MCL caught up with the Williams family who've had an outdoor pool installed at their home near Caldicot.

1. How long have you had a swimming pool?

The pool was completed in July 07. We'd talked about having one for years and after the heatwave in 06 we decided to take the plunge'! We have a largish garden so we tend not to take off on numerous exotic holidays every year, so we thought we might as well bring one holiday attraction (the heated pool) to our property. Also, my wife and I are both reaching an age where impact-based exercise (road running etc) is not ideal, so a home pool is perfect. My wife was a county swimmer in her youth and I misspent my youth on a surf board, so we're both water babies!

2. Why did you decide to go for an outside pool?

We really wanted an indoor pool but our village is in a Conservation Area and our property is one of special historic/architectural' merit so we didn't stand a chance of getting planning permission for an indoor pool. The secret is to buy the most expensive solar cover you can afford and to try to include heat/money saving features into the design.

3. What are the benefits of having a pool at your home?

The most obvious is convenience. With this in mind we built the pool right outside the back door in what was a paved courtyard and what is a natural sun-trap. Given halfway usual weather, we will use the pool from late April to mid October. For the months in the middle of that time-span the heating costs will be pretty nominal. Despite what the killjoys say, I also believe that having a pool at home enhances the value and saleability of one's property.

4. How did the installation go?

Once underway, Oyster Pools were pretty good. Barry, the MD, is good at thinking on his feet and overcoming practical glitches as they arise. For example, because we have a particularly high water table Oyster had to construct the pool so that three feet is below ground and the remaining two feet is above ground but enclosed behind a retaining wall, which is also an excellent safety feature ensuring that toddlers etc can't fall into the pool accidentally.

5. What would you say to anyone who wanted to follow suit and have a pool installed?

Get at least three written quotes including all those expensive little extras that may not be obvious to a swimming pool virgin' - such as chemicals, winterising' the pool and then reopening it in the spring. Also, do as much homework as possible around ecological solutions, as the established pool manufacturing companies aren't very good at thinking green. When we said we wanted to insulate the below-ground walls of our pool to avoid water-to-earth heat loss, you'd have thought we were asking for a cure for the common cold or the secret of eternal life!

12:10pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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