Re-Profiling and In-Ground Spa

Client's Brief

The local Environmental Health Department had closed this swimming pool due to the gradient not meeting the current recommendations for commercial use. The hotel was subsequently sold and the new proprietors wanted the swimming pool area completely refurbished. This was to include re-profiling the base of the swimming pool, adding a new Roman End for ease of access/egress, alterations to the existing circulation system, altering the swimming pool from a liner swimming pool to a tiled swimming pool and the addition of a new imported in-ground Spa. The main focal point of this project was to turn the swimming pool and surrounding area into a major attraction for their guests to improve occupancy rates and to provide a safe environment for guest usage.

Specification

*   Create a 1:20 gradient from the shallow end to the deep end of the pool with the deepest area being 1.2 metres deep

*   Excavate and create a new 10' Roman End with stainless steel grabrail

*   New precast white copings

*   Addition of two new main drains sited at least two metres apart

*   Addition of one new modern Aquagenie skimmer

*   New circulation system plumbed from the swimming pool to the plant room

*   New glass mosaic tiles for the swimming pool which included demarcation lines for the roman end steps and the swimming pool base.

*   Anti-slip glass mosaic tiles for the swimming pool base and roman end steps 

*   Hotel logo designed and formed in the base of the swimming pool in co-ordinating glass mosaic anti-slip tiles

*   New LED colour changing underwater light

*   5/6 seater In-Ground Spa with tiled surround

*   New plant room and equipment for the spa which included a booster pump and commercial air blower

Outline of Work

This project started with draining down the swimming pool and removing the old algae coated liner. The walls were repaired and the old coping stones removed. We then dug trenches around the perimeter of the swimming pool to accommodate the new flexible swimming pool plumbing. New pipework was plumbed into the deep end of the swimming pool to be able to create two new anti-velocity main drains. At the same time, the old skimmer and return inlets were removed and a new modern Aqua Genie skimmer was installed. These were then plumbed into a new circulation system using flexipipe which was laid in the pre-dug trenches back into the plant room. 

We then started work on re-profiling the swimming pool base. This included using lightweight material so as not to put any excess pressure on a retaining wall sited close to the swimming pool shell. Once we had created the correct gradient, we then laid a reinforced concrete slab. The roman end was then excavated and a new roman end was created using reinforced concrete and tied into the pool shell. The new white coping stones were laid and the swimming pool waterproofed using an SBR slurry. Once this has cured, we fitted the new colour changing underwater light and the glass mosaic tiles were then fitted.

Once the Spa area had been excavated we lined the base with a reinforced concrete slab. The imported Spa was then lowered into the hole, levelled and plumbed back to the new spa plant room. A small retaining wall was installed around the perimeter of the spa and this was also tiled in the same matching glass mosaic tiles as the swimming pool. Once the new pipework had been pressure tested, the trenches were then back-filled using non compactable pea gravel. The existing paving slabs were then re-laid, re-pointed and cleaned to bring them up to a presentable standard.

A new wooden shed was sited to be used as the Spa plant room and new spa equipment was installed. This included a circulation pump, booster pump, commercial air blower, thermalec electric heater, in-line brominator and sand filter. These were then all plumbed into the new flexipipe plumbing. Grab rails were fitted to the roman end and the spa access area and new signage was supplied and installed to bring the area in to full compliance with HSE.  

Both the swimming pool and spa were then filled and all of the equipment tested for correct operation. This was then handed over to our client with training and full instructions.