The 1.2-metre fence — what passes, what fails
draftingSelf-closing gate hardware, climbable horizontals, the 900mm rule, and why 80% of pools fail their first council inspection.
Read about our fencing-first stance →The reading
Reading before you build
Practical, NZ-specific writing on the Building Act 2004 fencing rules, real 2026 NZD pricing, the concrete-vs-fibreglass decision, and the heating maths that's load-bearing south of Hamilton.
Long-form guides are in draft. Each topic below links to the canonical page on this directory that already covers the substance — full guide articles will publish progressively over 2026.
What a NZ pool actually costs in 2026
draftingThe honest spread per pool type, plus regional multipliers and the line items most quotes hide.
See the five pool-type ranges →Concrete vs fibreglass — the real trade-offs
plannedCustomisation, lifespan, install speed, resurface intervals. Why concrete still wins above 8.5m and fibreglass dominates under it.
Concrete in-ground details →Heating a pool in Wellington (and other cold cities)
plannedHeat-pump COP maths, solar mat reality, gas-heater running costs, and why an unheated outdoor pool south of Hamilton barely earns its keep.
Compare regions and swim seasons →Plunge pools — small section, big lifestyle
plannedWhy townhouses and hill-sites are choosing 4-metre heated plunges over full-length pools — and what it actually costs.
Plunge pool spec and costs →Coastal pools — salt-air corrosion checklist
plannedMarine-grade vs 316 stainless, pool covers in salt-spray zones, fence detail at the beach: a brief for any Bay-of-Plenty or Northland build.
Bay Pool Builders' coastal spec →Lap pools — when daily-swim maths actually works
planned12-metre minimum, counter-current systems, why every NZ lap pool wants a heat pump, and the real annual running cost.
Lap pool spec and costs →Pool consent and PS3 — what your council actually needs
plannedThe producer-statement chain, the inspections that gate pool fill, and where Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and QLDC differ.
Builders that handle consent end-to-end →