Rectangular composite pools

Installing rectangular composite pools requires a completely level reinforced concrete slab with a minimum thickness of 15 to 17 centimeters. Unlike round structures, the rectangular format concentrates substantial hydrostatic pressure on the straight side walls.

To ensure structural stability, the installation incorporates metal beams embedded in the foundation. This system of buried steel rails secures the main supports without the need for visible exterior braces, allowing you to make the most of the pool's clear perimeter. A base of soil, sand, or grass is entirely unsuitable due to the risk of cracks caused by differential ground settlement.

Composite offers superior weather resistance by combining wood flour and polymer resins that require no sanding, oils, or annual varnishing. In addition, its straight-sided design optimizes usable swimming space in patios and narrow plots.

Operational advantages include:

• No splinters or rot from continuous exposure to moisture.
• UV protection that prevents the panels from fading prematurely.
• More solid to the touch than traditional sheet-metal or liner walls.
• Better water heat retention on summer nights.

To keep the panels clean, simply apply water at low pressure and pH-neutral soap at the start of each season.

Water treatment in a composite pool is managed exactly the same way as in a traditional pool with a PVC liner. The outer structure does not come into contact with chlorinated water thanks to the internal watertight membrane.

To protect the liner's elasticity and prevent limescale buildup on the return nozzles, keep the pH between 7.2 and 7.6 and the residual chlorine between 0.5 and 1.5 ppm. For rectangular models, it is advisable to use chemicals that have been dissolved beforehand or floating dispensers, and avoid letting compact tablets rest directly on the synthetic bottom.

Rectangular composite models can be installed above ground, partially buried, or fully buried. However, burying the structure requires more extensive civil engineering work than above-ground installation.

If you choose to bury the pool, you must consider the following conditions:

• Perimeter excavation with ample clearance for pipe connections.
• Perimeter wall or extruded polystyrene insulation boards to prevent the soil from exerting direct pressure on the panels.
• Perimeter drainage gravel and a pressure relief well to divert groundwater.
• Access hatches for the skimmers and suction valves.

By following these technical steps, the pool achieves the aesthetic finish of a traditional construction project with reduced installation times.

Rectangular composite pools include a filtration system using silica sand or filter glass, with typical flow rates of 4 to 6 m³/h. This pump unit ensures complete filtration of the water volume in daily cycles of 4 to 6 hours, depending on the ambient temperature.

The technical kit comes with a wide-mouth skimmer integrated into the tongue-and-groove panel, adjustable return nozzles, and 38 mm or 50 mm connection hoses. This configuration ensures a constant filtration rate and simplifies periodic backwashing of the sand bed using the six-way selector valve.

The main difference lies in how the material responds to moisture and solar radiation. While pressure-treated solid wood expands and develops cracks and requires periodic treatment with wood stain, composite remains dimensionally stable without surface maintenance.

Direct technical comparison:

• Natural wood: requires annual sanding and oiling; there is a latent risk of splinters when touched with bare feet.
• Cellular composite: it does not splinter, resists termites, and tolerates splashes of salt or chlorinated water.
• Structural fastening: composite uses grooved aluminum profiles to make fitting the panels easier.

The polymer alloy offers a long service life with significantly lower maintenance costs throughout the product's lifetime.

The ideal way to protect the pool during the off-season combines chemical winterization of the water with an anchored protective cover. Composite walls withstand severe frost without deforming, so the pool must never be completely emptied.

To winterize the pool properly, lower the water level below the nozzles, clean the bottom with a Starpool 35 cm Aluminum Manual Pool Vacuum - Professional Vacuum Head - Wing Nut Connection, and add winterizing chemicals. Place expansion floats on the water's surface to cushion pressure from freezing, and secure an opaque pool cover using the perimeter anchors provided on the outer profiles.