Constructing in Concrete
How To Construct A Concrete Water Lily Pool
There are many water lily pool designs from which to choose. They range from simple straight-sided pools to the elaborate with pre-installed plant receptacles. While some pools are placed into the ground, the best type is a raised pool. The rim offers great seating and when combined with the movable planting receptacles, you will have the prettiest and most versatile pool possible.
Building a Pool
Although we will detail all the various construction procedures for water lily pools, here are a few examples of basic types.
The basic straight-sided water lily pool is best made with ready-mix concrete. If you are unsure how much you need, give the dimensions of your water lily pool to a building expert or a pool dealer. They will be able to advise you correctly.
The best time to build a pool is midsummer. It used to be best to build a pool in the autumn when the colder weather could cure the pool, but there are now new methods of curing that ease building in finer weather. With this flexibility water lily pools can be built and ready for the end of the season bloom.
The next thing you need to think about when building your pool is the excavation. The amount of work you will have depends upon your soil texture. If the soil is firm then you can build just one form, but if it is crumbly then you will need to build both the inside and outside forms as well as lay planks to hold up the soil as you dig. In terms of depth, the best for growing water lilies is around two feet despite the pool size. Make sure you add another two inches to the sides of the pool because it will look better with the water short of the brimming point. For a pool this deep, you need to excavate a foot deeper -- six inches for gravel or stone and six inches for the concrete shell. To measure the depth you require, use a check peg to ensure level excavation.
Drainage
When constructing any water lily pool, drainage is also important to consider. There are basically three possible drainage methods open to you, including not having drainage at all. Some people choose not to have drainage because the pool is easier to build. This is not a problem since water lily pools only need to be emptied once a year. However, during rainstorms you can easily lose goldfish and make a mess of your garden without adequate pool drainage. If you do choose to have drainage in your pool the best options are: 1. Dry well installation and 2. Complete drainage installation.
Reinforcement and Pouring
Once you have your design and drainage plans in place, think about reinforcing your concrete structure. The best method for reinforcing concrete is to use steel. You can buy this in rods or mesh form and use it to line your excavation so that the concrete will envelop it easily. The pool will need reinforcing most at the corners, where you should use separate rods bent into place at right angles.
Next, mix and pour the concrete. Use only Portland cement. For pools, the mixture consists of one part cement, two parts sand, and three of gravel.
Once you have mixed the cement, place it gently onto the excavation. If you throw the mix, it will break up in mid-air and leave you with a weak frame. Place the mixture six inches thick on the floor. Once the floor is placed, fill the walls, which you will have constructed using moulds. The concrete needs to set for 48 hours before removal from the form moulds. Last, keep the cement moist for another ten days to prevent it drying out.
Pool Copings and Special Effects
Now that you have the basic form of your water lily pool, you can think about adding copings and special effects. Some great items you can add to your pool include:
Ornamental rims
Moss
Fountains and spouts
Dripstones
Lighting
All of these items will add beauty to your water lily pool design and will help you in creating your perfect water lily garden.