Member of the I.C.E.

Graduate Member of the I.C.E.

Swimming Pools in France - Built for Life by Professional Civil Engineers

If there is an Earthquake Your House will fall down long before one of our pools even starts to leak!

"Price is what you pay
Value is what you get"

- Warren Buffet - the richest man in the world

Dear Swimming Pool Buyer

You must focus on Value when you decide on the type of French swimming pool that you are going to install to make sure that you don't make a big mistake.

Bluepools build their ARConWall swimming pools in France using polystyrene blocks like the pictures below. Every size, shape and depth of pool is easy to install at very economic costs and remember - It will still be there providing great pleasure - After You're Long Gone - Because the structure should last for ever.

Just click on the thumbnails to enlarge the photos.

Can you imagine how strong the wall is when these blocks are filled with high strength concrete and steel rods?

Join us on a Voyage of Discovery into the Jungle of the Swimming Pool Market in France!

We are going to show you how to make sure that your new pool increases the value of your French property

But First of all!

How can you make sure that you get the best value for money when buying a swimming pool in France? First of all you need to fully understand what you are buying, what the basic pool is made of and how it is all put together - just ignore the pretty pictures in the brochures and concentrate on the basics!
Are you wondering how big it should be and where to put it? Our Free Guide will help you with these decisions
Are you concerned about the French safety laws? They have been in place for quite a while now and it is likely that the French government will start to clamp down on what has been a lightly policed area until now. Our Free guide will help with this.
Are you worrying about getting planning consent in France? You need to submit various drawings but we do all this as part of our service
Are you concerned about the guarantees being offered by your French pool builder? You should be - the strength of the guarantee will accurately reflect the quality of what is being offered to you
Are you wondering about the cost of installing a pool in your wet clay garden in France with its high ground water table? Cowboy builders will not have a clue how to deal with this and it could become a financial disaster for you - we just deal with it at a quite nominal cost.
Are worried about how to manage your pool project in France because you live in the UK and cannot be on site during installation? If the guarantees are OK and your pool builder has a good track record - just let him get on with it. See below for details of our BEVLOR process.
Are you uncertain about how to ensure that your pool installer in France will arrive to start and complete the job at the agreed times? The big question - you cannot - we do our very best and keep you in touch with what is happening but sometimes things just do not work out and we are a week or so late. The BEVLOR process can help with this problem because you can use your own builder who is already on site.

Our Free Guide is the best way to start the pool buying process - just fill in the form at the top of the page and you will be able to download it now!

Frequently Asked Question

The title of your webpage is "Don't Just Trust Anyone with Your French Swimming Pool " - why should anyone trust Bluepools?

The simple answer is "We have a 5 year track record, we concentrate solely on pools, we know what we are doing and we try our very best to make every pool as good as it possibly can be"

And if you want to contact us about your own pool installation in France please fill in the form at the top of this page. Just type in the Pool Size required and any other information - please make sure that your Tel No is correct with the country code so that we can call you.

Other types of Swimming Pool

You will probably look at "The Pool Types Available Video" that describes the different types of pool available on the French market.

Most of these other options will cost about the same as an ARConWall pool using the BEVLOR installation system - that we describe below - but you will be very lucky if they do not need to be replaced in 10 to 15 years - and getting rid of a knackered old pool can cost quite a a few thousand euros!

And they will not increase the value of your property!

These include fibre-glass pools - that should come with a health warning

"Beware I can Float Up out of the Ground when it rains".

And Modular Panel Pools that should have a similar warning

"Beware my walls collapse if you empty out my water"

OK - that's what can happen if you do not buy a Bluepool - but what's in it for you if you do?

Frequently Asked Question

What is the most enjoyable thing about the Bluepools business?

That is a very easy question to answer - It is hearing Clients say that they are really pleased with their pool.

Most of them are so concerned about the risk of spending large sums on a swimming pool in France that they are absolutely delighted when the finished pool is even better then they had wished for!

We put a lot of effort into getting the pools 100% right because they are very costly items. We fully understand the anxieties and fears that are involved but it is a sad fact that too few clients actually even say thank you - We really appreciate it when they do.


What is an ARConWall Swimming Pool?

