This article explores a few of the more common types of pools. Concrete. Concrete pools are constructed with poured concrete…
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View Pools Guide RSS feedOne of the important considerations to make when designing your new pool is what type of pool to choose. There are many options to consider. This article explores a few of the more common types of pools.
Concrete pools are constructed with poured concrete. Once the concrete is poured and finished, it is allowed to dry in order to form the walls and floor. Once dry, the concrete is painted with the color desired by the pool owner.
Periodically, touch up paint will be required in various areas of your concrete pool. Make sure to use the same type of paint. Two common types of pool paint are Chlorinated Rubber and Epoxy. When the concrete finish gets rough and the paint is chipped in numerous areas, it's best to have a concrete pool professionally sandblasted to achieve a smooth surface and repainted.
Shotcrete is a variation of both concrete and gunite. The main difference from concrete is that rather than being poured, shotcrete is sprayed. This spray application is similar to gunite. But, the main difference from gunite is that the water is premixed with the cement and sand in the mixer prior to arriving at the jobsite. Shotcrete is sprayed on with a pressurized hose in order to form the walls and floor. Also like gunite, there are varying colors/speckles of the shotcrete available to the pool owner. If the shotcrete happens to crack or otherwise decompose in any way, it must be repaired by a pool professional that specializes in shotcrete applications and renovations.
The vinyl-liner is the only visible part to the pool owner, but it is not the structure and integrity of the pool. After initial excavation (digging the hole) and manual shaping, wall panels that are purchased directly from a manufacturer are bolted together to form the base structure. Then, a pool base (a mixture of cement, other ingredients, and water) is poured to form the floor. This pool base is not concrete. The application is similar, but the end product is softer-more like hard clay. A track (called coping) is installed to the top of the pool walls to hold a vinyl-liner in place. This vinyl-liner is all that will be seen by the pool owner.
The majority of pool professionals work with numerous manufacturers of quality vinyl-liners, each of which offers a number of colors, patterns, and designs. A vinyl-liner will last an average of about 8-10 years. There are numerous examples of vinyl-liners that last 15-18 years, and there are also numerous examples of vinyl-liners lasting 3-5 years; it really depends on your water chemistry and other maintenance procedures. When the vinyl-liner is chemically bleached, torn or otherwise unusable, it can be repaired or replaced.
With fiberglass pools, the entire pool is a one-piece fiberglass shell. An advantage is that fiberglass pools are typically installed in less time than any other type of pool. A disadvantage is that while all other swimming pool types offer unlimited sizes and shapes, the fiberglass pool is installed 'as-is,' with fewer choices for size, shape and depth. If there is any blistering, delamination or cracking of the fiberglass, it can be repaired or replaced.
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