Do you have a perfect spot in your yard to build an oasis for entertaining family and friends, but not sure where to start? Are you looking into the different options for buying a pool? When it comes to making the investment of putting in a pool, there are many options to choose from. One of the most classic options is concrete pools. Let’s dig into concrete pool basics so you can weigh this option with confidence.
There are two main types of pools–inground and above ground. As their names indicate, inground pools are built flush with the ground while above ground pools sit above the ground. Basically, for an inground pool a hole needs to be dug while with an above ground pool it does not. Both types can be built with different materials.
Concrete pools are a common inground pool and are much what their names suggest, pools constructed of concrete, which is a mixture of water, cement, sand, and an aggregate of gravel and stone. The terms concrete and cement are often used interchangeably, but in construction cement is actually a component of concrete, although if using the term cement pool, you are essentially referring to a concrete pool.
Pools date back to Roman times and using concrete for pools is not new. In the United States, the first concrete swimming pool was built in 1868 and in the early 20th century, starting mostly in California, concrete pools became popular additions to large mansions. Since then, the technology and construction methods have evolved, which has lowered their cost considerably while also increasing their lifespan. Concrete pools are one of the most class and durable inground pools you can install.
As like every home construction project, concrete swimming pools have both advantages and disadvantages.
One of the biggest concrete pool advantages is that they are built to last. There is a reason concrete is used for foundations, sidewalks, and retaining walls. It is a durable building material that maintains its strength and resists not only basic wear and tear but long-term wear and tear too. If you build a concrete swimming pool, you are making an investment in a home addition that will most likely be there long past your ownership.
Another one of the main concrete pool benefits is versatility. Concrete pools can be customized to fit any style, shape, or aesthetic. You can make choices with a concrete pool that you cannot make with other pool materials. You can have it customized to blend into your property and home design. Concrete pools give you the flexibility to design the pool you want and more easily make it an extension of your home and a permanent expression of your style. Knowing that you can create a pool in your backyard that fits exactly the style and shape you want is highly appealing and a big pro for concrete pools.
Another one of the benefits of concrete pools is their overall appearance. There is a reason concrete pools are considered classic. They look good and are built to last. They add an appealing aesthetic to your property, becoming a permanent design feature of your home. They truly can transform your backyard into the oasis you have always dreamed about and enjoy for many years.
One of the major drawbacks of concrete pools is their upkeep when compared to other pool materials. The main reason for this more demanding maintenance is that one of the biggest concrete pool weaknesses is its porous properties that encourage the growth of algae, mold, and other organic life. Unfortunately, most of this organic life also finds the warm water environment of a swimming pool especially inviting. This results in having to clean your pool more often with more time-consuming procedures and use a higher level of chemicals to keep the water quality safe for swimming. This adds to your pool maintenance costs and should be taken into consideration when looking to install a concrete pool.
Another reason for higher maintenance costs is that although the concrete itself is highly durable, not all the materials you build your new pool with are. For example, the finish applied to the concrete needs to be re-applied about every 10-15 years and is another added cost to take into consideration.
Another one of the main drawbacks of concrete pools is their higher installation costs. The cost of your new swimming pool will depend on its size, shape, and design, but concrete pools generally cost more than other pool material options and often take longer to build, which adds to these upfront costs. When weighing this with durability and versatility, you may find it is more than worth it, but it is something to know going in.
Depending on where you live, the cost of a concrete inground pool ranges anywhere between $50,000-$100,000 and sometimes more after adding in landscaping and accessories. Concrete pools are inground pools, which are always going to be more expensive than above ground pools since excavation is a part of the construction process. There are also specific costs associated with concrete pools that are not optional if you want your pool to have the strength and durability that concrete is known for. However, there are choices in size, shape and aesthetics that you can take along the way that can help control your overall cost.
Installing a concrete pool is not a quick and easy process and overall takes longer than pools that use different materials. The construction and installation process for a concrete pool takes anywhere between three to six months, and sometimes longer, and includes:
Each of these three steps include several stages, which are outlined below.