An ARConWall swimming pool is constructed from the hollow polystyrene blocks that are built up like Lego on a concrete foundation with steel reinforcement and look like this:

Just click on the thumbnails to enlarge the photos. The picture on the left shows a pool corner just before concreting. The other shows the area around the pool before the ARConWall slabs are cast - note bar connections to top of pool walls - the orange caps on them are for safety. The ARConWall slab down one side has been cast - see the fabric reinforcement sticking out of one end of it- ready to lap with the next slab.

The unique "ARConWall" construction system is built into every kit that we provide and every pool that we install in France.

It consists of the vertical polystyrene block pool walls that are built on a heavy concrete foundation and a reinforced concrete slab that spans from the hard ground, outside the area excavated for the pool, over the fill behind the pool walls, onto the top of the walls themselves.

This ensures that:-

  1. Settlement of the paving around the pool - that you see so often - is avoided.
  2. The weight and strength of the slabs bearing down on the top of the pool walls absolutely guarantees that the pool walls will never move.

This is the basis of our motto "Built for Life"

Why does the ARConWall system and all the other elements that are built into all Bluepool installations and kits provide such high performance swimming pools?

Let's identify the ARConWall and the other elements, that when put together, provide a high performance swimming pool.

They are:-

  • A structure that is guaranteed against any form of structural failure caused by subsidence or pool water pressure over your lifetime no matter what kind of soil or ground that it is installed in or what the water table level is - Most pool builders only provide a 10 year "deccenale guarantee" and most specifically exclude poor ground conditions from the guarantees- Follow this link to find out more about Pool Ground Conditions
  • A structure that integrates the pool wall and the reinforced concrete slabs surrounding the pool so that both elements support each other - The ARConWall system that ensures that the pool wall will never move and the paving around the pool will never subside - to find out more follow the link The ARConWAll structural system)
  • A heavy duty liner that is guaranteed for 10 years and that will not suddenly start to leak for no apparent reason. - Remember that all tiled pools leak - liner swimming pools do not - and if the liner does get cut somehow the hole can be easily located and repaired. Follow this link to find out Why Tiled Pools Leak
  • A filtration system that provides automatic water top-up, optimal filtration and water hygiene - This effectively guarantees that the health of pool users will never suffer. Follow this link to find out more about Pool Water Filtration
  • A construction system that is very quick and easy to erect and fill with concrete - The polystyrene blocks eliminate the wet trades associated with the older style artisan built pools in concrete blocks - Follow this link to find out about Pool Types on the Market
  • Optimisation of the swimming pool level, location and design - Relative to your property location and existing floor floor levels - Fill in the Contact Form at the top of this page to get a Free Guide on "Planning Your Pool Installation"
  • Pool wall insulation that retains the heat and makes the pool less costly to heat - Follow this link to find out more about Pool Insulation and Pool Heating and how our pools can heat themselves with the right equipment!
  • A classic rectangular shaped pool and liner covered square Roman Steps - That will enhance the value of your property in France - not reduce it - Follow this link to find out more about the cost of a Bluepool and why it is a worthwhile investment Pool Sizes and Costs and the Affect on Property Valuation

To find out more about the various pool types available in most countries follow this link Pool Types on the Market

Frequently Asked Question

Are the pools really guaranteed for Life?

Yes they are!

Of course no one can rely on a limited liability company being in existence to pick up guarantees for ever. But the underlying truth is that the ARCOnwall pools are built so conservatively with such large reserves of strength that only a significant earthquake is going to damage the pool structure - and with an earthquake of that nature your house will have shook and fallen down long before any real damage occurs to your new pool!

If you want to contact us about your own pool installation in France please fill in the form at the top of this page. Just type in the Pool Size required and any other information - please make sure that your Tel No is correct with the country code so that we can call you.

Experience and Track Record

We have been building high performance high quality swimming pools in SW France for 5 years, have installed well over 30 in total and will install over 12 more in 2008.

We have already built 6 pools in 2008 and are finishing off a very large project involving a 12 x 6 pool, a big terrace and lots of retaining walls on a very steep hillside. You can see some of these pools and talk to everyone of these Clients on the telephone before you finalise your order.

Unique Professionally Managed Pool Installation Firm

We are the only British pool firm in France that is managed by professionally qualified engineers - andLuke and I actually get out on site and physically do lots of the work!

We have planned and dug the holes - using our own diggers and equipment - on every pool that we have built in France - over 35 now. We have maintained hands on site presence throughout the construction of every pool and we have actually installed and commissioned the pool fittings and filtration plant on every one of them.

