The short answer
In Mesogeia a prefab pool goes in easily, because plots are open and machines can get in. We take care with clay soil, which swells with rain, by draining properly round the pool. If the plot has a borehole, we test the water before filling.
Clay and drainage
In quite a few parts of Mesogeia the soil contains clay. Clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Around a pool that means pressure on the walls and on the surrounding paving.
The fix is simple but must be done right: backfill behind the walls with gravel instead of the same soil, a drainage pipe at the base and falls in the paving round the pool, so rainwater runs away from it.
Water from a borehole
Many plots in Spata, Koropi and Markopoulo have a borehole for irrigation. It can fill the pool too, provided we know what kind of water it is. Water with a lot of iron can stain the membrane, and very hard water leaves scale.
Before filling we run a simple test. If needed, we add an iron filter on the line or fill with a water truck. More in the guide on water for filling.
Family pool with a shallow end
Mesogeia is full of families with young children. The pool they ask for most is rectangular, with full-width steps and a shallow section sloping gently to the deep end. The children play in the shallows while the adults swim.
See the family pool with a shallow end and the rectangular garden pool.
Open plots and wind
The open plots of Mesogeia have one drawback: wind. In winter it brings dust and leaves, in summer it raises evaporation. A planted fence on the north side of the pool and a cover for the night make a big difference.
From our experienceIn Mesogeia we always ask to see where the house casts its shadow in the afternoon. Often a pool two metres to the side gets two more hours of sun.
