L a n d s c a p e d e s i g n e r

NATURAL SWIMMING POOLSMeNTOR SeRvIceS

INTROdUcTIONno one can say that building a natural swimming pool is easy, but it is a uniquely satisfying and rewarding project for the self-builder. You are in complete control at every stage of the operation, and provided that you have confidence in your abilities, there is no reason why you should not be successful. You may well be a ‘jack of all trades and master of none’, but this can be an advantage. You will be far more aware of the whole picture than a specialist or professional person.

if you are reasonably fit and active then building your own natural swimming pool can be a very worthwhile and enjoyable challenge. converting an existing chemical swimming pool to the natural system is also well within the scope of a competent self-builder. doing the job yourself will save you money and keep you fit, and – unlike when renovating a property – there is no pressure to complete by a certain deadline. in addition you will have the satisfaction of doing something hugely beneficial for the environment and creating a wonderful amenity for yourself and your family.

However, being able to call upon professional expertise can be invaluable, and this is where my Mentoring service can help you. This service can cover any or all of the four key stages of your project: initial organisation, planning and surveying, design and project management.

i introduced natural swimming pools to the UK in 2000, and have been involved in the planning and design of over 50 successful projects to date. With my assistance, you will have the best of both worlds: the satisfaction of building your pool yourself, and the reassurance of knowing that you have professional back-up when you need it.

i have written four books on natural swimming pools, and these are an essential resource for the self-builder. The practical information in this brochure is not intended to repeat details to be found in my books; rather it is a list of tasks to be undertaken by the self-builder, for use as an aide memoire or check-list. it can be used to help you work out where the services of a mentor would be most beneficial, and where you need to call on the help of friends or relatives or employ contractors. Wherever possible, i have included references to the sections in my books where detailed information can be found. They are referred to in the text as Books 1 to 4, as indicated.

1

ORGANISATIONTake ample time to think about how you will organise your project before you start work. The initial planning phase is the most important part of any project, especially when you are undertaking something for the first time, and time spent thinking now will be more than repaid in time, effort and money saved later on.

Two heads can be much better than one at this stage, and my experience of previous successful projects can make the planning of yours considerably more straightforward and less stressful. consultation at this stage can take the form of a site visit, or i can provide advice over the phone.

Personal considerations Building a natural swimming pool is a major commitment, and one that is difficult to cancel if you lose interest or discover that it is too big a task. it is not always easy to find reliable contractors to take on partially completed work, especially if it is a diY disaster. it is therefore essential to be honest with yourself from the outset.

• ask yourself: just how fit are you? How much time can you devote to the project? are you fully aware of the total costs?

• Bear in mind that the productivity of the self-builder is around half that of a skilled tradesperson. remember that the longer the job takes, the more your enthusiasm may wane.

• Work out your strengths and weaknesses at the outset and decide what you can and cannot do.

• remember that you do not need to do all the work yourself, and that the project can be just as satisfying (and much less stressful) if you delegate those parts of the job in which you are less competent.

• Work out what help and support you can get from relatives and friends, who may well have the skills you require, and which contractors you will need to employ.

Book 1 Book 3Book 2 Book 4

Contractors if you decide to use a sub-contractor for any stage of the project it is essential to ensure that they are suitable, preferably from previous customers. Word of mouth is the best recommendation. • Look out for contractors’ signposts at sites you pass; no contractor will invite

inspection of their work if it is not up to standard. • Obtain more than one estimate.• invite contractors to see the site, discuss the project with them and let them

see the plans.• ask for a written estimate so that when making comparisons there are no

ambiguities.• check terms and conditions and warranties, and confirm timescales (both

lead time and contract time), to ensure that they will fit in with your programme.

• check your feelings about working with any contractor. The price may be right but the attitude may not be suitable for you.

Assistance if you utilise the help of friends and family, remember that organising unskilled labour is a job in itself.• Try to identify mini-projects that can be completed within an afternoon, a

day or a weekend. This will allow people to feel a sense of achievement over a short period of time.

• Let them go away having had some fun and companionship too!

2 3

PLANNING & SURveYING The planning process is a gathering of data and information, and also includes any research that is necessary prior to the design stage. it covers all the natural, physical, visual and social factors associated with the planned pool and its surroundings.

Site Data Collectiona survey of the site is essential, and an electronic survey, sometimes referred to as a topographical drawing, is also well worth having. See example on page 32 of Book 2.

