Building a Marble Swimming Pool

[Marmite the Dog]

^ Like this I reckon.

[dirtydog]

8 out of 10 for marmite actually it's easier to glue the nail in the other way round

[Whiteshiva]

^ Like this I reckon.

But wouldn't it be dangerous for the swimmers if the whole swimming pool was full of tiles like that??????


OK - I got it - just trolling a bit now, I guess.... we'll see if anyone bites....

[Marmite the Dog]

Of course, using proper adhesive would be better, but that would mean doing it properly.

[Dougal]

These slabs have a fibreglass mesh bonded to the back to give them a key.

[Thetyim]

Now Marmers piccy is what I was guessing you meant except that I thought the nail head would be on the 'outside'.
Using a bent nail which DD forgot to mention.

Why do you need a groove?
Couldn't the bent nail just be glued on ?

[Dougal]

Why do you need a groove? Couldn't the bent nail just be glued on ?

Using a groove gives the glue more grip on the nail and the marble.

[dirtydog]

There isn't any need to bend the nail as it comes out at an angle anyway.

[hillbilly]

This thread shows what building in Thailand is really like! Great job DD!

[Driventowin]

This is why I want to re-start up my own swimming pool company here. These processes illustrated here are about 40 years out of date and that is no exaggeration. the process of pouring concrete to manufacture a pool went out of date with the Apollo missions. Everything being used here including the lights has been far better refined than this, I am not sure why so many lights are needed? In fact I am certain that they aren't needed!

Why are some are 100W and others 300W it all sounds like a complete cluster f@#$ to me I am sorry to say and that doesn't even address the safety concerns that few of you even know about in the construction of your swimming pools mainly lack of electrical safeties I have seen in the electrical installations here.

What I would like to know besides the overall cost is how long this process took? I would give you an estimated cost upfront because I know what the he!! I am doing and I am confident in my experience. The pools I have seen built here for the most part take way too long which ends up costing far more for everyone involved especially cutting the profit margin considerably which drives the overall cost of the pool.

I have experience with processes that are available here recently that would cut the time in half or even less with a better quality, safer, stronger, longer lasting, more aesthetically pleasing swimming pool, maybe slightly higher in price but certainly well worth it since they have far fewer problems and save the homeowner measurably more energy which is a big concern these days with Oil prices hovering around $100 PB.

Just FYI In the South Florida area where I did all aspects of swimming pool maintenance, repairs and construction on multi-million dollar (not Baht) homes.

The entire area is approximately 11 feet below sea level thus the swamp in the middle. Therefore every swimming pool nearly all of which are in-ground pools have this amount of water year round that has to be removed during construction and it's all in the process. This entire idea of additional cost for water cisterns or surge tanks as they are more commonly known under ground is completely out dated and a waste of another important resource being water, and space where it is already limited not to mention the additional time wasted and added cost of construction and materials.

More than 90% percent of these pools leak as well due to the construction, who is paying for all of that water? You the consumer! In more ways than just monetarily, additionally you pay for more chemicals too, to balance that fresh, new water with constantly, that is...When they even balance the water here.



Whew!! Now I feel a little better, I could make several other points as well but I think I'm having a stroke as probably you are too by now, so I'll save them for another post... OK, well... Soap box off for now...

[dirtydog]

I am not sure why so many lights are needed?

This swimming pool is more of an ornament than a swimming pool, the owner never uses it.

[DrAndy]

This is why I want to re-start up my own swimming pool company here. These processes illustrated here are about 40 years out of date and that is no exaggeration. the process of pouring concrete to manufacture a pool went out of date with the Apollo missions. ...

It is no good making criticisms and not backing them up with information DT

please let us know what are these modern methods as they are still pouring concrete to make pools in Europe.

[AntRobertson]

please let us know what are these modern methods as they are still pouring concrete to make pools in Europe.

Even better, PM them to me so I can start my own swimming pool Co.

[Spin]

What I would like to know besides the overall cost is how long this process took?

Who gives a shit how long it takes?, three guys on 140 baht per day. it dont matter if it takes them 10 months its still pennies. It would be 1800 Uk pounds for labour. its nothing.

[Driventowin]

This is why I want to re-start up my own swimming pool company here. These processes illustrated here are about 40 years out of date and that is no exaggeration. the process of pouring concrete to manufacture a pool went out of date with the Apollo missions. ...

It is no good making criticisms and not backing them up with information DT

please let us know what are these modern methods as they are still pouring concrete to make pools in Europe.

Let me just say that first off these aren't criticisms... They are professional observations based on more than 20 years experience, take them or leave them but I am not willing to include all of my years of trade secrets here on a public forum so that others can just pilfer them as has already been done to me numerous times before.

