Goodness me… I don’t think I had ever expected such a mess in the garden, – honestly, I’m not quite sure what I had expected, but not that😂
Diggers moved in, every bush and tree was felled and left lying at the bottom of the garden, – and there was soil EVERYWHERE. And of course, – because after all, it is quite a hole that has to be dug for a pool like this.
When installing a pool, various soil samples have to be taken, – partly to see whether the ground “can bear” the pool, but also to check for contamination before the soil is carted away.
Our soil samples were taken after the hole had been dug, – and by then they had already started laying the reinforcement in the bottom of the pool. We soon found out that further samples were needed, – as marine sand had turned up in the samples. That is because we live so close to the Øresund, and it can affect the load-bearing capacity of the ground.
The upshot was that the reinforcement had to come up again, a further 20 cm of soil had to be dug out, and a good layer of coarse gravel laid across the whole base – and then the reinforcement went back in.
Afterwards we agreed that it would probably have been wise to take the samples right at the start – that is, before any digging begins at all. In most places, whatever the soil type, a solution can almost always be found – but it can end up costing rather more than expected, so it is an unforeseen expense to keep in the back of your mind. I believe we ended up paying around 30-35,000 kroner extra for this part, – not that it is a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, but it is worth bearing in mind.
The weeks pass, and the different parts of the pool are cast. It really is something of a masterpiece, and it was great fun following all the different stages.
Here, too, you should expect the schedule to slip a little, – partly because concrete deliveries cannot always be booked in advance, but also because of wind and weather.
I would strongly recommend having a detailed project plan drawn up, – not only because of the schedule, but more to understand all the aspects of such a large project.
Swimming pool timeline:
28.4.2021: The gardeners start felling trees and preparing for the excavation
06.05.2021: Excavation begins; it takes no more than a couple of days
10.05.2021: Soil samples are taken (recommendation: have soil samples taken before you excavate)
21.05.2021: Reinforcement is laid so the base can be cast
03.06.2021: The base is cast; it needs a couple of days to cure
08.06.2021: The side blocks of the pool are put in place (now it starts to look like a pool)
28.06.2021: The sides and the steps are cast (a big day in a pool project)
02.07.2021: Sanding of the pool begins; it is important that it is completely smooth to avoid any unevenness (it takes longer than expected)
13.07.2021: Work on the liner begins; it has to be welded, and it is important that it is completely watertight
28.07.2021: The pool is filled with water and everyone is ready for the first dip
02.08.2021: The electrician makes his first visit and gets the pumps etc. running (important: get a temporary thermal cover for the pool to keep the heat in)
04.08.2021: The lights are connected and there is now light in the pool
01.09.2021: The coping tiles are laid; they ended up about 7 weeks behind schedule, as we had a long wait for delivery
18.10.2021: The cover is fitted; we chose a cover that absorbs the sun well to save on electricity. This happens at the same time as the electricians come and finish their installation
15.11.2021: The metalworker comes and fits some custom-made brackets to conceal the cover
23.11.2021: The stones and the last of the tiles are laid
Bear in mind that alongside all of the above, a large garden project was also under way, which had to be timed around the pool project, as the two crews could not work around the building site at the same time.
