Author: Catherine Saunders

Huddersfield-based pool designer and builder, Concept Pools, prides itself on offering affordable tailor-made packages to make the dream of owning a piece of swimming pool heaven into a reality. It’s helped in its task by Certikin, whose equipment it frequently specifies. Here, we turn the spotlight on one of the company’s most recent installations.

“We believe that every pool is a concept and as unique as our clients,” says Concept Pools’ Contracts Engineer, Lauren Thistleton. “From an Olympic sized pool and 5-star luxury spa to a small family pool, no job is too big or too small for us. It’s a collaboration between the customer, Concept Pools and developers, architects and landscapers.

“We choose Certikin as our supplier because we like the fact that we can order a large proportion of our equipment from just one source and there is a uniformity of premium quality. The Aquaspeed pump and Roldeck automatic slatted cover are our favourite products. Certikin’s friendly staff, who are always happy to help with both quotations and after sales, are also an important factor.”

For the most part, the Concept Pools’ team managed to continue working throughout the two lockdowns but as a lot of pool contractors found, commercial work inevitably dried up, whilst enquiries from the domestic sector rocketed, fuelled by a public intent on pursuing health and wellness in the safety of their own homes.

Built over the course of six months and completed in August, this purpose-built pool hall in Sutton Coldfield was in construction during the first lockdown but its owner says that it proved a ‘godsend’ for keeping the family amused in the second lockdown.

Given the brief to build a pool and spa for family exercise and fun, Concept Pools installed a 14m x 5.5m level deck pool with a varied depth of between 1.4m and 1.7m, then added a 2.5m GRP tiled integrated spa pool, operating on a separate filtration system.

The perfect solution for new build or refurbishment projects, the tiled spa comes with the option of being delivered in two halves, making it one of Certikin’s bestselling products. Fully tiled from the factory in eye-catching glass mosaics, the spa is re-joined on site and the joint hidden by tiling over with the matching tile strips provided. Available in any size, shape or design, they vary from a two-person spa to one capable of holding a football team. On-site installation is quick as there are no stoppages for curing etc and the design allows access to all fittings after installation. Its high specification includes water hydrotherapy jets, air tracks, an underwater light, a floating heat retention cover and full support leg kit.

Other featured Certikin equipment includes an Aquaspeed 2hp pump, plsc300c lights and Vision filter. Heating and ventilation is provided by a Calorex Delta 4. Featuring touch screen technology in a unique multi-functional single unit, the Delta takes full control of the pool’s indoor environment and pool water heating.

The pool is topped off with a Roldeck white slatted automatic cover in a floor pit. Enhancing the minimalism of the pool hall, the made-to-measure Roldeck ticks every box: heat insulation, evaporation control, durability and aesthetic appearance. It is manufactured in interlocking sections similar to a Venetian blind. Fully automatic, the Roldeck comes with a touch pad switch and remote control for easy operation.

The Roldeck’s standard PVC slats come in white, blue, cream, grey, solar and transparent (with a slight blue tint). The solar model, with a black base, collects heat from the sun and transfers it directly into the water, greatly reducing heating costs. The translucent slats allow under water lighting to shine through. Plus, there is the Eclipse range which is available in solar blue, solar clear, solar aluminum look, lagoon and ocean.

t. 01484 950279 | w. concept-pools.co.uk

Now for some serious swimming. This spectacular residential pool demonstrates the prodigious talent of Wearside-based pool contractor, Whitewaters, in creating spectacular, technically-advanced swimming pools and the lengths it goes to, to achieve the desired result. Certikin takes a bow in being the supplier of the project’s filtration, environmental control and auto chemical dosing system.

This is no ordinary pool. Complex, both in build and operation, this 25m x 5m residential training pool, is fitted with a sophisticated lap pacer system. Whitewaters’ Managing Director, Mick Guthrie, explains: “The client is an avid swimmer and required a number of competition-style features. Our challenge was to incorporate these features without compromising the general aesthetics of this high specification property. I am satisfied we achieved it and we certainly have a very happy customer. The project displays excellence in both aesthetic design and technical complexity and we welcomed the part that Certikin’s products and technical expertise played in it.”

