Swimming Pool Kit Options
There are several great choices to look at when selecting the best inground pool kit style for your family. Inground pools can be designed/built a few different ways.
- Steel Walled Pool Kits
- Polymer Walled Pool Kits
- Gunite (Not A Pool Kit)
- Fiberglass Shell Pool Kits
- Above Ground Pool Kits
There are several things to consider when thinking about installing a swimming pool in your back yard. First of all, and probably the most important is your budget. How much can we afford to spend comfortably? What is the actual cost going to be? Things to remember:
- Pool Kit Cost
- Installation Cost
- Concrete Decking Cost
- Landscaping Cost
Inground Swimming Pool Kits
Most inground pool kits are customizable with the exception of Fiberglass Pools. All of our Vinyl lined inground swimming pools can be customized to almost any size and shape you can think of. The bottoms can be finished in a number of different ways as well.
- Standard Diving: which has a shallow end and a deep end (deep enough for diving). (This can be customizable as to depth arrangement)
- Sport Bottom: This has two shallow ends on each side with a deeper area in the middle. This type of bottom is ideal for fun and games. Great for volleyball! (This can be customizable as to depth arrangement)
- Wedge Bottom Non-diving: This bottom typically starts at a standard 3’ deep with a gradual slope running down to 6’ deep. (This can be customizable as to depth arrangement)
- Flat Bottom: Flat 4′ deep and 5′ deep pools are also very common.
Vinyl Lined Inground Swimming Pool Kits
Vinyl lined steel or polymer wall swimming pool kits come in a complete package. These packages usually include everything you need to get the swimming pool to an operational point. These kits can be installed by a do-it-yourselfer, a professional pool installer, or a contractor. Vinyl lined swimming pools are probably the most popular inground swimming pool options across the country because of a few things – The ease of installation, cost, and ease of maintenance. Vinyl liner pools can be installed in as few as three days! The excavation is done, then the panel walls are bolted together, the floor material is poured and troweled, the liner dropped and spread across the floor. Liners typically last 15 years, but warrantied for 20 years.
Things to consider:
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- Cost: The cost of a vinyl lined swimming pool kit is the most cost effective choice and provides more features than a Gunite or Fiberglass pool kit.
- Customization: You can do just about anything you can dream of with a vinyl lined swimming pool.
- Winterization: Winterization is simple on a vinyl lined swimming pool. You simply drain the water below the skimmer level, blow out your lines, and cover the pool.
- Replacement Liners: Replacement vinyl pool liners cost is minimal compared to resurfacing a concrete/gunite, or repairing cracks or fading in fiberglass pools.
Fiberglass Swimming Pool Kits
Fiberglass swimming pool kits can be beautiful and fairly low maintenance over the years – if you get a good shell. These pools have the least amount of customizable options, and usually come in certain shapes and sizes. You can typically only get a fiberglass pool in a 16’ width. You can get them in a number of different colors, and even have tile options to go around the top edge. Chemical usage is generally about the same with vinyl liner, and fiberglass pools. Gunite pools have a much greater need for chemicals, and more difficult to keep the ph balanced. The shells are very difficult to transport, and this adds a lot to the price of the pool. Fiberglass pool kits can be the most expensive on overall installation.
Things to consider:
- Cost: These pools are more expensive than vinyl, and in overall installation and all equipment.
- Shells: Fiberglass pools are solid shells. They have a tough time with earth shifts, heavy rain with flooding, and UV exposure over time – the Fiberglass Shell Will Crack Over Time.
- Maintenance: Generally easy to maintain like vinyl liner pools.
- Restriction: You are very restricted on sizes and types of pool floor options.
Gunite Swimming Pools
Gunite swimming pools deliver the ultimate in custom free-form shape. These pools can be very expensive, but very rewarding if you have the budget. These pools are completely customizable, from the size & shape, to the lighting you can install. Gunite pools can be difficult to maintain chemically, and replastering can be extremely expensive. With the ability to build a pool as if it were a blank canvas makes it fun and interesting! When considering a gunite swimming pool you have to be ready to shell over some benjamins.
Things to consider:
- Cost: These pools can be extremely expensive to build, maintain chemically, and maintain physically.
- Customization: You have the total ability to make these pools any way you can dream.
- Maintenance: Day to day chemical maintenance can be difficult to keep up with. Replastering can be very expensive. Gunite pools are overall much more expensive in all areas.
Above Ground Swimming Pools
Above ground Pools are typically the most affordable swimming pool kit options. This could be the perfect pool for you if you are in a time crunch, or not wanting to make the larger responsibility of putting a somewhat permanent fixture in your back yard. Above ground pools typically come in two different arrangements (round & oval) and in many different sizes. If you are ready to have some serious summer fun, then this may be the fastest and most economical route to take. Above ground pools can be moved if necessary. Making some updates to the backyard and want it somewhere else, move it! Also, if you move you can take it with you or sell it.
Things to consider:
- Cost: Above ground swimming pool kits are a fantastic choice for people that are looking for a relatively inexpensive way of having endless summer family fun.
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Jones
Pool Kit Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 800-515-1747
www.poolwarehouse.com
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