Swimming Pool Construction in the Algarve
We design and build custom concrete pools, either integrated into a new build or added to existing villas, with guaranteed waterproofing and quality finishes.
Reinforced Concrete Pools
Sprayed-concrete structure, long-life waterproofing and the finish of your choice.
Pool Renovation
Bringing older pools back to life: new lining, new equipment and refreshed surrounds.
Decking & Surrounds
Paving, decks and walls that tie the pool into the garden and the architecture of the house.
Equipment & Maintenance
Pumps, filtration, heating and covers, installed and tuned for minimal running costs.
What is included when you build a pool?
We build custom concrete pools, either as part of a new house or added to an existing villa. One team handles the work from excavation to the first fill, including the equipment and the area around the pool.
- Site visit, layout and written quote
- Excavation and, where needed, retaining walls
- Reinforced, sprayed concrete shell
- Waterproofing and the lining of your choice
- Pipework, pump, filtration and lighting
- Heating and a cover, if you want them
- Surround, paving, steps and decking
How is a concrete pool built, step by step?
Every pool is different, but the order of work repeats.
Site visit: we look at the garden, the ground, the levels and access for machines.
Quote: you receive a free, detailed written quote for the pool and its surround.
Design and licensing: we agree shape, depth and finishes, and confirm with the câmara how the pool should be licensed or communicated.
Excavation: the hole is dug and the ground prepared, with retaining walls where the plot slopes.
Shell: the steel reinforcement goes in and the concrete is sprayed to form the shell.
Waterproofing and lining: the shell is waterproofed and finished with the chosen lining.
Equipment: pump, filtration, lighting and any heating are installed and set up.
Surround and filling: the paving or deck is laid, the pool is filled and the system started.
Handover: we show you how the equipment works and how to look after the water.
How long does it take to build a pool?
A new pool usually takes 6 to 10 weeks from excavation to filling, depending on ground conditions and the weather. Rock in the ground, a sloping garden or difficult access make the job longer.
Larger surrounds, landscaping and the time the licensing route takes come on top of that. When the pool is built with a new house, it fits into the overall schedule of the work.
What affects the cost of a swimming pool?
Every pool is quoted after a site visit, because the same pool can cost quite differently on two plots. The shell is only part of the price: what surrounds it often weighs as much as the pool itself.
- Size, shape and depth
- Ground conditions, especially rock
- Access for machines and trucks
- Retaining walls on sloping plots
- Lining and surround finishes
- Heating, cover and lighting
- Building with the house or adding the pool later
Do I need a licence to build a pool in Portugal?
As a rule, a pool has to be included in the licensing of the house or communicated to the câmara municipal, depending on the case. The rules come from the RJUE and the municipality’s PDM, and the 2024 Simplex Urbanístico reform changed several procedures.
Because the right route depends on the plot and the project, we confirm it for each pool with the architect or the câmara before work starts.
Which materials and equipment do you use for pools?
The shell is reinforced concrete sprayed in place, which allows any shape and depth and suits sloping plots. It is waterproofed before lining, and the lining can be tiles, mosaic or another finish chosen to cope with sun, chlorine and salt air.
Filtration is sized to each pool, and heating and a cover extend the swimming season and reduce evaporation. In Mexilhoeira Grande we built a pool under an arched porch, and in Carvoeiro a house that steps down in terraces to the pool.
Where do you build pools?
We are based in Armação de Pêra and have been building in the Algarve since 2004. We build pools in Carvoeiro, Albufeira, Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago, Lagos and the towns around them, listed below.
Where we do this work
Armação de PêraCarvoeiroVilamouraQuinta do LagoAlbufeiraLagos
A custom concrete pool typically costs between 25,000 and 45,000 euros, depending on size, site access and the finishes chosen. We provide a free quote after visiting the site.
A new pool usually takes 6 to 10 weeks from excavation to filling, depending on ground conditions and weather.
Usually yes, in some form. A pool generally has to be included in the licensing of the house or communicated to the câmara municipal, depending on the case and the plot. The 2024 Simplex Urbanístico changed several procedures, so we confirm the right route for each pool with the architect or the câmara before work starts.
It depends on the plot and what you want. A reinforced concrete pool is built in place, allows any shape and depth, and suits sloping or awkward plots. Prefabricated shells cost less and install faster, but limit shape and size, and on rocky ground or with difficult access that advantage shrinks. We build custom concrete pools.
Yes. Pool renovation can include a new lining, repairs and waterproofing of the shell, a new pump, filtration and lighting, and a refreshed surround. We first visit the pool to see the condition of the shell and the equipment, then send a free written quote for what it actually needs.
Yes. Heating can be added to a new or existing pool, and a cover reduces evaporation, chemical use and heat loss. A pool in the Algarve has yearly running costs for water treatment, pump electricity and lining upkeep. Filtration sized to the pool and a cover planned at design stage help keep those costs down.
Many people want the pool ready for summer, so autumn and winter are good times to plan, sort out the licensing route and start work. Heavy rain can pause excavation and concrete work, and the schedule allows for it. The right start date depends on your plot, your plans and the licensing route.
- What it costsFigures per square metre from real projects, and what they do and do not cover.
- How Much Does a Swimming Pool Cost in the AlgarveSwimming pool construction costs in the Algarve: concrete vs prefabricated, what is included, running costs and licensing. A guide from VRconstroi.
- Building Permits and Licensing in the AlgarveHow building licensing works with Algarve councils: the stages of the process, realistic timescales, documents required and where applications stall.
- IMPIC licence 98638-PAR (check)
- Tax no. (NIF) 515473111
- Since 2004
- Founder Veaceslav Rusu