Swimming pool choices

[thickey]

Hey fellow Tuggers.

We are planning to have an inground swimming pool installed in our backyard here in Knoxville, TN, (probably begin this winter) and I wanted opinions on which pool type: concrete, fiberglass, gunite, etc.

We have had fiberglass pools in the past, and enjoyed them. They seemed easy to care for, but we had nothing to compare to.

We are in our forever home, and want something that will last, and will be easy and affordable to maintain, as we grow older, etc.

We plan to use our GeoThermal system to supplement heating the pool during cooler times, but not sure if we will have the pool open all winter (mostly for viewing pleasure). I think we might go with a rectagular pool this time, not necessarily a free-form or curvaceous shape.


What is your opinion on a pool material, etc., and why?

Thanks!
Tim

 

[presley]

We have fiberglass which was what I originally wanted. We were contracted for gunite (because much less costly to build than fiberglass), but they couldn't build the pool because of a water table underground. Our choice at that point was to lose what we had paid and fill in the hole, or get a fiberglass pool.

I love the fiberglass pool. As you know, you have no tiles to scrub. I just use an old sock to wipe the side. Since I am so used to the feel of fiberglass under my feet, I cannot stand the feel of the traditional pools at resorts. I've been in gunite pools where just walking has cut up my feet and the sides have cut up my hands. I guess those types of pools need to be sanded down once in a while. That will never happen with fiberglass.

 

[nightnurse613]

+1 for fiberglass. We went this route when our pool needed to be resurfaced. Got a lifetime warranty which Shasta Pools has honored (to date). I mention that because they did resurface the pool about 8 years ago. My only complaint is the steps getting in or out of the pool-they are slippery. Shasta mixes some sand in which provides a better footing but the sand, along with the the heavy use takes a toll on the material.

 

[rob621]

We have a steel walled, vinyl liner pool and LOVE it. These are very popular up north. Fiberglass not so much so, as you can have issues due to freeze/thaw cycle. That's probably less of a concern in your region. Vinyl liner pools are very easy to maintain and are "soft" underfoot as opposed to gunite.

Best piece of advise I can give you is to visit the website troublefreepool.com. Snoop around the site, do some research. Great forum on all types of pools. If you are not going with a salt pool, you can learn how to maintain a crystal clear pool without getting baited into the pool store chemical sales game. Good old bleach. Does the same exact thing at a fraction of the price.

I could go on for hours, so if you need more info or have other questions, just fire away.

Good luck!

 

[bogey21]

When we put in our pool it we made it large and deep. Shallow end was 5 feet deep. Reason was our kids were 4 and 5 years old and we didn't want a shallow end where they could stand in 2 or 3 feet and with inattention get in over their heads. With the shallow end being 5 feet it forced us to make sure they became good swimmers fast. Our definition of being a good swimmer was for them to be able to swim 4 laps fast. Just a thought.

George

PS When my Son went through Marine basic training he had to jump in a pool with full clothing, etc. and stay afloat for a pretty long time. He had no problem at all. Many of his fellow trainees did.

 

[VegasBella]

We prefer a lawn now but if we put in a pool it would/will be rectangular, semi-inground (not all the way in ground), 3 or 3.5 feet deep throughout, and I would install an Endless Pool system.

I feel like the semi-inground and shallow pool is safer and more economical. My son can swim (he can do 25 meters across the pool no problem) but shallow pools are statistically safer, plus he won't be tempted to dive or flip into a shallow pool. The walls of the semi-inground pool also act as another barrier to protect kids and dogs. It's not just my son I'd be worried about. It's his friends and our pets too. So that's why I wouldn't want a deep pool. A shallow pool also simply uses less water and less treatment.

I also like how easy it is to lounge by a semi-inground pool because the edges/walls are like a bench to sit on. I like the backyards of my friends who have these pools more than the backyards of friends who have fully in-ground pools. And I definitely don't like the above-ground pools.

The Endless Pool system will make it easy for me to exercise and really lap swim without needing a huge pool. When I lap swim I really like swimming "long course" which is swimming 50 meter laps instead of 25 meter laps. Endless Pools are the way to do something similar.

 

[Glynda]

We re-surfaced our pool last summer with Pebble Tec. The resulting color is lovely. I can't tell you how it feels as I haven't stepped foot in it yet. I probably haven't been in the pool three times since we've owned the house. Our granddaughter used to come over and use it often but at 14 she has found other things to do. I kind of wish we'd closed it in. I did ask about making it smaller as it is large for our courtyard but was told the cost would almost be equal to building a new pool from scratch (we were already going to update the pump system).