As Theodore Roosevelt once said: “Nothing worth having comes easy” and so this pool proved! What should have been a nine month build, turned into 18 months due to difficult site conditions and the delays wrought by Covid-19.

Every detail of the project was meticulously researched and executed. A single storey contemporary hilltop home, a large-scale extension was added to form the pool hall which, when you enter, you are bowled over by its striking 35m feature wall adorned with 3m slabs of Corten-effect porcelain. Porcelain is also used in the pool’s contrasting black lane markers and turning crosses. Bespoke stainless-steel channels are recessed into the pool’s lane markers to carry LED light strips which allow pace, stroke and tempo to be set at the poolside via a smartphone app. This permanent built-in solution was designed and installed by the Whitewaters team using technology sourced from the US. The starter blocks are another bespoke feature, again manufactured from stainless steel inset with porcelain to match the pool surround.

Less obvious, but nonetheless integral to the pool’s performance, is its environmental control system, and for this, Whitewaters turned to Certikin to supply a Calorex Delta 12. Featuring touch screen technology in a unique multi-functional single unit, the Delta takes full control of the pool’s indoor environment and pool water heating. Mick adds: “The system is designed to provide the environmental comfort and moisture related structural protection necessary for a pool of this size and all very economically.”

At the opposite end of the hall, Whitewaters constructed a small leisure pool featuring an inset sunken spa  complete with bench seats, massage jets, a lounger with twin air strips and a shallow children’s play area.

Elsewhere in the pool hall is a hot yoga room, with large floor-to-ceiling frameless glass panels, lined with Abodo Vulcan timber with benches to match, concealed LED strip lights, and a 24kw exposed stone feature stove.

Fundamental to the overall beauty of both pools is Certikin’s automatic dosing system which provides a reliable source of pristine clear water combined with minimum maintenance. Mick adds: “We used two Certidos WCP dosing systems, one for each pool. We use these on the majority of our high-end projects as we know it will do everything we need at a reasonable cost but, and more importantly, in the event of there ever being a problem we know we can always rely on Certikin and its excellent service record to sort it out. It’s called buying peace of mind.”

Certikin’s exclusive Vision bobbin wound domestic filters are bestsellers in their sector so it’s no surprise that this plant room features three. The filter offers unrivalled features such as a large 10-inch wide clear lid making sand changes quicker and easier and a dual dump port arrangement means a small outer cap can be removed for drainage and a larger secondary cap assists with the removal of the media. The Top Mount Vision is the only one of its kind to feature a clear valve mounting ring, allowing full view of the filter in operation whilst the pump is running. And for peace of mind, both side and top mount models come with an impressive ten-year full tank warranty for residential installations.

t. 0191 551 2048 | w. whitewaters.co.uk

Receiving the brief to convert this old dilapidated barn in Lutterworth into a state-of the-art swimming pool hall could have been regarded as a daunting task but not for Northampton pool builder, Mosaic Pools. For them, it was all in a day’s work or, rather… three years’ work!

With four decades of working in the wet leisure industry under his belt, Mosaic Pools’ MD Stephen French was more than up to the task of taking on this challenging barn conversion. He knew exactly where to start… a loyal customer for 30 years, he turned to Certikin to supply the pool’s main ingredients.

“I choose Certikin as my supplier because I know my customers will be getting the best, highest quality goods in the marketplace,” says Stephen. “It’s my belief that if you buy cheap, you buy twice but, in any case, Certikin goods are not overpriced. Based in Milton Keynes, I am only 45 minutes away from Certikin in Witney so it’s handy for dropping by to pick up some last-minute pieces of equipment or chat over a technical problem. The technical backup is second to none and gives great peace of mind and I have always found the company and its personnel to be very fair.”

Stephen says: “The family behind this pool were looking for a ‘sanctuary’ to relax in after a hard day’s work. At times, I thought we were never going to finish it but I am delighted to say that it surpassed their expectations, and on completion, they described the pool as ‘perfection.’ It’s great to know that it’s much loved and in daily use.”

