What Kind Of Pool Is Right For You?

There are a number of types of pools. In order to decide which is right for you, budget will play a major part. Sure that in ground concrete pool you saw on the cover of your latest home magazine looks really inviting. If it is on the cover of magazine, it may very well have cost over $100k.

The basic types:
Vinyl liner
Fiberglass, prefab
Above ground
In ground concrete (aka shotcrete or gunite)

The price and type of pool is also relative to what area of the country you live in. The same pool in Florida will cost much more in New York. In areas where there are freezing and thawing, rocky conditions or high water tables, pools can cost considerably more. Also, where it is nice and sunny for most of the year, you can build pools year round.

For years, there really was nothing as sturdy or as nice as an in ground concrete pool. In my opinion, that still holds true. Just my preference, for those liner guys who are going to bombard me with negative comments. To be fair, vinyl liner pools have come a long way and some are very nice. Look at pictures of the various types and decide what is best for you.

If you asked some people with pools about their projects, then you may have an idea of costs. Unfortunately, the only way to find out what they are going to cost may be to have a salesman out. Liners and fiberglass may be more inclined to give you a ball park without coming to your house. The concrete builders probably won't give you any indication without coming to your house.

The differences between each type is significant. With liners or fiberglass, you are limited to certain shapes. With fiberglass, you may be limited to what can fit on a truck and legally drive down the road. With concrete, you are limited to how much money you have to spend, what is legal and what is safe. Weather and ground conditions in your area may dictate which type is best for you as well.

What the contractors (or salesmen) from each type will say:
liner-concrete cracks, you have to renovate them every few years
concrete-liners rip, leak
fiberglass-lasts forever, unlike a liner or concrete

You can get the picture. A salesman from one is going to try to talk you out of why you should buy another. Truth is, if it is built right, they are all good and will give you a long lasting product.

Pluses and minuses of each:

to be continued