Installing a pool at your French home: What to consider

Selling point, somewhere to cool off, or a place to make happy memories – pools are a must for many buyers in France – Julia French has the lowdown on installation…

A swimming pool is a considerable investment. However, with so much of our time being spent outside in the warmer months, you will enjoy reaping the rewards by gaining an additional living space. Think of it as an extension to your house, because essentially that is what you are getting – but a lot more fun!

As with any investment, it’s important to do your research. You want to ensure your pool is going to be everything you wished for. Quality should be your starting point. Seek a reputable pool company, preferably with a physical office and after-sales service. This is not essential, but very handy if your French isn’t up to scratch, as sometimes a face-to-face conversation is easier and more transparent than an email or phone call.

Don’t leave everything down to the pool installer though. Consider your options and think about the decisions you’ll have to make in advance.

It sounds obvious, but plan your outside space as a whole. How you use your garden may change, so aim to future-proof it. You might later decide to have a potager, or create a gravelled area for pétanque. With this in mind, mentally zone areas so this is possible. If you have an outbuilding, you could site the pool near it and convert it into a pool house with a summer kitchen and bar area. It is one way of preventing wet feet going in and out of the main house and, of course, would give you more time to spend beside the pool.

You’ll need to consider the position of your fosse septique, if you have one. Not sure? Your pool installer will make the necessary enquiries to your local SPANC (Public Service for Non-Collective Sanitation), the body that deals with everything related to sanitation. Don’t be put off by a simple surface-water excavation pipe; this can usually be redirected if it is in the way of the pool. Your filter beds, on the other hand, will be a bit trickier to relocate!

If possible, have the length facing the best view as this is typically where the loungers are placed; otherwise they may end up being crammed together at the width end.

For pools on a slope, it is best to for the length to be oriented crosswise, to reduce the level impact on the decline. Your pool installer will advise you on your particular situation as each project is different.

It’s worth spending a bit of time working out where the sun hits your chosen spot. Note whether there are trees overhead or a building casting a shadow. Trees provide a nice level of shade but can also mean dead leaves in your pool, which will be a maintenance issue. If you want planting near your pool, smaller potted plants are best. Ideally, choose a sunny spot with natural shade nearby.

The local technique or plant room needs to be within 14m of the pool, ideally less to ensure optimum filtration performance. Your choice of structure can be a simple, purpose-built cabin or a breeze- block construction. You may even be able to accommodate it within an existing outbuilding.

In terms of dimensions, start by pacing out the size you would like, mark the corners, and then take the measurements. This way you might instinctively find the right size, although if it turns out to be of Olympic proportions, your budget might be a problem!

The rectangular shape is typical in France, which works well for both practical and aesthetic purposes. Standard sizes are 8x4m, 10x5m or 12x6m. However, you can have whatever size you want, depending on your installer. If you are interested in using the pool to do some ‘proper lengths’, you could have the dimensions narrower and longer, 12x4m, for example. Or go the whole hog and have a ‘couloir de nage’, that’s 3x15m.

The main decision is whether you would like the steps to be integrated within the rectangular shape or outside in the form of semicircular or square with straight steps. You may wish to have a splash bench, which is a shelf along the width, great for fun with the little ones; or full-width steps, or box steps located in the corner. For safety, steps can be installed with an anti-slip. surface, and for ease and comfort you can have a handrail. Of course, it’s not obligatory to have steps, you could opt for a simple pool ladder instead.

This is something that can get overlooked but can make a huge difference in your enjoyment of the pool. There are many different floor forms, but the two main choices are a constant depth or to have a shallow end and a deep end. The constant depth option is great for sports, such as water volleyball, as you will never be out of your depth. However, if your children or grandchildren have any aspirations to be the next Tom Daley, a pool with a deep end will give them plenty of time to perfect their pike!

By law, in France you need either an alarm, a fence, a cover or an enclosure (abri) for your swimming pool. It is a matter of personal choice, and whichever option you choose will only work if you enforce its use. The safety cover and abri are a great preventative measure as long as they are closed when the pool is not in use. It must be remembered that a pool alarm is a reactive device that must not be relied on to stop accidents happening, it is not a preventative option. This is a subject worth discussing in detail with your pool installation professional so you can find a solution that suits your individual situation.

Installing pool lights allows you to enjoy your pool after dark. Even if you have had enough ‘pool action’ for one day, you can sit back and admire the view. If you are having a terrace, lighting embedded in the tiles will highlight the perimeter of the pool and frame the area.

Showers are an excellent addition to help keep your pool maintenance down to a minimum by reducing the level of lotions and potions entering your pool. Showers can be solar heated and should be within a short hopping distance from the water to make it feel like an indulgence rather than a chore.

The colour most associated with a swimming pool is blue, but not all blues are the same. The colour of the liner material doesn’t replicate the colour of the water. If you think about the colour of the sea on a sandy beach and compare that to grey shingle, the water isn’t yellow or grey, they are both blue – just a different blue. The most popular pool colour linings are: Sable which gives the water an aqua green sparkle similar to a sandy Mediterranean sea. Pale blue a calm, gentle, soft effect and always blue, even on the cloudiest days. Light grey-similar to the pale blue, but with a cool and contemporary edge. Dark grey – gives the water an indulgent, warmer feel, similar to the Adriatic waters. White-provides a crisp, clean blue. It’s a modern choice providing a great contrast in green surroundings. While thinking about the lining colour, also consider the pool cover, as this can be the same colour, along with the pieces for the inlets, skimmers and floor drain for an overall co-ordinated effect.

Your pool should be a cohesive project, with all your choices working well and in harmony with each other. As with any design project, all the components need to match up to make it work. We’ve just tackled the basics here, your pool installer will be able to fill in the gaps.

The steps need to work with the depth, the pool needs to be located in the right spot, taking advantage of the situation, and the size needs to be right for you. It must be safe and it needs to be as beautiful as you always imagined your very own swimming pool would be. A pool isn’t just for fun and games, it can be for cooling off and relaxing – it’s also somewhere to dip your toes into and feel special. Above all, your swimming pool will provide a space for your friends and family of all ages to be together, making happy lasting memories, which is absolutely priceless.

Julia French runs Pristine Piscines in southwest France.

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