The Costa Blanca is well known for being Sunny, and while the Marina Alta has some great beaches in Denia, Javea and Moraira, a personal swimming pool can still be a nice addition to any home.

But before you go digging up your garden there are several things you need to be aware of.

The Essentials

A swimming pool is considered a “major work” and so it is subject to a few legal requirements and some necessary paperwork as a part of the process.

You will need to get planning permission and in not doing so you will likely experience problems should you want later sell the property or leave it in your will.

To make sure that your swimming pool meets the various legal regulations and requirements, such as ensuring that it isn’t too close to property boundaries or the street, you are obliged by law to hire an architect.

They will have to make drawings of the plan which then must be submitted to the local council along with a fee.

Upon completion it will need to be formally recognised by logging it with the property register and catastro.

Planning

Planning is essential. Considering for a swimming pool you could pay as much as 30,000€, it’s definitely worth the effort of being sure of what you want and what you need.

Firstly, what do you intend to use it for? Does it require both a shallow and a deep end or is it fine being even?

If your intention is to use it to cool off in the summer, considering the cost of maintenance, a smaller pool will be cheaper to build, warm up quicker in the summer sun and require less water saving you some money.

On the subject of heating, are you comfortable letting the warm Marina Alta sun do the work for you, or do you want to install heating? This can add a considerable amount to the cost of installation and maintenance.

And lastly, do you want your neighbours to be able to see you? Not likely! So you have to consider it’s location where you get to keep your privacy, as well as meeting the legal requirements mentioned above.

Materials

When having a swimming pool built, it’s not simply a case of digging a hole, creating a few concrete walls and filling it with water.

The amount and type of material required will have to deal with the large amount of pressure created by the weight of the water as well as be impermeable to prevent leakages, which can cause all sorts of problems.

Each material has it’s pros and cons so it’s important to consider which option is right for you.

Gunite for example is the most expensive but has the benefit of being much more durable, where as a fibreglass option is easier to maintain and is less likely to suffer from problems with algae.

Maintenance

Keeping the pool clean and well maintained is important for ensuring the safety of those who use it as well as preventing any problems in the future.

A good filtration system is a must, and ideally you want the area surrounding the pool to be as clear of mess as possible to prevent anything falling in and blocking it.

You will also need to ensure the PH of the water is stable and safe to keep the pool free of bacteria but also to prevent harming the skin and eyes of those that use it.