Top 3 Kinds of Inground Pools (+1 Bonus).
Updated: Nov 25, 2021
With the recent hype behind pool installations, there's probably a chance that owning a pool has crossed your mind.
Then there comes this overwhelming amount of information behind pool installation that can sometimes make the process seem overwhelming...
Fear Not!
Our goal here is to try to inform you as much as possible.
One of the main questions we get asked is:
"What Are Inground Pools Made Out Of?"
To give you a better overall understanding to this question - you need to understand what the definition an inground pool is.
A pool is simply a 'water tight structure' that is placed in the ground.
It is designed to hold water without leaking, or making the water unsafe to swim in (think swimming in a pool "lined" with BPA plastic - which could potentially cause lots of health problems down the line).
This means that there are many different ways to build an inground pool, but below we will be covering the main 3 pools that people have installed.
There is also a bonus type of pool that has become really popular as of recently.
1. Concrete pools
Surprise!
A staple in the modern construction world - Concrete.
Overview
What is a Concrete Pool?
A concrete, inground pool, is a structure that is built by spraying concrete through a nozzle, attached to a high pressure hose. (This is also known as 'Shotcrete' or 'Gunite').
The concrete is then shaped to perfection by hand - in the allotted time you are given to work with the concrete until it hardens.
This takes a tremendous amount of skill, workmanship & precision to make sure everything goes according to plan.
The pool is then traditionally finished with plaster, tile, or some special type of Cementous mix.
Pro's
1. Fully customizable in shape, size, features, etc.
2. Can last a long time if built correctly
3. Has a variety of finish types
Con's
1. Can be costly due to lots of experienced labor on the job (high salary x long hours)
2. Interior finishes cost more to repair/resurface
3. Takes a long time to construct
2. Fibreglass pool
Overview
What is a Fibreglass pool?
A Fibreglass pool is made up of different layers (fibreglass strands, resins, etc) and applied onto a mold in stages.
The Fibreglass pool is then taken off the mold and shipped out to your house.
A crane is then needed to offload the Fibreglass pool and crane it into the hole your contractor prepared for it.
Pro's
1. Very fast installation times
2. Beautiful Gel Coat finish
3. Low to No surface maintenance cost (no replacing liners).
Con's
1. Not Customizable
2. Long Lead Times
3. Can lead to big problems if not manufactured properly.
3. Steel wall pool (vinyl liner)
Overview
What is a steel wall pool?
Well, this type of pool is what people refer to as a "Vinyl Liner Pool".
The pool is built using steel panel walls, with a concrete floor.
Once the pool is built, they stretch out a giant vinyl liner (which was made specifically to match the dimensions of your pool) and begin installing it.
Pro's
1. These types of pools are also customizable to fit your specific need.
2. Vinyl Liners last a long time if taken care of (15+ years)
3. Low maintenance costs if taken care of
Con's
1. Steel walls allow loss of heat
2. Not known for being 100% pet friendly
3. Longer installation than Fibreglass (still faster than concrete)
3. Low to No surface maintenance cost (no replacing liners).
BONUS - INSULATED CONCRETE POOL!
Overview
What is an Insulated Concrete Pool?
An insulated concrete pool (also known as ICF pool) is built using "Insulated Concrete Forms" (aka: ICF).
The forms are extremely insulated, giving you a "thermal break" (fancy word for trapping heat inside) by protecting your pool's water from the cold ground surrounding the pool.
Insulated concrete pools can also be finished in a wide variety of ways: Tile, plaster, Cementous materials, Vinyl Liners, etc.
Insulated Concrete pools are also less likely to crack due to the insulation that wraps both the inside and the outside of the concrete.
These types of pools are our favorite as they are the most versatile, high quality pool on the market.
Pro's
1. Extremely insulated (Less $$ spent heating pool)
2. Highly customizable & can fit in anyone's property.
3. Less prone to cracking / damage due to insulation.
4. Extends swimming season due to high retention of pool water's heat
Con's
1. Not as fast as steel wall pool installation (faster than regular concrete pools)
2. Harder to build when temperatures reach 0 degrees
"What Kind of Pools Do You Install?"
At Visionary Design & Build, we focus our attention on the following 2 methods of construction.
Insulated Concrete Pools
a) At visionary we believe this to be one of the best ways to build your pool. The added insulation, the customizability - it's really a no brainer if it fits your scope of work.
Fibreglass Pools
a) Fibreglass pool installation is another highly impressive method of installation. With a handful of designs to choose from, Fibreglass pools can make an amazing centerpiece in your backyard
How Much Does an Inground Pool Cost?
The age old question:
"How much does an inground pool cost?"
The answer is, well as you may have guessed it - a hard one to answer.
There are all sorts of pool types, materials, customizations, desires, needs, pool equipment, etc etc etc - which make the prices fluctate all over the place.
We have found that an entry level pool package may start at around $75,000, and can realistically reach around the $90,000 mark.
We actually have a free pool estimator tool that tells you how much we charge to build pools.
Please note: we ONLY offer installation services on Insulated Concrete Pools & Fibreglass Pools.
Go ahead, hit the button below or the link above to see how much we charge to build an inground pool.
