Discover 18 Reasons why In-ground and Above-ground Swimming Pools are Different in France

Discover 19 Reasons why In-ground and Above-ground Swimming Pools are Different in France

Above-ground Pools

In-ground Pools Summary

An in ground swimming pool needs far more planning and thought because of the permanence of the installation and the effect on the value of the property. An in ground pool that is fully equipped with the most reliable and safe operational accessories may cost 2 or 3 times what a similar sized above ground pool will cost - so if your budget is tight - buy a reasonable quality above ground pool.

Above-ground Pools Summary

If you just want a pool for the kids to swim in this is the option to go for. Just make sure that you buy a pool where the performance of the filtration equipment is "Written on the packet", the walls are robust and durable and the liner is provided by a reputable manufacturer - and you have somewhere to put it that is not too obtrusive. And it can be turned into a Spa easily and cheaply.

Types & Issues	In-ground Pools	Above-ground Pools
1) Planning Consent	In France a "Declaration Preable" - "Notice of intention to construct" is required for all in-ground pools.	In France demountable above ground pools less than 20 m2 in area with wall less than 1 metre high do not require a "Declaration Preable" to be submitted. All other above ground pools do need the "DP" to be submitted.
2) Tiled Pools	Constructed in gunnite or heavy reinforced concrete construction and are very costly. Some are artisan built and rely on a chemical plaster to waterproof the walls behind the tiles. They are very costly to build and maintain, because of the tiling. The tiles attract calcium carbonate deposits in the hard water of France, the grout will need to be replaced every 5 or 6 years and they always leak. The leaks are very difficult to locate and repair.	Not suitable for above ground pools because of the cost, appearance and structural issues.
3) Artisan built concrete block pools with PVC Liner	Installed by artisans using the traditional building marterials of concrete, concrete blocks and rendering.	Not suitable for above ground pools because of the cost, appearance and structural issues.
4) Kit pools with PVC Liner	Plenty of choice on the market. Novice pool builders will often offer these pools. They are often supplied with inadequate water treatment systems	Mostly not suitable for above ground pools because of the cost, appearance and structural issues. Kits with timber walls especially designed for above ground use are available but these do need heavy foundations and the kits are as costly as in-ground pools
5) Monocoque polyester and fibre glass pools	There is nearly always a local supplier somewhere. The sizes are often mis-leading because external sizes are quoted and not the swimming area. Very susceptible to poor ground, ground water problems and very very difficult to install correctly. The pools need to be manufactured in a factory with complete humidity and temperature control.	Not suitable for above ground pools because of the cost, appearance and structural issues.
6) Reinforced concret filled Polystyrene block with PVC liner pools	Probably the best value in-ground pool on the market providing an insulated pool, that never leaks, is very strong and is suitable for all ground conditions	Pprovides an insulated pool that is so necessary above ground because of the heat loss and gain, needs minimal foundation and can support the decking giving access to the pool
7) Landscaping and earthworks	All the land around the in ground pool must drain away from the pool and so the landscaping needs to be carefully designed and planned. The excavation arisings either have to be spread out over a wide area of the site or carted off site to a tip. These earthworks normally add at least 2000 Euros HT to the cost of a pool	The drainage of the land around an above ground pool is not normally even a consideration. A nominal amount of topsoil is normally created from the excavation for the pool foundation that is often found to be very handy around the garden!
8) Access to the pool	Access needs to be provided all the way round the in-ground pool, if it is going to look good. The paving of the area that provides the access needs to be formed from reinforced concrete and finished with non-slip paving flags that are supported by 150 mm thick reinforced concrete slabs. If these reinforced slabs are not provided then the paving flags settle, look awful and become dangerouse trip hazards. This paving and the reinforced concrete supporting slabs will cost at least 125 Euros Ht per square metre so that even the smallest pools required several thousand Euros worth of paving if they are to look good.	The pool access can be limited to one area or can be extended all the way around the above ground pool as may be required. Initially a small area can be provided that can be extended as funds allow. Normally decking is provided and this will cost between 50 and 75 Euros HT per square metre depending on the quality of the decking provided. The decking can easily be built over areas of variable level and can be used to control access for safety reasons
9) Construction inside existing buildings or close to existing walls or buildings	Very difficult because if the pool is closer than the pool depth to any of the surrounding walls, the wall will need to be underpinned. It is very difficult and costly to do the digging work because there is so little headroom or working space for a digger. The construction cost of a pool inside an existing building could be 50% more than building it outside.	This is where the above ground pool really comes into its own. It is normally much cheaper and much quicker to install an above ground pool in these circumstances. It is normally easy to deck around the new pool with a short staircase up to pool level from an existing doorway etc
