Increasing requirements for finish grade swimming ponds. Away with bumps

However, the more the line between swimming pond and swimming pool becomes blurred, the higher the requirements for finishing and detailing become.

Swimming ponds have undergone an enormous evolution over the past fifteen years. They have now completely lost the image of cold, dirty and green water feature and in its place they show double worth: practical swimming opportunity in summer, attractive natural element in winter. Corona and obligatory staycations have also further fueled the popularity of the swimming pond, as have the many hybrid alternatives that use water treatment based on hydrolysis, for example. 

Seamless

"Today, the swimming pond is considered a swimming pool in its own right," notes Stijn Frooninckx of waterproofing specialist Sealtec. "And it is subjected to the same quality requirements. Not only above ground, but just as much below the water surface. The thickening and glue residues you see with some films are no longer simply appreciated and there is a need for a seamless alternative. TPO films based on polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) are ideally suited for this, offering sustainable solutions for both swimming pond and hybrid, bio- or classic pool, regardless of budget."

When which film?

TPO films include several products, each with its own technical characteristics and color options. "PE films guarantee the very best color fastness in a chlorinated environment. They are therefore mainly used in classic swimming pools, but we also recommend this film for water treatments based on (salt) electrolysis. The color palette is also perfectly in line with these applications and includes mainly light and blue shades."

For ponds, swim ponds and hybrid pools with a low chemical load such as when using hydrolysis, Frooninckx mainly turns to the PP films, with or without fiberglass reinforcement. "Like the PE films, these are strong, perfectly waterproof, seamless to process and available in various thicknesses. In terms of colors, however, they are mainly dark shades of gray, green and blue. They are slightly less striking and provide more reflections on the water surface, for example."

To make the effect of the different foils and colors tangible, Sealtec offers registered installers, among other things, an updated, clear sample folder as well as the free Sealtec app. "With this, every user can virtually place a pool or swimming pond in their own garden, and check the visual impact of different foils, with or without water."

Also for renovations

PP films are also ideally suited for renovations, according to Frooninckx. "Those who already had a swimming pond installed in the past but want to make more use of it, or those who bought a house with a swimming pond, will probably plan some refurbishment work first. These often focus exclusively on the swimming zone. In the filter zone, renovation is usually less necessary and on top of that it is a big and dirty job." 

As a result, in such a renovation you always have to take into account the existing waterproofing of the filter zone. "In most cases, this will consist of EPDM, which can be perfectly combined with a TPO foil. For this, we provide a mechanical fastening on top of the intermediate wall to absorb the stresses, and a finish with an EPDM flashing to guarantee water tightness. Only the stepping stones need to be removed; the coping stones of the pool can remain perfectly in place. Thus, in no time at all, even older swimming ponds receive the level of finish expected today."