Concrete Pools: Positives and Negatives
Last week we talked about fiberglass pool lining, and today we’re going to switch gears and talk about concrete pools. While they are very common, they do have their perks and downsides. For more information about different pool types, check out this site.
Perks:
- Durability and Strength: Concrete and fiberglass have similar durability, and higher durability than vinyl liners. It’s harder to cause damage to the concrete walls. Some pools can last up to 50 years, when taken care of properly. The base is sturdy though the main surfaces may need work every few years.
- Features: Concrete pools offer a great number of available features, much like fiberglass. It’s easier to install custom tanning ledges for a concrete pool than vinyl.
- Variety: These pools offer a greater variety of options of shapes and depths. Concrete pools can be made much deeper and bigger than other options.
- Familiar: Most of us have been in a pool with concrete walls. It’s familiar, it’s trusted, and people know what to expect for the most part.
- Upgrading: It’s easier to increase the size or alter the shape of a concrete pool.
Downsides:
High maintenance: Concrete pools can be harder to clean and they require extra chemical usage. Refinishing needs to be performed from time to time and algae grows more rapidly in concrete pools than other types. Concrete pools may need occasional acid washing and increased electricity usage.- Long installation times: The installation of concrete pools is a laborious task. The concrete needs to be mixed, poured, and set. Concrete pools often take up to six months to finish. Depending on weather, availability of supplies, location, and other factors, a pool may take only a few weeks to install if all goes right, but with any pool installation, a lot can go wrong.
- Smoothness: Concrete pools tend to be less smooth than vinyl and fiberglass, overall. Prolonged exposure to the surfaces of the pool can cause discomfort on the feet—water shoes can be worn to solve this problem.
- High initial cost: Concrete pools are the most expensive pools to install, with vinyl being the cheapest.
- Salt water systems: It’s nearly impossible to have a concrete pool with a salt water system. This type of system can cause damage to the pool, increasing the frequency at which refinishing is needed. You can still install a salt system in a concrete pool but be prepared to resurface or remodel it quicker than other types of pool.
- Color fade: The color or ting of your pool surfaces may fade quicker when made from concrete than other materials due to sunlight, chlorine, chemicals, and overall time. This can take 8-12 years to change significantly.
How are they installed?
Concrete pools are sometimes called Gunite or Shotcrete because the concrete is shot from a gun-like device onto the steel-reinforced walls. Upon drying, there are a few options for finishing. Some are plastered smooth and then painted and finished with a textured aggregate surfaces or tiling. Some pools are installed similarly to the foundation of a house (structural concrete) and it’s usually used when pools are installed into hillsides.
Concrete pools are a perfectly acceptable option, but a lot of pool owners are leaning towards vinyl and fiberglass. For more pool information, stay tuned or call Pool Daddy !
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Pool Concrete Paint
Concrete Swimming Pool Repair
Concrete Pool Repair
Inground Pool Repair
Swimming Pools in Ground