The High Level of Demand for ARConWall Pools

The high degree of personal involvement has resulted in a severe constraint on the number of pools that we can install.

The demand has been very high but we have been naturally limited in the number of pools that we can personally install and the size of the operational area that we can cover from our base in Jonzac - that is about 70 kilometres north of Bordeaux in Charente-Maritime.

The recent reduction in the value of Sterling has also resulted in our pools becoming a bit more expensive for British based clients who are developing holiday homes and businesses in Frence.

As a result we have developed a brand new installation process that we call BEVLOR. This will be run in parallel with our traditional pool installation that many Clients may still prefer because they prefer all the responsibility to be under one roof.

Frequently Asked Question

What is the worst thing about the Bluepools business?

That is also a very easy question to answer. - It is dealing with Clients that are like Jekyll and Hyde.

I will tell you a story about this.

Whenever we build a pool we carefully plan how we are going to landscape the area around the pool before we dig the hole. If you do not do this the earth you have dug is always in the wrong place and in earthworks it is moving the stuff that takes the time.

We always try and use the arisings from the excavation on the site as taking it away to a tip is always pretty costly.

It is very important to keep the subsoil - that is often rocky here - and the topsoil in totally seperate heaps so that the topsoil can be used to top off the landscaping. Grass can then be seeded so that the garden can quickly return to normality after the heavy pool construction operations - and your lawn mower is not knackered by rocks!

In this particular instance we made a very large stockpile of topsoil that would have provided more than enough material to do the landscaping and recover the damaged lawn area with an ample depth.

This particular Client then proceeded to use most of the topsoil to build flower borders!

The result was that we did not have enough topsoil to cover the clayey subsoil that we had used to reshape the area around the pool - some clay was exposed on a perfectly level garden - but a bit of topsoil was needed to get the grass to grow - a few barrowloads!

Well - when we asked for the final payment he went off into a frenzy! - then refused to speak to us and became extremely vicious in the Email correspondence - all just to avoid payment of the final bill!

We were quite amazed because he has lost all the benefit of the structural guarantees, the liner guarantee and the various pool equipment guaranteed etc just to save a few hundred Euros - but it just goes to show that it takes all types!

We are still going back to help clients with maintenance problems on pools that we built three years ago - we will not be going back to him!

What is the BEVLOR Pool Kit Installation Process?

The BEVLOR Installation Process is an absolutely new pool installation process that has been developed by Bluepools and will provide you with:

  • The highest performance pool on the French market - the ARConWall Pool
  • At Best Value (BEV)
  • At Lowest Risk (LOR)

How does BEVLOR work?

It is very simple.

You buy an ARCOnWall pool installation kit from us and we provide you with:

  • A massive amount of information that turns you into an ARConWall pool expert overnight including a very detailed fully illustrated pool installation manual that you and / or your own builder can follow with ease

  • A set of detailed construction drawings

  • A Tool based on Microsoft Excel Software that you can easily personalize and use to get a detailed Estimate from your own builder for the installation of the pool kit (or too see how long it will take to do it yourself)

  • A Pro-forma Contract based on Microsoft Word software that you can easily personalize (Add your name and address etc.) for use as the Contract between you and your builder and incorporating the Excel Estimate to define costs.

  • A set of complete drawings and planning application documents (based on your own cadastral plan that will have been provided to us at the time of kit purchase) that you simply copy and post to your Mairie for your planning application and that your installation contractor will use during pool construction

  • Delivery of the ARConWall pool polystyrene blocks to your site in France by Luke or Will as soon as your builder has completed the pool excavation - we will advise immediately on the adequacy of the proposed founding level soil strength and confirm our findings by an Emailed report

  • Delivery of the pool liner and pool filtration plant when the pool is ready for filling by Luke or Will Witt - we will inspect the liner for defects, help install it and advise immediately on the quality of workmanship in the pool structure. and provide a snagging list by an Emailed report the next day

  • Attendance at the pool site following your advice that the pool is ready for commissioning - we will help your builder commission the pool, train you in its operation, advise immediately on the quality of workmanship etc. and provide a snagging list by an Emailed report the next day

  • Lifetime access to the Bluepools help line that will provide access to Will or Luke Witt from 8 am to 6 pm from Monday to Friday.

