Author: Catherine Saunders

When Warwickshire-based Buckingham Pools installed an infinity pool and wellness suite in the UK’s first net-zero retirement community in Caddington, Bedfordshire, they naturally turned to their tried and trusted supplier, Certikin, for the all-important pumps and filtration.

Buckingham Pools was commissioned to design and build a contemporary level-deck indoor swimming pool with an integrated spa and fully tiled steam room. At 16.8 x 6.7m, the pool features infinity overflow edges and an air pad, back and calf-massage massage jets.

The pool’s cutting edge plant room equipment includes a state-of-the-art filtration system and the highly reliable, quiet Euroswim booster pumps, ensuring optimal performance and water quality, and all supplied by Certikin.

Regardless of the aesthetic requirements of a pool, it is nothing without sparkling, clear water and that all comes down to the quality of the filtration. Buckingham Pools chose Certikin’s SLX Bobbin Wound GRP Filtration. The SLX range of filters are the workhorse of a commercial pool and with a wide range, covering sizes from 1.05m through to 3.00m, and options for laterals and nozzles with various pressure ranges and accessories, any pool can be catered for. The standard SLX lateral version comes at 2.5 bar rating with commercial laser cut 50mm laterals making them robust for the commercial environment and all backed up with a 10-year warranty.

Richard Troman, design lead at Buckingham Pools, specified the equipment because of its recognised quality and robustness. “Our technical specifications prioritise the integration of these components to ensure not only compliance with, but the surpassing of client expectations in terms of operational performance and water quality standards.

“As Certikin is the UK’s leading supplier of premium products, service, and customer support, we naturally turned to them. With a demanding and complicated design and build project, such as this, working with the trusted UK market leader is of utmost importance.”

t. 01926 852351 | w. buckinghampools.com

When Sussi and Paul moved 170 miles from Leicester to the south coast in early 2023, they had one dream, and that was to have a swimming pool in the back garden of their new home. Primed to realise their vision was Hayling Island-based Simplex Pools. With Certikin as their fairy godmother, they waved their magic wand and abracadabra, a pool was born.

Sussi and Paul take up the story: “When exploring options for the pool we, of course, had our own ideas but we needed expert guidance to get the best possible outcome. We contacted two pool installers and whilst Simplex’s quote came in slightly more than the rival company, we instantly knew we were talking from the same hymn sheet. Throughout the process, Simplex were helpful, friendly, and keen to listen. Not having owned a pool before, they have offered excellent ongoing training until we feel confident to take over the maintenance ourselves. The process and outcome have surpassed our expectations, and we cannot recommend Simplex highly enough.”

The couple were keen for the pool to meet the needs of their visiting grandchildren, and be a source of entertainment, but they didn’t want it to dominate the garden. Taking just seven weeks from start to finish, Simplex constructed an 8m x 4m concrete pool with a constant 1.3m depth and concrete corner steps.

The Simplex in-house team on-site lined the pool using Certikin’s Vanity Touch material, finished off with a Alkorplan Ceramics grey tile band on the walls of the pool and the treads of the steps. The surround was completed with black granite coping stones and grey porcelain tiles, again from Certikin, which further enhanced the pool liner, and showed it off to its best advantage.

A Certikin white LED underwater flood light and skimmer were duly installed along with a Certikin 500micron solar cover and premium manual roller, the environmentally friendly Calorex Invertor air source heat pump, Vision Top Mount filter and Aquaspeed filtration pump.

The pool was filled in time for the Easter holidays and hey presto, dream fulfilled!

t. 0345 576 1084 | e. info@simplexpools.co.uk

This stunning pool in Essex went through many design iterations before the customer settled on a lane pool complete with custom made fountains. Calling on the services of the Holland-on-Sea family run, SPS Swimming Pools & Spas, the owner is delighted that their execution of the brief has surpassed his expectations.

“We were originally approached by the owner’s landscape designer with a request to build a water feature with a separate pond at one end,” says Ashley Spencer of SPS Pools & Spas. “Following further discussions, the plan then progressed to the construction of a 25m x1.8m lane pool with three eye-catching water fountains, designed and custom made in-house using clear pipe, to be hidden from sight.

