Pool and spa and the deck

The pool had to be a maxi rib pool as they wanted the deck and pool level to be a similar height as their back room which was over one meter above the natural ground. They wanted a big deck area as they wanted somewhere for their grandkids to play when they were swimming and playing. They did not want to feel enclosed.

Quick pool heating

We installed the largest gas heater as they wanted a quick heat-up time for the spa so they could get it to temperature very quickly. With a sauna already part of their lifestyle the spa was added to the project so they could enjoy after the steam sessions.

A pool that cleans itself

They loved the concept of the self-cleaning and we had to reassure them that it would do what we said it would do. A year after the project was completed, they asked why couldn’t they do self-cleaning decks like our self-cleaning pool! He always had to sweep the deck but the pool was always clean.

Naturally-looking swimming pool colour

When the sun is out it is a light soft blue and when it is overcast it is a broody deep rock colour which is just beautiful. They had natural stone already chosen in their mind so choosing the pool colour felt really easy for them.

The No. 1 family pool for this family

The pool area was designed for family life and the X-trainer was always the pool they liked. The shape has the 4 corners with access points (either the 2 bench seats at the deep end or the step and bench in the shallow ends). No matter how many people are in the pool there are spaces for everyone.

Great looking water features

Sunpod is great for kids to play or just for anyone to sit, lay down and soak in the sun or just look at it. The water wall water feature has the same natural design with stones.

Building the infinity pool

Though the pool design and free standing Maxi rib with negative edge was the work of Compass Pools Melbourne – these clients artistic flare and finishing off, the pavers and rock was what made this area so spectacular. They managed, with the colour and paving to have it sit gently in its landscape and not be contrasting.

The Quartz pool colour

The colour of the water is affected by the colours of the sky so some days it is brighter and lighter and some days darker. They have their living area and pool area flow through, so it is all on one level.

Pool waiting for the house to be finished

The pool and spa was installed after the house was knocked down & cleared allowing great access for the pool build. The pool needed a protection cover on the pool during the entire house build which was bolted onto the concrete beam so that a temporary fence was not needed and pool and spa was made safe.

Pool finalisation and landscaping

After the house was at lockup the house builder allowed us back on site to remove the protection cover and then hook up the pool equipment. This meant the client could continue on with the landscaping whilst the house was being completed.

Pool and spa combo with Sunpod

There is a Sunpod water feature between the pool and the spa so that the water runs off the pod into the pool and spa. It makes the pod glisten and provide a soft and subtle water feature. It also connects the pool and spa visually.

Managing / heating different parts of the pool

The spa can be managed either independently to the pool or with the pool. This means they can heat the spa on its own OR together OR just the pool on its own. You have all those options via valves that close off the different options. When they have finished with the spa they can go back to normal pool mode which means the water mixes with the pool making the spa clean so easy.

A project with difficult access

A family home that had tricky access through a well established garden. The dig was restricted with their existing brick fence so smaller machinery had to be brought in to do the excavation. The pool placement was easy as it was just over the top but digging the hole and removing the soil was the more challenging part of this project.

Positioning the spa

The spa was also installed 600mm higher than the pool for two reasons. Firstly, it created a seating area when in the pool zone and secondly, it was easier to step up and into the spa – rather than step down to the spa.

Pool heating

The gas booster heating allowed the spa quick heat up time and was a backup to the solar system for the pool. This was a family pool area and they could also heat the pool up for birthday parties all year round.

Decisions regarding the difficult site

This site was a difficult site for our client as there was only 7m between the neighbours’ garage and their new house. Normally this is plenty of space however there was a fall of 1.5m. A retaining wall was going to be needed. Given the neighbours’ garage was on the boundary, to build the wall on the boundary it would have been a very expensive wall. They would also have had to cut the entire area so that the pool was level with the finished floor level of their house – this would have also cost more.

A pool with a glass window/wall

Instead, they invested this money into the window of their pool. They installed the pool almost like the retaining wall. Rather than looking at the 1m wall we built a special concrete retaining beam and customised a window in that structure. The cost of the window (noting windows do add between $12,000 and $20,000) meant that they could view the water every day from inside the house. They look at the water 24/7. They needed retaining walls anyway so they invested more in the pool so the overall end solution meant they could enjoy the water view all the time.
It’s a clever way to use the aesthetic of the water with the structural problem of a sloping site when you don’t have much room.

A pool that cleans itself

They also decided the pool had to be self-cleaning as every night when the lights come on they didn’t want to see water that needed cleaning.

Joining two standards 12.3m Fastlane lap pools

He had a very technical background and was very thorough in his understanding of the different layers of the fibreglass ceramic pool and also how the joins work with the 24 meter lap pool. The pool was designed in 3 pieces with the unique Compass Manufacturing link joining technique which allowed the pool to be built to his desired length.