The project stands as a fine example of how Certikin equipment can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. The 13m x 6m concrete and tile pool with a 1.5m depth features a PSS block system with 75ml insulation. From its Delta 4, Pool Pilot and Blue Lagoon salt UV System, Top Mount filter, 2 HP Aquaspeed pumps, stainless steel skimmers, sand filter to its Roldeck automatic cover – it is Certikin from top to bottom.

Full steam ahead with Harvia

An added note of luxury is the Certikin Harvia 3m x 2m steam room. With more than half a century of experience in developing the best Finnish sauna and steam products, Harvia knows the key to wellness. The Harvia range, exclusive to Certikin, expertly combines the relaxing elements of nature – wood, stone and water.

Certikin offers eight different standard steam rooms as an ‘off-the-shelf’ product, suitable for domestic or commercial applications. They come flat packed, ready for assembly on site.

In addition, Certikin offers a whole variety of bespoke solutions for steam rooms from supplying the room only to all the equipment. Complete rooms with all the equipment include: ceilings, walls, seats, steam generator, LED down lights and transformer, vents and steam cover. Domestic and commercial rooms are available which come flat packed in sections ready for assembly on site for tiling in the customer’s choice of tiles. Choose from a wide range of steam generators from 4.5kW up to 30kW.

Calorex Delta – the full package

The Calorex Delta featuring touch screen technology in a unique multi-functional single unit, provides the ultimate environmental control system. It is designed to take full control of the whole indoor environment and pool water heating. A comprehensive range, there’s a Delta to suit pools of every size. The systems are specifically designed to economically provide the environmental comfort and moisture related structural protection necessary for a pool.

The Delta is an excellent system for use with distribution ductwork, automatically controlling: humidity level, air and water temperature and ventilation.

The Calorex 14 and 16 benefit from ECA Scheme approval meaning they are recognised as being able to provide low carbon and energy efficient environmental control. They are the only swimming pool heat pump heat recovery machines to be included in the Government Cash Back Scheme.

 

 

t. 01280 843101 | e. mosaicpools@hotmail.com

Given the brief to create a family sized pool with a deep end, the beautiful one-piece NIVEKO pool, with its many options and huge versatility, instantly came to mind for Kent pool dealer, Mermaid Pools.

NIVEKO custom-built Monopools combine all the benefits of a concrete pool with those of a traditional one-piece pool, offering high-end aesthetics, bespoke design and speedy installation. The NIVEKO’s exclusive construction guarantees no osmosis, a problem often associated with its fibreglass equivalents. All NIVEKO pools are pre-plumbed and pressure tested at the factory, ready to plug and play with the customer’s filtration system.

Mermaid’s Steve Russell says: “Along with a deep end, the customer requested a pool with a modern contemporary look, so I immediately thought the NIVEKO custom-built monopool fitted the bill.”

A stunning 9.5m x 4m NIVEKO, with a depth varying from 1.5m to 2m, was duly installed without any hitches, to form a centrepiece in the garden. Steve used Certikin to supply all the additional equipment such as a Lacron filter and a Clever Pool Pump Inverter. The latter being a low-cost solution to help minimise the running costs of pool circulation pumps and improve the efficiency of swimming pool filtration.

A Calorex Pro-Pac heat pump was also installed. Steve says: “We always work closely with the guys in Certikin’s H&V department and love the Calorex heaters.” As the family have children, a Coverstar safety cover was also installed.

“The project took around four months to complete. As this was a winter build, there were some stoppages for the weather but there were no problems having it ready for the summer,” adds Steve. “The client has told us on several occasions that she is over the moon with it and delighted they made the decision to have a pool.

t. 01580 753031 | e. info@mermaidpools.co.uk

 

We can do magic …well almost! Instructing Certikin’s on-site lining team is the closest thing to waving a magic wand. A fine case in point is this thirty-year old dilapidated swimming pool in Liss, Hampshire which, after the team had set to, bears no resemblance to its former self other than it’s a pool which shares the same surroundings.

