Chaichara

As I said - perfectly doable. A standard 10 x 4 rectangular concrete in-ground pool, fully tiled (standard light blue ceramic tiles) , including brick-built pump house, ready to swim, can be constructed by a fully trained professional team of 4 - 5 within 30 days from breaking ground with the backhoe.

Note the emphasis on fully trained professional team. This should not be expensive even when using the correct materials specifications and quality pump and filtration equipment and PVC/ABS fixtures & fittings, and LED underwater lighting. Anything much over Baht 700,000 for the complete job (may also be slightly lower depending on local prices for concrete etc., ) may be a rip off, while anything significantly lower (than say Baht 540,000) may indicate a lack of professionalism and/or corner cutting on materials (e.g. tile adhesive and grout) or quality equipment. Expect prices to be higher in traditional areas of expat residence.

Some constructors may legitimately increase their price if the project is a long way from their base. That is the compromise between getting a quality job done, and one done by a local bunch of 'experts', although I have seen a post on this forum somewhere where even a Bangkok firm made a complete mess of a high profile project in Chiang Mai.

It all depends very much on location. Surprisingly, piles are not needed for every small pool - it depends on the substrate . Get plenty of quotes from different experts - unnecessary piles, like over-engineered pump/filtration systems, just add to the contractor's profit.

Ask about their specs for concrete and rebar, tile adhesive and grout, and if they just give a blank stare when you mention 'waterstop', 'maindrain', and 'hydrostatic valve'...

Ask what they intend installing for pump HP and filtration flow rate - then ask us here again.

Any stainless steel gate and fence manufacturer. Usually a shophouse industry in most places.

It also depends on whether you are intending to build the pool yourself or to get a serious, experienced pool constructor to do it (even there, prices will differ wildly). If you are doing it yourself, include time finding about materials specs, shopping around for materials and equipment, and getting the best deals for quality pumps, filters, underwater lights, fixtures and fittings etc. A genuine pool constructor will have all the essentials in stock except of course concrete, rebar, and tiles. Always ask what tile adhesive and grout they use and be prepared to get some blank stares or otherwise non-committal answers. Always ask what brands of pumps and filters they intend using and shy away from anything that is less well known, or that they won't commit to manufacturers' guarantees on.

It all depends on the size and shape of the pool and if you have already made your mind up on the finish you require. Some tiles for example can take up to three weeks to deliver when ordered from the factory. If it's a straightforward rectangular pool, there is very little design time involved. If all materials are available ex stock, from breaking ground to completion and filled, reckon on about 3 - 4 weeks for a typical 4 x 10 in-ground, concrete pool, fully tiled.

I've seen 'pH Plus' marketed by various pool retailers at anything from Baht 350 to Baht 900 for a 5 Kg tub. It's only soda ash (sodium carbonate) and the price drops to under Baht 20 per kg if purchased in the 25 Kg bags (well, according to the advertisers here). Buying online may incur shipping costs, but it should still work out cheaper and less time consuming than driving round the countryside looking for a supplier between Pattaya and BKK.

'pH Plus' is marketed by va

I'm afraid I can't answer that. There is a proverb in English about leading horses to water... - sorry if there's a pun in there somewhere

I'm  not  so  sure about  Hayward pumps but  pretty  well  everything  these days is manufactured (or assembled) in  China including  Apple computers. I  read on  a Hayward pump  motor label once that  they  are made in  Mexico. The important  thing  is to  go  for a reputable brand. The price of a Hayward pump, like all  others, depends on  the horse power and model  type. Hayward offer three different  series: 'Super', Super II, and 'TriStar'.  Shop  around on  the Internet, bearing  in  mind that  (as far as I  know) there is a 30% customs tarif here on  pool  equipment  which  is one reason  why  prices are high compared to  their home market - there is also often a huge difference in the retail prices offered by  various outlets ( Narrow your search  by  adding  Thailand to  your search  keywords).

One should never dose chlorine by guesswork. It's important to maintain the pH more than anything else. If the pH is not right, the chlorine won't work properly. It's therefore essential to test regularly for free chlorine and pH. The simple test kits will provide a reasonable indication, but it may be worth considering investing in a digiital pH tester and a dedicated free chlorine tester. If the chlorine level is correct there should be no smell of chlorine. A characteristic smell of chlorine may not necessarily mean that there is too much chlorine in the pool; what it often reflects is the combined chlorine (free chlorine and chlorine that has done its job and is no longer working). A correct level of chlorine should prevent most algae growth, but it may be necessary to treat with a proprietary pool algicide and then continue with preventative maintenance.

