Prefab pool: benefits, costs [+ a small variant]
Many people dream of having their own swimming pool. If you have the space and some budget for it, you are faced with the first problem. The choice is huge and the range is rather unclear, especially with all those terms you've never heard before.
One word that you often come across is precast. Prefab swimming pools are usually very easy to maintain and that is partly why it is popular. Where what does prefab actually mean? This is what we explain in this blog.
Contents of this blog
- Prefab - what is that exactly?
- The most common prefab materials
- How much does a prefab pool cost?
- What are the benefits of a prefab pool?
- What are the disadvantages of a prefab pool?
- The small and sustainable prefab pool
A prefab swimming pool — What is that exactly?
The characteristic of prefab swimming pools is that they are made in the factory and delivered in one piece. The opposite of prefab baths are architectural swimming pools that are assembled on site — usually from pre-produced parts.
There are two types of prefab pools. The pools in the first group — sometimes monoblock called swimming pools — are laminated or molded. The second type of prefabs is produced in the factory welded. The (quality) differences mainly lie in the material and the quality of the finish. We are now going to look at this in more detail.
The most common prefab pool materials
Prefab swimming pools can be made from many different materials. Here are the most common choices and their pros and cons.
Type 1. Polyester
Monoblock: yes /no
- Typical material for monoblock pools
- Always mixed with vinyl ester and/or fiberglass
- Quality depends heavily on the composition of the material
- Osmosis sensitive
- Less strong than vinyl ester & epoxy
- Less waterproof than vinyl ester & epoxy
- Liner/top coating: yes
- Some (dark) colors become discolored
Type 2. Vinyl ester
Monoblock: yes /no
- Typical material for monoblock pools
- Always mixed with polyester and/or fiberglass
- Quality depends heavily on the composition of the material
- UV resistant
- Often less strong than epoxy
- Liner/top coating: yes
Type 3. Epoxy (epoxy acrylic)
Monoblock: yes /no
- UV resistant
- No discoloration
- Sometimes osmosis sensitive
- Liner/top coating: usually yes
Type 4. Ceramic (ceramic composite)
Monoblock: yes /no
- Mix of vinyl ester and/or polyester and ceramic grains, enriched with fiberglass and/or carbon
- Quality depends heavily on the composition of the material
- UV resistant
- No osmosis
- Very strong
- No discoloration
- Liner/top coating: usually yes
Type 5. Stainless steel (other name: Inox)
Monoblock: yes/ no
- UV resistant
- Special look (sleek, industrial)
- Less chance of algae (slippery)
- Long lifespan
- Risk of scratches (can be reduced with a liner/top coating)
- Reflective material, may dazzle swimmers
- Liner/top coating: usually yes
Type 6. HDPE (High Density Poly-Ethylene)
Monoblock: yes/ no
- UV resistant
- Long lifespan
- Recyclable
- No osmosis
- More sensitive to temperature than most other materials (expansion)
- rugged
- Flexible material, pay attention to alignment
- No liner or top coating required
Type 7. PP (Polypropylene)
Monoblock: yes/ no
- UV resistant
- Long lifespan
- Recyclable
- No osmosis
- Color is in the material, good color fastness
- Chemically resistant and easy to care for
- rugged
- Less chance of algae (slippery)
- No liner or top coating required
How much does a prefab pool cost?
Including placement, you are at a starting price between €40,000 and €60,000 for a prefab polyester pool or a prefab vinyl ester bath with a size e.g. 8 m x 4m. In addition, there are costs for the accessories (water preparation, stairs, lighting, etc.).
The price of a prefab pool depends on the size, the installation (above ground or underground) and the material. In the overview above, the materials are roughly listed in order: cheap --> expensive.
An architectural swimming pool is usually more expensive.
What are the benefits of a prefab pool?
The benefits of a prefab pool:
- Cheaper than an architectural swimming pool
- Installation takes less time
- You have a lot of choices in terms of colors and shapes
- It is easy to maintain.
Below, we will discuss the various benefits in more detail.
It price difference Compared to an architectural swimming pool, it is certainly one of the major advantages of prefabs. Furthermore, you have less chance of problems as the prefab pools can be fully tested in the factory before they leave the factory.
Because the tub is delivered in one piece, the posting closed in 2-4 days: the entire project takes less time on average than at an architectural swimming pool.
For monoblock baths, manufacturers usually work with standard dimensions and therefore sometimes have single models in stock. But casting/laminating/welding a new bath does not take too long either.
You can go in very different directions in terms of color, decor, shape and overall look. One prefab bath is not like the other.
Of course, the materials are also easy to maintain. The smoothness of the surface and a very limited number of seams prevent algae growth. In addition, most materials feel relatively soft, which increases swimming pleasure.
What are the disadvantages of a prefab pool?
The disadvantages of a prefab pool:
- Limited indoor options.
- Limited customization options.
- Potential issues with polyester.
- Uncertainty about material composition.
- Periodically replace liner/top coating.
Below, we take a closer look at the disadvantages of a prefab pool.
The swimming pool is delivered in one piece. Depending on the size, the posting of the tub are still cumbersome. If the location (for the crane, etc.) is difficult to reach, this means extra costs (and the annual cost of a swimming pool are not few)
Indoors prefab is often not possible at all or you have to be very early in the construction process so that the pool can be installed before the next floor is installed.
Even though you have many options to personalize a prefab swimming pool, you really want a unique pool with a exceptional shape, special dimensions and everything on, on and off — then an architectural bath (and a big budget) is essential.
Polyester baths in particular can suffer from problems such as osmosis and discolouration by temperature or UV light. Of course, higher-quality materials such as stainless steel, HDPE and PP do not have these problems.
Especially with the classic monoblock materials, the lifespan is very dependent on the exact compounding of the material. There are no generally valid standards for naming or the material mix.
A vinyl ester bath could theoretically consist of 10% vinyl ester or 80% vinyl ester, 8 layers or 40 layers. Thorough inquiries are therefore certainly worthwhile.
Most architectural pools — and some prefab pools (see overview) — have a liner whether top coating needed. This layer often makes the pool waterproof and gives the final color/finish to the pool. The top layer often needs to be replaced after 10 to 15 years.
Another form of architectural swimming pool is finishing with tiles. The swimming pool will then be built watertight from concrete. Then finished with tiles. Provided all of this is made in the right way, this construction method can last for decades.
The Swimm Intelligent Pool: the small and sustainable prefab pool
You can't build a high-quality swimming pool in one day, but the installation of prefab pools is indeed very fast. In addition, these pools are a bit cheaper than architectural swimming pools with counter-current devices and we are able to insulate these pools much better.
In addition to purchasing, you should not neglect the fixed costs per year. The larger the swimming surface and the more water in your pool, the higher these costs are. Think of filtration, disinfection and heating.
The Swimm Intelligent Pools tubs are expertly made of high-quality polypropylene (PP) or HDPE (with the Custom Swimm). These high-quality materials last a very long time, are easy to maintain and free of osmosis.
With a water surface of 4 m x 2.25 m, the energy and other fixed costs are very low. The Intelligent Pools are among the most sustainable swimming pools and are a great choice if you are looking for a pool for private use.
Dive into the world of Swimm and experience the difference!
