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-   -   Spa/Swimming pool thread..... (https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/spa-swimming-pool-thread-558595/)

Smilz Oct 3rd 2008 1:12 pm

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 
Just had to answer some of the questions, I have managed pools up to 33m x 8 lanes.

If it were I looking to build a pool or/and a spa I would…


Design my pool/ spa so that the water would be heated via a solar panel array that should make the pool/spa usable all the year round and cut down considerably on the running costs.

I could use an air source or ground source heat pump to heat the water that would be even more effective. In fact the ground source heat pump would heat the water for the house as well.

A sand filter is far more efficient at cleaning the water but does use water which goes to waste during a back wash however this is not a bad thing as topping up with fresh water keeps the total dissolved solids down to a reasonable level.

I would not hand dose the pool but would use a metering pump so as to keep a consistent balance.

I would design my pool so as to incorporate a water jet/spa pool section using the same treated and heated water. (Cheaper than buying and running one).

I would build a really good pool and stretch my budget, as I would only want to build it the once.

If you can wait I will arrive in Perth next year and I will build it for you (at a price).

robert cowan Oct 3rd 2008 2:06 pm

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 
3 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by Tiawamutu (Post 6734650)
Have started another thread on Spa's and swimming pools, as for some reason the last one was closed :confused:

Just wondering if anyone has had a pool or spa installed over winter?

Would be great to see some piccies ;)

I'm still interested in getting a spa eventually, but I think Air con comes first :D

Also wondering, has anyone bought one of those portable/blow up spas, and what do you think of them?


.

hi here is some pics of our pool it was $27000 but doing all paving and landscaping myself

walla Oct 3rd 2008 7:02 pm

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 
We have an 8 seater spa and are having a concrete pool fitted next month at $25k including excavation, landscaping $5k ish extra, 7 metres by 3.....

sa2uk2oz Oct 3rd 2008 8:03 pm

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 
Just wanted to add.. we have spent a lovely day on the gold coast, at the beach 6.30am , shopping and lunch out in between, just got out of the spa... and oh has handed me my second glass of bubbly and has lit the barbecue.. Feels like i'm in heaven... :thumbsup:

Tiawamutu Oct 5th 2008 12:04 am

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 

Originally Posted by ohippy (Post 6842966)
we were supposed to be putting a pool in over winter - didn't quite happen that way though :mad:

I'm hoping it's a bit like childbirth and all the pain we went through starts to fade with time

Hello, Haven't seen you for ages. How you doing?

Can't believe it's 2 years in Oz for us now! Doesn't time fly!

For anyone else wondering.... We were visa buddies, and got them more or less the same time...We had a thread going for all the people who applied in November. It seems like yonks ago now :eek:

Is that your pool on your avatar? It looks gorgeous. Did you have problems?

ohippy Oct 5th 2008 12:10 am

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 
it certainly does - has flown by really. Definitely a lot harder than I thought it was going to be but have absolutely no intention of going back. Have applied for citizenship now - have you ?

Tiawamutu Oct 5th 2008 12:26 am

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 

Originally Posted by Smilz (Post 6843019)
Just had to answer some of the questions, I have managed pools up to 33m x 8 lanes.

If it were I looking to build a pool or/and a spa I would…


Design my pool/ spa so that the water would be heated via a solar panel array that should make the pool/spa usable all the year round and cut down considerably on the running costs.

Even with solar heating you wouldn't be able to use it all year round, as it does get quite chilly here sometimes.


Originally Posted by Smilz (Post 6843019)
I could use an air source or ground source heat pump to heat the water that would be even more effective. In fact the ground source heat pump would heat the water for the house as well.

Same thing, still not usable all year round, and could be expensive to run


Originally Posted by Smilz (Post 6843019)
A sand filter is far more efficient at cleaning the water but does use water which goes to waste during a back wash however this is not a bad thing as topping up with fresh water keeps the total dissolved solids down to a reasonable level.

Just out of curiosity, and as you seem to know a lot about pools, what do you do in the UK?


Originally Posted by Smilz (Post 6843019)
I would not hand dose the pool but would use a metering pump so as to keep a consistent balance.

balance in what? :confused:


Originally Posted by Smilz (Post 6843019)
I would design my pool so as to incorporate a water jet/spa pool section using the same treated and heated water. (Cheaper than buying and running one).

Some spas cost as little as 50c a day to run, so I wouldn't see it as that expensive.


Originally Posted by Smilz (Post 6843019)
I would build a really good pool and stretch my budget, as I would only want to build it the once.

Whatever the quality of the pool, you would still have to replace or re-furbish it at some point, as no pool would last forever...


Originally Posted by Smilz (Post 6843019)
If you can wait I will arrive in Perth next year and I will build it for you (at a price).

What sort of pool would you suggest? Concrete, fibreglass, liner, above ground, below ground?