As the main house was also under construction, SPS worked alongside the owner’s builder to construct the pool shell.

“Whilst the customer was initially unsure of what he wanted the pool to achieve, and thus look like, he and the designer were adamant they wanted it to be in-keeping with its surroundings. White fittings were ruled out for being too stark and the pool needed to have a dark finish to blend into the landscape.”

Certikin’s site-applied lining option was an obvious choice, given its speed of installation and its long-lasting tailor made finish and durability. The chosen liner was Elegance from the Renolit Touch Range. It proved to be a job of two halves as heavy rain stopped play for a while.

The Infinite on-site lining range uses a 1.5mm – 2mm three ply product compared to the traditional single ply 0.75mm vinyl used for factory made liners. The service is quick and efficient – taking around four working days for an average sized hopper pool with steps and there is no curing or standing period. It’s suitable for both new and old pools of domestic and commercial size and can accommodate complex shapes, steps, ledges and pits. The longevity of the product, when compared to thinner linings or paints, is a major advantage. It comes with a 15-year pro rata warranty, but the life expectancy can be double this in a well maintained pool.

“The choice of pool fittings can make or break the overall impression and Certikin’s Optimus range was perfect for ticking the request for the pool to blend in,” says Ashley. Suitable for both liner and concrete pools, the Optimus range complements darker pool finishes as it comes in an attractive metallic grey or black plastic. Products include skimmer extension throats, wall inlets and vacuum points.

“The pool is lined either side with Cypress trees and shrubs. The challenge for SPS was to provide effective filtration and flow to quickly remove any fauna debris. We installed an Aquaspeed 1hp circulation pump, plus a variable speed Aquaspeed pump to control the fountains. We connected a control wire and circuit so the speed can be controlled remotely. We also installed a 130W Blue Lagoon UV. It’s all highly reliable equipment that does exactly what it says on the tin and gives me the reassurance that the pool won’t be hit with problems.

“The customer didn’t request any form of heating as it was initially intended that the pool would be an ornamental focal point, one which the grandchildren could, on occasion, take a dip in. However, such is the lure of the garden’s new addition, the owner has now taken to swimming every morning and discovered that cold water swimming is a life-restoring revelation. He can’t wait for the water to get colder in the winter!

“Certikin is our choice of supplier because it offers an extensive range of high-quality equipment that over the years, we have come to know and trust. In addition, its staff demonstrate an impressive array of product knowledge. Having faith in contracted teams (such as the on-site lining team) to work on your project is incredibly important. Finally, if ever there is any problem, it’s addressed quickly and effectively.”

t. 01255 818381 | w. spspoolandspa.com

This 40-year-old tired pool had long since seen better days and was crying out for some much-needed TLC. Believing in the power of word of mouth, the owners took the recommendation of friends who had recently used Hayling Island pool company, Simplex Pools, for their award-winning pool refurbishment. Within a very short space of time, this old crumbling pool was totally transformed.

“With children and dogs in the garden throughout the summer months, it was important that we used a reputable firm and one whose employees we could work with and trust. We ticked both those boxes with Simplex, their employees were an absolute pleasure to have around,” says Kate and Alistaire.

“From our first visit to Gareth Lancaster’s showroom on Hayling Island, we knew his expertise and experience would provide the guidance we needed to design and realise our perfect pool. Gareth was both receptive to our ideas, creative in his suggestions, and flexible and patient when we added or changed the plans – which happened often!”

Gareth says: “The family moved to the property about six years ago and the old Marbelite 10 x 5m pool with Roman end was in use most summers, but as the years wore on, it became very apparent an urgent and major overhaul was required.

“We started by extending the pool by one metre so that a pit could be built to accommodate a Roldeck automatic cover with translucent solar slats. The next job was to call in our on-site lining team. We used a black slate effect Touch liner and this was set off with fossil pearl natural stone copings for the surround and the extended patio area. We also built flower beds and walls to surround the pool with slate  cladding and finished with lavender bushes which have looked spectacular throughout the season.

“The original filtration was very out of date and not the most efficient, so we replaced all pipework, tripled the number of skimmers and doubled the amount of return inlets. To add a little luxury, these were all replaced with Certikin Optimus silver fittings and stainless-steel skimmer lids in the surrounds.”

