Hi Everyone,
I am in South Australia and would like to share my story, I am a first time pool owner and do not have the first idea of what it takes to own or maintain a pool however I am excited about owning one.
I have started my pool build. I have dug a hole in my back yard (8mx4m - 1.1m to 1.8 deep back in March 2014) to suit something up to this size. Ideally it will be smaller (8.0x3.5m? still to be worked out.)
Yes I have titled this post as “My Concrete Swimming Pool Build” after many quotes at the winter pool expo on both fibreglass $30,000 - $38-000 and concrete $38,000 - $85,000. I have decided to take the Plunge (Pardon the pun) and owner build a concrete swimming pool to save some money $$$$.....
I have spoken to my structural engineer (I am in the process of doing a large owner build extension to my current PPOR) and thought, what the hey, I have already paid for a soil report and am bothered with all the owner building of my own extension, let’s owner build this pool and get a concrete pool for the price of a fiberglass one.
I rang my engineer and asked if he was able to structurally enginee a concrete pool from an architectural drawing that I would provide. The Engineer quoted me $400.00 plus gst for the engineering plans. I would design the pool to scale including all elevations and include a site plan of the pool location on the block and submit to local council. My council also have a ruling of keeping the pool 1 meter from the fence boundary and keeping the pool equipment (pump – aka Noise) 4meters from any adjoining dwelling.
I am quite excited about the build and would like some advice / experience from other pool owner out there. Before I submit my plans to council, I would like some feedback from other seasoned pool owners about the following.
I would like seating along the long edge of the pool, what depth below the water line should this seat be? And how wide should this ledge be? 300mm, 450mm for a comfortable seating?
All feedback appreciated.
Regards,
Andrew