Tips & FAQ

The average pool size has reduced over the past 10 years along with the size of the average Gauteng garden. We are one of Gauteng’s most technically capable pool builder and after nearly 26 plus years we’ve built every sized pool for every size of property.

Some of our commercial pools have been positively enormous, while in contrast we also regularly install the smallest plunge pools in homes only a few metres wide. Consideration of uses for the total outdoor space, as well as budget, will determine how much of your yard can be occupied by the pool.

Other factors that may influence your sizing choice may be; position of water or sewer mains, shading from major trees or the dwelling, access to other parts of the block (eg garage at back), topography of the land.

Average plunge pool are typically 5×3 metres, 6×4 metres to 7×3 metres
Average family pool size are 7×3 metres, 8×4 metres or 9×4 metres
Typical lap pools sizes can be 9×2.5 metres, 10×3 metres to 15×3 metres

We are often sought out by homeowners telling us there is limited space for a pool on their property but they are concerned they don’t have access or perhaps the room to carry out construction.

Aries Pools is highly experienced at building pools in inaccessible places: tiny terrace houses, high rise apartments etc… and we are the most capable company for technically challenging sites. We even install pools in homes that have next to no room for a pool.

Be aware that works of this nature sometimes cost more for building support structures when we need to go over, around or under other structures. The easy way is to book a no obligation site assessment with us and we can offer expert advice even before you decide to go ahead.

A good swimming pool builder will help you by designing to suit the space you have and will advise the cost ramifications of varying sizes within that space. Also taking into account your existing and planned landscaping.

With an inexperienced builder the list could possibly be endless. Financial problems, completion delays, arguments over additional payments, damage to sewer or water mains, warranty claim issues.

When shopping around, ask the potential builder… Do you look after council approvals and water board? Do you offer a completion guarantee? How many pools have you built? What are your inclusions? Are your components (pipes, steel etc) imported or South African made? Are you a Master Builder? Do you charge extra for temporary fencing? Can I inspect a pool you’ve built in a suburb nearby to me? If so, look for cracking, large radius corners (pool is shaped like a bowl), poor craftsmanship such as loose or uneven tiling, signs of messy mortar and concrete, even staining!

Contact us on +27 82 413 7723 for no-cost expert advice on what else to look for or ask about when shopping around.

With so much experience in all areas of Gauetng, AriesPools has a good understanding of which suburbs are more likely to contain rock. Also we have found that most clients already know if there may be rock in their area. Prior to excavation, we try to estimate the amount of possible rock so there is less likelihood of unwelcome surprises.

You should allow 3 to 6 months for the entire consultation, design, construction and finishing process. This will vary moderately depending on your approval type, weather, complexity of construction, as well as the landscaping and the finishes you select.

Sometimes it's difficult to determine if low water levels are due to evaporation or a leak. You can discover leaks in your pool by conducting a simple bucket test. Fill a plastic bucket three-quarters full of water. On the inside of the bucket, mark the water line. Place the bucket in the pool, then mark the water line on the outside of the container. (If the bucket has a handle, remove it to allow for better stability while floating.) Let it float for two or three days. If the water inside and outside the bucket has gone down the same amount, your pool is losing water due to evaporation. However, if the pool water level has gone down more than the water inside the bucket, your pool has a leak. That's your cue to call a professional to have it patched.

Organic contaminants like ammonia or nitrogen build up in a pool over time. Massive amounts of such contaminants can interact with a pool's chlorine to form chloramines, which give off that potent chlorine smell that many people associate with pools. To get rid of this harsh odor, it's necessary to superchlorinate -- or shock -- pool water back to normal chlorine levels. While it may seem counterintuitive, adding a large amount of chlorine to a pool can make the undesired odor go away. Some pools should be shocked once a week, while others can go a significantly longer time. Follow manufacturers' instructions before superchlorinating your pool to get the best results.

Pool water should be tested regularly to make sure it's clean and healthy. The pH scale is a measurement of acidity or alkalinity that runs from 0 to 14. A reading between 7.2 and 7.8 is ideal; this range is safe for swimmers and helps sanitizers work at top efficiency.

You can monitor your pool's pH level with a testing kit. There are many kinds of testing kits available; however, most homeowner versions are either reagent kits or test-strips. Reagent kits aren't too difficult to use. You take a sample of pool water, then add liquids or tablets to it. The water changes color, indicating its chemical balance. Test-strips work differently. When you submerge them in the pool for a few seconds, dyes they contain cause them to change color. Next, match up the strip to a color chart to determine the pool's pH level. Use this information to gauge what kind and how much of the chemicals your pool needs.

A lot of water will be lost throughout the swimming season largely because of evaporation and normal wear and tear, such as swimming, splashing and exiting the pool. When you remove debris with your skimmer throughout the week, that's also a good time to check the water level. Ensure it doesn't fall below the level of the skimmer, otherwise the pump could be damaged. If the water is low, use a garden hose to bring it up to safe levels.

If you drain your pool to perform maintenance or once the swimming season has passed, be careful to not let the pool sit empty too long. As a general rule, it's best to leave water in a pool throughout the winter because the weight of the water counteracts with forces from the ground pressing up against the pool from below.

Pool heaters typically require the least maintenance of all pool equipment. Gas heaters can work fine without being serviced for a couple years, and electric ones can last even longer. Consult your manufacturer's manual for specific care instructions. Sometimes, calcium scales build up inside the tubes of a heater and restrict flow, preventing the water from heating adequately. If this happens, recruit the help of a professional because the heater may need to be disassembled and have its tubes cleaned out with a wire brush or acid. Hiring someone to service your pool can cost R1,000 or more per month, depending on the maintenance your pool requires.