Pool School: Choosing the Right Inground Pool for Your Family

If you’re new to the world of inground pools, or if you haven’t thought of building a pool in years, you’ll find that technology has changed tremendously, offering more options than ever before.

To focus your decision, consider how you intend to use your pool. An older couple who plans to use their pool just for exercise might be completely satisfied with a simple lap pool, for example. A big family that likes to entertain might consider a large pool with a variety of depths and an expansive deck.

Once you have determined the size and style of pool you want, the next critical decision involves the materials used to build your pool. Three basic types make up the bones of the vast majority of pool—concrete, vinyl-lined, and fiberglass. Though concrete provides the most design flexibility, all offer a myriad of shapes and sizes to suit almost anyone’s swimming pool needs.

Concrete Pools

Because concrete lends itself to custom designs, most designers turn to it when they want to create a truly unique waterscape. Regardless of the shape and size of a concrete pool, the building process is similar. A hole is excavated and lined with a skeleton of crisscrossing rebar. Concrete is then sprayed over the steel latticework. After the concrete cures, a finishing surface is applied. The most common pool finishes are plaster, stone aggregate, and tile.

Plaster, which can be almost any color, is troweled over the concrete to create a smooth, waterproof surface. Waterline tile is usually added for a finishing touch and to provide an easy-to-clean surface where floating dirt often accumulates.

Stone aggregate offers a natural look and is available in numerous color combinations. Smooth and polished pebbles are mixed with a clear epoxy and troweled onto the concrete, creating a waterproof surface that looks carved from nature.

Tile is one of the most costly finishes, but it is also the easiest to maintain because algae have difficulty adhering to its ultra-smooth surface. Plaster, by comparison, can become rough over time if you have poor water chemistry, making it necessary to acid wash or possibly replaster the pool after several years.

Vinyl-Lined Pools

A vinyl-lined pool usually consists of steel or polymer walls lined with a 20- to 30-millimeter-thick vinyl liner on a bed of sand or concrete. Today, these pools can be customized to create almost any configuration to complement various landscape designs.

The smooth liner surface helps keep algae at bay, but exposure to harsh pool chemicals and the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause vinyl liners to deteriorate over time. Thus, proper water care is key to extending the life of pool liners, which may need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years. The cost of a replacement liner depends on its size, gauge, and whether it is a standard liner kept in stock or a custom liner made to fit your unique pool. A standard 25-gauge liner for a 20-foot-by-40-foot pool costs about $1,300 before shipping. In addition, some vinyl-lined pool systems allow real ceramic tile to be installed along the waterline, eliminating the liner’s exposure to direct sunlight and thus minimizing damage.              

Fiberglass Pools

The fiberglass pool, perhaps more so than any other type, has evolved greatly over the years. A fiberglass pool consists of a sturdy, one-piece molded shell. Its biggest advantage is its smooth surface, which prevents algae and other pool contaminants from adhering. Color selection is limited, but installing ceramic tile along the waterline can customize the look. In fact, many fiberglass pools include factory-installed ceramic tile, making the final installation that much easier. The deck surrounding a fiberglass pool can be cantilevered so that the lip of the vessel does not show, creating a truly customized look.

Think carefully about the costs involved in getting a shell to the site you have selected before buying. Delivery of the large shell can be a challenge—a fiberglass pool destined for the backyard must often be lifted over a house using a crane.

5 Things to Know Before You Buy

A pool is a major investment, so hire the best builder for the job. To increase your odds of being satisfied, look for:

Experience. Ask how long the builder has been installing the type of pool you are buying. Ask for referrals (and check them).

License. Find out if all required contractor’s licenses are current.

Insurance. Make sure the builder is adequately insured to cover damage that may occur on your property.

Professionalism. Consider industry certifications and awards, as well as any unresolved complaints with the Better Business Bureau, before choosing your builder.

Service. Look for support after the sale, including warranty service, routine maintenance, and consumer education. You’ll have your pool for years, and you’ll likely need your builder after construction is completed.

Photo courtesy of San Juan Pools