www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
ConcretePools DEC 2011 SPN
45
Concrete swimming pools remain the first choice when it comes to a top quality product, offering high versatility and a strong, long-life product for what is still a competitive price
By Alan Lewis A
concrete pool is still the choice of the discerning customer who wants a sensational swimming pool built. It is difficult to think of a more versatile building material than sprayed concrete. Easily transported, economic, speedy and when used with steel reinforcement, it offers endless shape and design options especially for shell structures in swimming pools and other wet environments.
Yet it’s a simple fact that even though most of the world’s sensational pools are made from this method, it is still heavily criticised.
Concrete is the oldest and most flexible of all the ways of swimming pool construction. Shotcrete or gunite – pneumatically applied concrete – even in tougher economic trading times is the first choice of builders, architects and designers for anyone who wants a quality pool. Those opposed to it say it is a system which is slower, more expensive and one where bad weather can bring projects to a halt.
“All those points are true but concrete pools are the choice of the discerning clients concerned about price but who also want a permanent structure constructed with materials which give a quality end product which is stylish and graceful. Only concrete can offer that flexibity,” says David Bland, Director of Sprayed Concrete Services.
“The fact is we can do anything with shotcrete. The possibilities are limited only by someone’s imagination.”
But spraying concrete is not for the faint- hearted, he adds.
“Spraying concrete is without doubt one of the most demanding activities in construction. Its success relies very heavily on the skills of the nozzle-man and his team,” David adds. “Installed properly by experienced applicators, sprayed concrete provides both designers and pool builders with a cost effective and flexible method to create and to repair concrete structures. “But mistakes are incredibly costly and time
consuming, so pool builders need to ensure they are working with a reliable supplier who can get the job right, first time, every time.” The development of new composite materials made of smooth pebbles and sprayed concrete have recently brought beautiful, natural-looking new surfaces to concrete pools that are very forgiving and durable and maintenance-free. Pneumatically applying concrete was not the first method used to create a concrete pool shell. Originally, concrete pools were made of poured concrete, meaning workers created a set of forms and poured the concrete into the forms to hold it into vertical walls. Shotcreting or guniting became the most common methods of concrete construction because they don’t require forms, making it quicker, less labour-intensive and less expensive than pouring concrete.
Praised as the first British pioneers to embrace the successful ‘shotcrete’ method, Premier Gunite made its mark in business over the past 30 years, qualifying the company as an authority in this
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