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Homeowners no longer have to settle for a rectangular pool, today's inground swimming pools come in all shapes and sizes to create a unique watery retreat in your backyard. When designing your pool you need to understand all of the elements that go into the construction of your new pool, which will affect the overall design, cost, construction time and maintenance.
There are three types of pools you can choose from depending on your needs and budget: concrete, fiberglass or vinyl-lined.
Concrete pools can be made into virtually any shape and size, which makes them a popular choice for homeowners looking for a custom, high-end design or a unique solution to their property. The design versatility of concrete is its greatest benefit and it can be made to compliment any architectural style or landscape. You can easily add amenities like negative edges, underwater benches, grottos and elaborate water features to your concrete pool design.
Fiberglass pools are made from fiberglass-reinforced plastic, which has been molded into a specific pool shape. So... what you see is what you get. Once your new pool is delivered you won't be able to alter the size, depth or shape. Thanks to their growing popularity, manufacturers of fiberglass pools are offering a wider selection of sizes, shapes and colors. For a higher price you can add custom-style features to your fiberglass pool, like elaborate water features, inset mosaic tile and beach entries.
The biggest benefit to a fiberglass pool is its ultra-smooth, nonporous surface, which resists tears and chips and makes it easy to clean and maintain. Most fiberglass pools last around 15 to 25 years depending on the quality.
A $$$ Tip: Fiberglass pools can cost just as much (even more) than concrete pools to install because of shipping costs. In many cases a crane needs to place the large mold into your backyard. Cost for an average fiberglass pool is around $24k and $30 for a comparable concrete pool.
An affordable alternative to concrete and fiberglass is installing a vinyl-lined pool. Thanks to the recent advances in technology, vinyl-lined pools can be easily customized. In the past, vinyl-lined pools were only available in a few standard kits. Now you can choose from a wide selection of designs, color and patterns. Some kits even allow for tile to be installed around d the waterline. One of the advantages to vinyl-lined pool is that its smooth surface is easy to clean. Most liners last approximately 10 to 15 years and a new replacement liner cost around $650.
There is virtually no end to what you can do to your new pool design, so have fun researching all the new products available.