Typically inground swimming pools come in 4 categories all with their own pro's and
con's and, of course, not only different installation and purchase prices, but also different projected costs over
time.
The main types of inground pools are:
Concrete swimming pools
Aluminum pools
Vinyl lined pools and
Fiberglass pools.
Concrete Swimming Pools.
A concrete pool will give you the most flexibility in design. Size, shape, depth,
however you want your pool to be, it is all possible when you choose a concrete pool since construction is not tied
to a predetermined shell, as in a fiberglass pool.
Even though installing a concrete pool is labor intensive with the work requiring up
to 3 months to be completed, a concrete pool is still less expensive to install than a fiberglass pool. There are
many steps involved with installing a concrete pool.
Once the design has been laid out, the excavation need to be completed. The
excavation will often require that heavy machinery has to get access to the area of your property where the pool is
to be placed. Sometimes this may mean that vegetation may need to be removed, or to temporarily take down a fence,
or even needing to ask a neighbor for access through their yard.
Inground Swimming Pool Construction
Once the excavation is completed, the steel frame needs to be installed along with
the plumbing including bottom vents, and plumbing for circulation and cleaning. Next, the concrete is applied and
floated. Next, the tile and coping gets installed and the interior finish applied.
This video shows how the concrete is being "shot" into the pool. The less than 2
minute video shows inground swimming pool construction done over an entire day.... Take a look!
Some pro's to consider regarding concrete pools:
The price is usually less than when installing a fiberglass pool.
A concrete pool is very strong. Check your local conditions as far as type of
soil, hard freeze conditions etc. before making a decision. Your local pool supplier or general contractor
may be able to help.
Concrete may be the type of choice when the area is experiencing extremely
hot weather.
The large variety of finishes. Concrete pools have an almost unlimited amount
of styles of finishes. Tiles, rocks, pebbles, paint.... your pool can look exactly the way you want it to
look. Anything from an Egyptian Spa to a natural pond with pebbles.
FiberGlass Pool Installation
A fiberglass pool installation will give you the same possible
challenges when excavating the ground in where to place the pool. A fiberglass pool will come already complete from
the manufacturer. Now it just needs the appropriate space excavated for it to fit into. The same as when purchasing
one of those plastic ponds from the local Home Depot, except in a much larger scale of course.
1.While a fiberglass pool is
more expensive at first glance, and it does not come with the same amount of design flexibility as does a concrete
pool, a fiberglass pool is less expensive in the long run.
2.Fiberglass being a non-porous
surface will need a lot less chemicals. This is not only a cost consideration but also an environmental one. Also,
a concrete pool may need replastering, and a vinyl pool may need a new liner, but a fiberglass pool does not need
anything once it is installed.
3.A fiberglass pool will need
to be brushed less than a concrete pool, again due to the non porous surface.
4.A fiberglass pool may also be
more flexible than a concrete pool. (Check with your local pool installationers) This can be of value during
freezing temperatures, earth quakes, or when flooding pushes the pool from beneath.
5.A fiberglass pool is a lot
less flexible when it comes to design, interior finishes and so forth. Weighing the options important to you is the
key here.
Inground pool prices, as you may
start to see, have so many variables it can be difficult to get started. Start by one feature that you
want, and then set up a chart to compare other fesatures, pool deck etc.
Inground Swimming Pool Construction