If you do not have a tame builder in France that you already know we can find one for you - this is described in the various Service Level Options described below.

Why is it Best Value?

It will provide the best quality type of pool at the same cost as very poor quality pools because:

  • The ARConWall pool kits are competitively priced
  • All the building work will be carried out by local people and travelling / accommodation costs will be minimised - or you can DIY!
  • You will not be paying for the high overhead costs of a professional pool installation company that includes advertising, vehicle fuel and running costs, directors salaries and the social security payments on them and most importantly the 20% overhead of TVA!
  • Building companies work at lower profit mark-ups than pool installation companies because the business overheads are spread over a lot more people
  • And last but most importantly you will be the proud owner of the highest performance pool available on the French market!

Why is it Lowest Risk?

There are three sorts of risk - The Risk that you will lose your money because the pool installer runs off with it or goes bust - this is unfortunately all to common at the moment.

And the Risk that the pool will be of poor Quality.

And the Risk that the pool installer will start late and take months to do the work.

The Amount of your money paid out on advance payments will be reduced to a minimum because:

  • Your deposit payment for the kit will be 20% of the kit cost + TVA - not 20% of the whole professional pool installation cost as well as the dreaded TVA!
  • You pay upfront for only 50% of the balance of the kit cost and the kit cost is about 25% of the cost of a professional pool installation. In other words the amount of cash at risk never exceeds about 10% of the total pool cost and so your money is not sat at risk for months in the account of a pool installation company.
  • You pay your builder after he has carried out the work - not upfront as with most pool installation contracts

Your risk of that the pool will be of poor Quality will be reduced to a minimum because:

  • The ARConWall pool kits provide the highest performance pool currently available on the French market
  • We will hold your hand every step of the way to make sure that your builder performs - if he does not you do not pay him until he has put things right
  • We will always be available by phone or visit to get you or your builder back on track if you get into difficulties
  • If there is any structural problem with your pool we will visit the site, report on the problem and help you get your pool builder to put it right under the guarantees that are written into the Pro-forma Contract that we provide you with

Your risk that the pool will be installed late because the pool installer is delayed on previous projects will be reduced to a minimum because:

  • You are using your own builder or it is DIY - in either case you are in control

The Benefits provided by a Bluepools Installation

The benefits that you will receive include:

  • A fully documented, guaranteed pool built under our supervision using the best technology and materials available that will add a substantial amount of money to the value of your property.
  • Detailed Planning and Installation drawings that will ensure that the design, location and level of your new pool optimise the attractiveness of your property. Non professionals often get the pool finished level wrong and this leads to drainage problems and you can even end up with an installation that sticks out of the ground like a bunker! (We advise on the best level when we inspect the pool excavation because the strength of the ground at founding level can affect the pool finished level)
  • The ARConWall reinforced concrete structural system in your pool allows us to guarantee the whole pool structure and the concrete paving around it against movement or settlement caused by subsidence or water pressure.
  • Insulated walls that maintain high water temperatures
  • Large liner covered Roman Steps - not narrow, cheap and nasty fibreglass steps that are very susceptible to leakage along their long vulnerable joints and likely to show osmosis blisters in 7 or 8 years!
  • The best pool equipment available on the French Market - supplied by Procopi - the biggest and longest established French pool equipment manufacturer
  • An automatic water top-up and over-flow system that ensures that the pool filtration system through the skimmers can work properly even after heavy rainfall when the water level rises and during warm periods when the water level drops following evaporation. Most pool builders in France will look at you in amazement if you ask for an automatic water top up system and overflow system. But if you do not have one your filtration system will only work properly for a very short period after the pool water level has been adjusted because the flow through the skimmers will be too much or too little!
  • Being able to contact either Luke or Will Witt for consultation by phone or Email during normal office hours.
  • A pool operation and maintenance manual and a complete pool maintenance kit.
  • Permanent telephone or Email access, during normal working hours, to either of us in the event that the installation is problematic from pool completion until you sell or move from the property.
  • We will respond to any of your concerns whatever the problem or wherever your property is located, near or far from our base in Jonzac and this particularly applies to dealing with highly adverse ground conditions and / or a high water table that could cause failure when the pool needs to be drained down for some reason or other.
  • We will make sure that your new swimming pool does not leak? - water is very expensive in France - and did you know that a pin sized leak in the pressure piping can leak enough water in a year to refill it many times over - and at the same time undermine both your and your neighbours house foundations!!
  • AND THE GUARANTEES LISTED BELOW!!

