Heated Splash Pool / Dip Pool Construction (Semi In-Ground) – Step by Step
713,797
Published 2020-09-08
A small splash pool is much cheaper to build, heat and maintain than a larger swimming pool. We aren’t ones for swimming lengths in pools, so this size is ideal for us :-)
The final size of the pool surround is:
Longer Left Side: 4.36m
Edge Side: 3.9m
Shorter Right Side: 3.52m
The pool itself is
Longer Left Side: 2.26m
Edge Side: 3.15m
Shorter Right Side: 1.62m
Water Depth: 1.4m
Pool volume – about 6000 litres of water / 6 Cubic Metres.
The decking system I used was a little more expensive than others, but it is totally impervious to water, not slippery, has a lovely texture to the touch and looks fantastic – I would highly recommend it. It also works out as a great pool edge, so I didn’t need to use coping stones around the top of the pool, which I don’t personally like the look of. This system looks much more contemporary.
Having the pool semi-in-ground meant that due to the waterline being above ground level the pump didn’t need to be self-priming, so I could use off-the-shelf (therefore cheaper cost) Intex Pool Pump and salt water system that are usually used in rigid stand up pools. This saved me hundreds of pounds in pool equipment.
AirSource heat Pump. This is the most efficient way to heat the pool. For every kW of electricity used, the heater generates about 5-6kw of heat.
Insulation – this is the most important thing. Keeping the heat in the pool. This insulation has kept the heat in the pool lovely and warm.
I am lucky enough to have solar panels on the house, so I only run the pump, salt system and heater during the day. On a sunny day the pool is basically free to run and keep heated. On cloudy and raining days, I estimate the equipment draws about 8-9Kw total over 7 hours, so this only costs me about £1.71 per day. I run the pool equipment from 9am – 4pm.
Salt Water System – I love this – it is so easy to maintain. I highly recommend this. When you fill the pool I had to put in 21kg of salt. This is then converted by the machine to produce natural chlorine – makes the water really soft and smells good! No chemicals to keep on top of. I just have to top up about 5kg of salt every week or so when it starts beeping at me. A bag of 25kg salt is about £6, so very cheap to maintain the pool too.
Buying a pool cover can be expensive. Intex again do large round one for around £35 – so I bought one of those and cut it to size.
Using the pool cover overnight, the pool loses about 2.5-3 degrees centigrade overnight – which isn’t too bad. To improve on this, I have recently bought some more of the pool insulation to use as a thick insulated cover at night. It takes a couple of minutes to put on, but now the pool is only losing about 1-1.5 degrees centigrade overnight – a huge saving.
We are currently in September (UK) as I write this, but I have been able to keep the pool, at a toasty 31-32 degrees centigrade this month, which is almost like a spa temperature. I am hoping to keep the pool in use until about October when I will have to shut it down and winterise it. I aim to open the pool again late April / early May.
Here are the main suppliers I used:
Deck System – Millboard
bit.ly/millboardpool
Composite Joists (for deck to screw into)
bit.ly/compositejoists
Pool Insulation System – Panel Systems
bit.ly/panelsystemspool
Paint Sprayer – Airblast
bit.ly/airblastspraysolution
Pool Paint
bit.ly/2partepoxypoolpaint
Pool Pipe Fittings – UK Pool Store
bit.ly/ukpoolstore
Intex Pump & Salt Water System
bit.ly/intexpoolequipment
Air-Source Heat Pump
bit.ly/airsourceheatpump
Cost
The approximate cost for the project, including all pumps, heaters etc was about £6,500.
£2000 of this was for the decking solution I used. If you were to build a similar structure fully inground I expect you save approx £1,500 - £1,750 from this cost, although you may need to spend more on a self-priming pump that can pull the water out the pool to filter – or build a pool house in-ground.
£2000 Decking
£799 Air Source Heat Pump
£199 Pump & Filter
£199 Salt Water Chlorinator
£500 Pool Insulation
£500 Blocks
£150 Sand
£100 Cement
£200 Pipework & Fittings
£100 Stainless Steel Bolts
£150 Clay Heave Board
£200 Emergency OSB Boards (Hopefully you won’t need this!)
£250 Rebar
£250 Gunite
£80 Adhesive
£50 Glass Fibre Mesh
£100 Deck Fix Composite
£140 PoolPaint
£90 Tiles
£290 Pool Floor Cement
£150 Tool / Machine Hire
£150 Skimmer
All Comments (21)
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I built pools for 7 years ages ago. Considering this is a DIY block pool without using heavy equipment, you did an outstanding job.
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Disclaimer I suppose you have to, most pro builders won't put as much pride effort into their work as you have. I loved that you over engineered the pool, build it once and only enjoy it then on first class job even by my standards 🤫 👏👏👏
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Wow. I'm not even looking for a DIY pool/ spa, but ended up watching the entire video - very well done!
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It is better to have vertical starter bars coming up 600mm (2 ft) from the base. These can be chemset of tied into the base's reinforcing mesh when pouring the base. Lay the concrete blocks to make the wall to the height desired. With each row, lay two horizontal 12mm rebar with 600mm overlap where joined. Then core-fill with 32MPa concrete and, at the same time insert vertical bars at 200mm separation. Use the vertical rods to also vibrate the core-fill concrete so as to ensure good compaction. The top end of the vertical rebars are just below the top of the finished wall. Doing it this way means you are not lifting blocks up over tall vertical rebars as shown here in this video. It is also safer for the tradesmen, avoiding injury from lifting and impalement. Otherwise, a very impressive effort.
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These videos may be few and far between but they are definitely worth the wait. Excellent job bro.
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I was enjoying the music so much i forgot to watch the video! Had to rewind. Beautiful work 👏
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Great work, love the detailed breakdown of materials and costs!
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I have been thinking about a plunge pool in my back yard. I have watched a lot of videos, but this is about the size I want. Cool in the summer, hot in the winter. All this pool needs is a cool cover! Beautiful workmanship.
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I learned a lot from this video. Beautiful workmanship! Thanks a lot!👍🏻👊🏻
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It looks very professional at minute 1:05. Great job I’ll continue to watch
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Inspirational, viewing a few of these for my own pool project in the next 12-24 months, congratulations on a fantastic job 😊👌
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Super nice and simple design. I get a lot of inspiration to do the same now in my back garden area Thanks!!
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Absolutely amazing. Planning on doing the same size / design in Cyprus. This is invaluable.
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This is what happens when you love what you do! Imagine someone not loving and doing this? The project will be an unending hell!
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I have always dreamed about building a block pool .You did a beautiful job !
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Really big ideas! I loved it, and learned a lot from it! Thank you!
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just wanna say, before I ever watch, im excited about watching this video!
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Beautiful work! Congrats!
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This might be a project i do in the future . Thanks for the video . Love the end result.
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A Strip of Waterproof LED Lights around the inside would be the Cherry on Top of that Beautiful Pool! You Did an Awesome job 👏 🙌 👍. For having no professional experience in building pools and Decks. You definitely made a professional looking pool!
