Have you got an empty backyard that just begs to be decorated with an in-ground pool? Let’s assume you do since you’re reading this article and let’s talk about them for a second. As you might know at this point, there are two kinds of pools – in-ground and above ground.
In-ground pool are the traditional ones and they’re the far more popular option between the two and not for the lack of a good reason. On that note, here are some interesting things you might want to know about in-ground pools before you decide to get one.
1. There’s More Than One Type
There is more than one type of in-ground pool. You can choose from fiberglass, vinyl liner and concrete pools for your backyard. All of these are different from one another in more than one way and your decision will greatly affect how your pool will look like.
For instance, fiberglass ones are arguably the most popular option right now. They’re very quick and easy to install, they’re very durable and they can last you a really long time. On the other hand, they’re not the most customizable ones on the market.
Although they do come in various shapes and sizes, they can’t be customized as much as the concrete ones can. Unlike concrete ones, the fiberglass pools aren’t made directly on site. Instead, they’re factory-made and they come preassembled, ready for installation. That’s what makes these ones so appealing.
As concrete ones are built directly on-site, you can choose whichever shape, size or depth you want. The only limitation when it comes to the shape and size of concrete pools is the one in your mind, meaning, there pretty much isn’t any. However, this does come at a cost.
2. There Are Different Timeframes For Construction
Unlike concrete pools, which can take months to build, fibreglass pools are ready within the first few weeks. In general, it only takes between 2 to 6 weeks to install a fibreglass pool, due to the fact that they’re pre-built. What’s funny is that you could be swimming in it by the end of the second installation day, but we’d recommend waiting for the job to be done before you jump in it.
On the other hand, if you don’t mind waiting a few months for a custom-sized and shaped pool – you should probably opt-out for the concrete one. On average, you’d wait about 2 to 6 months for the pool to be done and unlike the fiberglass one – you can’t swim in it after only a few days.
3. They Can Be Both High And Low Maintenance
Another thing you have to think about when it comes to in-ground pools is maintenance. As you know, it takes a lot of work to keep the water clean and healthy, so, when you starting thinking about investing in a swimming pool and you come to the budget portion of the planning – factor in the maintenance.
This will also be heavily influenced by the type of pool you choose. As you could probably guess, fiberglass pools are fairly low maintenance, as low as a pool can be, that is and the concrete ones will require more of your time and money to keep clean.
The main difference lies in the pool walls. Fiberglass is a non-porous material, meaning you won’t have to worry about anything latching on to it. This will result in much less effort to keep stains and algae away, compared to the concrete walls. Even though you’d cover concrete walls with tiles, or some other material, you still wouldn’t be able to match the maintenance levels of fiberglass pools, according to compasspools-sydney.com.au.
4. They Will Vary In Price
Unless you’re working with unlimited funds, you will have to consider the budget when you decide to build an in-ground pool. Depending on the shape, size and type – the price will vary. Furthermore, any additional features you might want to add to your swimming pool will also affect the cost. For instance, the one with slides, water fountains, water heaters etc. will most definitely cost a lot more than a regular pool with only necessary features like a water pump and filter.
Now, as far as the price goes, there is no one formula you can follow. The prices will also vary from one contractor to another, as well as depending on where you live. In general, fiberglass ones are cheaper than concrete ones, which is understandable, considering the time and effort it takes to build one.
In general, building a regular fiberglass pool will cost anywhere between $40,000 and $80,000. On the other hand, a concrete one will cost somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000, however, you could spend millions on a concrete pool if you wanted.
Furthermore, the maintenance costs are quite different as well. On average, a 10-year maintenance period for a fiberglass one will cost around $4000, as opposed to almost $30,000 for a concrete one.
5. It Matters Who Builds It
It doesn’t matter which type you decide on – you will have to consider the contractor you’ll hire to build or install it. This will greatly affect the quality of the finished product, so you need to make sure you select a reliable company to work with.
The best way to make sure you find a reliable contractor is to read some online reviews and do a little bit of research. Learning from other people’s experiences is the best way to make sure everything goes smoothly for you.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is more than one thing to know about in-ground pools. They could be made from different materials, they could vary in price, maintenance costs and so on. Now, these are hardly the only things to know about in-ground pools and you’ll learn a lot about them as you go, mostly about maintenance, but these are some of the most important things to keep in mind. Hopefully, we’ve managed to give you some useful information and you’ve found this article helpful.