This drawing shows all the existing factors such as property boundaries, easements, buildings, services and natural features. See Book 1 page 89. Once you have this drawing it can be used as a base plan for all the other drawings that may be necessary.

if you do not have the necessary experience to survey your site, or the skills to produce drawings, i can undertake the survey for you, and commission a professional survey drawing. i can also supply a detailed questionnaire which will help you to gather all of the necessary information and ensure that nothing is overlooked.

Site InventorySee Book 1, page 90 List the points to consider under physical, natural, visual and social.

Pool SitingSee Book 1, pages 90-93consider all your requirements for the best location after a detailed analysis of the inventory.

Social Requirements See Book 1, page 97 complete the check List on pages 98 and 99

Pool SizeSee Book 1, pages 94-96size is determined by swimmers requirements and the needs of flora and fauna as well as aesthetic factors.

deSIGNproper design drawings are essential for the success of your project. creating an overall design for your pool and its immediate surroundings will ensure that it becomes part of the garden or landscape, and that it is aesthetically pleasing at all times of the year. a professionally prepared design will provide you with the reassurance of knowing that you are working to a template which will result in the outcome you have envisaged. i can produce a professional design for your pool, tailored to your particular needs and requirements, or assist you in developing your own design ideas.

Design DrawingsFour stages of drawings are usually required to ensure that all of your requirements are met. There are four stages to the design process: • site analysis plan• Functional plan/design concept• preliminary design• Final design proposalsSee Book 1, pages 100-119 and Book 2, pages 26-41.

Working Drawings These are also necessary for the successful implementation of the project. They enable:• accurate costs to be obtained • correct amounts of materials to be purchased• schedule of Works to be produced• specifications to be writtenSee Book 2, pages 33-37.

depending on the size of your project, the drawings will usually consist of most, if not all, of those listed in Book 2, pages 33-35. For examples of these drawings, See all four of my books.

4 5

MANAGeMeNTFor a successful project, you need to manage the whole operation with meticulous care and attention to detail. an overall project management document will give you a clear vision of how to proceed, and let you move towards defined and achievable goals.

Your management document should include a programme of work, so that the project is broken down into a timetable of manageable tasks. it can also be helpful to produce a bar chart showing the time required for each operation and indicating when outside assistance, materials and equipment are required.

i can help you to produce your project management document. This will give you the reassurance of knowing that you are working to a professionally approved programme, and that nothing has been overlooked.

Sequence of Operations• strip topsoil and save for re-use• excavate pool by machine and remove sub-soil• regrade subsoil where necessary• Trim pool to shape by hand• Lay underliner• construct retaining walls• Build outer drain• Build inner drainage system• Build pump chamber• construct recirculation pipework• install skimmers and filters• Build decking• place substrate in position• plant regeneration zone• Fill pool• Test the systemSee Book 1, page 147 and Book 2, page 45.

Labour• What additional labour you need, whether skilled or unskilled, and for which

stages of the work.• The work to be undertaken by specialist contractors and tradespeople• The best time of year to commence your project, depending on your

availability. consider holiday periods if you need to employ contractors.

Materials• List the materials required for the project• contact companies and suppliers for costs and delivery times• confirm telephone orders in writing• ensure good access for large vehicles and adequate storage facilities• plan for the removal of excavated soil • cover materials from inclement weather where necessarySee Book 2, page 47

Equipment & Machinery• decide on the type of equipment and machinery required for the project, if it

is to be hired, and whether with or without an operator• agree the hire dates and length of time, ensuring that they comply with your

programme of work• Obtain costs and ensure that they are within the budget allocation; check

costs for any extra time in case of inclement weather or other unknown factors

• confirm all verbal agreements and costs in writingSee Book 2, page 48.

Bill of Quantities/Schedule of WorksYou also need to produce a Bill of Quantities or a schedule of Works. This will ensure that nothing has been overlooked and that the total cost is within the budget allocation. See Book 2, pages 49-50.

Safety• ensure that the pool area is secure during the construction phase• erect a childproof fence to ensure safety thereafter• Keep gates locked• Make the design of the fence part of the overall scheme. it can be screened

using plants and/or ground modeling.See Book 2, page 51.