 

[DeniseM]

I would get quotes from several reputable companies in your area. The type of pool you get is very dependent on the type of winter weather you have.

 

[klpca]

We have gunite/plaster and I have no issues. We just replastered last fall - we were told to expect to replaster every 10 years but our original plaster was 17 years old. Ours is quite smooth - no cuts here - but I suspect that has more to do with installation than anything else. There is one company located near us that has a great reputation - they did our plaster both times and we have no complaints. We have a friend with a fiberglass pool and they love theirs too.

Personally, I would ask your neighbors with pools. You will hear a million stories about the good and bad local contractors. You also need to find out what works in your specific location.

One other thing - a pool is a lovely money pit. I would spend as little as possible to make you happy.

 

[John Cummings]

We have a large ( 42 X 21 ) inground cement pool with Pebble Tec. We put the pool in 12 years ago. You pay more for Pebble Tec than marcite ( plaster ) but it lasts forever and you can get different colors. We also have solar heat for the pool which lengthens the swim season by a couple months. Our pool also has a spill over spa.

I far prefer concrete pools which allows you to design different shapes making the pool an attractive addition to your landscaping.

 

[Timeshare Von]

I have been fortunate to have three backyard pools.

In VA it was gunite and we loved that, but it was difficult to keep algae free some summers. We weren't there long enough to have to deal with replastering.

Here in WI, DH #2 and I had a house with a vinyl liner inground and the current house we have is a steel frame vinyl liner I think I personally like the upkeep of the vinyl liner pools but I miss having entry that is either gradual or with a couple/few steps like the gunite had.

Climbing up the stair in an above ground or in ground vinyl liner has become a challenge with gimpy knees. But here in WI there is no way to really have a gunite/cement in ground pool due to the hard winter freeze. I suppose you could, but I'm guessing the damage from the ground freezing would not be much fun.

 

[Timeshare Von]

>>>One other thing - a pool is a lovely money pit. I would spend as little as possible to make you happy. <<<

Best advise EVER!

Our current pool isn't much to look at, but it holds water well and DH has plumbed a really nice double panel solar heater so it gets very nice. Yesterday, it was warmer than the air temp (93F vs 92F).

 

[presley]

>>>One other thing - a pool is a lovely money pit. I would spend as little as possible to make you happy. <<<

Best advise EVER!

I agree with that, but also suggest looking at the long term costs which are like timeshare MF. Chemicals, salt, cleaning, heating, pool covers, cost to run the pump..... so many things that cost so much over time.

 

[klpca]

I agree with that, but also suggest looking at the long term costs which are like timeshare MF. Chemicals, salt, cleaning, heating, pool covers, cost to run the pump..... so many things that cost so much over time.

Agree 100%. We chose a smallish (16000 gallons) shallow-ish pool. It was less expensive to build and with respect to maintenance, everything is less expensive with our little pool - filling it, chemicals, heating (a small solar blanket is all that we use - and it heats quickly). Now that our kids are grown and gone, we hardly ever use it anymore. Our lab, Buddy, used it more than anyone else, but he passed away a few weeks ago, so now it is hardly ever used, .

Before we replastered, we contemplated filling it in. The cost was the same as replastering.

 

[VacationForever]

We did get an Endless Pool installed, the kit cost $38K. Unfortunately that was not the only cost. We have a sunroom constructed, ground dug (partial in-ground) and finally solar due to the high cost of keeping pool heated. Total bill was $150K. Won't do it again. Stupid once is enough.

I would say if you don't need to have a pool, then don't have one. If you must have one, have a cost and low maintenance one.

 

[bogey21]

I agree with that, but also suggest looking at the long term costs which are like timeshare MF. Chemicals, salt, cleaning, heating, pool covers, cost to run the pump..... so many things that cost so much over time.

I estimate that ours costs for the above averaged about $125 a month. I live in Texas and didn't drain our pool in the Winter, thus it sometimes ran for 24 - 36 straight hours when it was freezing outside. In addition I paid a service $40 a month to handle the chemicals. $125 per month x 12 months x 10 years is $15,000!

George

 

[thickey]

The last fiberglass pool that we installed had a salt system. We added 1/2 bag (40#) every two weeks to keep the water clear and clean. That's it. Salt is pretty cheap at $5.00/bag. We also had a pool heater which we used only in the cooler months here in TN. So, aside from the initial investment, our pools have not been really been very expensive at all to maintain.