The three major types of inground pools are fiberglass, vinyl and concrete pools. Each type has its own advantages. Fiberglass pools take the shortest time to complete, vinyl pools are the cheapest to build, and concrete pools offer the most flexibility and options.
Fiberglass pools offer the timeliest option for building an inground pool and having it ready to use. They can be delivered to a house or building in one piece, so there must be access for a crane to lower the pool into its designated place. Positive features of fiberglass pools include stain resistance and algae prevention that make for minimal maintenance needs.
For people wanting to build their inground pool on a budget, vinyl pools offer an affordable option to build an outdoor oasis. Also known for their stain resistance, vinyl pools have the smoothest surface of the three styles of inground pools. One drawback to building a vinyl pool is that vinyl pool liners might need to replaced about every 10 years.
The creativity available in building concrete inground pools makes them the most popular option, even though they are the most expensive to build of the three styles. Concrete pools utilize quick-dry concrete to fill in the area that has been excavated for the pool. After work begins in filling in the area, it must be completed in short order — approximately 30 minutes. The base of the pool needs to conform to a prearranged design, but the stairs and entry areas of concrete pools can be decided on in a freehand manner. Maintenance of concrete pools can be costly because the concrete starts to crack and stain and might require a refinishing of the pool surface.
Popular styles of these inground pools include lap pools, which are seen in many workout facilities; diving pools, which are a favorite of public pools; play pools, which are used for water sports and best for little children because of their limited depth; the combination spa and pool seen at many resorts and hotels; and geometrically shaped pools that can accentuate the design of a backyard.
No matter which type of inground pool a prospective builder decides upon, it must be equipped with a pump, filter, drains, returns, plastic piping and a chemical feeder. Also, buyers should take the time to conduct the research needed to learn the pros and cons of each style and the company that will be used to build the pool. The company's prior work and warranty policies should be studied, and the costs before and after building the pool should be understood before any inground pool project is started.