Repsol YPF

Before building your swimming pool, you must assess the advantages and disadvantages of the various types, according to their structure and lining, and according to the space and type of land you have. We advise you to speak to your friends and acquaintances about their own experiences, as well as consulting an architect, clerk of works or swimming pool expert. It is highly recommendable that you ask for quotations from several companies.

Built-in swimming pools can be built from classic concrete, projected concrete or using a system of hidden reinforced concrete beams. The last two structures are, according to the professionals, the most suitable for building this kind of swimming pool since they are more resistant, impermeable and durable systems than those using classic concrete. 

Swimming pools made from projected concrete incorporate a vitreous (gresite) lining which extends the building time; meanwhile, it has the disadvantage of having to maintain the joints: they must be cleaned thoroughly so that bacteria, algae, organic matter, dirt and waste do not settle on them. However, for many users, the beauty of the gresite finish cannot be compared with any other kind of surface. The hidden reinforced concrete beam system, meanwhile, is covered with a liner, toughened sheeting made of vinyl polychloride (PVC), which is ductile and flexible. 

Prefabricated: made of steel or polyester

This kind of swimming pool stands out due to its quick installation (between 10 and 15 days) and because it is cheaper than a built-in swimming pool. However, its great disadvantage lies in the discolouration of the surface due to the action of the sun and the use of chemical products. If you opt for a steel swimming pool with a liner, you should go for a white reinforced, heat-soldered liner. If it is not heat-soldered, in other words the liner is made from a single piece shaped like the structure, the swimming pool cannot be emptied unless this is done by the technical team of a specialist company, which will act efficiently to prevent the formation of creases.

In the event that you choose a polyester and fibre glass swimming pool, you must ensure, according to the experts, the correct and thorough preparation of the land: this must incorporate layers of gravel in the bottom and around the edge of where the liner is to be placed, in order to prevent direct contact with the earth and, particularly with the humidity it contains.  

Naturalized swimming pools: like swimming in a lake 

This option is gradually becoming more popular in Spain, as the ecological habits which are more established in Germany or Austria, gradually take root. Naturalized swimming pools have been installed in the aforementioned countries for more than fifteen years, and they have companies that have patented excellent systems for a quick and efficient installation.

This type of swimming pool does not require chemical products. They use the filtration capacity of certain plants which are suitable for this purpose, and rely on the installation of gravel and sand filters in what is known as the regeneration area. This shallow area, is where the appropriate purifying and filtering aquatic species are planted, and natural predators, such as frogs, dragonflies, water mosquitoes, etc., are placed, which will feed off annoying mosquitoes. However, if you go for a naturalized swimming pool, you should bear in mind that in order to have a swimming area equivalent to that which you would achieve with a traditional swimming pool, you will need twice as much space, since practically half of the swimming pool will be allocated to the regeneration process.  

Related articles:

- Ecological swimming pools