First tile laid for city's Life Centre swimming pool

CITY Cabinet member Peter Brookshaw yesterday fixed the first tile in the Olympic pool at the new Plymouth Life Centre.

Cllr Brookshaw has now handed over his trowel to the professionals, who will fix about 1,075 square metres of ceramic tiles in the main 50-metre pool.

In all around 11,000 square metres of tiles are being used across the project including the changing village, toilets, leisure pool, dive pool and main pool.

Balfour Beatty, the main contractor filled, tested and drained the main pool and dive pool in March with each taking around one week to fill.

The pools were have been rendered in preparation for tiling, which is expected to take around two weeks to complete.

Mr Brookshaw said: "This is another exciting and tangible milestone in the construction of the Life Centre.

"The tiling of the pool is a really symbolic part in the overall project and the majority of the external work is now completed, with work starting to focus on the internal facilities.

"Every stage is another step closer to the opening of the centre, which will provide some of the best leisure and sport facilities in the South West."

The blue and white tiles from Germany are being supplied and fitted by Wellswood Ceramics in Torquay – a subcontractor employed by Balfour Beatty. Around eight men are working on the tiling operation including a work experience student from City College Plymouth.

The company will tile all the pools and the changing village at the Life Centre.

The structural steelwork frame has been completed above the dive pool allowing the remaining roof work to get under way. Many of the external and internal walls have been finished with more than 175 men currently working on-site.

When the Life Centre is finished in the autumn its highly flexible aquatic area will cater for a wide range of uses.

There will be a family leisure pool with flumes, 'beach entry' and a bubble pool.

The ten-lane, 50-metre Olympic-sized pool will be the only one of its kind in Devon and Cornwall and will feature moveable floors and submersible booms dividing it up into three separate areas.

The dive pool will be one of the top four in the country and there will also be a dry-side training facility for divers.

The Life Centre facilities will include an innovative climbing zone with 15-metre wall, aerial assault course, bouldering and abseiling; an eight-lane bowls centre; a 12-court multi-use sports hall; and a fitness suite with 150 stations.

Pool Cleaning and Equipment Repair

Instead of wasting time trying to learn how to deal with pool chemicals and equipment, hire a competent local service to handle it for you.

The biggest advantage to hiring a local pool service is that they can take ownership of keeping your pool clean, your chemicals at the proper level, and your equipment functioning properly. Of course, there are many pool services that aren’t complete experts in equipment maintenance and repair, for example they only handle the chemical service, and these companies should be avoided. For the best results, always hire a company that is well versed in all aspects of swimming pool care so you don’t have to hire another company later down the road.

It is a fact of life that over time, equipment tends to degrade, and eventually brake down. After all, your pool equipment is sitting out in the elements virtually all the time, in chlorine filled water, so it is natural for equipment to need service. The best pool service companies will be able to help you get max life out of your equipment, providing regular maintenance and keeping your pumps, sweeps and heater functioning properly, avoiding the typical breakdowns that happen naturally as your equipment ages.

Perhaps the biggest advantage to hiring a local service is that they will keep your pool clean and your chemicals at their proper levels. Who wants to deal with chemicals and have them sitting around the yard where kids and pets can accidently expose themselves to bad things inadvertently? By hiring an outside company, you eliminate this possibility, while at the same time virtually guaranteeing yourself that your pool water will be safe for swimming.

As pools age, another problem is that tiles tend to get dirty, sometimes even becoming loose and completely breaking away. A good pool service that provides cleaning will make sure that they keep your tiles clean, and in good shape, helping you avoid breakdown and costly repairs in the future. If you provide your own pool care, chances are you won’t spend the time required to clean and fix tiles, and by the time you notice a problem, it is oftentimes too late. Once again, hiring a professional is the way to go for max protection.

The final reason to hire a local pool service is because they will be able to provide you expert advice for moving forward. In today’s day and age, new pool technology is frequently being released, for example LED pool lights and low energy heaters and pumps, which can save you money and promote green energy, too. If you do need to replace your equipment, having a pool guy around you trust completely is a major blessing. You will be able to make better decisions regarding taking care of your pool, which will help you make sure your pool is safe, your equipment is working, and your water temperature is just right!

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