Outdoor Swimming Pools

How a Great Outdoor Swimming Pool Design can re-invigorate mind and Body – Construction & Installation by Compass.

From a small plunge pool to a large family swimming pool, Compass Pools has more than 30 years’ experience designing and installing superior outdoor swimming pools. Our design and installation service is unsurpassed.

We run our business with excellence and integrity, so you can choose Compass Pools with confidence, secure in the knowledge that you will end up with the swimming pool of your dreams. From your personal lido to a small outdoor training pool. We have something for you.

A Wonderful Investment

A lot of people mistakenly believe that an outdoor swimming pool is a poor investment, but this is not the case at all. A high quality, bespoke outdoor swimming pool installation will add value to your home and provide your family with many years of enjoyment. An outdoor pool provides many benefits, from providing a space for you and your family or friends to relax during the warmer months to an area for exercising, and an aesthetic addition to your property.

Thanks to our extensive experience in creating bespoke outdoor swimming pools across the UK, our expert design team are well-placed to help you design a beautiful pool or lido that suits the needs of your whole family. We want you to be happy with the end product, so we will go the extra mile to make sure you are 100% satisfied with every last detail before the installation begins.

Designing your dream outdoor pool

There are many factors to consider when designing an outdoor pool – our experienced team are on hand to help you every step of the way to ensure the final pool design exceeds your expectations. Before you start creating the design, consider where you’re going to be installing your pool.

Location plays a key role in the style of pool you’ll end up with – if you have a sloped garden, for example, an infinity pool makes for a great feature of the space, while making the most of the views. Or perhaps you have a smaller garden but still want to enjoy a pool to relax and enjoy the sunshine from – a plunge pool can be a great compromise to give you the space to take a refreshing dip in the summer without requiring too much space. You want your pool location to provide easy accessibility as well as safety and privacy, so these factors should all be considered when choosing the right location.

Climate is also an important factor to your design. If you want to maximise the sunshine, choosing a location shaded by trees or buildings may not be ideal if you want to ensure your pool is naturally heated by the sunshine. And if sustainability is a concern for you, we can help you design an energy-efficient pool that will work with your lifestyle.

Finishing touches

We offer a variety of ways to customise your outdoor pool and make it your own, from numerous shapes and sizes to bespoke colour finishes. Lighting can be used to add ambiance and enables you to use your pool comfortably and safely in the evenings. Or maybe you want to add jets and waterfalls for hydrotherapy benefits and relaxing acoustics. A feature pool adds visual impact and also increases the practicality of your pool, making sure it meets your lifestyle perfectly. When it comes to creating an outdoor pool that has the wow factor, these added extras make all the difference.

Installation of an outdoor pool

Outdoor swimming pools are simpler to install when compared to indoor swimming pools. However, the area where the pool is to be sited still needs to be prepared and access will need to be established for the installation to begin.

Prior to the installation of your outdoor pool, we’ll liaise with you to ensure that adequate access will be provided on the day, that children and pets will be kept safely out of harm’s way, and that the area will be completely cleared of any furniture, trees and plants, or structures such as sheds or pergolas.

The Compass Pools installation team will project-manage and oversee every aspect of the groundwork and construction to ensure the project runs smoothly and is as hassle-free as possible for you.

The build process for a new outdoor swimming pool will normally entail:

Excavation of the pool site
Installation of the pool shell
Installation of plumbing and wiring from the plant room to the pool
Installation of filtration units, heaters and lighting, as well as any other final touches you want to customise your pool with
Finally, the installation of tiling, paving and decking of surrounding area

We’ll discuss the exact process with you before your pool is installed, so you’re kept in the loop throughout the whole process.

While construction of an outdoor swimming pool normally doesn’t require planning permission, it is always sensible to check with your local planning department in case there are any restrictions in place.

You should also remember that construction of an outdoor swimming pool is likely to cause some degree of unavoidable damage and disruption to your garden, due to the use of heavy machinery during the excavation and groundwork part of the installation. As such, you should consider factoring in landscaping costs when preparing your budget for the project.

FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an outdoor pool cost?

This is the most commonly asked question we get at Compass Pools – it is also one of the most difficult to answer. The first thing to note is that building an outdoor pool will in most cases be cheaper than an indoor pool. This is due to the fact that you only have to worry about the actual installation of the pool rather than creating the building to house it or an extension on your home.

We have created a guide to give you some idea of the costs you could expect in having a pool built. It should be noted that typically Compass Pools – which use a unique ceramic composite – are cheaper than a tiled concrete pool. Our Compass Pools can cost anywhere from £50,000 to £120,000 although this figure can vary.

How much are average running costs for an outdoor pool?

The day-to-day running costs of a pool can vary enormously, so it is important to factor in all the relevant details to ascertain the costs you can expect. The major day-to-day costs of running a pool revolve around the chemicals used to keep the water clean as well as heating the water. You may also factor in the general maintenance of the pool and the equipment.

It should be noted that there are many different ways to mitigate ongoing costs. For example, we do offer natural pools than do not require chemicals, and saltwater pools which contain less. There are also multiple ways to heat the pool – some of which are more expensive than others.

Do you need planning permission for a pool in your garden?

Planning permission is not always required for having a pool built in your garden, especially if there is no change of use required in the land. However, the rules surrounding the installation of pools can be complex, and we always recommend that you get in contact with your local council to ascertain whether permission is required.

Each council deals with applications differently and there are a number of factors that have to be taken into account. Please contact us if you need further details on planning permission.

Can outdoor pools be heated?

Given the rather unpredictable nature of English weather it is good to know that your pool can be heated all year round. Once again, there are many different heating systems available, so it is worth taking an in-depth look into the kind of pool heating you would like to have installed. A standard heat pool could cost around £5 per day to run and a standard heat pump can allow waters to reach 40°C in temperatures of 15°C and above.

What style of pool should I choose?

At Compass Pools we offer a choice of 9 different pool designs in 27 different sizes. This makes it easy to choose a pool that is perfect for your home. We would always recommend getting a pool in a size that is befitting of your garden. Getting a pool that is too large can be overbearing on the garden as a whole.

If you are interested in using your pool for swimming but you lack the space, it is possible to have a smaller pool fitted with a water jet. This allows you to swim against the current.

Are swimming pools safe for families with small children?

If you have small children it is necessary to take steps to ensure that they are safe around the pool at all times. This could involve having a fence installed around the perimeter of the pool to make sure that they can’t gain access to the pool area.

Should I cover an outdoor pool?

Covers are an essential for outdoor pools. Firstly, they stop debris, litter and biological matter from being able to fall into the water. Secondly, if you are heating your pool the cover will hold more of the heat in reducing the amount you need to spend.

If you are interested in finding out more about the range of pools we offer, why not call us today on 0333 4567 111?

Our team would be delighted to help you with any questions or queries you might have, and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as we can.

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