Since concrete pools are inground pools, excavation is a part of the pool construction process. Excavation is the construction term for digging a big hole. It is more than digging though because it also includes what to do with the earth that is dug out of the ground. This is important to address before excavation begins and affects your construction costs. There are several options, including using the excavated earth on your property or having it removed to a dump location.
Large equipment is often used in the excavation process. How that equipment will make it onto your property and what it will do once there is also a consideration. This can also have associated costs. Excavation is fairly quick and usually takes about one to two days.
This is the main part of your pool’s construction project and involves the most work.
Before installing the concrete pool shell, your builder will build a steel web for your pool, which gives the concrete a solid structure to conform to. The strength of concrete lies in its ability to resist compressive forces. In other words, it does not crush easily. However, its tensile strength is low. This means that it does not bend or flex particularly well. Adding a steel structure increases the concrete pool’s tensile strength. The steel and concrete work together to flex and withstand the natural forces of the earth’s movement and gravity.
Pools are, of course, built to be filled with water. Before concrete is added to the steel framing your builder will install the plumbing needed to fill your pool with water and maintain it. Pool water needs to circulate through a system, which needs to be installed and tested before the concrete pool shell is constructed. Inspection is usually required at this stage also.
Concrete cement for pools can be installed using a couple of different methods. Each uses materials with a slightly different makeup but overall produces similar results. Pool concrete is constructed with Gunite or shotcrete using a spray-on method.
Gunite is a dry mixture that is pumped through a compression sprayer where it mixes with water to create a spray-on concrete. A Gunite pool is a concrete pool that has been built using this spray-on method. Shotcrete is similar to Gunite, but the mixture is already wet before it goes into the pressurized sprayer.
There is not a significant difference between these two methods and both yield quality results, if done properly and professionally. Each method requires curing time for the concrete to harden and strength, which then produces the durability that concrete is known for.
The initial concrete installation takes about one to three days, but the curing process for a standard concrete pool shell takes 28 days. If not properly cured, your pool will lack strength and durability, which undermines using this type of pool material in the first place.
After the curing process is complete, your contractor will smooth out any rough spots on your concrete pool shell and waterproof it, either by spraying or rolling on a waterproofing product. This takes several days, after which coping and tiling can be added. Coping is the addition of a concrete or stone border around your pool’s perimeter. Tiling is done around the inside or top of the concrete along your pool’s waterline, which can stain without tiling. It is typically done at about the first six inches.
The final stage of the pool installation process is the application of an interior surface, usually plaster typically consisting of cement, sand, marble dust, and water. A pigment can also be added to give your pool a signature color. The plaster surface is sprayed onto your concrete pool shell. Your builder will then create a flat finish with a hand trowel. This finishing process takes about a day, but needs to be brushed and cleaned for about the first ten days to eliminate plaster dust, which you do not want in your pool water.
Without a patio surrounding it, concrete pools are more like holes in the ground than the outdoor oasis they are meant to be. The landscaping and patio designed and built around your concrete swimming pool is what makes it more than unique. It makes it your own. This is where your individual design and aesthetic come to life. Working with your pool designer, you can add tiling, stone work, and landscaping to your concrete pool to make it special. Your contractor will need to prepare the patio base to the design specifications.
An inground concrete pool is not the only option available if you are looking to add this upgrade to your property. Other inground options include vinyl and fiberglass. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Vinyl liner swimming pools are one of the most affordable inground pools to install. They also collect less algae and are easier and less expensive to maintain. The lifespan of a vinyl pool liner is considerably less than a concrete pool. It is not as durable of a material as either concrete or fiberglass. The less expensive upfront costs can be outweighed by the need to replace the vinyl liner every six to ten years.
Made from a lightweight material of tiny woven glass fibers strengthened with a polyester resin, fiberglass pools are strong and attractive while also being easier to maintain than concrete or vinyl. Installation is about four to six weeks, which is quick and maintenance is easy since fiberglass is an algae resistant material. Fiberglass pools have about a 25 to 30-year lifespan. The installation cost is similar to a concrete pool but with fewer customizable options.
Concrete pools offer a classic design to your outdoor swimming pool along with durability and versatility, a great combination for building your backyard oasis. When installing one it is also important to know that they do have higher upfront costs than other options and added maintenance costs over the long run.
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