The Guarantees

These are as follows:

  • We guarantee the pool structure and concrete paving against any movement or settlement caused by ground subsidence or water pressure during your lifetime. If you tell us there is a major problem we will arrive on site to inspect the problem within 24 hours and will undertake the remedial works within 30 days if the structural components are defective in any way whatsoever.
  • We guarantee to put all pool equipment faults right free of charge within one year of pool commissioning, within 20 working days. Just let us know what the problem is and we will deal with it - even if it is not our fault.
  • If your pool starts to leak within 10 years from commissioning we guarantee that we will visit the pool within 30 working days to investigate the problem and then fix it.
  • We guarantee that we will provide a water treatment system that will filter the whole volume of the water in the pool in 6 to 8 hours (depending on the system settings) and by keeping the water level constant ensure that your pool water is healthy and safe to swim in at all times.

Frequently Asked Question

What are the most frequent problems that Bluepools has during pool installation- and what are the consequences?

This is not so easy to answer so I am just going to give you a list

Problem
Occurence
Schedule Impact
Solution
Hard rock that is very difficult to dig Rare High - can add a weeks or more to the pool schedule Bigger digger, or hire of a concrete breaker - Can cost several thousand Euros
Water running into the pool excavation Common in winter and spring Medium - can add a few days to the pool schedule Cut-off drain around pool and/or drain below hopper with pumping - Can cost up to two thousand Euros
Lack of quality filling to support the ARConWall slabs Common Low - may add a day or so to the schedule Requires the import of granular fill - can cost several thousand Euros depending on the volume required
Unmarked water mains or power cables that cross the pool site Rare Varies Repair it - Can be very costly. Clients should write to EDF and their water supplier to get local plans of the supply routes
Planning refusal Rare Project abandonement at worst

None - there is legislation that governs building near rivers, historic monuments etc that can override the normal planning rules
Soft or filled ground Rare Low - may add a day or so to the schedule Requires the excavation of the soft ground and replacement with mass concrete - Can cost a thousand Euros or so

There are others but these are the most common. Whatever the problem is we will help you and your installer get over them including providing designs for any required works such as cut-off drains or ground water lowering.

If you want to contact us about your own pool installation in France please fill in the form at the top of this page. Just type in the Pool Size required and any other information - please make sure that your Tel No is correct with the country code so that we can call you.

OK - How does the BEVLOR Process Work?

Each step of the process is described in the following table. It might seem a bit involved but it is all designed to ensure that you get the Best Value pool at Lowest Risk - or BEVLOR - as we call it.

The BEVLOR Pool Kit Installation Process

Step 1

The Signing of the Contract

You sign the Contract and send us the Deposit and tell us approximately when you want your pool installed and provide us with a cadastral plan with the pool location marked on it. We send by return a copy of all the documents, the Pool Installation Manual for your Builder to study as well as the following Pro-Forma's:
" Microsoft Excel Estimate Sheet" for your Builder to complete and sign
" Microsoft Word Contract" for you to personalise and get your builder to sign

Step 2

The pool installation start date

You confirm the approximate date of your pool installation start date to us having finalised and signed the contract with your Builder

Step 3

The planning application document set

We prepare and send you the full documentation for the planning application within 30 days of you placing the Order

Step 4

Notice of when the excavation will be ready

You provide at least 5 working days notice of when you require Bluepools to make the first delivery of the Pool Kit, inspect the excavation for the pool and report on soil and ground water conditions

Step 5

Inspection and Report on the pool excavation

The pool should be excavated down to the foundation level of the pool wall foundations with 250 mm clearance outside the pool wall location for working space.
Bluepools will inspect the excavation and decide whether the foundation conditions are adequate.
You and / or your builder will be advised orally and this will be confirmed by Email by Bluepools on the day following the inspection.
If foundation conditions are not good enough or ground water is present Bluepools will advise on a suitable method that could be adopted to remedy the defective ground conditions.

