Inground Swimming Pools
Choosing An Inground Swimming Pool
Choosing an inground swimming pool type can be confusing, frustrating, and overwhelming. My first advice (which is the same with any construction project) is to arm yourself with information and meet with and get estimates from several different contractors. Spend time asking friends and family for referrals if any of them have had a pool installed in recent years.
When we built our new pool I got several referrals from friends and ultimately used one of the pool companies that was suggested. The pool company we used was excellent at educating us on the options, the process, and what to expect. They provided detailed estimates and plans for the two pools we were considering along with numerous options to evaluate.
The choice typically comes down to a combination of price, aesthetics, and design. For our project we considered a gunite pool and a vinyl liner pool. We didn’t consider a fiberglass pool due to the limited size which would have restricted us to a much smaller pool. Ultimately our decision came down to cost as the basic pool shape was 13% more for the gunite compared to the same size pool in a vinyl liner. Also, the cost to replace the liner is much cheaper than the cost to refurbish the gunite over the life
of the pool.
This is some great information, and I appreciate your point that gunite in-ground pools are the most durable. My husband and I have been wanting to get a pool put in our yard for a while, and we are finally in a financial situation that will allow us to. We’ll definitely look into getting the excavation started right away, and we’ll look into getting gunite for its durability. Thanks for the great post!
This is great information, but let me just add a bit of information based on my experience. We recently retired and were looking to build a low maintenance in our new home. We chose a mid sized fiberglass pool (16 x 30) that was large enough to enjoy yet small enough for me to maintain. A heat pump was a more expensive investment than a heater, but the cost to heat from April to October in Minnesota is only a few hundred dollars (and I keep the pool at 86 in the cooler weather). An automatic pool cover greatly reduces maintenance and increases safety. Because the fiberglass pool has no true 90 degree angles, you don’t get algae blooms. Maintenance is a bi-weekly backwash, brushing down the sides of the pool a few times during the summer, throwing the robot in twice a week, and refilling the bromine tablets in the chemical feeder when needed. I check the water balance twice a week and the bromine, pH, alkalinity etc. are always spot on. If I had to do it again, without a doubt I would choose fiberglass, a heat pump and an automatic pool cover.
Thanks for a great website, Todd! I’ve learned so much from your postings!