The renovation of the house complete, the McGarry family turned their attention to the garden’s derelict leaf-covered swimming pool. Since moving in five years ago, the family hadn’t even taken the old ripped cover off the pool, and indeed didn’t have any idea how deep it was. On investigation, a 12m by 6m concrete tiled pool appeared from out of the gloom. This constant slope pool varied in depth from 1.1m to 3m.

Given the job of transforming it into a state-of-the-art 21st century pool, was award winning Simplex Pools, based on Hayling Island in Hampshire. Without further ado, they called on the services of Certikin’s on-site lining team.

Simplex’s Gareth Lancaster says: “We have used the team on many occasions and they always do a fantastic job so it seemed the perfect solution for this pool.”

The team set about renovating the tired pool with a beautiful Touch Marble effect liner topped off with a ceramic effect tile band. The original pool’s square steps were removed and replaced with half circle steps by Simplex. The lining was completed within four days leaving Simplex to add all the other essential ingredients that make it a Certikin pool from top to bottom.

With a young child in the family, the owner wanted to tick every safety box so adorning the pool is Certikin’s market leading Coverstar housed in a newly excavated pit beneath the paving. Now installed in the pool are bespoke Certikin HDPE main drains, skimmers, inlets, mini LED lights in the steps, and main colour change LED’s in the pool. The filtration upgrade includes a complete re-plumb of the pool shell and plant room, a new Lacron filter with glass media, a duration Chlorine feeder, and Sta-Rite pump.  To keep the little ones busy, a Rogue 2 water slide has been installed and Certikin Undercover Ladders.

Heating is provided via a Calorex Pro-Pac heat pump which backs up a Certikin oil boiler. To complete the transformation, 150 sqm of granite paving and copings, again supplied by Certikin, were laid by Simplex’s
in-house paving team, who also installed Certikin’s stainless steel renovation skimmer and deck box lids.

The project, including the addition of a stunning summer house and fire pit, was finished in just under three months and the owners are “over the moon with their new outdoor entertainment area.”

Gareth adds: “On-site lining has really changed this pool from being tired and redundant, to a centre point for exercise, entertaining the children, and social gatherings.”

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

When this Hertfordshire homeowner first conceived the idea of installing a swimming pool, his starting point was local pool dealer, Chiswell Leisure. Aware of the logic of installing a one-piece pool, he was soon won over by the market leading NIVEKO monopool made, in the Czech Republic and supplied exclusively in the UK by Certikin.

“The client had been considering moving further into London to be close to family but weighing up how much he would have to downsize and lose garden space, he chose instead to renovate his existing house and install a swimming pool,” says Glynn Pope of Chiswell Leisure. “Unlike a lot of customers who, at the first consultation, are unsure of what they want the end result to look like, our client was quite specific from the outset. He wanted a great looking pool without spending a fortune and he wanted it to be a one-piece pool. The idea was largely for family entertainment but also to do the occasional length swimming.

“As a company we favour NIVEKO as we consider them to be the best in the marketplace. The NIVEKO pool has a beautiful sleek design and the superior finish and quality is what sets it apart from other one-piece pools,” says Glynn. “We have installed three now and we love its streamlined features, clean lines, durability and ease of maintenance. They are always a hit with our customers, so we have no hesitation in recommending them. On my site visit, I showed him samples of Polystone – the strong, durable and hard-wearing material that the NIVEKO pool is made from and showed him the numerous colours that are available and he was convinced this was the way forward. Given that the client was also looking to install the pool as soon as possible, the NIVEKO ticked every box.”

A 10m x 5m pool with a varying  1.2m to 1.8m depth, complete with two skimmers, colour changing LED lights and automatic slatted cover, was duly installed. Despite the client having limited access and living in a cul-de-sac, the installation went smoothly, using a spider crane to take the pool sections off the lorry and man power to carry them to the back of the house. The crane then lowered the sections into the hole. The pool took around two weeks to complete as Chiswell had other jobs booked in and the coping stones and patio were finished around four weeks later.

Glynn adds: “The customer, like us, was delighted with the end result. NIVEKO pools are basically future proof.”

