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SPN APR 2011 StainlessSteelPools
“When a pool absolutely must be strong, flexible and water-tight, then stainless steel is the only option a pool buyer can go for”
and more stainless steel pools, more commercial than domestic. I believe they will increase their market share even more over the next five years. They offer an engineered solution rather than a poured concrete one.”
Adds Michael Thomas: “If there is a criticism about a stainless pool it is that it lacks options. This just isn’t the case. You certainly can have a plain stainless steel pool in-ground, on-ground or an elevated construction which features a range of shapes, sizes and configurations. “A PVC covering is the next evolution for the stainless steel pool which offers colour options. It’s not necessary but is increasingly common, but again it is not needed for water tightness. “Finally there’s the opportunity of using ceramic tiles fitted to the pool to provide any variety of look the owner wants. So it’s wrong to say there are no options for these pools. “When a pool absolutely must be strong, flexible and water-tight, then stainless steel is the only option a pool buyer can go for,” he added.
LONDON AND GLASGOW LEAD THE WAY IN DEMAND
Mike Wallace of stainless steel pool manufacturers Westfront Pools said that stainless steel pools are steadily growing more popular.
“A lot of architects are now asking for them and they seem to be in vogue, especially in London and
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
Word of mouth and trouble free pools has been a factor in the popularity of stainless steel
Permanently watertight and they offer lightweight construction solutions
Glasgow. They are becoming an instant solution to wherever there is an access problem or where weight is an issue getting a pool into position. Of course they are also very visually attractive and their style makes a real statement by the pool owner that this is a quality pool. “Stainless steel swimming pool design is endless. We can fabricate a pool to be free standing above ground, in the ground or any combination in between. We have manufactured systems for basements and for the rooftops of skyscrapers. We have taken them around corners and worked them around existing pillars; in short we can fit them to a client’s existing buildings fabric like a glove. With building settlement and movement a concrete pool can crack, but the flexibility of steel would allow a certain amount of movement without breaking its seal.
“Stainless steel just do not corrode and they are unaffected by chlorine and other chemicals. Our swimming and hydrotherapy pools and spas are constructed of 304L and 316L grade stainless steel, making them highly durable and light weight.
“If we are asked whether a stainless steel pool is more expensive than a concrete one, then the answer is no. A stainless steel pool is comparable in price but with many more advantages over traditional building techniques.
“Our swimming pools are quickly and easily placed in situ as the panels are prefabricated prior to our installation personnel arriving on site,” explains Wallace. “This combined with the fact that excavation is not required significantly reduces time spent on site and minimises any disruption. Another great property of stainless steel is its elasticity. Unlike concrete, stainless steel will not crack with ground movement. This means you can be confident of the integrity of your pool for many years to come. The users of our pools and spas are as varied as they are numerous. They include hospitals, health clubs, schools, football clubs and leisure centres. They can be installed on roof tops, first floors, basements and, in fact, just about anywhere!”
WORD OF MOUTH IS A VERY POWERFUL FACTOR
Invarmex Pools, based in Cotgrave, Nottingham are another specialist company completely sold on stainless steel and install commercial and residential pools in the UK and throughout Europe. They have no doubt about the benefits of choosing stainless steel for swimming purposes.
They say the popularity of the pools is based on word of mouth.
”As an option for a swimming pool it’s the one
Access was a major problem for this Natare pool and the lightweight stainless steel pool was the only option
Over 40% of all large scale community and commercial pools are now opting for stainless steel
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