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.
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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?
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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!
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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! |
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Are
you wondering how big it should be and where to put it?
Our Free Guide
will help you with these decisions |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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!
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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"
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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?
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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:-
- Settlement of the paving
around the pool - that you see so often - is avoided.
- 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
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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
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A set of detailed
construction drawings
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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)
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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Problem
|
Occurence
|
Schedule
Impact
|
Solution
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| 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.
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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
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Step
1
The
Signing of the Contract
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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
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Step
2
The
pool installation start date
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You
confirm the approximate date of your pool installation
start date to us having finalised and signed the contract
with your Builder
|
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Step
3
The
planning application document set
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We
prepare and send you the full documentation for the
planning application within 30 days of you placing the
Order
|
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Step
4
Notice of
when the excavation will be ready
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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
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Step
5
Inspection
and Report on the pool excavation
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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.
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Step
6
Measure up
to confirm liner size
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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
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Step
7
Delivery
of liner and inspection of pool structure
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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.
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Step
8
Final Inspection
by Bluepools, pool commissioning and training
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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.
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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.
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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
|
| |