It's important to maintain the pH more than anything else. If the pH is not right, the chlorine won't work properly. It's therefore essential to test regularly for free chlorine and pH. The simple test kits will provide a reasonable indication, but it may be worth considering investing in a digiital pH tester and a dedicated free chlorine tester. If the chlorine level is correct there should be no smell of chlorine. A characteristic smell of chlorine may not necess

This may help.:

http://www.myronl.com/PDF/fcetr.pdf

Towards the end there are comments and recommendations for pool CYA.

Only cheap Chinese pool products (usually pirated copies of leading brands) would use sub-standard or non stainless steel parts. My first filter and its MPV are still going strong after 24 years. There's not much to go wrong with a sand filter. It's a bugger to change the media though, (and that's where the laterals can get damaged) especially if the 'professional' installer has surrounded it with hard glued plumbing instead of barrel unions.

So I may soon become a pool professional..... might call myself the Pool Dentist.

- and I spend so much time looking at test tubes and digital read-outs I'll probably call myself the Pool Optician.

Try a web search. That's how I got mine. Localise your search words using 'Thailand' as one of the keywords. To save time though, you may try the advertisers here - a quick check reveals that one of them has an extensive range of water testers of all kinds and a very wide range of chemicals in various quantities.

Over the years, I've not found any noticeable difference in quality between different brands of chlorine or algaecides. They all seem to do what they are supposed to. Internationally branded goods are always more expensive because mostly what you are paying for is the name, and perhaps the longer shipping distance from abroad. At the end of the day it's all the same stuff.

BTW, be sure that you are using proper 90% T.C.C.A. chlor for pools which already includes cyanuric acid. if you are using anything else, chances are that the sun is burning off the chlorine before it has fully done its job.

Ideal is 1.0 to 2.5. Boosting it beyond that will just waste chlorine. 'Shocking' is really intended to get the chlor up to those levels if it falls below it. Shocking is done simply with a faster releasing form of chlor, usually powder or granules, but it's often marketed more expensively as 'Shock' chlorine. It's actually cheaper (on the bulk market) than the slow-release tablets.

It may sometimes be worthwhile investing in decent Free Chlorine and Total Chlorine checkers. There are digital, photometric, and titration ones. They are not expensive and work out not much more than the standard 'blue box' test kit and buying multiple refils, and they are far more accurate. Supplement such water testing tools with a digital pH meter. Chuck the 'blue box ' out - they are pretty useless.

While chlor will combat algae to a certain extent, if infection persists, try using a proprietary algicide such as Algaetrine or Black Advance from Applied Biochemicals™. It's made in Thailand specially for pools so will not have the horrendous prices as imported branded stuff from the 'famous' pool brands. Use a high dose to start with, then continue with preventative dosing.

Many of the chlorine tablet feeders listed on the eBay link are readily available here in Thailand both in stores and online. Expect to pay about Baht 400 for the floating type and around Baht 3,000 for the in-line type.

To do that he would probably need a cyanuric acid test kit, or have a water analysis done.

Theoretically an extension to a pool would be conceivable. The question is, can it be done correctly and economically? You would need to gather in some quotes, talk to the bidders and guage their competency. From what I see from posts in various Thailand forums, Chai Mai appears to be a bit of a problem area for capable pool construction, but of course I may be completely wrong because we generally only get to hear about things that go wrong rather than things that are successful.

When choosing to upgrade the technical systems, which will almost certainly be required if your pool is going to be larger, again, ask several suppliers for prices of the actual equipment rather than a lump sum for the extension.

I am totally in favour of salt water chlorination, but I appreciate that not all the regulars here agree with me. Again, check the prices carefully - some of the same equipment retails at double the prices between different retailers, and consider a brand for which there is genuine after sales service - everyone claims to be an 'accredited' dealer, many are not.

Compared to the 'traditional' expat areas in Thailand, Udon is very low on general tourism, so I would imagine that with the dramatic fall in the value of Western currencies, there may be fewer farangs settling here. Many already here may have matured away from the night life. If there are still a lot of small farang bars, they are probably competing for too few customers. That already happeneed in Nong Khai a few years ago and several closed down.

Can't remember when I last went to a farang bar - Oh yes, it was about 5 years ago to meet someone in the Irish Clock. There seems to be a lot of farang bars in Udon though. There used to be a lot more in that strip in front of what used to be Robinson. They were all demolished to make room for the new Central Plaza, whether they ever relocated or not?

I'm with Naam. You seriously overestimate the cost of chlorine, Chaichara. I have consumed about 5,000 bahts (45kg) worth of powder chlorine (Japanese Trichlor, not the even cheaper Chinese stuff that would have potentially knocked another 1,500 baht off it) over 18 months. And that is for a medium-large pool (80,000 litres).