Additional equipment upgrades included a Calorex Invertor type air source heat pump, Certikin UV system, Vision top mount filter, and Aquaspeed pump.

Gareth adds: “The translucent solar cover came into its own when we fitted eight stainless steel PU2 LED colour change lights. We also put the same lights in the flower beds so that they co-ordinate with the pool.”

The happy owners say: “The lights enhance both the landscaping and planting and allow the pool to blend in with its surroundings.”

Dramatic effect was created thanks to the installation of two Certikin water cannons in the pool surround which particularly got the thumbs up from the children in the family.

Alistaire adds: “The Simplex team were great in helping us to understand the workings of the pool for day-to-day maintenance. Their interactions with the suppliers of the pool house and paving manufacturers were all also seamless.

“The finished pool has far exceeded our expectations, in fact there were some very thoughtful additions we hadn’t expected! To have everything working just as it should means we have plenty of time to sit and enjoy the pool area. In fact, we genuinely get equal amounts of joy from sitting next to the pool and admiring it as we do swimming in it! Thank you to everyone at Simplex Pools for their hard work in helping us achieve something quite beautiful.”

t. 0345 576 1084 | e. info@simplexpools.co.uk

When Shrewsbury-based Salop Pool Services were called in to refurbish this tired old pool in Clun, South Shropshire, the race was on to get it completed in time for the owner’s special birthday celebrations.

The original inground concrete pool was leaking and coated in a dark green paint that over time had begun to flake and degrade. Space within the pool was not being used to its best advantage as part of it was portioned off by a wall.

Director of Salop Pool Services, Carly Rogers, takes up the story: “The pool was re-rendered and tiled using large format jungle green tiles with a mosaic tile band. The family are very into their fitness and asked us to extend the pool widthways to accommodate a flushed automatic safety cover (Coverstar) to make it 9.3m x 3.5m with a constant depth of 1.6m. The pool was re-shaped into how it looks today.

“With small children and pets in the family, safety was of utmost importance. There’s only one safety cover Salop Pools recommends, and that’s Certikin’s Coverstar.”

The Coverstar is a seamlessly integrated cover system – super-easy to operate and provides maximum safety (complies with French safety standard NFP90- 308) without compromising the pool’s appearance. The system features unparalleled strength. Supporting the weight of children, pets and even adults, it uses the exclusive Ultra Guard III vinyl composite, rather than the industry-standard vinyl, popular with other manufacturers.

The high level of UV resistance offered by Ultra Guard III considerably reduces the level of colour fading compared to standard vinyl, plus it has high resistance to chlorine, acid, ozone and other pool chemicals. Furthermore, instead of using sewn webbing (which often proves to be the weak area of the cover), Coverstar uses an exclusive patented process to heat seal the webbing, prolonging the cover’s life and improving the overall quality operation. Independent tests show this process is more than twice as strong as competitors’ webbing sewn to the cover. The heat-sealed webbing is also colour matched to the fabric to create a beautiful finish.

There are a variety of pit covers to choose from, including composite decking and heavy-duty pit trays in which stones can be laid, plus the Coverstar is supplied with a low-profile leading-edge bar, UK sourced power pack and UK sourced touch button key switch.

Salop Pools built a shelf on the pool’s internal walls for the safety cover and then ingeniously installed PU2 LED mini lights into the shelf for dramatic night-time effect.

Heating is supplied via a Calorex IPAC- 22 heat pump. The I-PAC/V-PAC inverter heat pump range is designed in the UK specifically for the UK climate, eco-friendly and carries an impressive 5 year on site parts and labour warranty.

These stylish-looking, compact heat pumps (the small footprint making them compliant with permitted development rights) are available in side or top outlet versions. The side outlet also has the added benefit of Wi-Fi capability for remote control.

Inverter heat pump technology allows for efficient control of the pool temperature with the I-PAC only using the energy required. High efficiency with modulating step-less inverter compressor gives an average COP of 10.3 (I-PAC+), 9.7 (I-PAC) and 10.7 (V-PAC), which is twice as efficient as the traditional on/ off models. Complying with the European F-Gas regulations, the heat pumps use the low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant R32. It requires less refrigerant volume per kW and is easier to recycle.

