Frequently asked Questions
Everything you need to know about pool construction in Brisbane. Our FAQ helps you make informed decisions about your swimming pool construction project.
Pool Essentials
Your complete FAQ guide.
Pool Interior Features
Here’s a helpful guide to common features and elements of swimming pool interiors to assist with your planning.
What is a swim ledge or seating bench?
Imagine effortlessly stepping into your brand-new pool and instantly finding the perfect spot to unwind. That’s the beauty of a swim ledge – a comfortable, extended shallow area that invites relaxation and fun for everyone. Typically positioned around 500mm below the surface, these ledges become a favourite gathering place. Picture the kids happily splashing and playing while you and your friends lounge in the water, enjoying poolside chats. You can customise the depth of your swim ledge to perfectly suit your family’s needs.
How do I choose the right pool depth?
Your brand-new concrete inground pool perfectly complements your lifestyle! While standard designs often feature a gentle slope from a shallow end (around 1.1-1.2m) to a deeper section (about 1.6-1.8m), the beauty of a custom pool is the freedom to create something truly unique.
Think about how you envision using your pool. Perhaps a dedicated Kids’ Zone, a safe and shallow haven for little ones to splash and learn. Or a relaxing Relaxation Zone with a comfortable standing depth (typically 1.2-1.4m) where adults can unwind and chat. For the adventurous, a dedicated Diving Zone with deeper sections (1.8-2.0m) can be incorporated with safety as a top priority. And for all-around fun, an Activity Zone (around 1.2-1.5m) is ideal for water games and enjoyment for everyone.
Ultimately, the perfect depths for your pool are all about your family’s needs and how you dream of enjoying your backyard oasis. Our experienced design consultants are here to listen and collaborate with you, ensuring we create the ideal depths and overall pool design to perfectly match your specific requirements for years of poolside pleasure.
What are pool entry steps?
Pool entry steps are a crucial feature, offering a gradual and secure transition into the shallow end of your swimming pool. Depending on your pool configuration, you can customise the shape and dimensions of your stairway. Most pool installations feature standardised designs, but we can create bespoke entry steps to complement your pool’s aesthetic and functional requirements.
What makes robotic pool cleaners different?
Unlike other pool cleaners, robotic models are self-powered and operate entirely independently of your pool’s existing pump and filter. They have their own motor and collect debris in an internal compartment. Thanks to smart programming, they navigate your pool effectively, avoiding obstacles. While they might cost more upfront, their thorough and efficient cleaning often makes them a worthwhile investment.
How does a vacuum-based pool cleaner work?
Suction-based pool cleaners offer a simple cleaning solution by leveraging the power of your pool’s existing filtration system. They attach easily to your skimmer or a dedicated vacuum line, using the pump’s suction to navigate the pool and vacuum up sediment and debris. This collected material is then efficiently moved to your pump basket and filter for removal. Your pool’s filtration system is essential for maintaining clean and healthy water. At its centre, the pump acts like a heart, driving water circulation. Water is drawn from the skimmer, passes through the filter where dirt is captured, and then clean water is returned to your pool.
Pool Foundations & Finishes
This guide explores important details about pool construction foundations, finishing options, and technical aspects to consider when planning your pool project.
Why do pool quotes require engineering assessment?
Initial pool quotes are provided subject to engineering approval. This means that to deliver an accurate quote specific to your location and soil conditions, we require a soil test to be conducted. This test provides the necessary geotechnical information for designing a pool that can effectively withstand soil pressure, terrain characteristics, and local geological factors. The engineering design ensures structural integrity and compliance with building regulations specific to your site.
What purpose do waterline tiles serve?
Waterline tiles are a fantastic way to complement your outdoor space, allowing you to play with colour and create a seamless transition between the water and your pool deck. They also prevent that stark, dry look that can occur with rendered surfaces.
Beyond aesthetics, waterline tiles are incredibly practical. Their smooth surface makes cleaning off waterline scum much easier than with textured finishes like pebblecrete
Choose from our exquisite range of:
- Classic Ceramic Mosaic Tiles: Typically, under 100mm and supplied on easy-to-install backing sheets (roughly 300 x 300mm), priced per square meter.
- Shimmering Glass Mosaic Tiles: Offering a touch of luxury and often vibrant colours, also typically under 100mm and sold on similar-sized sheets.
We’ll calculate the precise linear meterage needed for your pool’s waterline. For optimal coverage with fluctuating water levels, many clients opt for the full sheet depth (around 300mm).
What are coping tiles?
Pool coping forms the finished edge around the perimeter of your pool – it’s what you sit on when dangling your feet in the water. These stones or porcelain tiles create a uniform border around the entire pool. You can select from various styles.
The coping material serves both practical and aesthetic purposes, defining the transition between your pool and the surrounding area.
What does an electrical allowance cover?
Your pool’s electrical allowance primarily covers the expenses associated with supplying power to your filtration equipment through standard outlets (GPOs) at its location. Furthermore, it includes the critical safety requirement of connecting the pool shell to your property’s earth connection, ensuring safety compliance.
Nevertheless, it’s crucial to note that this standard allowance does not include potential upgrades to your electrical meter box. Because such upgrades depend on the specific age and condition of your existing electrical infrastructure, they can only be accurately quoted by a qualified electrician. This ensures you receive a precise cost for any work beyond the direct electrical needs of your pool equipment.
What is included in a plumbing allowance?
The plumbing allowance in your pool quote is a designated Provisional Sum intended to cover the anticipated expenses for both materials and the labour involved in various plumbing aspects. Commonly, this includes setting up pool overflow pipes that link to your stormwater drainage (as overflow water is considered clean), connecting sand filter backwash lines to sewer outlets, and establishing other essential water management components (This can differ based on your location in Brisbane). This allocated amount ensures your pool’s plumbing framework adheres to local standards and operates effectively with your property’s current drainage setup. For any additional plumbing work, the customer can enquire directly with the plumber.
