When you are lucky enough to have a terrace, one of your dreams is to build a swimming pool. A desire of many, which however often risks going into conflict with the structural safety of the swimming pool itself and the terrace on which it is to be installed. For this reason, in order not to attend the collapse of the swimming pool on the terrace, it is essential to carry out a precise structural analysis and carefully evaluate what is possible. It is absolutely essential to take all basic precautions to avoid the collapse of the entire structure. Once this is done, you will be able to enjoy all the comforts that help you beat the heat and relax at the same time.
How much weight can a terrace support?
What is the ideal weight of a terrace pool? In compliance with current technical regulations, floors intended for residential use are designed and verified to withstand an accidental load equal to 200 kg/m². Consequently, to evaluate the structural safety of the attic which will have to support the weight of the swimming pool, it is absolutely necessary to evaluate the additional loads transmitted from the swimming pool to the terrace attic.
In certain cases, reinforcement of the existing structure is necessary as the weight of the swimming pool could weigh dangerously on the terrace. Slightly different speech that of inflatable swimming pools on the terrace which can boast a relatively low weight.
Pools with steel, aluminum or concrete components can reach a considerable weight, up to 100 kg/m², to which the weight of the water contained is added. Consequently, the choice of a swimming pool with a light but resistant structure takes on fundamental importance to minimize the impact on the terrace and guarantee its structural stability over time.
How much does a swimming pool full of water weigh?
Installing a swimming pool on a terrace requires a prior assessment of the attic’s ability to support the additional weight. Structural safety is essential to avoid accidents and damage to people and things. Given that the specific weight of water is equal to 1000 kg/m3it is possible to estimate the incidence of load per square meter transmitted by the swimming pool.
The following estimate allows a comparison to be made with the accidental design loads used for the calculation of the floors, in order to evaluate the ability of the floor to support the weight of the swimming pool. In relation to the height of the water, it is highlighted that, every 10 cm increase, determine an increase in the load on the attic equal to 100 kg/m2. Consequentially:
- for a water height of 20 cm the vertical load transmitted to the floor will be 200 kg/m2;
- for a water height of 50 cm the vertical load transmitted to the floor will be 500 kg/m2;
- for a water height of 100 cm the vertical load transmitted to the floor will be 1000 kg/m2.
Once the load per square meter transmitted by the swimming pool is known, it is possible to carry out a preliminary evaluation by making a comparison with the accidental design loads foreseen for the floors. Furthermore, the current technical legislation establishes that residential floors are designed and verified considering a accidental load equal to 200 kg/m2. With a preliminary assessment of this kind, the risks of building a swimming pool on a terrace are reduced. The same goes for those who worry about a possible collapse of the swimming pool on the terrace.
How much does it cost to build a swimming pool on the terrace?
Having a swimming pool installed on your terrace is like wanting to create a small oasis, a small corner of relaxation and being able to enjoy those minutes of well-deserved rest without anyone being able to come and disturb you. A space of peace and tranquility, where you can enjoy a swim at any time, alone or in company.
And so, after making sure that the right work will be carried out to strengthen the terrace for the swimming pool and after understanding what the lightweight terrace poolsthe time has also come to understand how much the cost of one of them is.
Usually, for a minimum lot of approx 3×3 m2 80 cm deep you go from 10 thousand to 15 thousand euros. Slightly higher figures compared to a swimming pool on the ground, but which mainly depend on the reinforcements to be made and the loading material.
As regards maintenance costs, these are usually around 1,000 euros per year for a medium-sized swimming pool and include:
- the water;
- electricity;
- maintenance products.
Therefore, not high figures, but which should still be taken into account if you decide to make such an investment.
How is the capacity of a terrace calculated?
After this excursus on the installation of the swimming pool on the terrace and the importance of preliminary assessments, it is also important to ask how the capacity of a terrace is calculated. A calculation that should be entrusted to an expert professional like a construction engineer. Only such a technician could estimate the load capacity by multiplying the terrace surface same for its load capacity per square meter.
For example, if a terrace has a surface area of 20 square meters and can support a maximum load of 200 kg per square meter, the maximum load capacity of the terrace will be 4000 kg. Given that the above calculations provide an approximate estimate, we reiterate the importance of always consulting a qualified technician to obtain a precise assessment of the capacity of your terrace.
Beyond the calculations that the construction engineer can make, one fundamental fact must be kept in mind from the beginning. Everything will always depend on the materials that were used to construct the attic and the general conditions of the building. The older and more poorly maintained the latter is, the lower its load resistance capacity will be. To be sure of the stability of the building, it is advisable to always contact the company responsible for the construction of the building, or contact an expert engineer in the sector who can make the necessary findings.
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