Certikin’s Sales Director, Richard Way, says: “The product’s superior finish and quality is really apparent when you see the NIVEKO’s rigorous manufacturing process. Sheets of Polystone, made in Germany specifically for NIVEKO pools, are heat welded together to form the pool walls and floor. Every pool is pre-plumbed and all fittings and pipework are pressure tested before leaving the factory. The pools can be built in sections too which means that they can be delivered to sites with restricted access. Delivery can be within just 8 – 10 weeks from date of order.”

t. 01923 269822 | e. ian@chiswellleisure.com 

Pure delight was the reaction from these two pool owners on diving into their pools for the first time. They’re the craftsmanship of Stewart Skinner of Purepools in Somerset who knows a thing or two about building pools having been in the business over 30 years. Quality comes high on his list of priorities so it’s little surprise that Certikin, the UK’s number one wet leisure supplier and manufacturer, is his first port of call.

Driving through the gates of this impressive residence, nestled in the picturesque village of Lydeard St Lawrence, outside Taunton, an immaculate tennis court and an impressive wooden-clad pool hall loom into view. Stretched out in front of the hall, the water twinkling in the afternoon sunshine, is this beautiful pool. Within weeks of moving in, the owners contacted Nether Stowey-based Purepools with the brief to create a “good-sized family pool,” usable from April to October. Purepools set about building a 10.3m x 5m site-lined pool with a varying depth of 1m to 2m, and some four months later, the pool and pool hall were finished. The pool features Certikin’s grey fittings, white PU6 LED-lights, a Multicyclone, Rainbow Feeder, a titanium Bowman heat exchanger and an oil-fired boiler.

The Purepools team’s next project was this new build liner pool near Tiverton. The 11.5m x 5m pool with a depth of 1m to 2m, features a titanium Bowman heat exchanger, Certikin white PU6 LED-lights with a grey/silver surround, grey/silver skimmers, Certikin’s grey / silver main drains, an Elecro control panel for heating and a Rainbow Feeder. The Pro-Pac packs a punch The owners then asked Purepools for an answer to lower running costs for an extended season so Stewart chose the Calorex Pro-Pac heat-pump as the defrost system gives exceptional early and late season performance. The Pro-Pac X incorporates a hot gas defrost and will operate to a low ambient temperature, making for a longer heating system at a very competitive price.

OC-1 – Purepools’ filter media of choice

Both pools are fitted with Certikin’s OC-1 filter media. Stewart is a great fan of the British manufactured filter media which, unlike traditional entrapment methods, works through settlement and harnesses advances in pump technology and variable speed pumps/controllers. Reduced energy and water consumption (thus less chemicals and heating) coupled with 20 times greater debris collection compared to sand or glass, means it is fast becoming the filtration of choice. It is light to handle, easy to install, low in maintenance and has a typical payback of just 12 months. OC-1 reduces energy consumption and maintains constant flow rates, even when the media becomes dirty. No downtime is required for heating/salt chlorinators/heat pumps going out on low flow. The constant flow means pumps can be run at lower speeds, thus saving energy.

Stewart says: “I am very impressed with OC-1’s performance – its efficiency and the results it achieves. I think it fully justifies the title of a revolutionary product.” The Viron – takes efficiency to a new level High on Purepool’s shopping list is the Viron variable speed pump – featured on both these pools. The energy saving Viron eVo Pumps are a range of fully variable speed energy efficient pumps to suit all pool sizes, filtration systems and budgets. With 8 star energy rating, the Viron Pump reduces CO2 emissions, promises a quiet operation and long equipment life. Compared to conventional single speed pumps, the Viron eVo pump makes dramatic savings on operating costs. Most swimming pools are effectively filtered and sanitised with flow rates ranging from 7-12 m3/hr. In fact, they will never require more than 15 m3/hr – 18 m3/hr for tasks such as cleaning the filter or vacuuming the pool, and for these the Viron P320 eVo is ideal. However, for larger pools, multiple spa jets, water features or in-floor cleaning systems, a larger capacity pump may be required. For these applications, the Viron P600 eVo pump offers an impressive 36 m3/hr flow rate.

