So, you’ve mentioned to your family that you have thought about adding a swimming pool to your backyard. Now, every day since then, they have been pestering you for your final decision. You too are dreaming about sunning yourself on a slow-moving raft and splashing around with your kids, but you know some major decisions lie ahead.
For one, you don’t think that you can financially afford to go all out and get the in-ground pool with the slide, diving board and waterfall. At the same time, you don’t want to opt for the pool with the lowest price tag only to have to repair or replace it within the next few years. All your family can picture is crystal blue waters, but you are looking into the future.
While this is still in an important decision, it doesn’t have to be a stressful one. To help you sort through the options, Bruce Wetterer of Imperial Pool and Spa Services in Indianapolis, Indiana, supplies a brief guide to which type of pool may best meet your needs.
Indoor Pools: If you hope to enjoy your pool all year regardless if there is snow on the ground, then a gunite pool is probably your best option. This concrete mixture is sprayed into the area you have proportioned off for the swimming pool and is the same type used for hotel guest pools, too. And, because the concrete is study and durable, Wetterer says you can expect the pool to last you upwards of 30 years. So you don’t have to worry about a major leak that could potentially damage your home.
Heated Pools: Great news! Any pool can be turned into a heated one with the right equipment.
In-ground Pools: Virtually any type of pool can become an in-ground pool, so it really depends more on your price point and the size you are looking for. For example, a gunite pool will be pricier than a liner pool ($25,000 compared to $12,000) while a fiberglass pool has maximum dimensions of about 15-feet wide and 40-feet long.
Lavish Pools: If you are looking for an awe-inspiring pool, then you’ll love all the options that gunite offers. Your imagination is basically your limit, he says. Create a star-shaped pool, or position it around a small deck so that while your children are swimming, you can sit in the middle and supervise while enjoying a great book.
Above-ground Pools: Wetterer says that for above-ground pools, you will want to lean more towards a liner pool. These long-lasting swimming pools provide you with just the right amount water and fun but at a fraction of the cost of other options.
Year-Round Pools: If you live in a warmer area and can keep your pool open all year, Wetterer suggests purchasing an in-ground gunite pool. That way, if the ground becomes unseasonably cold, you don’t have to worry about the structure freezing or splitting.
Now that you understand your options more clearly, you can join in with the rest of your family on planning your first pool party.
