FAQs
COSTS:
Building a natural pool from scratch typically costs about 1.5 times more than a conventional pool with the same area of open water.
This is largely due to the natural pool requiring additional space for the planted filter area. For example, a 15m² chlorine pool would roughly translate to a 23m² natural pool with a 15m² swim zone.
Costs can vary significantly though. Pools are centrepieces of the home and you may want to incorporate a range of other design details that interface or surround the pool itself. This can include decking, pergolas, fire pits, woodfired sauna or all of the above.
Natural pools also often feature custom designs, organic shapes, and landscaping elements like boulders and stone cladding, which can further increase expenses.
We offer solutions for all budgets, so it's best to discuss your needs with us.
Our fees are based on the scope of work required to meet your brief.
Each project is customized to suit your budget, with exact figures provided in our fee proposal and project agreement.
Before providing detailed figures, we require you to fill out our application form and arrange a discovery consultation call. We will never initiate work without your approval of the expected costs.
DESIGN:
Designing these systems requires a degree of ecological expertise, such as knowing how to space and size plant filters, selecting the best substrate material, and determining the appropriate water circulation speed.
We bridge the gap between the practical aspects of pool construction, aesthetic design and high filtration functionality.
Our systems vary in size depending on what our clients need and what your space can allow. The smallest project we have designed is around 10m2 and the largest is just over 130m2.
The space for plants is a byproduct of the design as a whole. No 1 number fits all. As a rule of thumb you can work off every 1m2 of open water you would want 0.5m2 of planted area.
The incorporation of plants should be seen as a wonderful design constraint, that leaves space for a much more rewarding end experience, not a statistical chore we need to meet.
Yes, your natural pool can have a conventional appearance, and the swimming area can be separate from the plants. These systems are highly customizable based on your key priorities. While many natural pools are designed to blend seamlessly with the environment, they can also be constructed with a more traditional look, featuring ladders and smooth surfaces. Additionally, it's possible to design the pool so that the swimming area is distinct from the plant zone, ensuring you can enjoy a conventional pool experience if you prefer.
PROCESS:
Visit our process page and follow the steps outlined there.
This meeting allows us to delve deeper into the answers you provided in your application form and for you to ask any questions you have.
This consultation is usually over a video call, however, in-person meetings can be arranged if travel costs are covered.
Our design process is collaborative, we work with you to ensure your vision is achieved while meeting any budget, spacing, flow, and construction constraints. The design process ends when we reach a consensus, but revisions may extend the timeline.
In certain cases where outside expertise is needed, such as engineers and specialists, their availability may affect the project timeline.
We limit the number of projects we take on each year to give each process the necessary time and urgency.
The construction phase is to be carried out by the relevant contractors. We are not builders and believe in letting specialist contractors execute on all the specific aspects of the build.
We will assist in finding the best partners to work with, but the final decision will rest with you. Often our clients have existing relationships with builders, carpenters or electricians and in most cases we are happy to work with them.
Our role during construction is to ensure the brief you shared and the design we created are captured as well as possible.
Building is a journey that takes time and resources but we have set up our process to support you at each step.
The timeline for these systems varies from 6 weeks to 12 months, depending on the specifics. Our focus is on achieving the best results, not just completing the design and construction as quickly as possible.
When building a new house, it’s best to start the pool design work early and incorporate it into the overall property design. Construction of the pool can proceed in parallel to other work, but finishing and planting should be done last, for a pristine and healthy end product.
We don’t project manage builds directly but support you in being the best project manager you can be or working closely with your appointed project manager.
We have the expertise and experience to understand all aspects of the build, from excavations to lighting.
SITE CONDITIONS:
While it may seem ideal, these sites often turn out to be more complicated and costly. A high water table can interfere with a liner-based design or complicate construction, sometimes both.
WILDLIFE:
Absolutely. Creating an ecologically designed system attracts various species that coinhabit your local area and garden. Everything attracted to a natural water source may be drawn to your pool, from dragonflies and birds to frogs.
If there are specific species you’d prefer to avoid, let us know, and we can address this in the design brief.
DOWNSIDES:
If you’ve made it this far you should have a clear idea of what the potential downside is.
Honestly, there isn’t much, but if we are to try to list some of them this is what we’d say:-
If your pool attracts certain frogs or toads, their chorus in the evening can be intense, which may delight some clients and disturb others.
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Biofilm can make surfaces slightly slippery, but we can make design decisions that ensure safety.
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Natural pools are living systems, just like your garden or yourself. Things take time, nature has its own pace. If the system has a shock or undergoes a major change, it can take time to find its equilibrium. Instant solutions are not commonly found.
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MAINTENANCE:
Maintenance is crucial for the long-term functionality of your natural pool system. It's an unavoidable aspect, and anyone claiming maintenance-free systems is not being truthful. Just like your car, a service and maintenance plan is essential.
Natural pools differ from conventional chlorine pools in terms of the type of maintenance required. You won't need to buy toxic products, test water chemistry, or backwash your pool anymore. Instead, you will act as a steward of the pool, ensuring that plants are pruned, debris is removed, and the system is protected from pollution.
The exact level of maintenance and its frequency will largely depend on the final design of your pool. This aspect of the project will be customized to suit your preferences. We also offer maintenance services, and every project will receive a personalised maintenance plan for your convenience.