Everyone wants a pool, but very few people know the differences between them. There are actually a few different options for installing a pool on your property. Each route provides different benefits and meets different needs. These explanations will help you to choose the right pool for your yard.
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Above Ground Pools
The most common and least expensive of all pool types, above ground pools are usually prefabricated. Requiring little more than a flat building surface, above ground pools consist of a vinyl liner inside of hard plastic walls that the owner fills with water. Supports around the exterior walls hold the pool in place, while a hole in the wall of the pool connects to a pump to filter and clean the water. These pools are easy to move if you relocate, which makes them a great choice for people who move a lot.
Vinyl In-Ground Pools
These pools require professional installation, which sets them apart from above ground pools. However, they share several similarities in that. After the hole is dug, the construction crew places a rigid wall around the edges that supports an interior vinyl wall. Sand is placed underneath the lining so as to make walking inside the pool more comfortable. However, unlike other in-ground options, this type of pool is somewhat inexpensive, though not as long-lasting.
Fiberglass Pools
Much like a vinyl in ground pool, fiberglass pools must be installed through professional installation. However, the crew first digs the right sized hole, then adds in the plumbing and filler material. Fiberglass pools are preformed, so the basin itself is placed inside of the hole, after which the area is refilled with soil. A concrete deck is usually built around the pool afterward.
Gunite Pools
These are likely the pools most people are familiar with, as it is the most common design in the United States. Gunite pools are built first out of rebar, which then has a material called gunite sprayed on it. Gunite is a mixture of cement and sand which hardens into the pool material everyone is so familiar with. The construction crew uses a trowel to level out the walls and bottom of the pool, letting it harden for a week before placing a secondary finish on it. These pools are highly customizable, able to be built to any specifications, but they are also the most expensive variety and the longest lasting. Swimming pools come in different materials, but these four are the most common, and the most likely options for you to build with. The right pool for your yard can be decided based on your personal budget and the amount of space you have to work with; larger pools, like fiberglass and gunite, can completely dominate a backyard area. A tip for a pool patio: If you are considering a pool, include a pool patio with the installation to enhance your backyard experience. Often we think that the best look for a patio is a stone patio. However the more economic route is to use concrete. Concrete can be used to imitate different stone looks very well. H&H Concrete on Demand does some of the very best of this designed concrete.
This is some great information, and I appreciate your point that gunite pools can be custom designed. My husband and I would like to install a pool in our yard, and we have some pretty specific design ideas we would like to implement. We’ll definitely look into having a gunite one installed so it can fit what we want to have done. Thanks for the great post!
Thank you for the help. My wife and I are hoping to install a custom pool before too long. As you mentioned, I think I am most familiar with the gunite pools. We are wanting a durable option. Do you think that gunite is one of the most durable materials?
It’s good to know all the options available before making a purchase decision and this post does a pretty good job of explaining the pros and cons, so thanks for that. Personally, I would vouch for a vinyl pool. I’ve seen some incredible designs made with this type of pool.
Found the right info, We’re moving to our new house and my kids love to have swimming pool in our backyard so i research some of the ideas and found your blog and this is very helpful for since i don’t have much experience yet specially maintain the pool or buying chemical stuff and Chlorine Tablets for the pool. Thanks for sharing.
My wife and I have been wanting to do some research about pools for our yard for a while, and your site is one of the first we visited! I’m glad that you talked about some different kind of pools and I think that finding a fiberglass one would be good for us. We’re going to have to keep doing some research about pools and see what we can find, but for now I like the idea of the in ground ones for us!
You wrote that the material that makes up the traditional pool is a mixture of cement and sand, and creates an incredibly durable material that can last for years. My father has talked about getting a pool for years and I wanted to learn more about his options. We’ll have to find a service that could create a custom pool, as his property is rather uniquely shaped and we’ll need to have a pool shaped similarly to make the most of the available space.