Natural Pool - New Build
With a budget of R340k - R550k
A natural pool is generally 1.5 times the cost of a conventional pool. (This does not include low-cost fibreglass drop-in pools as a comparison). Remember a natural pool is 1.8x the size as it includes the wetland and almost always involves quite bespoke design and consideration in terms of how it ties into the garden and landscape. They are also generally deeper than conventional pools and with all our pools in this price bracket we insist on using EDPM or shuttered concrete as waterproofing as we don’t want you to have a leak under 20 cubes of gravel and plants in 8 years time.
The options below are by no means prescriptive and there are a hundred ways to design a pool but it does give a general idea of cost and scope.
3m x 6m Swimzone
Pools in this price range are always bespoke and involve a design phase where we consider not just the pool but the context of the garden and landscape and how they all tie together. This might include raised sections, a deck and stepping stones. As well as practical matters like working a pool into a unique space or context where there might be a slope, existing structures etc.
This option also includes EPDM rubber for waterproofing. It is better to use EDPM rubber rather than fibreglass as the fibreglass will only potentially last 8 - 15 years. The EPDM will last 30 years + This is important, particularly under the wetland which is 1m deep and filled with plants and gravel.
It also makes use of a low-power pump for circulation and basic pre-filtration of debris. It is advisable to also install a high-power pool pump & filter to run a few hours a day if you want the pool to be spotless and cut down on maintenance but this does add another R12k to the cost.
COST ESTIMATE R340K
4m x 8m Swimzone
This is similar to the above example but just larger. At 8m in length, one can be able to swim a lap. Pools in this price range are always bespoke and involve a design phase where we consider not just the pool but the context of the garden and landscape and how they all tie together. This might include waterfalls, raised sections, a deck and stepping stones. As well as practical matters like working a pool into a unique space or context where there might be a slope, existing structures etc.
This option also includes EPDM rubber for waterproofing. It is better to use EDPM rubber rather than fibreglass as the fibreglass will only potentially last 8 - 15 years.
It also makes use of a low-power pump for circulation and basic pre-filtration of debris. It is advisable to also install a high-power pool pump & filter to run a few hours a day if you want the pool to be spotless and cut down on maintenance but this does add another R20k to the cost.
COST ESTIMATE R550k
The Swim Pond
The swim pond is technically no different from the examples above and is similar in cost per sqm. The only difference is that is feels and appears more like a pond with organic curved edges. We build a submerged swimzone in the middle the vertical retaining walls to make a nice deep swim zone and the wetland wraps all the way around the edges.
Lets Talk
If what you see here lights your fire then please get in touch . We can arrange a site visit and talk about any particular features you have in mind and go through questions or objections you might have.
Remember that cost can very depending on site access, the time of soil we are digging, proximity etc. So we would need to get you a final quotation.
NB: We only service areas within 2.5hrs of Cape Town. If you are outside of Cape Town you can always consider our DIY Online course available here.