build swimming pool Pattaya

Time to build swimming pool Pattaya?

If you do not know how to build a swimming pool, do not do it by yourself. It could end up costing you more than to have the professionals doing it for you. Here are some things to consider before you build:
Is the ground suitable for a pool? It is not uncommon in Thailand to have underground "rivers" of water. That will make it impossible to build upon.

1. Decide what type of pool you want and how big.
2. Contact a builder and ask for a quotation.
3. Be prepared to pay from 250.000 THB (very small) up to millions (very big). Continue to read to learn more.

Build swimming pool Pattaya?

We start with a simple pool and then let you know what will make it more expensive. Continue to read.

The basics are pretty much the same regardless of the size. Extra accessories, design, and material quality will have an impact on the final price.
After you find a suitable area where to build your pool, it is time to hire a digger. Make the hole 25-30 cm wider than the actual pool (measured from outside pool walls).
Dig "tunnels" to place in and outgoing water pipes. Put down the pipes, sticking out/up from the bottom/walls where to connect the outlets and inlets.
Order a cement truck, and fill up the bottom of the pool area with 6-10 cm of concrete, depending on the size of the pool.
Build walls around the pool where you leave 25-30 cm on the outside. Outer and inner walls, preferably with 15-20 mm form plywood (the one with plastic surface). Put steel reinforcement around the wall inside. It is a good idea to put a thick strong rubber, about 30 cm wide, under the inner wall, sticking out some 15 cm. That will help to avoid leaking.
Build a framework inside the pool to support the inner walls. You will be pouring concrete inside the walls that is VERY heavy, and easy to break the wall. In Thailand it is common to use wood from smaller cut-down trees because it is cheap. You REALLY need to know how to build this up strong enough. I prefer to use steel that is much stronger, costs more but can be reused for other construction. Now you fill up with the sand you removed before, outside the wall. Water it to compact the sand. Fill up between the walls with concrete. This concrete must have a water-resistant chemical mixed into it.

Time to fill up the floor with concrete.
Wait at least 2 days for the concrete to burn. Remove the supporting steel and the form plywood. Order a new cement truck and fill up the bottom with another 6-10 cm of concrete. This concrete must have a water-resistant chemical mixed into it. Now the basics are finished. Time to add tiles on walls and bottom. These tiles could be cheaper than ordinary tiles but this is not recommended since they will not last very long. Special pool tiles are available and they will last almost forever.
Build swimming pool Pattaya

Cut down all the sticking-out pipes and mount the inlet/outlet gears. Use tile adhesive cement to fix the tiles and a special pool grout between the tiles.

Connect all the pipes to the pump system. Top up the top of the wall with tiles or pool sand/stones. More or less finished.

What will make your new pool more expensive?

1. The size, obviously.
2. A square/rectangular pool is always cheaper than a round or kidney-shaped one.
3. The deeper the more it costs.
4. The choice of tiles. High-special special tiles are recommended.
5. A sophisticated system of inlets and outlets also costs more. Minimum one outlet and three inlets. No in-outlets at the bottom is the cheapest alternative but then you will need to vacuum the pool more often. A spa system costs extra since it requires 2 pumps to be effective.
6. Lamps will cost more.
7. You need a skimmer to keep the water surface clean. The cheapest one is a box that you put in place before you fill up between the walls with concrete. It is cheap and effective, but it does not come with an automatic water fill-up, but you can build one yourself, see below. The more costly one is to build a water chamber at the end of the pool, and lower that pool wall 5-8 cm to allow the pool water to overflow into the chamber. A so-called floater inside will keep the water level perfectly at all times.

Build your own automatic water leveler system

If you decide to use the skimmer box instead of an overflow system you can easily build your own water leveler. Dig a hole outside the pool, some 70x50 cm and 1 meter deep, connected to the pool with a pipe. Could be smaller if you use a small floater. Install a floater and connect to a water source. This floater must be installed in a way that it stops filling water when the pool is at optimal level. This system will start filling up water if correctly installed when the water in the pool goes under your set minimum level.

Maintenance

Well-managed a pool can last for a very long time. Avoid the most common causes of a deteriorating pool. The most common problem is the use of chlorine. If you hire a pool service, they most likely will come 2-4 times per month. They will put in a dose of chlorine that will last a week or more. If not enough you will get a HUGE problem with algae growth. Believe me when I say that you do not want that problem. The downside is that a huge amount of chlorine at one time is very damaging to the tile grout. Expect a total costly renovation every 5-8 years.

There are two alternatives that are much much less damaging to your pool.
One option is to install a saltwater system. This machine is automatic and will keep the chlorine/salt amount in the water at an optimal level. This will double or triple the lifespan of your pool. A unit will cost between 30.000 - 40.000 for a normal villa pool, plus installation work. If you calculate the cost of renovating the pool every 5-8 years you will find that it will pay for itself over time. Not to mention that it is almost fully automatic. Only fill up with new pool salt maybe once per month.
Option 2 is to use a special chemical that is much less aggressive to the grout and the pool in general. This chemical is expensive but very effective for saving your pool. Add more chemicals once every week.
Option one and two also fight off algae growth very effectively and do not irritate your eyes and/or skin.
The worst and cheapest method is using chlorine.

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