A Suspended Lap Pool — The Indooroopilly Renovation Build

Most pool builds happen on standard suburban blocks. Every so often, we get one that pushes us out of the comfort zone. The Pham family's pool in Indooroopilly was one of those.

House: a 1930s Queenslander on stumps, mid-renovation. Block: tight inner-suburban, with the rear yard at a significantly lower level than the house. Brief: a 9m lap pool that the owner could actually swim in seriously, integrated with a new entertaining deck the architect was already designing.

Final: Resort II (8×3m, slightly modified to 9×3m), suspended structural pool elevated to deck level, premium tile interior, frameless glass on three sides. Build time: 16 weeks. Total: $108,400.

This was a custom build, not a standard package. Here's how it came together.

The collaboration with the architect

We came in 4 months before construction, while the architect was still finalising the renovation. Mike sat with them and the Phams in three design meetings over six weeks.

The architect was designing a new rear deck and entertaining zone at first-floor level (the original Queenslander had a high-set rear). The pool needed to integrate with this elevated deck, which meant:

• The pool itself had to be at the elevated level (about 2.5m above natural ground)
• The pool's structure had to span across the lower yard
• The deck and pool finishes needed to coordinate visually

We worked with the architect's engineer (separate from our usual one for normal builds) to design a suspended pool structure. Essentially, the pool became a rooftop pool, except the 'rooftop' was a structural deck purpose-built to carry it.

The engineering

Suspended pools require fundamentally different engineering from in-ground ones. The shell still works the same way, but the loads have to be carried by columns and beams beneath, transferred to footings rated to bear the full weight of the pool plus water plus people plus dynamic load.

Our shell was actually thicker than standard — 270mm walls, 300mm floor. The reinforcement was substantially heavier. The whole structure sat on six concrete columns to bedrock, with steel framing tying everything together.

Engineer's design fee alone was $7,500, separate from our build cost. Worth every cent.

The complexity surcharge

This is the kind of build where we openly tell clients: 'this won't be cheap, and you're paying for genuine complexity'.

The base 8×3m Resort II is $48,900 turnkey. The Pham pool, modified to 9×3m, suspended, premium tile interior, custom integration, came to $108,400. The roughly $60,000 premium reflects:

• The structural design and engineering complexity
• The additional reinforcement steel (about 8 tonnes total)
• The shotcrete spray complexity (working at height)
• The premium tile interior (fully tiled instead of pebble-crete, $18,000 alone)
• The custom-cut frameless glass at varying heights
• The longer build time (16 weeks vs 12)

The Phams understood the complexity and didn't push back on pricing. They knew what they were buying.

The build experience

One genuine challenge: coordinating with the architect's other contractors. The deck builder, the structural steel team, our pool crew — everyone needed access to the same site at slightly different times.

Our PM (Mike, on this build) ended up running a weekly Monday meeting with the architect and the lead contractor for the renovation. Tight coordination, no overlapping work, no clashes.

The shotcrete spray was the highest-risk moment. We were spraying at 2.5m above ground, working off scaffolding, with the concrete pump positioned in the lower yard. Two days of careful work, one team focused entirely on the pool, no interference from other trades.

The finish

The premium tile interior took an extra two weeks to install. The tilers spent three full days laying the bottom alone, getting the falls and the bond pattern right.

The result, frankly, is one of the most beautiful pools we've ever built. From the deck, you walk out of the kitchen straight onto the deck, the pool sits flush with the deck level, water reflects the sky. From the back garden looking up, you see the underside of the deck and a clean structural face — the pool is a feature of the architecture rather than a separate object.

The Phams use the pool daily. Mr Pham swims 30 laps every morning before work. The kids invite friends over weekly. It's exactly what they wanted.

Why we love these builds (and don't do them often)

Custom builds like this are professionally satisfying in a way standard builds aren't. The design challenges, the engineering, the coordination, the final result — it all stretches what's possible.

We don't take on many of them, because each one ties up significant resources for 4-6 months. We probably do two or three of this complexity each year. The rest of the business is standard family pools, which is also where most of our experience comes from.

If your build is heading into custom territory — architect-designed, structural challenges, premium finishes — we'd love to talk. Start a conversation early; the earlier we're involved, the better the integration.

— Cathy

Family name changed for client privacy. Project details accurate.