SWIMMING POOL ENCLOSURES AND OTHER LARGE SPAN STRUCTURES

Enjoy your swimming pool year-round without the problems associated with an outdoor pool, such as leaves, insects, wind, snow, rain and the cold. Save on chemicals and maintenance with a Pool Enclosure.

One question often asked in our Ask an Expert section is - can I house my pool, fitness room, Jacuzzi or spa within my conservatory?

The answer is of course, yes, although it may be that you will need some additional structural support - especially as the width of the structure increases. Generally speaking most conservatory roof systems will allow you to "span" up to five or six metres without the need for any special sub-structure support (tie bars would be used in roof area however). Unless your requirement is to house a small spa or exercise pool it's unlikely that an enclosure (conservatory) of less than six metres will accommodate it.

Large span conservatory structures require a supporting sub-structure. The supporting sub structure is usually made out of structural grade aluminium although more traditional alternatives using timber are sometimes also used. The sub-structure needs to be specially secured to the surrounding ground. This supporting sub-structure also has to be verified by structural engineers and will represent a significant proportion of the over all cost of the project.

In recent years, with the growth in popularity of large span conservatory structures, some suppliers (notably Ultraframe) have developed somewhat less expensive MINI PORTAL structures that allow conservatory suppliers to span widths greater than six metres without the need for large PORTAL frames that may be required on larger commercial type enclosures. This has made large span conservatory structures more accessible for those who would like a LARGER than average conservatory enclosure. 

Costs?

It is of course very difficult to predict the final cost for an enclosure. So much depends on the specification used. For sure it will be more expensive than an average conservatory - especially if a mini-portal or portal support frame structure is required. You also have to consider if dehumidifying equipment etc is going to be fitted. This again will add to your costs. As a very rough guide it's unlikely that any good-sized enclosure will cost less than £20,000 and many enclosures do cost in the £50,000 - £100,000 plus range by the time all the "peripherals" are added.

Do I need Planning Permission? 
(This information applies to England and Wales only)

For a permanent large span conservatory it is quite likely you will need planning permission. It's also likely that in all but the smallest enclosures building regulation approval will be required. In particular note that permission is required for commercial use.

Most specialist suppliers will include for obtaining the necessary permissions and permits in their work.

Please note that there are low level sliding enclosures and dome structures available, which sometimes do not require planning permission, as they are not considered "permanent" structures. These structures are not generally speaking as "Grand" or impressive looking as the enclosures we are featuring here. They are, however, worth consideration - especially if your budget is more limited.