6 7

PROJecT eXAMPLeBuilt by - Rob Muylwyk -Self Builder of Wiarton, Ontario, canada

Description

in June of 2010 we were ready to sign a contract for the construction of a standard chemical pool on our property overlooking the colpoy’s Bay islands and georgian Bay, when we stumbled upon a newspaper article about natural swimming pools (nsps). clearly this type of pool/pond would eliminate all our reservations about the pool we had planned: significantly less energy use, no chemicals, and a solution congruent with our natural environment, both in and out of the swimming season. after doing our research it was clear that we needed the natural swimming pools books written by UK nsp guru Michael Littlewood, his earlier inspiration for Harmony and his more recent a guide for Building. The first book certainly lived up to its title, as it gave us many ideas for our project as well as thorough background information. The guide for Building became our bible as we gradually worked out the design parameters and preliminary specifications for our pool-to-be. We found a friendly local landscape contractor, very eager to get into the nsp business, and after we taught him everything we had learned so far, he gave us a nice proposal with an even nicer price, well over our budget. at this point we couldn’t possibly go back to a chemical pool, and we couldn’t afford to have an nsp built, so there was just one way out, the diY route.

i spent the winter filling a notebook with detailed design sketches and making proper cad drawings, working out how i could do this job with available tools and budget. again i relied heavily on Littlewood’s books, in addition to internet resources. in June of 2011 we started construction by hiring an excavator with operator to dig and shape the rather large hole. From here on i did everything myself, with one exception: we needed the help of all the friends and neighbours that we could rustle up in order to get the 1600 lb rubber liner rolled out and spread out. in early august we completed planting and filling the pool with water, after which we took our first swim!

This was quite a large diY project, comprising a main and an overflow pond, with a total volume of 30 000 imp gal (136 000 L) of water and a surface of 1400 sq ft (130 sq m), of which the swimming area is 520 sq ft (48 sq m). i could never have pulled this off without the books of Michael Littlewood and his considerabletechnical assistance by the many emails.

Bottom drain, connected to pump installing the sub

Unrolling the 1600 lb liner Unfolding and draping the liner Working in the folds

Progress Photographs

8 9

getting ready to start ground water coming in

Framed but unclad wall constructing the walls

The steps Wall and steps completed

perforated pipes fed from pump inside skimmer box

Using tees instead of a distribution chamber

Working out the levels placing the skimmer box skimmer box with filter

substrate installation

pickerel rush First swim

10 11

FeeSa time charge based on my hourly rate will apply for my Mentoring service. For all work an estimate will be given in writing. expenses – travel, telephone calls, conference calls etc. – will be extra to the fee.

cONcLUSIONBuilding your own natural swimming pool is an inspirational project, but it can also be a daunting undertaking. Having a mentor to oversee the project, or assist at particular stages, can make the difference between it being an enjoyable challenge and it becoming overwhelming. You should also consider visiting one or two existing natural swimming pools and talking to the owners. in addition, i can supply copies of articles written by successful self-builders.

some aspects of the project do not necessarily require a site visit from myself, and many queries can be resolved by telephone or email. However, i would recommend one visit at the beginning of your project, one or two during the project, and one at the end, prior to planting, to ensure a successful outcome. contact me for a free, no-obligation discussion about how i can assist you.

INFORMATIONdetailed information on all aspects of building of a natural swimming pool is contained in my four books on the subject: natural swimming pools – a guide for Building, natural swimming pools – inspiration for Harmony with nature, natural swimming pools – conventional pool conversion guide and natural swimming pools – care and Maintenance. These comprehensively illustrated books are an essential resource for anyone considering a natural swimming pool, guiding you through planning, design, biology, materials, construction, planting and maintenance. They are available from www.ecodesignscape.co.uk

12

Project1:Layout 1 14/1/15 15:58 Page 1

deck

pond

planting

planting

PROJecT POOL PLAN

L a n d s c a p e d e s i g n e rF L i F s g d

6 george & crown cottages • church street • Hinton st george • somerset Ta17 8sdTelephone: (01460) 75515

email: michael@ecodesignscape.co.uk • Web: www.ecodesignscape.co.uk

The design philosophy of the author has been invaluable in the promotion and design of natural swimming pools which he brought to england in 2000 from europe. He designed and built the very first pool in the U.K. at a private residence in gloucestershire 2001.

Michael produced the first book on the subject in english in 2004 “inspiration for Harmony with nature” which has been received with acclaim. This book and numerous articles in magazines and newspapers all over the world brought many requests for technical information from people who were inspired more to build their own natural swimming pool.

This resulted in the second book “a guide for Building” published in 2008.

The huge interest in this subject brought considerable interest from owners of conventional swimming pools who expressed a desire to change their chemical system to a natural one. in March 2009 i published my third book “converting the conventional pool” and a later edition in 2013 entitled “conventional pool conversion guide”.

To assist the many natural swimming pool owners, especially those outside the United Kingdom, with the management of their project a new title “care & Maintenance “ will be published in late spring 2014.

THe aUTHOr