Step 6

Measure up to confirm liner size

 

After the pool structure is complete (polystyrene block walls erected and filled with concrete) the Client or his Builder will measure the pool horizontal and vertical dimensions including the length of the pool diagonals both at the top and bottom of the pool walls for the fabrication of the liner and Email these dimensions to Bluepools at least 20 working days before liner delivery is required

Step 7

Delivery of liner and inspection of pool structure

Bluepools will deliver the pool liner and the balance of all the pool kit and assist with the liner installation following the advice of the Client that the pool is ready for the liner and also advise on the layout of the plumbing installation
Bluepools will inspect the pool construction works and prepare a snagging list of any work that needs repair, re-installation or reconstruction. The Client or his Builder will be advised of these orally if the Client is present on the site during the visit and the list will be emailed to the Client on the following day.

Step 8

Final Inspection by Bluepools, pool commissioning and training

Bluepools will attend the pool site for the final visit following the advice of the Client that the pool is ready for commissioning.
Bluepools will again inspect the pool installation works and prepare a Schedule of Defects of any work that needs repair re-installation or reconstruction. The Clients Builder will be advised of these orally if he is present on the site during the visit and the list will be emailed to the Client on the following day.
Bluepools will give training to the Client in the use of the pool and operation of the filtration, sanitisation and heating systems.


Are the kits easy to Install?

Yes

If your builder has done a good job on your house - and he is enthusiastic about your pool project he should have no difficulty in producing a product that is as good as the pools that we build using our own labour.

The Pool Installation Manual tells him everything that he needs to know and he will also have access to our helpline / Email for immediate response to any queries that he has.

Frequently Asked Question

I have read somewhere else on this website that pool Clients should be beware of "Builder Built Pools" - yet you are recommending them here!

Good question!

There is a big difference in the two situations - if you just go to your builder and say "Gimme a price for a pool mate" - he will probably underprice it for a start, then use every shortcut in the book to reduce his costs - and then probably give up halfway through - when he meets a problem - we have heard stories and seen the evidence in dozens of cases like this.

With the BEVLOR process the builder knows exactly what he has to do and how to do it - and he will be provided with the best quality pool equipment available in France.

And we inspect everything that he does and report to you on our findings.

If the installer fails to meet the required standard we will help you replace him and actually put the work right ourselves if all else fails. In this instance he would not be paid because the contract between you would also require our approval before you pay him.

And we help commission the pool and get all the equipment running as it should - and make sure that it is all ok - again before payment is sanctioned.

How easy is it to DIY?

If you are confident that you can set the pool out using lines and level - you can build one. The only area where real professional skill is required is in the screeding of the pool floor - and you can always get a couple of artisans in for a day to do this.

The heavy work is in the concreting - if you can get some help with that anyone of reasonable fitness can build one of these pools

So what is the bottom line - how much is the pool going to cost?

We cannot be absolutely precise about this because the amount of money that you pay your builder will depend on lots of issues. We do know pretty accurately the man-days required to complete one of our pools.

So the table below should represent the total pool installation cost quite accurately. The labour costs are shown as the same for both wall heights as the 1.2 m deep pools have a hopper that increases labour costs. Kit delivery cost is based on a site 200 kilometres away from Jonzac (For first 100 kilometres delivery is free)

Total pool installation Cost using the Basic BEVLOR process that includes the supply of a kit by Bluepools and installation by your builder.

Digging and landscaping is not included. This should cost about 1000 Euros for the excavation.

Pool Size

1.2m walls with hopper
Kit cost in Euros
Fee for planning drawings and documents
Kit delivery at 1 euro / km (3 x 200 kms)
Estimate of building materials cost inc. margelles
Installation cost Estimate
Total Estimated cost in Euros HT
8 x 4 x 1.2
8,000
500
600
3,000
8000
20,100
9 x 4 x 1.2
8,250
500
600
3,250
8,250
20,850
10 x 5 x 1.2
9,250
500
600
3,750
8,500
22,600
11 x 5 x 1.2
9,750
500
600
4,000
8,750
23,600
12 x 5 x 1.2
10,100
500
600
4,250

9,000
24,450
12 x 6 x 1.2
10,700
500
600
4,500
9,500
25,800
1.5m walls without hopper
8 x 4 x 1.5
8,800
500
600
3,000
8000
20,900
9 x 4 x 1.5
9,075
500
600
3,250
8,250
21,675
10 x 5 x 1.5
10,395
500
600
3,750
8,500
23,745
11 x 5 x 1.5
10,725
500
600
4,000
8,750
24,575
12 x 5 x 1.5
11,100
500
600
4,250

