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  Swimming Pools  

Greece is the perfect location to build an outside swimming pool the warm climate and hot sunny day’s and nights are the ideal situation to take advantage of a clear cool water pool in any garden.

Building a pool in Greece can have some problems, in many areas the formation of the mainland and islands bedrock plays an important part of planning a pool that needs to be investigated. The bedrock can curiously increase the building costs to excavate the hard strata’s. The pool construction company must carry out a site subsoil survey to establish and identify the substrata.

There are 2 main types of pools in ground and above ground. In ground pools are more expensive as the excavation and spoil removal can be costly the alternative is to build the pool above ground.

The advancement of technology and building systems has entered into the swimming pool industry, on the market today many versions of pool systems exist. A consideration for Greece is the associated problems with the earth tremors that can affect a pool structural performance.

The traditional methods of pool building is by using a concrete block  in cased with reinforce metal fabrication, beginning with the floor slab enforced with steel matting and iron rods forming the base with steel vertical rods tided to the floor slab reinforcing bars. The sump pot and pipe work are formed and instated, fitted with a pressure relieve valve. This valve allows ground water to be released into the pool. This is in the event that if the table or ground water pressure builds up under and around the pool which may cause damage reliving the forces on the pool structure.

The main pool walls can be built with hollow standard concrete blocks or timber shuttering can be erected forming the walls. Adding reinforcement irons to the walls tie the floor and the walls together then the pouring of a water resistant concrete can commence vibrating the concrete walls to remove air pockets. Adding the inlet, outlet vacuum points, skimmers pots and pool light are also installed to the wall fabrication. Gahnite pools are very popular in construction and are extremely strong by blasting concrete through a high pressure pump onto a reformed steel formation.

The pool concrete is allowed to cure setting the concrete, the pool is now ready to be rendered with a mixture containing a water repellent. 2 costs are applied with a base coat followed by a fine towelled off smooth finish to the walls and base.

The traditional pool finish is tiling. The pool can be elegantly tilled with a mosaic. The tiles are set in special tile adhesive cement to give a strong fixing for the tiles. The mosaic small tiles are glued reverse side onto paper or a nylon mesh that hold the tiles in a perfect formation. Once the tiles are set the paper is removed the mess is usually on the reverse side and is left on. The grouting of the tiles is applied with a special water proofed tile grouting materiel that seals the tiles to the walls to stop water penetration behind the wall tiles.

   Spas Pools

Long ago, eons before subdivisions and gardens, and even before the discovery of, swimming pools and spas were in vogue. It was especially true in ancient Roman times when one had to be among the very wealthy to own a pool of his own. In that era the upper middle class found relief from the heat at public pools and public baths. Then, as it is today, there were places for personal enjoyment and relaxation. In those early years of civilization public pools and spas were found in larger, urban areas all over Europe. But, a lot has happened since the Roman Empire ruled the world.

Spa are a simple way of having a pool in a garden or courtyard garden, spas can be designed for many purposes adding an attraction to any garden style. These can be tilted or a more natural approach could be introduced as a rock pool set in a landscaped environment.

The chemical industry is now producing wall paint that is specially designed for pools.  One example is an Epoxy Glass flake Epoxy pool paint, which is a water based epoxy pool paint containing glass flakes. Epoxy  Glass flake has been developed with the help of industrial chemists, for pool paints suited for lining concrete fresh water tanks, sumps, ponds and swimming pools. The Characteristics Excellent Chemical Resistance VOC Compliant Minimum Surface preparation Bonds to Old Paint, Easy Application: Brush, Roller or Spray Excellent resistance to: salt water, solvents and dilute acids Lasts up to 4-7 years before first maintenance.

Swimming pool liners are very common in Europe. The pools are constructed in the normal fashion or a metal framework structure can be erected around the pool base to from the walls. In Greece in the event of an earthquake location the local planning office should be consulted as a pool could be ruptured, with the water purification chemicals may contaminate the soil.