Other Certikin products featured on the pool include: 24” Vision top mount filter; Aquaspeed 1Hp pump; Plant Room Shield and salt chlorinator.

Carly says: “The pool took about six months to complete as the client made a lot of changes throughout the build, but we are delighted to say, we made the special birthday deadline. Certikin is our favoured supplier because its customer service is second to none. It’s a strong reputable company that supplies almost everything required in the pool industry.”

t.  01743 588484 | w. saloppoolservices.com

It’s not hard to see why Simplex Pools scooped Gold for this beautiful pool in Guildford in the prestigious UK Pool & Spa awards. Ingeniously constructed on the side of a hill, to take full advantage of the stunning views, it is brimming top to bottom with the best equipment a pool can get – Certikin’s, of course!  

Nestling in the outstanding beauty of the Surrey Hills, this concrete tiled infinity pool caught the eye of the UK Pool & Spa judges and made it a shoo-in for the much-coveted Residential Outdoor Pool (90k-150k) of 2021 award.

At first, uncertain as to whether his young family would use a swimming pool, the owner decided to ‘test the waters’ by commissioning Hayling Island-based Simplex Pools to install a Certikin 6 by 4m wooden pool in a deck surround. No stranger to doing business with Simplex, he had used the company to install pools in a number of other properties he owns and was highly impressed with the standard of workmanship but this proved to be the start of the family’s own water leisure journey. Finding that it was hard to keep the kids out of the pool, he last summer invited Simplex back to replace the wooden pool with a larger, more sophisticated structure. The owner is delighted to report, he’s not looked back.

Taking just four months from start to finish, the 9.5m by 4.2m constant depth pool is topped off with a transparent, pit-mounted Roldeck cover (the blue tint allows the pool’s underwater LED lighting to shine through). The Roldeck “not only looks good but, in its slickness of operation, it works like a dream.”

The Roldeck is the ultimate in heat insulation, significantly reducing the amount of evaporation, it offers staggering energy savings of up to 70 per cent. Scoring high on durability and stylish good looks, the Roldeck is ideal for new and existing pools, and has a wide variety of installation options to choose from. Each Roldeck is made to measure, with the coiling mechanism installed above or below ground or in the pool itself. High-spec features include a touch pad switch and remote control for easy calibration and operation and a safety lock. Roldeck’s standard PVC slats come in white, blue, cream, grey, solar and transparent. The solar option, with a black base, collects heat from the sun and transfers it directly into the water, greatly reducing heating costs. Powered by a 24 volt In-Roller Motor system (negating the need for a separate motor pit) – a high pressure motor vessel filled with nitrogen, features Formula 1 shock absorber seal technology, a built-in pressure sensor and a concealed stainless-steel motor driven spindle

Adding an extra layer of fun, the pool is fitted with a Fastlane counter current unit. The Fastlane is made up of a remotely located hydraulic power unit that supplies hydraulic fluid to the swim unit in the pool. Simple hydraulics means that no electricity is required poolside.

What sets this market-leader apart from others is that the turbulence-free water stream it produces is wider than the swimmer’s body and deeper than any swim stroke, yet it is narrow enough not to impinge on other swimmers. Unlike jetted alternatives, the Fastlane generates a wide block of crystal clear, bubble- free and completely adjustable water flow, delivering the fastest, smoothest swim current (a necessity for any serious swimmer) available in any swimming machine.

Athletes and leisure users enjoy a current between 4:04 and 1:14 minutes per 100m pace which can be adjusted using the remote control or with the addition of the Fit@Home app. There is also the option of a 6” high pace display. The required minimum water depth is 0.9m making it suitable for both large and small swimming pools as it lets you swim without turning.

t. 0345 576 1084 | e. info@simplexpools.co.uk

Tasked with constructing a new 20m by 8.5m swimming pool for the Astley Cooper School in Hertfordshire, the Buckingham Pools’ sales and design team turned to its trusty supplier, Certikin, to supply the filtration, heating, and chemical dosing.

Completed in May, pupils and staff have been putting this impressive pool through its paces and have already awarded it top marks for the performance.

