www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
MovingFloors DEC 2011 SPN
57
Stage Systems offer a ‘flat pack’ system designed for
ease with options to give it the personal touch
Many major new pool building projects in Britain now have a moving floor option, often offering a range of pool depths. For some projects, the ability to switch a swimming pool area into a dining, function or family room has made moveable floors both in demand and in vogue
By Andrea Hartshorne & Alan Lewis
pace is a luxury. Those lucky enough to have space for a swimming pool and a large area which can be used for parties, dancing, dining and entertaining – then lucky them! Unfortunately as we try to squeeze more living space out of our properties, to waste such a large area of floor and room space is almost sinful.
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One downside to the luxury of owning a pool is the amount of permanent space it takes up. In what is becoming a real phenomenon within the specialist pool industry, the provision of a moving pool floor now opens open up a whole world of possibilities.
The popularity of using moving floors technology is nothing more than astounding. Two of every five new commercial pools being built have a moving floor option for one of two main reasons – to alter a pool depth or provide flooring for what are often revenue generating options. Moving floors aren’t cheap but it seems the glamorous option of providing a moving floor which can transform a swimming pool into a wide variety of other uses is now very much in demand. Available for a wide variety of pool sizes (5 metres wide by 15 metres in length included) this concept provides a huge advantage to any home or public swimming facility. Styles, finishes and options seem endless so there is bound to be an option that would suit.
As technology develops and improves so do
the mechanisms, styles and finishes. Moving floor swimming pools offer numerous benefits from enhancing a house’s aesthetics and increasing a room’s function to safety for younger or inexperienced, less able swimmers. Whilst a commercial pool may not require the ability to turn a public baths into a dance floor, the ability to alter the depth is invaluable. Due to advances in technology and materials, a sloping floor can be introduced so that a deeper end is available whilst those that prefer a shallower pool can enjoy the water.
Whilst the cost of each bespoke system varies and depends on so many factors, for example, the customer’s requirements, retrofit or new build and the enormous variations of finishes that are available, for the retrofit option, to match in with existing pool, these systems are hugely popular and that popularity is growing. For the skilled and experienced moving pool floor installer, retrofitting a moving floor isn’t a problem. One thing unites those who offer the ‘moving floor ‘option’ – a passion for excellence. For some, that excellence continues to drive them forward with a desire to produce a superior product. Made in England by The Lifting Pool Floor Company, even down to the last nut and bolt, the system that the Thomas family have striven to perfect is one that is both uncomplicated and simple to operate. Feeling that some in the industry were not offering an
acceptable level of aftercare, they decided things had to change. Many years were spent working on a prototype that would fit the market requirements and expectations. Unlike some in the industry, the advantage of knowing where every piece of the system comes from means that they know their equipment intimately, down to the last washer. Knowing your product in this much detail means that you can know what can go wrong and therefore can implement procedures to minimise this and correct problems without delay.
Nick Field, Commercial Director at the Lifting Pool Floor Company said the demand for moving floors has been strong for several years and would continue to be strong. He said that high property prices in the UK meant the demand for space was critical and therefore dual purpose areas were very popular.
He stressed that his company continued to invest in engineering systems which put it ahead of the competition by being more cost effective. “I think one of the things we have noticed is how competitive the market is now so it is important for us to keep ahead. The Lifting Pool Floor Company specialise in high end domestic pools. He thought there were three reasons why moving floors were popular.
Firstly, families with children were looking for safety with their pools. “The variable depth available means you can change the water depth
MOVING FLOORS
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