Building a swimming pool outside a villa in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany or in other beautiful settings allows you to enrich the aesthetic appearance of the property and create a point of comfort and relaxation that you can use to find refreshment on hot summer days.
If you too want to build a masonry pool in Tuscany, there are many aspects you need to consider but the benefits will not be long in coming.
ARTICLE INDEX
Masonry pool: what it is and why to choose it
Before proceeding with the construction of a swimming pool it is necessary to evaluate all the possibilities.
Among the most popular and considered solutions, regardless of the context in which it fits, is the masonry pool.
Those decide on this option certainly gain important benefits in terms of strength and durability. The masonry pool is also the best option in case specific constraints in terms of size and irregular shapes have to be met because the final product can be customized in every aspect, including finishes, such the inclusion of stairs.
To achieve an excellent end result, you need to turn to a construction company with long experience in the field, such as Biemme Restauri. Our construction company in Florence, for example, is highly specialized in the construction of masonry swimming pools in Tuscany and puts a professional at the client's side who can develop a tailor-made project that knows how to make the best use of space and guarantees durability.
In fact, not everyone knows that the masonry pool must be made with special materials and specific products to ensure that water can never creep inside the structure and create damage.
Fortunately, this can be easily averted thanks to the expertise available and the ability to use the latest products and materials that guarantee maximum waterproofing.
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The Types of Masonry Pools
Masonry pools can be categorized into two types, namely skimmer and infity.
The first option is the quintessential masonry pool because it guarantees a quality product and provides access to affordability.
This saving is not due to the use of less expensive materials, but rather to the possibility of carrying out less masonry work. In addition, this type of pool is faster and easier to install.
The downside is that making an infinity pool undoubtedly provides an extraordinary aesthetic impact somewhat reminiscent of the large pools found in major resorts around the world.
This is due to the fact that the water arrives at exactly the same level as the ground, thus hiding the edges of the structure itself.
In the former type, the skimmers and the various openings allow the water recirculation and purification systems in a very simple way while in the latter variant an alternative solution has to be implemented with the water having to gush out beyond the edge through a system of nozzles to force its motion.
In simple words, the water is collected inside conduits installed in the perimeter part of the pool and then to be brought to the compensation tank that performs somewhat of a tank-like function. From this point the water will return to the pool to keep the level the same at all times.
​Masonry or Prefabricated Pool
Masonry pools allow you to customize every single aspect and especially the aesthetic one.
This is an indisputable advantage that makes this solution preferred over the prefabricated pool.
In fact, in the second case there are fewer opportunities to be able to change the aesthetic characteristics. Among other things, once you choose the type of prefabricated pool, you cannot go back because the dimensions will remain the same and so will the shape.
With a masonry pool, on the other hand, the client has the possibility to evaluate different options by choosing from materials that guarantee beauty, elegance but also functionality.
​How is a Masonry Pool Coated?
First of all, it should be said that pools made of masonry from the point of view of coating are suitable for all materials such as stone, specially treated porcelain stoneware or reinforced membranes.
There are no constraints in this respect, so you can choose a beautiful mosaic with tiles of various sizes and colours, such as the traditional light blue color that offers a nice aesthetic impact and many effects that can be recreated on the backdrop.
This way you have a comfortable pool to use on hot summer days and at the same time an element of decoration for the outdoor spaces of the property to organize a private event such as a birthday party or a small ceremony.
It should be noted that one can also choose to cover the entire interior surface of the pool with PVC, which does not allow for a major aesthetic impact such as mosaic.
Why, then, might one think of PVC? Simply to access better value for money.
​The Question of the Pool Cover
The pool enriches the aesthetic appearance of the garden and more generally provides comfort and relaxation during the good seasons. However, in order to be able to enjoy all this, it is essential that at the design stage we also think about the best possible cover.
Indeed, protecting the pool from thermal fluctuations and more generally from climatic agents means being able to preserve it over time and enjoy it for longer. There are different schools of thought on the characteristics that a proper cover should have, but the basic fact concerns the goal of keeping the water temperature stable and constant, especially during the winter season.