“The pool’s shell construction proved challenging, coinciding with a really hot spell of weather and the team working in very humid conditions,” says Richard Sharman of Buckingham Pools. “Working under a scaffold crash deck obstructed the pool entirely and proved a very confining exercise. A solid static water test and first-fix pipework followed before the rendering and screed stage. Our construction and engineering team rose to the challenge, to ensure the deadline was met and they even managed to complete the tiling and plant room ahead of schedule.

“Equipment was selected on the basis of performance and longevity. Our design team conduct a comprehensive product investigation to ensure commercial standards are met whilst verifying the suitability for the scale and complexity of each pool build. As it’s the leading supplier of premium products, service, as well as customer support, we naturally turned to Certikin” says Rynoux Du Preez, the Sales Manager at Buckingham Pools. “With a demanding and complicated design and build project, such as this, working with the trusted UK market leader is of utmost importance.”

Regardless of the aesthetic requirements of a pool, it is nothing without sparkling, clear water and that all comes down to the quality of the filtration. Buckingham Pools chose Certikin’s SLX Bobbin Wound GRP Filtration. The SLX range of filters are the workhorse of a commercial pool and with a wide range, covering sizes from 1.05m through to 3.00m, and options for laterals and nozzles with various pressure ranges and accessories, any pool can be catered for. The standard SLX lateral version comes at 2.5 bar rating with commercial laser cut 50mm laterals making them robust for the commercial environment and all backed up with a 10-year warranty.

Certikin supplied a Euroswim Booster Pump – highly reliable for water circulation and filtering, it is also extremely silent. The Euroswim series is available in three versions.

Buckingham Pools also turned to Certikin for its chemical dosing in the shape of a complete FLOC or PAC dosing solution. FLOC, or Flocculant, is a liquid that is added into a pool improving the filter efficiency and, in turn, the water quality. FLOC works by bonding together small particles in the water making them much larger and easier to trap in the filtration system.

t. 01926 852351 | w. buckinghampools.com

…this stunning, refurbished pool in rural Warwickshire bears no resemblance to the dilapidated pool that greeted Gareth Lancaster of Simplex Pools when he was first given the task of transforming it into “a luxury family pool for use all year round.”

In-depth planning meetings with the owners and much hard grafting by the Simplex team, and 12 weeks later, the restoration was complete. The final article is timelessly elegant and you don’t have to look too far to discover that the name behind the pool’s components is, of course, Certikin.

“We bought the house back in 2014 as a huge renovation project and the biggest draw was the pool, even though it was crying out for refurbishment,” explains the owner. “As you would expect, the pool and garden were not the first priority but they definitely generated the most excitement.

“We put a lot of thought into what we wanted a new pool to achieve and how we wanted to use it. First of all, we decided to add extensive steps the full width of the pool in the shallow end with a large top step.  This was a bit of a gamble as we realised that, in so doing, we were losing some of the swimming area but actually it feels like the pool is now ‘bigger’ and more usable.  The steps improve access, offer a great place to relax and enjoy a refreshing beverage on a warm day, and give the little ones somewhere to paddle.”

The original pool was a Buster Crabbe – a very old panel pool from the early 1990s which had a 20-year old liner that had degraded but the foundations were still structurally sound. In order to accommodate the complexity of the steps and the installation of a safety cover, a bag liner was ruled out. The Certikin team set about on-site lining the 38ft by 20ft pool using Touch Elegance textured vinyl. Long-lasting, with a tailor-made finish, Infinite on-site lining uses a 1.5mm – 2mm three ply product compared to the traditional single ply 0.75mm vinyl used for factory made liners. The application is quick and efficient – taking around four working days for an average sized pool with steps and there is no curing or standing period.  It comes with a 15-year pro rata warranty but the life expectancy can be double in a well-maintained pool.

The delighted owner says: “The liner looks superb and the quality is far better than we had imagined. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering this option.”

The star of all covers

With young children and pets in the family, Certikin’s market-leading Coverstar safety cover was a natural choice. Supporting the weight of even adults, it uses the premium quality Ultra Guard III vinyl composite, rather than the industry-standard vinyl, popular with other manufacturers. The seamlessly integrated cover system is super-easy to operate and provides maximum safety (complies with French safety standard NFP90-308) without compromising the pool’s appearance.

