If you are thinking about building a swimming pool in Greece, then it’s quite important to ask yourself several questions. First of all, what is your lifestyle like? Do you spend most of your time inside the house, or outside enjoying nature? Do you have any spare time during the day? How much money are you willing to spend? Finding the answers to these questions might be rather difficult. That’s why we’ve collected a list of essential information that you need to know before buying material for the construction of your aquatic oasis. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
The Location
The first thing to consider is where you want to build the pool. If you live in a larger city or suburb, there are probably plenty of places nearby where you can build the pool you desire. However, if you live in a smaller town, building a pool might be a little more challenging. There aren’t many places where you can simply stroll into a pool hall and buy a pool. In this situation, you should consider looking at building a pool at your home. It’s not quite as exciting getting a pool at home, but it is a good option for people who want a pool and don’t have a lot of space. Keep in mind that you need to focus on the legal aspects of building a pool at home as well. If you live in a residential area and draw water from a well, you could be violating the water restriction put in place by your local government. You should check the pool regulations first, as they can vary from area to area.
The Size
The next step is to figure out how big you want your pool to be. One of the main reasons for building a pool is to provide people with a place to enjoy a peaceful night swim. If you have a small garden, you can make the pool very, very small. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend going for a smaller pool size if you have a smaller garden. However, if you have a bit more space, a larger pool is preferable. It all depends on how much room you have and how much you want to spend. The smaller the pool, the cheaper it will be to build. The bigger the pool, the more expensive it will be.
The Depth
Depending on how experienced you are in swimming, you should consider either going for a shallower or deeper pool. If you are fairly new to the swimming pool world, you should go for a deeper pool. Otherwise, if you are an experienced swimmer, you should choose a pool depth that is appropriate for your body size. It is also important to note here that the deeper the pool, the more expensive it will be to build. A typical rule of thumb is 1.5 meters (or 5 feet) for every adult. For children, the rule of thumb is usually 0.75 meters (or 2.5 feet). These are general guidelines and can vary from area to area.
The Shape
Once you’ve determined the size and location of your pool, it’s time to figure out its shape. If you are fortunate enough to have a rectangular pool, you should go for a square or rectangular shape. If you have a circular pool, you should go for a circular shape. In this case, the radius of the pool determines the size of the entire enclosure. Circular pools are the most common in Europe, and for good reason. They are both easy to build and simple to maintain. You don’t need levelling equipment, nor do you have to worry about flooding. Furthermore, if you have kids, it’s a no-brainer to go for a circular pool.
Materials
The materials you will need for the construction of the pool include the following:
- Walls: these are the external walls of the pool that you build around it. You don’t need to go for very thick walls as they will be covered from the elements by the roof of the structure. The thicker the better in terms of durability. You can also choose to have sloping walls for aesthetics. The important thing is to have sloping walls that allow water to flow smoothly from one end to the other.
- Roof: this is the covering that you put over the pool to keep the sun and the rain away. You can choose to go for a flat roof or for a sloping one. The former is the most popular option among pool builders, as it’s easy to install and inexpensive. Flat roofs are also perfect if you live in a climate where the weather is unpredictable. It also provides an extra layer of security in case someone decides to throw a rock at your pool. In terms of aesthetics, there is no wrong answer here. It’s all about the look you want for your pool. However, if you want a traditional look, you should opt for a flat roof.
- Pelletier System: this is a type of ventilation used in swimming pools. The pellets, which are small in size, get blown into the water by a gentle breeze. This helps keep the water clean by preventing mosquitoes and other creepy-crawlies from laying their eggs in it. It also helps keep the pool at a steady temperature. Most homeowners in the U.S. use the pelletier system to great effect.
- Furniture: this includes the diving board, the steps, and other similar items that you might need to have access to the water. When deciding where to put the furniture, make sure that you leave enough room for the person using the pool to enter and exit comfortably. If you have a long walk to the pool, consider building a stone or concrete bench seating area near the entrance. It will ease the discomfort of the area and provide a place to rest for those hot summer days and nights.
- Tropical Plants: this includes palms, plants, or flowers that are well-suited for the humid climate of your area. There are a few things you should avoid here. Make sure not to put these in full sun as it will reduce the lifespan of the plants. Furthermore, keep the soil moist but not saturated. Otherwise, you’ll have a hard time growing anything.
- Duckweed: this is a type of aquatic vegetation that grows quickly and in large amounts. It needs to be controlled as it can clog up your pool rather quickly. You can buy specialised equipment to do this or hire a professional pool cleaner. Either way, it’s a job you’re going to have to do at least twice a month to maintain a clear pool.
- Shower Area: this is where you’ll place the changing booth and the toilet. You can also build a small shower area near the entrance if you think that’s a nice added touch. However, make sure to leave enough space for people to comfortably use the bathroom.
- Decking: this is where you’ll place the pool deck area and the pool chairs. These are also where you’ll put the table and the barbecue for those hot summer nights. It is a good idea to build a roof over the entire deck area so it stays cool and shady during the day and warm and cosy at night. To be on the safe side, you should build the roof to cover the entire pool deck area so no part of it is exposed to the sun.
- Ladders: these are the steps you’ll use to get from one level to another, whether it’s to find a place in the pool that’s more comfortable for relaxing, or to get a drink from the fridge. You should put these at both ends of the pool, as it will make getting in and out simpler for anyone using the pool. It’s going to be a long hot summer, and these ladders will come in handy.
- Outdoor Lighting: this includes anything that is going to give off light when placed outside. It can be very expensive to have inadequate outdoor lighting indoors so you might as well build it out here.
- Fully Covered: this includes the area that you build and how you build it. It’s going to be dark in the evening so you might as well build the pool with full coverage.
In a nutshell, these are the basic materials you need. Of course, you’ll want to add decorative touches to the structure as it will complement your outdoor space. If you have a smaller garden, then just a rectangular pool is going to be fine. You don’t need to go overboard and buy expensive equipment. Just get the basics and have fun.
Safety
Last but not least, we have safety. This part is rather important, especially if you have kids or young adults around the pool area. You should put in place several safety measures, including the following: