There are many reasons you might be thinking about getting an in-ground pool – looking for salvation under the scorching summer sun, a new way to have a great time with your family and friends, or simply to keep up with your neighbours? You know why you want a pool, but you’ll want to know how to find the best swimming pool this summer!
No matter the reason, you’ll want the best option within your price range. So what should you be looking for?
There are three types of in-ground swimming pools – concrete, fibreglass and vinyl – and each of them has their own set of strengths and weaknesses. In order to help you choose the best swimming pool for your needs, we are going to take a look into the most important details regarding each of these types.
The initial cost of my pool
Budget is one of the biggest factors that plays a part in our purchasing decisions. When it comes to initial cost, the vinyl swimming pool is the undisputed winner. It can be several thousand dollars cheaper than concrete and even more than the fibreglass ones.
But when it comes to your swimming pool, initial cost may be misleading, because there are many other details that you should take into consideration.
How much is each type going to cost me in the long term?
While fibreglass has higher initial cost than vinyl and concrete swimming pools, in the long term it could prove equal and even cheaper than them.
Fibreglass does not require a lot of maintenance and is non-porous, therefore reducing the amount of time and chemicals required to keep the pool clean, compared to vinyl and concrete swimming pools.
Also fibreglass pools are the only type that can work well with salt systems to maintain water quality. This is one of the main reasons why their maintenance is so cheap.
Another reason why fibreglass is very cost efficient is its durability, which is almost on par with that of concrete. The vinyl liners on the other hand are not very thick and could be easily damaged. Having to replace them will add a significant number to your long term expenses.
Concrete swimming pools are the hardest to maintain, since they require seasonal cleaning and many more chemicals to be kept clean. They are prone to black algae which is extremely hard to clean.
Another thing to consider is that 10 – 15 years after it is built, your concrete swimming pool might require resurfacing which could be quite costly.
How long do I have to wait after ordering my swimming pool?
One of the biggest conveniences of the fibreglass swimming pool is that the shell of the pool can be installed in the matter of few weeks, sometimes even days!
Vinyl swimming pools can be nearly as fast to install, but the same cannot be said for concrete ones.
The concrete swimming pools require between several weeks and several months to install. So if you decide to have one in November, there is a good chance that you will miss the better part of the Australian summer before you could swim in your own pool.
Can I eventually alter my pool?
Customisation is the only factor where fibreglass swimming pools are far behind compared to vinyl and concrete. Fibreglass pools are manufactured before they are brought to your home and cannot be altered in almost any way.
Customisation-wise, concrete is the king, because you can alter it any way you like, and as many times as you like in the course of its lifetime, as long as you want and have the resources to do so.
Vinyl liners are also slightly easier to customise and do not have as many limitations as the fibreglass swimming pools.
Other things to consider when choosing my pool
If you have little kids, you might want to avoid the concrete swimming pools. The surface of the concrete swimming pool could be quite rough and can cause bruises and scratches, since their skin is much softer.
In this case vinyl and fibreglass swimming pools have the advantage since they both have smooth surfaces.
So how do I find the best swimming pool for me?
If you want a swimming pool that will last you a very long time, is stylish and has cheap maintenance, fibreglass is the way to go.
If it bothers you that you won’t be able to customise your pool later on, or have a lot of time to spare to keep your pool in a good condition and the maintenance expenses are not a problem for you, then the concrete swimming pool will offer exactly what you need.
If you are not that interested in having a fancy pool, and would like to avoid high initial expenses, then a vinyl swimming pool might be perfect for you.