FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The most frequently asked questions to us
A natural swimming pond or swimming pool requires less maintenance than a traditional pool, but still needs some (garden) maintenance from time to time. Below is a list of maintenance tasks.
In the filter, all dead and spent plant parts should be removed regularly, as well as blown-in leaves, twigs and the like. You also remove any weeds from the filter, i.e. all plants that do not belong there.
In the growing season, plants that are too invasive are kept in check by pruning back by removing shoots.
In autumn, almost all aquatic plants in the filter can be cut back to about 10 cm above the water surface. This is also the time to replant, thin out or multiply plants, if necessary.
The bottom of the swimming area should be cleaned once or twice a year to prevent the formation of an organic mud layer, which would promote algae growth in spring. Usually, it is best to carry out this cleaning between the beginning of December and the end of February.
4 times a year the water quality is checked and if necessary adjusted by adding natural lime in powder or granular form or a lime rich clay.
For a normal sized swimming pond/nature pool this will take about 24 hours a year (see also: how we work step 5).
For a typical size swimming pond/nature pool, this will take about 24 hours per year (see also: how we work step 5).
Usually the answer is yes, only a natural swimming pool up to 10 m² is normally permit-free. In France, the permit is called a déclaration préalable and is a simplified building application (up to a surface area of 100 m²). When you want to build a roof over the swimming pool, this will also fall under the déclaration préalable. In some exceptional cases, you will always need to apply for a permis de construire. If you are not sure which permit to apply for, you can always contact us for advice or we can take care of the permit application for you. If you have commissioned us to construct your swimming pond we will also arrange the permit for you (see also: how we work step 3). Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Contrary to what many people think, there are no mosquito larvae and therefore no mosquitoes in a well-designed swimming pond with pump. This is mainly because mosquito larvae do not decay in running water. In the by us built swimming ponds and natural pools are therefore never found mosquito larvae.
In France, a traditional swimming pool must be secured with a fence or an electronic alarm to prevent children from drowning if they fall into the water. The state sees no difference between a traditional pool and a natural or swimming pond. The security system to be installed must comply with standard NF P90-306 or NF P90-307. To minimise disruption to the natural appearance, an electronic pool alarm (NF P90-307) is almost always chosen for a natural or swimming pond.
Le prix de la construction d'une piscine naturelle ou d'un étang de baignade dépend de ce que vous voulez et des facteurs suivants, entre autres :
- the shape of the swimming pond; oblong, oval, round, square or according to your own model
- the size and depth of the swimming pond
- classic model or overflow pool (infinity pool)
- the type of soil; clay, stony or even hard rock
- the terrain; flat or sloping and accessibility
- The finish; which kind of edge tiles, levels in the swimming pond, garden finish
- Terraces or decking for sitting by your swimming pond
- any specific wishes
In short, if you want to know how much the construction of your natural pool will cost, we will first visit you on site to see what is technically possible and what your wishes are and then make you an appropriate offer. To give you an idea, you can count on a price from about € 45,000 including VAT for the construction of a natural pool of 10 x 5 meters with a connecting filter of 3 x 5 meters. The square metre price will be higher for a smaller model due to the nature of the work and can be significantly lower if the swimming pond is larger.
See also: How we work
Oui, vous pouvez, à condition de ne pas en faire trop. Au moyen de panneaux solaires ou d'une pompe à chaleur un peu moins écologique, l'eau peut être au printemps, en été et en automne en toute sécurité avec une augmentation de quelques degrés. Il n'est pas judicieux d'utiliser ces techniques pour chauffer l'eau au-delà de 25 degrés environ, car cela augmente le risque de développement d'algues dans votre bassin de natation.
In principle, a traditional swimming pool can be made into a natural pool with a few adjustments. Next to or close to the current pool, the plant filter will be installed and if possible, the existing pool will be made deeper by bricking up the edges a little.
If you want to stand in your pond we often build an underwater staircase to a depth of about 120 to 140 cm and at this depth we make a platform where you can stand in the water. It is also possible to create a larger platform in the swimming pond where your children can stand and play without a significant reduction in the volume of water in your pool.
In the case that this is aesthetically more pleasing, or because it is not possible to do otherwise, it is certainly possible to install the plant filter separately and higher or lower from the swimming area. This may require an extra pump and sometimes a buffer tank. See example project 6
The answer can only be no. In a well landscaped and maintained swimming pond is the use of chemicals even out of the question and undesirable. What should be added in a natural swimming pond and natural pool is a natural and water soluble lime because the plants in your filter need this to grow properly.
Unfortunately, without the necessary knowledge and experience, this is actually not possible. However, to give you an idea, you can assume a minimum price of 700 € per square metre surface area. This includes the swimming area and the filtering area together. As an example: the minimum price for a natural swimming pool of 5 x 10 metres with a filter section of 5 x 3 metres; this is a total of 65 m² x 700 € = 45.500 €. Depending on the design, size and local conditions this amount can of course be higher, but it will give you an idea in which direction you should think.
Even though this seems like a good ecological idea, unfortunately all the rainwater collected is unsuitable to fill your swimming pond with. This water contains no calcium whatsoever so your swimming pond will acidify with lots of algae growth as a result and the plants will do worse. There is also often much organic material in the rainwater by pollution and this we want as little as possible in the swimming pond. It is best to top up your swimming pond with tap water that is as hard (calcareous) as possible.
If you have any other question, please feel free to contact us; we will respond as soon as possible.