Types of different inground pools
With Summer right around the corner (no really) and many public pools closed or restricted this season for social distancing, having your own pool in your back yard is an option that many homeowner’s are considering.
There are three main types of inground pools, we have made it easy for you to understand the differences with our quick list (they are listed top-down from least expensive to the most expensive options.)
Vinyl: Pools that are lined with vinyl are built with metal or plastic frames above ground or set into the excavated hole. Prefab supporting walls or panels made of plastic, steel, or aluminum are joined to the frame, making a form that is then lined with heavy vinyl to form the pool shell. The bottom of a vinyl liner sits on a bed of sand or other material, while the top is held down by the coping, which creates a finished edge and also acts as a border for the pool deck. Like other materials, vinyl deteriorates with longtime exposure to the elements along with pool chemicals. Some liners come equipped with fungus and UV inhibitors, which can extend the life of a vinyl liner from 10 to about 18 years or so.
Fiberglass: A swimming pool made of fiberglass will be sold as a large one-piece shell that arrives at your home by truck and then is positioned in the excavated hole with the help of a crane. Unlike concrete pools, fiberglass pools are ready-made, making it rare to request a customized design. Most fiberglass manufacturers offer many models and sizes to choose from. Steps, spas, and benches are usually pre-formed. Fiberglass makes the pool-building process quick and easy. Its smooth interior surface is slick, making it tough for algae to cling to. However, fiberglass can be more costly. After 10 to 15 years of exposure to sun and chemicals, the fiberglass deteriorates. Recoating it is not easy because the new coating does not stick easily to the older one.
Concrete: Using steel-reinforced concrete to form a shell, concrete and plaster are the most common in-ground pool-building materials and were the first ones used when residential pools became popular. Here’s how it works: after a hole has been excavated in a yard, the sides and bottom of the hole are lined or framed with rebar (steel rods). These can be sculpted into nearly any shape conceivable (from rectangles to boomerangs to hearts and guitars), along with adding steps, ramps, and other features.
