10

Why should anyone trust Bluepools rather then any other pool installation firm?

The simple answer is:-

1. We have a 7 successful year track record of pool installation in France
2. We concentrate solely on pools
3. We try our very best to make every pool as good as it possibly can be
4. And last but by no means least if you are misled or feel that we have not been entirely honest and up-front you can complain to the Instituition of Civil Engineers who will deal with such complaints under their improper professional conduct rules.

What is the most enjoyable thing about the Bluepools business?

That is a very easy question to answer - It is hearing Clients say that they are really pleased with their swimming pool.
Most of them are so concerned about the risk of spending large sums on a swimming pool in the UK or France that they are absolutely delighted when the finished pool is even better then they had wished for!
We put a lot of effort into getting the pools 100% right because they are very costly items. We fully understand the anxieties and fears that are involved but it is a sad fact that only a few clients actually say thank you - We really appreciate it when they do.

Do the pool guarantees really work

Yes!

Of course no one can rely on a limited liability company being in existence to pick up guarantees for ever. But the underlying truth is that Bluepool designed pools are built so conservatively with such large reserves of strength that only a significant earthquake is going to damage the pool structure - and with an earthquake of that nature your house will have shook and fallen down long before any real damage occurs to your new pool!

And our Pool Installers have decennale insurance as well - just so that you have total peace of mind!

This is not so easy to answer so I am just going to give you a list

There are others but these are the most common. Whatever the problem is we will help you and your installer get over them including providing designs for any required works such as cut-off drains or ground water lowering.

What is the best time of year to get the pool installed in the UK and France?

Well the very worst time of year is January , February and March with April and May close behind depending on how wet the spring is!

The reason for this is that ground water levels are highest during these periods and even if this does not cause an actual construction problem we cannot get material deliveries onto the sites because the ground is too soft and even if we can get vehicles on the site the ground is badly damaged. Soft surfaces are also torn up badly by the digger and drives etc can be badly damaged.

So the best installation period is June to December. If there are no warm days in November and December it is somtimes difficult to install the liner, but this can just be delayed to April if need be.

I can hear you thinking won't this damage the pool structure. The answer is no because if the ground water rises the pool will fill with water - remember in our pools the structure is not waterproof as the liner holds the water in. The water level inside the pool will reflect the ground water level outside the pool and so there is no hydraulic loading on the pool walls.

I can see what the fully installed pool costs are from the Estimate Tool but is that what I will pay for a fully operational pool? - when I have got quotes from pool companies in the past the price quoted is always a lot more than the price on the website.

The prices shown in the Estimate Tool are for fully operational pools with a square Roman End at one end of the pool. The margelles (350 mm wide coping stones) are not included in the basic price because the choice of type is yours, but the standard margelles are often included in the pool price as a SPECIAL FREE OFFER.

The ARConWall concrete slabs that are 1m wide on 3 sides and 3m wide around the Roman End are provided with a floated finish. So the finished pool ihas a paved width of 1.35m on 3 sides of the pool and 3.35m at one end. This layout is shown below.

We also apply exterior grade floor finishing compound to make the concrete slabs smooth if you are not going to cover them with paving for a while. If large volumes of granular fill need to be imported to make up the levels around the pool that will also be charged as an extra.

If hard rock is encountered; or there is a high ground water table; or if the subsoil is weak; etc. the contract will provide provisions for these eventualities and the final cost price will reflect the cost of dealing with the problem.

So the Estimate Tool provide a contigency of 5% of the basic pool cost that normally works out between 1000 and 1500 euros. This money may also be needed to employ an electrician to resolve issues arising from the existing power distribution system at the Pool Buyers property.

The Estimate Tool price also assumes that free accommodation is provided by the client for up to three people for the installation period of 4 to 6 wee

The Estimate Tool also provides for:-

• Either levelling the pool excavation arisings around and near the pool but not for extensive landscaping or carting the arisings away from the pool or offsite.
• The safety device that is required under French law as well as the winter and summer covers as these also effect how you are going to deal with the French safety law requirements.
• The cost of getting a water and electricity supply from the Clients house to the pool plant room and the cost of the pool plant room structure because these will vary greatly from site to site.
• Submerged pool lights
• Travelling costs depending on just how far the pool site is away from our base in Jonzac.
  

We often provide the margelles, covers and submerged pool lights (normal charge 500 euros per light) as FREE SPECIAL OFFERS that can be worth up to 6000 euros HT, when the margelles are included - so look out for those!

What is the best testimonial that you have from an old client?

The following from a property developer that owns a large house near Cognac - the pool was completed in Spring 2006

"Bluepools have provided us with a reliable service and, once on site have seen the job through in a friendly and helpful manner.

As is always the case with construction projects there are always on- site problems to be dealt with and Bluepools have managed the project efficiently and intelligently.

The pool has been built to a high standard, technically. The construction methods used are of a high standard.

We have found Bluepools very helpful when answering our queries. We have needed very little after sales back up and see this as probably the perfect situation."

What are the biggest projects that Bluepools has carried out?

We built a 12 x 6 pool with an automatic cover, automatic chlorine dosing, heat pump, 200 square metres of paving, major curved retaining walls, suspended concrete steps and an underground plant room near Montflinquin (47150) in 2007 at a total project cost of 120,000 euros HT

We also built a 12 x 6 pool with heat pump, 200 square metres of paving, major retaining walls, on a very steep rocky slope at Juignac, near Montmoreau (16190) in 2008 at a total project cost of 100,000 euros HT

We love the difficult projects where there is a real challenge!