9,000
25,450
12 x 6 x 1.5
11,770
500
600
4,500
9,500
26,870

If you want us to find a pool installation contractor for you in France we charge a fee - as shown in the table below on "Pool Installation Support Options"

If you take up the option of installation by your own builder in France we can visit after the heavy pool works are complete to install such items as:-

  • Automatic covers or other safety devices such as fences
  • Automatic Ph control and Chlorine dosing systems
  • Automatic Salt Water Chlorination systems
  • Heat Pumps
  • Solar Showers

If you want to contact us about your own pool installation please fill in the form at the top of this page. Just type in the Pool Size required and any other information - please make sure that your Tel No is correct with the country code so that we can call you.

Frequently Asked Question

What is the best time of year to get the pool installed in France?

Well the very worst time of year is January , February and March with April and May close behind depending on how wet the spring is!

The reason for this is that ground water levels are highest during these periods and even if this does not cause an actual construction problem we cannot get material deliveries onto the sites because the ground is too soft and even if we can get vehicles on the site the ground is badly damaged. Soft surfaces are also torn up badly by the digger and drives etc can be badly damaged.

So the best installation period is June to December. If there are no warm days in November and December it is somtimes difficult to install the liner, but this can just be delayed to April if need be.

I can hear you thinking won't this damage the pool structure. The answer is no because if the ground water rises the pool will fill with water - remember in our pools the structure is not waterproof as the liner holds the water in. The water level inside the pool will reflect the ground water level outside the pool and so there is no hydraulic loading on the pool walls.

We now charge 5% more for pools built between Jan and May to compensate for the spring construction problem.

Pool specification

All of our pools are built to the same basic specification that is shown in the following table.

Pool Element Element Specification

Earthworks

 The excavation of the pool and backfilling the gap between pool walls and earth with excavated material and the landscaping of the area around the pool so that it can be seeded with grass.
Pool Structure The "ARConWall" structural system providing a design life of 40 years and covered by Bluepools lifetime guarantee including inspection of the pool excavation by a qualified civil engineer to verify design and validate the structural guarantee for the five following structural elements and the pool floor.
Pool Walls Reinforced concrete infilled polystyrene block pool walls on 500 mm wide strip foundation designed by Bluepools to suit site conditions
Pool Floor Pool floor formed in fibre reinforced sand/cement screed laid on floor levelling concrete

ARConWall Elements		 i) High tensile shear connectors between the top of the pool walls and reinforced concrete deck slabs
(ii) Reinforced concrete deck slabs spanning from the top of the pool walls across the weak ground outside the pools walls to hard ground beyond the pool excavated area and forming horizontal beam anchor and prop to the top of the pool walls and providing 1.35 m paving width on two long and one short side of pool and 3.35 m width at Roman End
(iii) Roman Steps Exterior to the pool 3m wide x 1.5m square Roman Steps with 3 No 500mm treads with steps formed in plain concrete
PVC Liner Heavy duty 75/100 plain PVC liner to pool and roman steps (Patterned liner and Tile band available at extra cost). Covered by maker's 10 year degressive guarantee.
Anti-fungal protective layer of felt to vertical and horizontal surfaces of steps fixed with proprietary adhesive. Liner fabricated to fit steps. Plain coloured anti-slip covering to treads. Anti-fungal protective layer of felt fixed to pool walls with proprietary adhesive and laid loose over floor.
Pool Equipment Filtration system designed by Bluepools to provide a complete water change every 6-8 hours. Water circulation pump with horse-power as required by the design of water change system. Covered by the manufacturer's 2 year guarantee. Automatic water top-up. Sand filter 600mm diameter or greater as required by design with lateral multiport valve. Filter body covered by the manufacturer's 5 year guarantee. 1or 2 Skimmer(s) as required by design , 2 inlet(s), vac point and 1 main drain(s) by Procopi Programmable time switch.
Water treatment kit Comprising chemical test kit (pH, Cl), test strips, stabilised chlorine tablets, chlorine shock tablets, pH plus granules, pH minus granules, anti-calcaire, flocculation cartridges.
Pool accessories kit Comprising telescopic pole, vacuum brush head, deep leaf net, surface net, pool wall brush, vacuum hose, backwash hose, floating chlorine dispenser and thermometer.