The high level of UV resistance offered by Ultra Guard III considerably reduces the level of colour fading compared to standard vinyl, plus it has high resistance to chlorine, acid, ozone and other pool chemicals. Furthermore, instead of using sewn webbing (which often proves to be the weak area of the cover), Coverstar uses an exclusive patented process to heat seal the webbing, prolonging the cover’s life and improving the overall quality operation. Independent tests show this process is more than twice as strong as competitors’ webbing sewn to the cover. The heat-sealed webbing is also colour matched to the fabric to create a beautiful finish.

Certikin installed the cover in a pit with extended commercial brackets so that the coping stones would over-hang the pit wall.

“The Coverstar not only gives us peace of mind and looks great,” says the owner, “what really impressed us are its energy-saving properties, especially given the fact we heat the pool all year round.”

Water feature

Looking to inject some extra excitement and fun into the pool, six Certikin deck jets, powered by Certikin pipework and an Aquaspeed pump, were set into the pool’s surround and shoot, in spectacular fashion, arches of water over the pool, providing great fun for children and adults alike and a beautiful feature in its own right.

Lighting the way

Simplex installed six Certikin Lumi Plus LED lights in the step risers. “They’re excellent value and, with their stainless-steel effect on a plastic face plate, give a really high-end appearance,” says Gareth.

“I have been fortunate to be involved in some fabulous projects but this one is definitely up there as one of my all-time favourites. We love taking a really old, uncared for pool and turning it into something beautiful – it’s very rewarding. All the elements have come together to create a hard-working, stand-out pool that truly enhances its surroundings and the owner’s lifestyle. Knowing how much the family love and use it, is the icing on the cake for me.”

Equally delighted is the owner: “We could not be happier with the finished result. The pool is now a key part of our life and we wouldn’t be without it. It is heated all year round and we use it at least four times a week, come rain or shine!”

t. 0345 576 1084 | e. info@simplexpools.co.uk

Given the brief to construct a “budget-friendly, low maintenance pool, with an enclosure to extend the swimming season,” Hayling Island-based Simplex Pools chose Certikin’s on-site lining and an AQ Box enclosure. For the owner, the fabulous end result succeeded in ticking every box.

“The owner requested the pool to be up and running as soon as possible, so Certikin’s on-site lining was an obvious choice,” says Simplex MD, Gareth Lancaster. “It’s quick, robust and gives a tailor made, heavy-duty finish that is second to none. As a commercial grade material, with a 15-year pro rata warranty, the pool is guaranteed longevity and looks great into the bargain!

“We installed a 10ft fibreglass Roman End, featuring five LumiPlus LED mini spotlights in step risers, along with LED main underwater lights in the pool. On-site lining is great at accommodating complex shapes, steps, ledges, pits etc. My in-house team completed the 9m by 5m pool in just four days. With no curing or standing period, the pool was filled and we were able to fulfil the owner’s wish to be swimming straight away.

“A grey mosaic liner was chosen from Certikin’s vast range of available colours, patterns and textures which represents a fraction of the price of a fully tiled pool.

To extend the swimming season, a five-bay AQ Box telescopic enclosure from Certikin was chosen for its aesthetics, versatility and ease of installation. With a uniquely low profile, solid design, the AQ Box enclosure offers a simple yet durable solution without impinging on the landscape. Delivered flat-packed in a wooden box for easy assembly, the AQ Box is offered in two different types of glazing – 6mm double wall polycarbonate or 3mm SAN solid – both UV protected on each side. The enclosure parts are made of elegant, contemporary anodized aluminium alloy profiles.

The enclosure comes with a state-of-the-art locking system which provides positioning and securing on the rails as well as ensuring child-safe locking. The client wanted the enclosure to be off throughout the summer, and wanted to disguise the tracks, so Simplex sunk the tracks deep below the finished level of decking and made bespoke matching lids to cover the tracks when not in use. This tied in beautifully with the rest of the attractive composite decking surround.

Gareth says: “This is the fourth AQ Box enclosure we have installed, we love them for their straight-forward installation and really are the answer to this unpredictable British climate. Our customers love them too. I think we will be installing many more in the future.”

t. 0345 576 1084 | e. info@simplexpools.co.uk