Central solar heating for house and pool

Interestingly with this project, our client had a German solar heating unit that heated his house and he build his own heat exchanger to tap into this system. This was something we had not seen before.

Designing elements for the pool

He didn’t want a dark blue colour so the more softer blue water from the Quartz was the look he liked. The spa has a Nexus link between the pool and spa and allows for a water bridge between the two.

Gas and solar pool heating

She had solar heating as the base heat with a large gas heater for purpose of heating the spa. In the warmer months, it took less than half an hour to get it the desired temperature.

Self-cleaning lap pool

It was very important that it was self-cleaning as she needed a clean pool that did not need physically work. She had to swim to improve her health and the lap pool suited this as well.

Maxi Rib above ground pool installation

It was also a maxi rib pool at house level with the pool sitting out of the ground by 1.2m. The long side of the pool had the maxi rib side clad to the fencing regulations to act as the fence barrier. It wasn’t unusual to be swimming and then look over the edge to see a cow eating the grass 1m away.

The water wall water feature

The water wall was designed with the developer and we ran the pipe work to the location. They chose bright tiles to give it a modern look.

Choosing the pool colour

The colour needed to compliment a natural colour palate so a blue pool would have been too contrasting. By choosing the Quartz colour it tied in with his natural timbers and also the natural stone around the pool and in the penthouse.

Getting the pool to the top

We used the tower crane to place the pool into location and had to manage city traffic and trams for delivery.

Our build team really enjoyed working on the project as the views from the top across the city and also across the bay were so spectacular and different depending on the weather.

The client had to get permission from the neighbouring Body Corp of units next door to allow access for the dig and pool placement.

Lap pools were always considered just for water-view houses in Sydney previously however lap pools were not just about swimming laps. The simple clean design gives a beautiful look and in the ever-narrowing backyards – the Lap pool is very practical and beautiful.

Choosing the pool colour

The owners wanted a dark blue colour giving the courtyard space a sophisticated look. We provided the provisional pipework for the water feature and they created the water wall that also enhanced the space.

Gas pool heater

It was heated with a gas heater for the times when their family visited, and they could heat up the pool anytime of the year.

Installing the pool during the house build

The pool had to go in halfway through the house build as we were not able to get access once the front part of the house was built. We fully installed the pool and ran the pipe work and capped them off at the final equipment location. They put a protection cover over the pool during the remainder of the house build.

Pool landscaping

When the house was nearly at completion, we returned to remove the protection cover and install the pool filtration equipment. Most of the installation had been done at stage one so this stage was only the equipment. We connected everything up and then they brought in the landscapers to do the paving and finish of the waterwall they had built.

Lap pool for family entertainment

Though it is a lap pool for swimming it really got much more use as a family entertaining pool. They had a spot at the rear of the property they could have positioned the pool but they wanted the pool to be part of their everyday living hence why it almost became like a courtyard pool / alfresco zone.

Why choose a lap pool

The space in this property was not strictly limited but it was quite narrow. The owners could have put in a wider pool, but they wanted the lines to work with their wall and house. They also wanted the spa to look like it was part of the pool and not ‘just added to the end.

Heating the pool

They had a big gas heater for the spa for quick heat up on demand which also allowed them to heat the pool when they wanted. The pool is visible from many areas of the house hence they needed it to be self cleaning so it was always clean.

Choosing a Vivid pool colour

They chose royal blue as they wanted a deeper looking blue colour. They have the pool lights on at night regularly which means it doesn’t matter what colour pool at night it was given the multi colour lights gives them green, magenta, red and several different shades of blue. However, during the day the sun gives the pool different shades of the royal blue, when overcast it is quite a dark blue and then the water colour becomes very radiant when the sun shines. They love the colour. 50 shades of blue they call it.

Lifting the swimming pool to the house level

The pool had to be at the house living level. The deck and pool sit at the kitchen level as the pool is part of their everyday living. It was not just about ease of use but about being able to see the water day and night. The pool lights are on at night and the pool water reflects colour and movement inside and out. Though it cost this client more to have the pool and spa at this height (it is a Maxi rib pool sitting over a meter out of the ground) it was an investment they felt important. They could have reduced their extra build cost (maxi rib pools add $15 – $20,000) by having 7 steps down to the lawn area however it would have affected their view and single living level. It brings the pool zone into the house zone.

Cost-effective gas pool heating

They have an LPG gas heater which they use as secondary heat for the spa (and sometimes a sneaky pool party on a long weekend). Even the LPG gas does not cost a great deal more. ‘Sometimes we find the food costs greater than any gas costs when we have family come over and heat up the pool for a weekend party’