Underpool drainage system		 Consisting of a 4m long 500 mm wide and 500 mm deep drain underneath the pool hopper. Drain to be formed in 20 mm calcaire surrounded by geotextile and provided with 200 mm diameter access pipe to allow for groundwater extraction during pool construction and subsequently when the pool needs to be emptied for water change or maintenance (Requirement to be identified by Bluepools during inspection of the excavation for the pool)

Pool Installation Support Options and Costs

The three options are described in the table below.

Option Geographical Area Description Bluepools Charges
Standard BEVLOR Nationwide in France As described above under the BEVLOR process Basic kit + delivery charge (first 100km free then 1 euro / km for each visit)
BEVLOR PLUS Nationwide in France As described above under the BEVLOR process + fee for finding an installation contractor As above plus a fixed fee of 1000 euros + travel costs for finding an installer and interviewing him
Contract with Bluepools for complete project

Depts 16,17, 79, 86, 24, 33 and 47

 Full professional installation by Bluepools See Table Below

Full Professional Installation by Bluepools

The pool specification is as shown in the Table above. The basic costs HT are shown in the table below. The TVA should be added at 19.6% to obtain the TTC price. These costs apply for all orders placed before the end of November 2008. Prices for 2009 will increase by about 5%.

Pool Size

1.2m walls with hopper
Full design and installation by Bluepools in the Depts shown in the table above (HT)
Provisional Amount for Excavation and Landscaping
Total Cost HT
8 x 4 x 1.2
24,000
800
24,800
9 x 4 x 1.2
25,000
900
25,900
10 x 5 x 1.2
26,000
1,000
27,000
11 x 5 x 1.2
27,500
1,200
28,700
12 x 5 x 1.2
29,000
1,400
30,400
12 x 6 x 1.2
30,000
1,600
31,600
1.5m walls without hopper
      
8 x 4 x 1.5
24,500
800
25,300
9 x 4 x 1.5
25,500
900
26,400
10 x 5 x 1.5
26,500
1,000
27,500
11 x 5 x 1.5
28,000
1,200
29,200
12 x 5 x 1.5
29,500
1,400
30,900
12 x 6 x 1.5
30,500
1,600
32,100

 

Frequently Asked Question

I can see what the fully installed pool costs are from the table above but is that what I will pay for a fully operational pool in France? - when I have got quotes from pool companies in the past the price quoted is always a lot more than the price on the website.

The prices above are for fully operational pools with a square Roman End at one end of the pool and finished off with the margelles (350 mm wide coping stones) but without any finish (paving slabs) on top of the ARConWall concrete slabs that are 1m wide on 3 sides and 3m wide around the Roman End. So the pool is totally usable with a paved width of 1.35m on 3 sides of the pool and 3.35m at one end. We also apply exterior grade floor finishing compound to make the concrete slabs smooth if you are not going to cover them with paving for a while. If granular fill needs to be imported to make up the levels around the pool that will be charged as an extra.

If hard rock is encountered; or there is a high ground water table; or if the subsoil is weak; etc. the contract will provide provisions for these eventualities and the final cost price will reflect the cost of dealing with the problem. So you should provide a contigency of say a thousand euros - this will deal with most problems.

The price also includes for levelling the pool excavation arisings around and near the pool but not for extensive landscaping or carting the arisings away from the pool or offsite. The price also excludes the safety device that is required under French law as well as the winter and summer covers as these also effect how you are going to deal with the French safety law requirements.

So you need to budget for the covers as well as the safety devices. The costs of the safety devices are shown here Pool Safety Devices and Legal Compliance and the price of the covers is shown on the table below. We often provide the covers and submerged pool lights (normal charge 500 euros per light) as free extras on the larger projects - so look out for those!

The price also excludes the cost of getting a water and electricity supply from the Clients house to the pool plant room and the cost of the pool plant room structure because these will vary greatly from site to site.

The price also assumes that free accommodation is provided by the client for up to three people for the installation period of 4 to 6 weeks and we may add 2 or 3 thousand euros for travelling depending on just how far the pool is away from our base in Jonzac.

The cost of winter and summer covers

Pool size

Winter cover that complies with Safety Standard NF P90-308

Summer cover and Stainless Steel Roller

Total cost of winter and summer covers
8 x 4 x 1.2
745
610
1355
9 x 4 x 1.2
810
640
1450
10 x 5 x 1.2
1010