Can I have Any Shape, Size, Depth or Colour?

Yes - We only sell one type of swimming pool in France simply because it provides the best value available and all our Clients know and understand exactly what they are getting for their money.

And you can have any shape, size, depth or colour you want for virtually the same price (per unit area of course)!

In fact one of the first things that you will notice with many pools is that the shape and depth is fixed. The sellers of fibre glass pools do not even tell you the size of the swimming area - normally about 90% of the advertised pool size!

Procopi - our primary pool component supplier now stock different coloured skimmers, submerged light fittings and inlets etc. These can be matched with different coloured pool liners to obtain stunning looking pools. Just go toThrough the Wall Fittings Colour Options for more information

Hi Will,

Thanks for your news letter, I really do look forward to them as I now wish that I had got yourself to install my pool, people should take on board what you tell then, especially about the pitfalls and in particular picking the right quote and builder, also to remember that the cheapest is never usually the best as I have found out, I have now paid this guy 46K with all the extra’s.

 I received a quote from you around February last year, but because of the distance went for an English builder who was slightly closer and a little cheaper, (Big Mistake). The starting date of 1st May passed and he eventually he got started on the 3rd of August and completed the pool on the 26th of November 16 weeks from start to finish, this might seem a long time but when you take into account he and his 2 men had all of September off and only worked a 3 day week I suppose it was not too bad, however they seemed to spend more time travelling than building a pool

Luckily because he was so slow I was able to take photos from when he started the PolyBlok 8X4X1.4 deep pool to completion, the reason I am sending this email is because of your email a few days ago in particular your video on PolyBlok pools, was I relieved that at least he had built the pool almost as you explained it, with the exception that he poured and laid the foundation and floor all in one, I know it was at least 500mm thick with steel reinforcing. My only problem is we have 80 square meters of paving all round the pool that he hasn’t laid a solid foundation for, so I am expecting problems there.

The last thing people should know and check up on is there company and VAT registration numbers, I now know that his company number is bogus and his payment requests always included the vat, I now know he has no vat number but has charged me about £3600. And the final straw was to find out yesterday that he failed to pay the local DIY or builders merchant at least 1000 Euro.

I have actually contacted the UK VAT fraud squad about this guy, and to be honest I don’t think they seem to be bothered about it, they haven’t even acknowledged my complaint.

Thanks again for your regular emails; I really do wish I had taken more heed of them, because you do give out sound advice.

Kind Regards

Tom O’Donnell 20th January 2010

Thank you to Bluepools for the lovely swimming pool you have installed for us. We are very pleased with it and this justifies our decision to choose Bluepools to do the installation for us. It has been a great success with our gite clients also, from whom we have had some very complimentary comments.

Best Regards
Kevin & Debbie MILLS

Bluepools built our pool and completely reshaped the old quarry in which it was built - we now have a magnificent facility for entertaining our family and friends

Owen Bull

Bluepools built our new pool in 2008 on a very steep hillside above our millhouse holiday home, near Angoluleme in Dept 16. It involved very deep foundations down into the underlying rock as well as suspended concrete slabs that support the sunbathing areas around the pool

Michael Brooks

I appreciated the answers to my questions and the time Luke spent at our initial meeting, going thriough the various options, with helpful suggestions and observations on our plans for our new pool at our holiday home near Tarbres. It was a relief to find a company that was prepared to offer a full construction solution including the terracing, steps and landscaping. I found the quotation very comprehensive, and useful to have an idea of the costs we might incur should ground conditions prove difficult - which they did!! Also appreciated Bluepools ability to overcome the difficulty encountered with the water table.

You were pretty accurate in terms of timescale for completing the project although there was an over run of three days because of the day or two later than advised start, the extra work involved in overcoming the water table issue, and the inclement weather towards the end of the final week.

Having been initially advised by Luke that an engineering project of this scale would undoubtedly create damage to the land surrounding the pool site, we were pleasantly surprised at how little damage had actually been caused. Overall, very happy with how everything has been handled, and would happily recommend Bluepools - especially now they're going to have a presence down that way.

Kind Regards

Andrew Lund-Yates

I would like to thank you for the way you handled the installations off the two swimming pools for me. You managed to start just after the selected time, proved to be totally reliable and finished in the time frame you had expected. The quality of the work was fine and you left everything neat and tidy after you had finished. I have good relationship with Luke and he has always been available to sort out any teething problems. I would like to wish you all the very best for the future.

Kind Regards Keith Trenter

When working on an old house there are always many unforeseen problems, and, like many other Brits, our house is old. So when it came to putting a swimming pool close to the house it was not surprising to find some complications. Bluepools proved themselves by recognising these complications and coming up with solutions.
Their ability to cope with these extras has made such a difference. Otherwise we would have been chasing around, spending time we really do not have, looking for additional artisans to do those unforeseen bits and pieces.
From the earliest stages, a test hole for the fosse septique soak-away, through to completion of the swimming pool Bluepools products and services have been good which means peace of mind for us."

Peter Butler

Hi Bluepools,

The pool has been brilliant and we have had an increase in the number of people wanting to visit as a result. But that is something we can put up with!

Caroline Jones

Dear Bluepools

Many thanks to you, Will and the lads for a terrific job, Amanda and I are really pleased with the result.

Tom Dodds

Hi Bluepools

I am at les Pesquies for a few days. We have a beautiful looking pool that several people have commented upon with admiration and expressed interest in having one themselves and knowing how we got it built. I have been happy to respond with two positive references for prospective clients.

Hamish Macdonald