In fact, if the water temperature were to drop and get close to zero, it would mean transmitting this temperature also to the pool structure with related deterioration of the coverings and all the finishing elements.
Choosing an appropriate cover means minimizing the necessary maintenance work that has to be done each time the pool is opened around June or July.
Among other things, the latest generation of covers allow the pool to be used during the winter period.
It might seem like an excessive and in some ways unnecessary investment, but in fact in addition to providing protection, the enclosure allows the customer to use the pool virtually 365 days a year.
Today with modern handling systems it is possible to create a mechanism that allows the cover to be closed and opened with a simple click.
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Cost to Build a Masonry Pool
In our society’s collective imagination, a swimming pool is synonymous with luxury and expense that the majority of the population cannot afford.
This assumption was certainly valid until a few years ago while today there are more possibilities and everyone can think about this kind of comfort, provided they have the right space for its construction.
Obviously, it is not possible to establish the cost of swimming pools precisely because there are some variables to take into account starting from the materials to the size of the pool.
In addition, even for swimming pools it is possible to think about the many accessories such as the same cover that makes it usable for all months of the year but that has not minor costs.
However, wanting to give an indication of the market, in a masonry pool made from scratch let's say with dimensions of 5 m x 10, there is a minimum cost of about €10,000 if it is made above ground otherwise it takes at least €15,000 if the pool is in-ground.
If you then add a canopy or another type of cover, you have to consider at least another €6,000-7000. These are approximate prices in order to be able to roughly determine how much an above-ground masonry pool might cost, but it should be kept in mind that a lot depends on the materials that are chosen because it is one thing to cover with PVC and another thing to make a beautiful mosaic with each tile inserted by hand by a professional installer.
The reason why an above-ground pool is more cost-effective than an in-ground pool is very simple. First of all, installation is easier and faster because there is no excavation to be done, and among other things, there are no permits to apply for. Of course, you will need to create a concrete base on which you can build the pool according to the design.
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The Permits Required for the Construction of a Masonry Pool
When constructing a masonry swimming pool, you must apply for permits and administrative authorization otherwise you will incur what is called 'construction abuse’ for which criminal proceedings can occur and the pool will be demolished immediately.
Since regulations regarding permits for swimming pool construction vary throughout the country and even the provincial territory, it is always advisable before undertaking a project to go to the technical office of the relevant municipality to obtain specific information.
There is to consider that there may be constraints of various kinds such as landscape, urban planning or environmental. Nationwide, there have been several lawsuits and legal disputes from which it has emerged that building a swimming pool always requires a building permit, so a simple Scia will not be sufficient but a project must be submitted to the Technical Office (Ufficio Technico), which will then be carefully evaluated by the municipal council.
One has to keep in mind that regulations and rules vary depending on the land where one builds because, for example, on agricultural land there are certain rules that have to be followed, which are different from those for an area under archaeological and landscape constraint.
To avoid problems that can become very serious, it is advisable to consult a professional in the field who will evaluate the project in detail under all facets.
​How much Space is needed for an In-ground Pool?
As we have seen, making an inground pool has slightly higher costs and time since more excavation and structural work is required than for an outdoor masonry pool.
Another constraint to be taken into consideration when building an inground pool is definitely space. So how much space is needed for an inground pool?
If it is a private pool to be placed in the garden, we at Biemme Restauri recommend a minimum size of 4 m x 8 m. You also need to take into account the perimeter space, which roughly should be at least 1.5 m.
Building a masonry swimming pool in Florence
Building a masonry pool in Florence is easy and hassle-free if you turn to serious and experienced firms like Biemme Restauri.
Our construction company in Florence specializes in building renovations across the board, from landscaping and redevelopment of outdoor spaces to the complete renovation of a farmhouse.
And to fully enjoy your newly restored country home, what could be better than a beautiful masonry swimming pool?