up new plants is a long process) and money (for renewing the pathways). The one and only comfort for you due to this situation would be a new landscaped garden with perfectly designed pool and pool areas performed by our landscape specialist.

Utility re-route

Let’s suppose the excavator is already in your yard, we examine the weather forecast and look out for a day without rains to start the excavation works. But before that we have to find out if water, sewer, cable, electric, gas, or telephone etc. are under ground or in the way. If so they have to be re-routed so we will do our best without any inconvenience for you.

Completion

Your pool will take about 6-8 weeks to be build. After the shell is ready it needs time to dry and cure out. This process needs time of about 4 weeks that cannot be saved even if you are in hurry. After the period of waiting the pool will be filled with water and tested for leaks.

The truth is the gunite shell keeps the water in the pool and not the tiles or the insulation. Even being in a rough mode it should not leak. This is possible due to some special pool building techniques as well as to special supplements in the gunite which make it waterproofed. After the gunite is tested and everything is OK the building process of the pool continues with placing the hydro insulation, tiling and fitting of filtration unit. At the same time works on neighboring pool area carry on: pathways connecting the pool with other parts of the yards (BBQ, kids’ area, mini golf course) are designed in a way that makes the pool a part of scenery. We guarantee your yard will be in perfect condition - cleaned up and landscaped after the construction works are over. So enjoy your brand new swimming pool and your renewed garden.

Payment schedule

Consider your budget for building the pool in advance – think carefully of the funds you can afford. Thus you will avoid being in an owner of half built pool and that first plunge into your brand new refreshing swimming pool will not be just a dream. If we are previously aware of your funds limit we will be able to offer you the best options that suit to your budget.

Many of the swimming pools building companies use unscrupulous tactics to collect installment checks as the pool construction progresses. On signing the building contract you have to pay 50 % of the purchase price. Upon completion of the gunite phase they require the next 35%. Тhat leaves a final check of 15%. The key word here is FINAL. You would expect upon completion of the pool and when you are completely satisfied, that at that time you would pay the FINAL check . Then they make you pay the final 15%. They make you pay the FINAL check BEFORE plastering the pool, doing the final cleanup, or any other incompleted work on your pool. In other words “NO CHECK, NO PLASTER”. We have heard from many upset customers calling us for help, but they are at the mercy of the company at this point.

Not so with us

When we start working on your swimming pool project we will work out a payment plan together as per your requirements. We are always ready to negotiate and we believe that both loyalty and professionalism is the key to successful business relationship with our clients.

Concrete swimming pool

We offer a first class construction service for reinforced concrete swimming pool with a tiled finish. We use the reinforced concrete method as it offers the ultimate in strength & freedom of design.

A high tensile steel reinforcing framework is fixed throughout the pool and high quality concrete mixed with waterproofing additives is poured in place. The floor and walls build a monolithic construction free from work joints. This is absolutely essential that there is no movement or cracking within the pool shell or water loss and subsequent damage can result.

In a Concrete in-ground swimming pool the finish is applied directly to the walls and floor of the pool. The shell of the pool is therefore the water retaining unit and for this reason the construction has to be very strong, to be able to withstand the pressure exerted by the water.
Coping stones are then placed around the pool to finish the edge. This type of pool offers greater flexibility as it can be formed into different shapes. We recommend for the internal finishes brightly colored mosaic tiles.