I also have a salt-water chlorinator, which was supplied when the pool was built at about 50,000 baht for control unit + cell (maybe I was ripped off, but its a recognized Astral brand not some cheap knock-off Chinese?). Im about to switch to that system - its a long story as to why I spent the first two years ignoring it. I note that my instruction manual indicates a pump time of 8-10 hours a day for a chlorinator and my size of pool. I have been very happy with the performance of my "keep it simple - stupid" system of chucking chlorine in every couple of days - the look of the water has been fine and I have never smelled chlorine. Once I bought my 50kg plastic barrel of chlorine powder and struggled it down to the pump room that was it for 2 years - no manhandling (less heavy but still awkward) bags of salt around and no need to worry about storing all that bulk in the dry - you must be buying in bulk if you are paying 150 baht??.

I am not biased but it seems clear to me that operating a chlorinator if you factor in the capital cost is appreciably more expensive than 'kis-s'. I am only going to switch over for a couple of years trial so I can confirm whether the advantages of a chlorinator justify the increased cost. My take on percieved advantages are water feel and the reduced time in not collecting and chucking in chlorine and not needing to call my wife to remind the emergency pool boy (my Thai BIL) to do the bluddy job I briefed and paid him to do when I go away for short periods 6 times a year. I was also surprised to see that I have to maintain the chlorinator by dsimantling it and putting an HCL mix in. So much for avoiding the handling of nasty chemicals!

If I was asked now, then I would encourage new owners not to waste their money on a salt chlorinator or at least get the system built so it can be retrofitted later if you find you can't hack handling chlorine, but let's see. Being open-minded and Having paid for the sw chlorinator system I will be delighted to trumpet it's fantastic advantages over my previous neanderthal approach. Ask me in a year's time

"- no manhandling (less heavy but still awkward) bags of salt around

and no need to worry about storing all that bulk in the dry - you must

be buying in bulk if you are paying 150 baht??".

I'm not buying in bulk or getting any special discount, I just shopped around until

I got the best price

but it's clear that some pool shops are enjoying what may be an

excessive profit. That said, transportation is the problem so it

may be factored into their prices. I can get 30 - 40 25Kg bags in

my pickup, but if you can't, going to a pool shop for just a few

bags every time rather defeats the object of having an SW chlorinator

- especially when in Khon Kaen people are charging Baht 750 for a

bag, which I don't understand because the factory in nearby Phi Mai

delivers free to commercial customers in Isan who take a minmum of

80 bags.

Retro fitting a chlorinator is easy.

Zodiac has a YouTube video that lasts about the length of time it

takes to install one. No special knowledge is needed, because it

also does away with the steel chest of electro gadgets the pool

constructors install.

Freeform pools are always more expensive than standard rectangular pool and any additional features you would like will also add to the cost. I would suggest sketching out what you want, perhaps with a photo of the example you cited, and calling for several quotations. Prices will probably vary considerably, and will most usually depend on your location. If you are in a traditional expat area, prices will be (very) high. If the contract value is big enough, you may get more reasonable quotes from pool firms further away.

Always ask if they will send someone to visit you, because this will demonstrate true interest on the part of the pool firm and you will be able to guage thier professionalism. They should be able to give you a ballpark figure before making a firm offer.

If they speak English, or your native language, this will be a plus, but it does not always mean that they build quality pools.

Pools in Phuket are often grossly overpriced. if the project is large enough, a company from further up the country may be prepared to come down there and build it for a more reasonable price. Shop around for quotes.

Indoor pools are NOT affected by direct sunlight. The addition of CYA should not normally be necessary.

Concurring with other posts, if there is a smell of chlorine, then the pool is not being properly maintained, and in a suburb of Melbourne recently, I almost choked on the smell of chlorine in an indoor municipal pool.

The claims on the American manufacturer's site are full of traditional US hyperbole and 'over-sell', even if the product does what it is supposed to. Much of the hype is based on the apparent 'disadvantages' of other systems. They claim to have sold 20,000 units worldwide, but that, compared to the sales of Zodiac, Emaux, Pentair, or Hayward, etc., SW Chlorinators is minimal.

Having downloaded the prices and checked, I think a zero has been missed of the price quoted above. The replacement self-sacrificlal copper annodes alone cost around $170 locally in the US. Add to those prices the CIF and customs duty and the Thai importer's margin (they need to purchase 6 units to get a wholesale price), and be absolutely sure that there is adequate customer support here.

I only know of one unit in operation, and that's in Nakhon Si Thammarat in a commercial pool.