Bluepools Services
At Bluepools, we eliminate the guesswork and mitigate the risks. Designing indoor swimming pools is complex, and architects and structural engineers do not have the specialized experience, leading to costly errors.
Bluepools offers unparalleled expertise, drawing on hundreds of successful pool projects to ensure that your pool project meets your expectations.
1. CONCEPT DESIGN
Planning a swimming pool project is exciting, but it’s crucial to start with a clear understanding of both the design possibilities and what it's going to cost. Our Concept Design Service is specifically tailored to provide you with a precise overview and realistic budget for your entire pool project before you commit to construction.
Why A Concept Design? Getting Right From The Start.
An accurate pool budget isn't just a number; it's a direct reflection of your specific design decisions. We work closely with you, step by step, to bring your vision to life, translating your desires into a realistic, practicable layout at an acceptable cost. Our approach ensures transparency and helps you make informed decisions so that costly design changes during construction are avoided.
How We Develop Your Concept & Budget
This process is designed to be thorough and collaborative:
- Initial Consultation: We begin with a meeting where you share your ideas, aspirations, and any specific requirements for your pool. We'll offer preliminary advice, discuss various options, take measurements, photographs, and note utility locations and address any initial questions you might have.
- Developing Initial Ideas: Following our discussion, we'll transform your vision into tangible concepts. We then present these initial ideas in a Folio of Drawings. This comprehensive folio includes 3D views, cross-sections, detailed plans, and elevations to give you a clear visual understanding of the proposed design.
- Collaborative Revisions: Your feedback is vital. We'll review the Folio with you and revise it as many times as necessary until you are completely satisfied and approve our proposals. Our goal is to ensure the design perfectly aligns with your expectations and practical needs.
- Accurate Cost Estimation: Once the design is approved, we leverage our extensive experience and detailed knowledge of materials and construction to provide a precise and accurate cost estimate for your entire project. This budget will encompass all aspects of the design, giving you full financial clarity.
For most residential projects, the fee for our comprehensive Concept Design Service is £2,000 + VAT. This investment upfront saves you significant time, money, and potential headaches by ensuring your dream pool is planned meticulously and budgeted realistically.
Preliminary Cost Estimate
After you have approved the Concept Design, we provide a Preliminary Estimate for the entire pool installation. This includes an estimated cost for wall and roof finishes, special foundations, retaining walls, paved areas, and underground plant rooms.
We will also provide a Detailed Design & Equipment Quote with a separate quotation for the Detailed Design Fee (covering structural, piping, plant, and electrical equipment) and the supply of specialist pool equipment from our trusted suppliers, all backed by manufacturers guarantees.
At the end of Stage 1, you'll have fixed prices for your pool equipment and a solid estimate for the entire project cost, enabling you to decide whether to proceed with construction.
2. DETAILED DESIGN & INSTALLATION
The Detailed Design
With an agreed concept and identified budget, the project can move forward to detailed design that will include:
- Comprehensive Design Documentation: We will then provide the detailed building and pool equipment design, creating all necessary documents for builders to provide accurate quotes or for tender.
- Building Regulation Approval Drawings: We complete the detailed structural design and provide a comprehensive Folio of drawings, including structural design calculations and steel reinforcement schedules, ready for Building Regulation Approval.
- Quote Procurement: You can then obtain quotes from trade contractors for building materials, pool hall construction, pool installation, and equipment installation or we will obtain quotes on your behalf.
The Installation
This is where your vision truly comes to life, with Bluepools always by your side.
- Ordering & Oversight: You place orders with your selected builder and with Bluepools for the pool equipment. A Building Control Inspector is commissioned to ensure compliance with regulations.
- Installation With Support: Your chosen builder/trade contractors install the pool while Bluepools provides the specialist pool equipment and continuous "Help Desk Service" for any questions or guidance. Builders receive stage payments upon completion of each phase.
- Site Visits & Final Commissioning: Bluepools conducts planned site visits to advise on completed works, install key items (as identified in our proposal), and commissions the swimming pool, ensuring it's fully operational and meets your complete satisfaction.
To dive deeper into the intricate systems required to successfully design and build a modern pool, please explore our detailed section on swimming pool design.
The Planning & Regulations
Navigating planning and building regulations for an indoor swimming pool can seem complex, but for many properties, it's simpler than you might think.
Unless your property is in a conservation area, your indoor pool hall will probably fall under Permitted Development Rights, so that you will not need full planning consent. These rights typically allow for a maximum eaves height of 2.5m and a maximum ridge height of 4m. While these dimensions might seem restrictive, the height is measured from existing ground level. We have extensive experience in designing pool halls that comply with these rules, often achieving greater internal height by lowering the pool floor level. This may require some additional drainage around the pool hall, especially if a steeper roof pitch is needed to manage ridge height.
It's important to note that indoor pools require Building Regulation approval, unlike outdoor pools. However, since the pool hall isn't classified as a habitable space, the primary focus of these regulations will be on insulation efficiency.
How This Process Benefits You
Our unique approach to indoor pool projects is designed to protect your investment and provide complete peace of mind. Here's how:
Expert Guidance & Risk Mitigation
Purchasing pool equipment, especially items like liners, requires specialized knowledge to avoid costly delays due to incompatible or missing parts. We provide impartial advice on each product's cost, efficiency, and life expectancy, ensuring you make informed decisions. You'll receive copies of all equipment orders and manufacturer warranties, offering a direct safeguard should you ever need to contact the manufacturer.
Seamless Installation & Clear Responsibilities
We meticulously check that all components are properly installed before supervising the critical steps of liner installation, pool filling, and equipment commissioning. Our process establishes a clear division of responsibility: your builder handles all construction and installation work, while Bluepools takes charge of the specification and capacity of all pool equipment.
Financial Security & Budget Control
Our method provides a reliable budget for the total cost of your pool installation before you're financially committed to the project. This eliminates the significant risk often associated with traditional contractors who may demand large upfront payments (up to 25% of the total cost) before even breaking ground. With Bluepools, you get transparency and cost control from day one.
Why This Guarantees Your Pool's Success
From the moment your concept is approved, we take the reins to ensure a seamless build.
- Precise Detailed Design: We translate your vision into meticulous, buildable plans, leaving no room for error.
- Quality Equipment Supply: We provide all high-quality, fit-for-purpose pool equipment directly from top suppliers, guaranteeing compatibility and performance.
- Expert Builder Management: We assist in selecting and overseeing your chosen builder, ensuring critical installations like the pool tank and pipework are executed flawlessly.
- Flawless Finishing Installations: Our team expertly installs the liner, cover, and water dosing systems, ensuring every detail is perfect.
- Thorough Pool Commissioning: We meticulously test and commission your pool, ensuring it's fully operational, balanced, and ready for you to enjoy.
We remain dedicated to your project until the pool is fully commissioned and operating to your complete satisfaction. Plus, we guarantee to replace any equipment that does not meet current domestic pool industry standards. This is in accordance with our policy of providing Clear Clean Water. Bluepools does not provide any pool equipment that is not fully guaranteed by the manufacturer or that cannot be repaired because spare parts are not available.
Bluepools Fees
Concept Design: £2,000 + VAT
Detailed Design& Installation: A small percentage of the total cost of the pool equipment + VAT. The Detailed Design Fee will depend on the design/structural complexity, the service to be provided during the Quotation Process and the Scope of Work and is normally around £6000.+ VAT.