The Viron eVo has been carefully designed for ease of operation. Three programmed speeds are factory pre-set and will suit most pools and most applications. Each speed, however, can be adjusted with a simple press of a button. Operation is intuitive to make the Viron eVo as user friendly as possible.

“I choose Certikin as my one of my main suppliers because they can always be relied upon to supply premium quality goods,” says Stewart. “They are backed with an unparalleled sales and technical service. If I encounter any installation problems, I know that help is only a phone call away.”

t. 01278 732993 | e. stewart@purepools.co.uk

This impressive pool and spa is the work of Surrey pool retailer, Falcon Pools. Even the concrete and tiled spa spectacularly transforms into a water feature, by way of a fountain installed within. Attention has been paid to every detail and the detail is Certikin.

Creating a haven for peace and tranquillity, this pool fits perfectly into the beautiful garden. The fully tiled pool and concrete spa with its unique hand cut copings compliments and, at the same time, enhances its surroundings.

Is it a spa or is it a fountain? It’s both! The telescopic fountain adds to the enjoyment of this spa – when not in operation, the fountain retracts flush with the bottom in its own housing and does not protrude. When the spa is not in use, with the simple press of a button the spa transforms into a glorious poolside fountain/water feature.

Covered in glory

Certikin’s market leading safety cover, the Coverstar was high on the owner’s shopping list. Not only for its safety credentials but because the pool is designed for all year round use and the Coverstar is first class in its heat retaining qualities – it can save up to 70 per cent on heating and chemical costs.

Composite decking at the far end of the pool conceals the pit for the Coverstar. The cover simply operates with the push of a switch with the  system being based on strength and this is echoed in the super-strong Eclipse mechanism, which is manufactured with almost all stainless-steel components.  The sliders (traditionally the weakest part of any safety cover) are four times as strong as any other slider used in the industry.  Furthermore, the pulley diameter is 2”, providing five times the load bearing capacity of commonly used pulleys. Such is the manufacturer’s confidence in the product that the cover’s mechanism comes with a 20-year limited warranty. Unlike other safety cover suppliers which use an industry standard vinyl, Coverstar features a far superior vinyl composite, in a range of colours.  Whereas most safety cover suppliers use sewn webbing, (which often proves to be the weak area and results in premature failure), the manufacturer has invented and patented the heat-sealed process, which prolongs the life of the cover and improves the overall operation.  This is colour matched to the Coverstar fabric to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish.

A step-up!

Safety extends to the grab rails and Certikin pool ladders. The Certikin 1.7” ladders are manufactured to comply wuth the Domestic Pool Standard EN16582-1:2015  Built using 316 grade stainless steel, they are supplied with stainless steel anti-slip treads as standard, as well as the Certikin pinch anchors which give a sturdy, secure installation on all types of pool surround.

The heat is on

The pool is fitted with a high performance Bowman heat exchanger. It enables pools to be heated to the required temperature, up to three times faster than its competitors, reducing energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions.

Suitable for all kinds of pools, including salt chlorinated, they are available with tube stacks made in cupro nickel, stainless steel and titanium (which has a full 10 year warranty on the tube stack). Most models also incorprate a thermostat pocket and plastic ends with solvent weld connections. In addition to units for conventional boilers, specific models are also available for solar panels and heat pumps, in a range that covers everything from resort type complexes to spa pools and hot tubs.

Other Certikin equipment featured on this pool includes pool fittings (skimmers, inlets, sumps, vacuum point and auto top up unit), pipework, Vision sand filter, Sta-Rite pump, Autopilot salt generator, Polaris pool cleaner, LED PU6 pool lights, Certikin maintenance kit and Fi-Clor chemicals

Falcon Pools Sales Executive, Lee Woodhams says: “Certikin is our pool supplier of choice because we can always rely on good quality and premium service – it’s the best and when, as in this case, we are asked to provide the best, we know where to go!”

01932 353040

enquiries@falconpools.co.uk