10) Installation on a sloping site	On sloping sites the earthworks are particularly difficult and costly because of the deeper excavation at one end of the pool and filling often required at the other end.	Above ground pools on slopes are easier to build because the the land can be level with the top of the pool walls at one end and level with the bottom of the pool walls at the other
11) Pool Foundations	Most pool types require some sort of foundation. Many require a heavy foundation slab as the walls themselves do not have much inherent strength	A heavy foundation slab is required for most above ground kit pools. Some require steelwork etc to be built into the foundation
12) Pool Walls	This is where all the money goes on most kit in ground pools - and they are often a fundamentally unsafe, very costly solution to a quite simple problem. Insulation to the pool walls is not as important as having a heat retaining pool cover as most heat is lost from the pool water surface. The bigger the pool the more the heat is lost from the pool surface.	Most kit pool walls need a heavy foundation for wall stability. When the walls form a rigid box the foundation is much less important. Insulated pool walls are highly desirable in small above ground pools because of the very rapid water heat loss through the pool walls. Similarly rapid heat gain in the summer can make the pool water too hot and it can become to hot for the water treatment system to work
13) Pool Safety	All in ground pools need a safety device to stop childern drowning by law. The best safety device is a motorised floating cover.	The law only applies to in-ground or "enterre" pools. However child safety is just as important for above-ground pools and an approved safety device should be installed for all types of privately owned swimming pools whether in ground or above ground.
14) Pool Water Filtration system	The capacity of many in ground kit pool filtration systems is only adequate for a light bathing load of swimmers in quite low temperature water. In many pools the water can become very unhealthy if the pool is full of children and the water temperature gets high.	The water temperature in above ground pools can very quickly get far too high for an inadequate filtration system to cope. Several days use of such a pool in very hot weather can result in very unsafe water. Above ground pools with insulated walls are less susceptible to this danger
15) Appearance	If a reasonable width around the in ground pool is paved with top quality paving flags itl will always look very attractive and can form the focal point of the garden.	Best hidden by walls or hedges or better still by the land form if built on a slope. Above ground pools can also be used inside a house or in old barns with the roof taken off
16) How long will the pool last	In ground pools with reinforced concrete walls should last at least 40 years. Most kit pools may last 8 or 10 - but this will depend on ground conditons and most particularly the amount and level of ground water.	Above Ground Pools; Low value kits - 5 years or less Top quality timber kits - 10 years or more Reinforced concrete - 40 years
17) Cost (HT = without TVA which adds 19.6% to the price)	In ground pools will cost between 400 and 1000 Euros HT / square metre depending on the size, quality and the accessories provided. Rarely installed if less than 6 x 3 and so minimum cost is about 20,000 Eurs HT	Above ground pools will cost between 125 - 600 + Euros HT per square metre depending on the size, quality, type and method of installation. Very small above ground pools are common and can be bought as kits for as little as 3000 Euros HT for a 3 x 2.5 metre kit
18) Effect on property valuation	The presence of an in ground pool is normally very positive in France - the value of the property will increase by at least the cost of the pool	The presence of an above ground pool is fairly neutral and should not significantly add or detract from the value of a property.
19) Add jets, air jets and aromotherapy jets to allow pool to be used as a Spa	Very difficult in a below ground pool because it is necessary to provide access for maintenance to the plumbing and pipework	Easy and cheap to install in an above ground pool because all the equipment can be located beneath a deck area for maintenance access.
Find out More by clicking on these links	In-Ground Pools	Above or Part In-Ground Pools
	In-ground Pools Summary An in ground swimming pool needs far more planning and thought because of the permanence of the installation and the effect on the value of the property. An in ground pool that is fully equipped with the most reliable and safe operational accessories may cost 2 or 3 times what a similar sized above ground pool will cost - so if your budget is tight - buy a reasonable quality above ground pool.	Above-ground Pools Summary If you just want a pool for the kids to swim in this is the option to go for. Just make sure that you buy a pool where the performance of the filtration equipment is "Written on the packet", the walls are robust and durable and the liner is provided by a reputable manufacturer - and you have somewhere to put it that is not too obtrusive. And it can be turned into a Spa easily and cheaply.