Posted July 19, 2018 in Water Feature
Imagine waking up on a cloudless, warm, sunny day where the coffee is already made and the sunshine is playfully glistening off of the rippling water in your backyard inground swimming pool; absolute perfection! Well, we can’t guarantee that the coffee will already be brewed, but we can say for certain, that most backyards can handle the addition of an inground swimming pool.
Where the is a will, there is a way when it comes to pools. Not all yards are an even playing field with perfect drainage, but consulting your landscape designer about existing backyard issues will help them create a swimming pool plan that will solve problems and provide you with a backyard that you have always dreamed of.
For those who grew up with above ground swimming pools or have not been involved in installing an inground swimming pool, the process starts with information. There are three types of inground swimming pools to choose from, each with their own pros and cons. To know which is right for you, it is important to know how your family will use the pool, how much time you are able to dedicate to maintenance and, most importantly, what your realistic budget is.
Let’s explore the three types of inground pools to see which makes sense for you, your family and property!
Fiberglass swimming pools are factory-molded into a seamless bowl-shaped shell. These shells are unforgiving and homogenous, so transportation and installation can limit the size and shape of the pool itself. Once the shell makes it to your property, it is set into the backyard’s excavated hole by way of a crane. With this considered, you will obviously need enough clearance on your property for the crane to do its job…this also includes being clear of overhead electric and telephone wires!
It is a common misconception that fiberglass pools are the cheapest and fastest option, but that isn’t always necessarily the case. Between fabrication, transportation and installation, the costs and timeframe could equal that of a vinyl liner pool. Let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of a fiberglass pool installation:
The side walls of a vinyl liner pool are constructed of steel, plastic or aluminum panels and backed by vertical braces to support the force and weight of the water. To accommodate these braces, the excavation of the swimming pool will be approximately 3’ larger than the finished pool itself. Don’t worry, this will be backfilled!
The panels are typically 42” tall, which is why the shallow end is about the same depth. Once the walls are installed, the outer concrete footing is poured to keep everything in place and after plumbing, it’s time for the pool’s base. The base of this type of pool is a mix of cement, vermiculite and water or a blend of sand, cement and water, which is troweled in place and smoothed out. The vinyl liner will sit on top of this base and be snapped into place. Before it’s time for water, vacuums will be used to suck the air out from under the liner; this creates a bubble and wrinkle-free environment. Simple enough, right? Well, what are the pros and cons of a vinyl liner swimming pool?
This is your 100% fully customizable option. Since gunite swimming pools have a custom skeleton made of rebar (steel rods), your size, depth and shape is left up to your imagination! This rebar framework creates a grid around the pool, which reinforces the structure. The fun part starts when the installer begins to spray the gunite (mixture of cement and sand) all around the rebar, bringing the pool to life. Once the gunite is smoothed out and cured, plaster and tile will be applied to finish. With this type of swimming pool being very popular here in the United States, let’s take a look at the pros and cons to see if it is right for you…
There you have it, the three types of inground swimming pools and a healthy dose of pros and cons. While all 3 options will cool you off and essentially provide the same function, only you and your family can make the decision of what is best for your lifestyle!
Here at MasterPLAN Outdoor Living, we believe in providing all options and information to our clients so they can make educated decisions and selections for their outdoor space that makes the most sense for their family and their property. From our highly detailed 3D designs to installation of structure and landscape, we partner with our clients through the journey with the goal of creating a timeless outdoor living space to enjoy for years to come. When you are ready to live your best life outdoors, reach out to MasterPLAN!
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