For the purposes of demonstration only I will make an exception this one time but as a rule information has a price. People pay consultants all the time for just that and based on my experience there are certain topics such as pools it would be wiser just take my word for it or not... It's up to you, but I chose to keep my trade secrets just that until such time as I enter the market, it's my edge..

One of those processes is referred to as Gunite, it is a modern form of concrete application that uses far less water therefore is far stronger than poured concrete and done properly has no cold joints and is more form-able for aesthetics.

This swimming pool is more of an ornament than a swimming pool, the owner never uses it.

As most pools actually are..

Who gives a shit how long it takes?, three guys on 140 baht per day. it dont matter if it takes them 10 months its still pennies. It would be 1800 Uk pounds for labour. its nothing.

Well in spite of the abrasive tone of your post....You may not, but most sensible people don't like the inconvenience of having a dirty, dangerous, open hole in their backyard for months on end at any cost.

Additionally just like in this situation this house's foundation is in jeopardy every single day it is an open hole, how much do you supposed this pool would cost if it's construction began to undermine the house, which it probably already has in spite of the temporary retention walls.

Finally, from a business point of view, which is what I was mostly speaking about, if your 140baht per day workers are tied up for 10 months on one pool than building others is going to be quite difficult and therefore not profitable.

Now, your come back is going to be to hire more unskilled labor to complete those pools without supervision because eventually you have more laborers than you can efficiently oversee, and there in lies your answer to the construction problems faced here in Thailand, bottom line like every where else, you get what you pay for.

So given that the British pound is more than twice the dollar you would be well advised to let some of your wealth go to have a proper construction crew complete your projects in a shorter period of time IMO..

[Dalton]

Even better, PM them to me so I can start my own swimming pool Co.

Quite a jump, from use-car sales-man to SW-pool contractor, I admire your guts

[dirtydog]

Additionally just like in this situation this house's foundation is in jeopardy every single day it is an open hole, how much do you supposed this pool would cost if it's construction began to undermine the house, which it probably already has in spite of the temporary retention walls.

Your really wild guessing there aint you.

[lom]

So given that the British pound is more than twice the dollar

Sour grapes

[AntRobertson]

Quite a jump, from use-car sales-man to SW-pool contractor, I admire your guts

I'm a Renaissance man (did I spell that right?)

[Dalton]

Yeah, and I'm the Pope...

[dirtydog]

Why are some are 100W and others 300W it all sounds like a complete cluster f@#$ to me

I feel sure if I checked google there would be the option to buy 100w or 300 w swimming pool lights even in America The Land Of The Free.

more aesthetically pleasing swimming pool,

Concrete pours you can make any shape you want so I have no idea of what you are talking about.

repairs and construction on multi-million dollar (not Baht) homes.

This poor little house in Jomtien is valued at multi million dollars, but that aint saying a lot as the dollar is pretty much worthless, it consists of 2 houses and about 9 bedrooms and about the same in bathrooms, well actually a few more bathrooms than bedrooms, as for gunite that has also been round for years, are you telling us it is structural?

[Spin]

I am not willing to include all of my years of trade secrets here on a public forum so that others can just pilfer them as has already been done to me numerous times before.

Thats your decision. DD is quite happy to do so, sure he holds a little back for himself but at least he shares the basics which is more than you are doing.

Maybe we can pay you to come on here and share your experience.

I'm sure that everyone is absolutley chomping at the bit to deal with a pompous twat like you.

[dirtydog]

Driventowin, there really are no trade secrets anymore, it is all on the internet, even down to how to change the engine oil on your car, yet still most people take their car to the garage to get it done, people generally can't be bothered or don't have the time to do things for themselves, so they pay other people to do them for them, why you think your trade secrets are better than anybody elses I have no idea, if they were you would be retired here now in Thailand rather than looking for a partner to put up the money to get you into the swimming pool business.

[Driventowin]

All I can say to this barrage of intellectually challenged comments is don't be a hypocrite then next time you have something to complain about regarding construction here, remember how receptive you were to this reply..

And You don't know me or my circumstances for being here In Thailand but I am certain they are based on a more honorable reason than the masses, but these days in a "get what you can for yourself and piss on the rest" world that doesn't really matter anymore...

JFYI What ever happened to the rules everyone here agreed to about not flaming anyone? Anything I might have said since has all been in self defense, I made no personal comments or called anyone any names in my original post but it seems to be quite OK even from the moderator to do that to me just for voicing my professional opinion since I first posted in this thread.. Nice example, Thanks for the warm welcome.....

[dirtydog]

Driventowin, you have added several hundred words to this thread and none of them beneficial to anyone, they consist of how great you are, how your trade secrets are the best, and thats about it, you have added no information to this thread at all, sorry, but forums are about information, not how big your knob maybe.