What is a pebblecrete interior finish?
Pebblecrete is made by mixing small pebbles or aggregates (like tiny stones, glass beads, or even coloured quartz) with cement. This mixture is then applied to the pool shell and the top layer of cement is washed away, revealing the beautiful, natural texture of the pebbles.
This is the most popular with new pool builds in the Brisbane area. Being exceptionally durable and cost-effective, while providing customers with a long-lasting finish.
Maintaining the beauty and longevity of your pebblecrete interior requires attention to your pool water chemistry. As pebblecrete is a cement-based material, regular monitoring of pH and calcium, along with consistent overall water care, is key to avoid by imbalances, leading to scaling or etching.
Pool Enhancements
Discover the options available to enhance your pool’s functionality, efficiency, and enjoyment with our range of features and filtration systems.
What is a saltwater pool?
Saltwater pools use salt chlorination systems that convert regular salt into chlorine through an electrolysis process. Unlike traditional chlorine pools that require manual addition of chemicals, saltwater systems generate chlorine continuously from dissolved salt in the water.
The salt concentration in these pools (typically 3,000-4,000 ppm) is much lower than seawater (around 35,000 ppm), creating a gentler swimming experience without the strong chlorine smell or eye irritation associated with conventional pools.
Benefits include more consistent sanitisation, reduced chemical handling, softer water feel, and potentially lower operating costs over time while ensuring proper maintenance.
What is a magnesium pool system?
A magnesium swimming pool is a type of pool that utilises magnesium chloride, a natural mineral salt, as a key component in its water treatment system, often in conjunction with significantly reduced levels of chlorine or other sanitisers. Instead of relying heavily on traditional chlorine or saltwater chlorination, magnesium pools aim to create a gentler and potentially more beneficial swimming environment.
Benefits of Magnesium Swimming Pools:
- Gentler on Skin and Eyes: This is one of the most commonly cited benefits. Magnesium-rich water is reported to be less irritating to the skin and eyes, reducing dryness, redness, and itching often associated with chlorine. This can be particularly appealing for individuals with sensitive skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
- Muscle Relaxation and Recovery: Magnesium is known for its muscle-relaxing properties. Absorbing magnesium through the skin while swimming can help ease muscle tension, reduce soreness after exercise, and potentially alleviate cramps.
- Improved Sleep: Some proponents suggest that the absorption of magnesium can contribute to better sleep quality due to its calming effects on the nervous system.
- Stress Reduction: Similar to Epsom salt baths (which are also magnesium-based), swimming in a magnesium pool may help reduce stress and anxiety by promoting relaxation.
Important Considerations for setting up a magnesium pool system as it will have a slightly higher initial cost compared to traditional chlorination or saltwater systems.
What is glass filtration?
A glass pool filter uses a bed of specially graded glass particles to trap dirt and debris from pool water, offering superior filtration compared to sand filters by capturing smaller particles. This often leads to clearer water, less frequent backwashing (saving water and chemicals), a longer lifespan of the filter media, and potentially more efficient water flow. Overall, it’s presented as a modern, effective, and potentially more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional sand filtration for swimming pools.
What is sand filtration?
Sand filters utilise sand media to capture debris and small particles before returning crystal-clear water to your pool. While the initial investment is typically higher than cartridge filters, sand filters become more economical over time as they require less frequent media replacement.
Maintenance is straightforward using a technique called “backwashing” essentially reversing the water flow through the filter. This simple process takes just minutes to complete.
What is cartridge filtration?
A pool cartridge filter has a space-saving design and is a highly effective way to keep your pool water clean by trapping debris on the surface of a pleated filter element. It offers excellent water clarity and eliminates the need for backwashing, but it does require manual cleaning of the cartridge.
Backwashing Process and Maintenance on sand filters
Think of your sand filter as a container filled with special filter sand. As your pool water circulates, it’s forced through this sand. The sand traps dirt, debris, algae, and other particles, leaving you with clean water returning to your pool. Over time, this trapped debris builds up within the sand bed, making it harder for water to flow through and reducing the filter’s efficiency.
Backwashing is the process of reversing the flow of water through the filter. This “lifts” the sand bed and flushes out the accumulated dirt and debris, sending it out through a waste line. It essentially cleans the filter sand so it can continue to effectively clean your pool water.
What is a variable speed pool pump?
Variable-speed pool pump motors are a smart upgrade for your pool that can save you money and make your pool experience even better!
Unlike single-speed pumps that run at full power all the time, variable-speed pumps can operate at different speeds depending on what your pool needs are at that moment.
General
Discover the options available to enhance your pool’s functionality, efficiency, and enjoyment with our range of features and filtration systems.
How long does it typically take to build a swimming pool?
The construction timeline for a swimming pool typically ranges from 10 to 14 weeks, depending on the complexity of your project. Factors that may affect this timeline include pool size and design, site accessibility, weather conditions, and council approval processes.
What approvals do I need for a swimming pool?
Swimming pools require engineering, design and your local council’s approval before construction can begin. Pro Pool Builds will handle this entire process on your behalf, including preparing all necessary documentation and liaising with council representatives to ensure compliance with pool safety regulations and building codes.
What ongoing maintenance will my pool require?
A well-designed pool requires regular maintenance to keep it clean, safe and functioning efficiently. This typically includes weekly water testing and chemical balancing, regular cleaning of skimmer boxes and filters, pool vacuuming, and occasional professional servicing of equipment.
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