Tiawamutu Oct 5th 2008 12:30 am

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 

Originally Posted by walla (Post 6843331)
We have an 8 seater spa and are having a concrete pool fitted next month at $25k including excavation, landscaping $5k ish extra, 7 metres by 3.....

Lurvely....Just in time for the summer :thumbup:

Tiawamutu Oct 5th 2008 12:32 am

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 

Originally Posted by ohippy (Post 6846390)
it certainly does - has flown by really. Definitely a lot harder than I thought it was going to be but have absolutely no intention of going back. Have applied for citizenship now - have you ?

I will do when we get back from U.K, as we are setting off this Saturday for 3 weeks. Back to lovely English weather :unsure: :rofl:

Is that your pool then, or your dream pool? ;)

Tiawamutu Feb 21st 2009 3:33 am

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 
Anybody else got any nice piccies of their pool :)

furkew Feb 21st 2009 6:54 am

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 

Originally Posted by Tiawamutu (Post 7307963)
Anybody else got any nice piccies of their pool :)

Ours was "finished" Friday after over 4 months waiting on permits etc.

Because we live in the hills, our block is heavily sloped and you need a permit to build, and because our land is classified as landslip grade 2, we needed soil tests, deetailed plans etc etc to keep the local shire happy. We had planned on late November to be finished, but as it turned out the permit wasnt granted until 2 weeks ago :curse:

We used Leisure Pools, and I can do nothing but highly recommend them on everything they have done.

The pool is 10.5m x 4.4m. Spa nook, lighting, solar heating.

The pool & all equipment including solar blanket, creepy crawly & solar heating came to approx $42k. I think just the pool itself (installed) was about $34k.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...100_1551-1.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/100_1555.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/100_1552.jpg

furkew Feb 21st 2009 7:10 am

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 
If anyone in Melbourne is looking at getting a pool, as I already mentioned, Leisure pools where excellent. Because the permit took so long, they guaranteed us that as soon as the permit was granted, they would start the dig immediately. The permit was granted on a Thursday afternoon. They started the dig on the Tuesday, and where finished 11 days later. :thumbsup:

We have yet to put down the paving, but we have spent many hours scouring the internet & visiting various companies, and we finally came across these guys : http://http://www.sandstonepaving.com.au/ and their prices where far cheaper than anybody else ($35.00 p.m2 instead of $50.00 !!) and the pool guy has seen their work & product and told us they where excellent.

Heres a few pics of before & during the dig

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/furkew2/2.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/furkew2/37.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/furkew2/40.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...5022009076.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/100_1546.jpg

Spellbound Feb 21st 2009 10:34 am

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 
We purchased a blow up spa on New Years Eve.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HG0m7Y4yGn...h/DSCF0628.JPG


We have used it quite a bit and taken a while to work out how to maintain balances etc with the help of the local spa/pool shop.

We bought it at KMart for $400 reduced from $600. It heats up to 38 degrees and came with a lockable zip up top and has been a good learning curve for novice owners like us.

Tiawamutu Feb 21st 2009 5:10 pm

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 

Originally Posted by furkew (Post 7308452)
If anyone in Melbourne is looking at getting a pool, as I already mentioned, Leisure pools where excellent. Because the permit took so long, they guaranteed us that as soon as the permit was granted, they would start the dig immediately. The permit was granted on a Thursday afternoon. They started the dig on the Tuesday, and where finished 11 days later. :thumbsup:

We have yet to put down the paving, but we have spent many hours scouring the internet & visiting various companies, and we finally came across these guys : http://http://www.sandstonepaving.com.au/ and their prices where far cheaper than anybody else ($35.00 p.m2 instead of $50.00 !!) and the pool guy has seen their work & product and told us they where excellent.

Heres a few pics of before & during the dig



http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/furkew2/2.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/furkew2/37.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/furkew2/40.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...5022009076.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/100_1546.jpg

Looks gorgeous Furkew, is that the 'Moroccan' pool?

You got it just in time for the rest of the summer anyway, enjoy :)

Tiawamutu Feb 21st 2009 5:16 pm

Re: Spa/Swimming pool thread.....
 

Originally Posted by Spellbound (Post 7308912)
We purchased a blow up spa on New Years Eve.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HG0m7Y4yGn...h/DSCF0628.JPG


We have used it quite a bit and taken a while to work out how to maintain balances etc with the help of the local spa/pool shop.

We bought it at KMart for $400 reduced from $600. It heats up to 38 degrees and came with a lockable zip up top and has been a good learning curve for novice owners like us.

That's a good idea, I never thought of buying one of those, as a practice for a full size spa. I think we might get one.

I never noticed any of them in our Kmart. They must sell different items in different Kmart stores.

Shame you couldn't get the picture to work, as it would have been interesting to see what it was like :cool:


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