Liners are a good effecting way of lining and sealing a pool. The smooth finish of the pool must be clean the butane liner is fastened into a plastic rail fitted into the top of the pool edge below the pool copings.  An industrial Hoover hose in pushed down the side of the liner and pool wall in a central location. A seal is created the hoover is then switched on. All the excess air trapped behind the liner walls is removed, after the pool is filled with water. As the water levels raise the sump pot seal is fitted then the inlet, outlet and pool lights are cut out as the pool water rise to there levels.

The pipe work is now connected to the pool plant room. The pool plant room has 2 main functions first to circulate the water from the sump pot at the base of the pool and from the surface skinners that draw surface debris collecting items into baskets. The pool lights are connected to transformers and the pool water purification system is connected.

The standard pool purification system has been by a sand filter that filters the water colleting derbies and other unwanted materials are collected in the sand. As the pressure of the operating system within the filter increases as the sand collects and holds materials this means that the filter is working correctly during the weekly and daily checks. As the pressure increases so the filter needs to be cleaned. A simple process of Backwashing occurs the system is reversed with the water being passed from the base of the fillet pushing the debris upwards, at this point the waste value is opened to discard to water into an area of safety. This area should be recognised as the waste water drainage house system approved by the local authorities. Discharging of contaminate water has guidelines laid down by the local planning office. After a few minutes the water at the top of the filters inspection glass shall become clear, this is the indication that the system is free of debris. The system is reversed to the normal setting for the pool to operate correctly.

The pool filter cannot achieve a clear water pool on its own chemicals need to be added to kill of all the unwanted harmful elements in the water the most widely used method is by chlorination.

The balance between acidity and alkalinity is referred to as pH. It is represented by numerical values ranging from 1,0 to 14,0 A value of 7,0 indicates a neutral condition, neither acid nor alkaline Values below 7,0 represent an acidic condition increasing in intensity as the numerical value decreases Alkaline conditions are represented by values above 7,0 increasing in strength as the numbers become greater The ideal pH for pool water is generally between 7,2 and 7,6.

Regular use of a test kit to establish pH levels is vitally important. Controlling pH prevents a large proportion of pool problems, and ensures the pool is maintained most economically pH is tested by taking a 10ml pool sample and adding either 5 drops of phenol red solution or 1 phenol red test tablet If the pH is ideal the test sample will turn orange, if high, red, and if  low, yellow.

Decrease pH by adding Hydrochloric Acid (When purchasing pool acid choose acid with the lightest colouration. This is an indication of acid with the least metals and contaminants). Sodium Bisulphate or Dry acid may also be used. Increase pH by adding soda ash (Sodium Carbonate) to marbelite pools or Alkalinity Increase (Sodium Bi-carbonate). Always use small doses checking 2 hourly to gradually adjust the pH either up or down.

   Ozone

Now days the advancement of pool sterilisation methods as substantially been developed one popular methods is by using an ozone plant.

Ozone can replace partially or totally Chlorine in the pool. It is many times more effective in getting rid of bacteria, algae & viruses than Chlorine. Ozone will maintain a very clean water without the use of the many chemicals used to disinfect, to adjust the PH, Alkalinity.  By comparison to the Chlorine, Ozone treatment is virtually maintenance free. All  you need is to install Ozonator, for sparkling clean water, no distinct smell of chlorine irritation.

  The first concern of pool should be the safety of the water in your pool. OZONE is one of the strongest oxidizers available. Only the chemical fluorine is stronger. Chlorine can been a weaker oxidizer. OZONE has a quicker kill time of organisms and kills more types, when adding bromine. The bromide combines with the OZONE to form bromine. The bromine then reacts with the algae. Bromide is released into the pool as a byproduct. Bromides needs to be added to replace water evapoteion and general wastage.  Ozone naturally breaks down into oxygen. Chlorine on the other hand breaks down into trihalomethanes.