After buying the chemicals required to keep the pool hygienic, we have to think about hiring someone to take care of your pool. Opening and closing the swimming pool during the different seasons requires funds. Also, storing and cleaning the cover of the pool is an additional charge. In addition, the largest expense when it comes to maintaining a pool is the interior finish. A vinyl liner can last an approximate five to seven years. On the other hand, painted concrete requires a new coat of paint after about every five years. The plaster finish can last from ten to fifteen years while the cement coated products like the Pebble Tec can last a lifetime. When planning for your swimming pool these expenditures have to be factored.
The quality of the equipment used for the pool varies depending on the brand. Elements like the location of the equipment and the chemistry in the water affect the lifespan of an equipment. An example is the water pump that is required to push rather draw water. The pumps that are placed at the level of the pool tend to last longer than those that are higher and need to pump harder. These equipment are costly and they require to be well maintained for sufficient functioning of the pool.
The size of the people is based on a person’s preference. Some people may want their whole yard to be a pool while some want to retain some grass in terms of landscaping. It’s important that the contractor that you wish to hire is aware of the building and zoning restrictions for spas and swimming pools. Having the knowledge about the permit process is important when planning a swimming pool. With respect to zoning, it is usually handled locally and it covers particular issues like barriers and fencing, the depth of a pool when it comes to diving boards, the proximity of the pool to utility lines and the setbacks.
Ensure you are aware of how many years the contractor has been in business under the same ownership and name because it will determine the quality of his craftsmanship.
During construction, there will be noise and pollution especially if it’s an in-ground pool. depending on the complexity of a pool, an in-ground pool takes approximately three to twelve weeks to complete while above ground pools can be installed in just hours or a couple of days. The contractor can give an estimation of when he hopes to complete your project, but be aware that weather patterns can lengthen the construction time.
When planning on having a pool constructed, safety is usually a primary concern especially in households with children. Proper supervision and enclosures should be set up at all times. The market has a variety of special safety products such as water alarms, safety covers, personal accessories like pool floats and technology in high tech lasers. In addition, if you are planning for a swimming pool then pool insurance should be on your mind. This insurance is usually included in the homeowners’ insurance but not all insurance agents have it. It’s important to speak with your insurance provider about swimming pool insurance.
Not every swimming pool is similar, so we can’t really say a pool is a pool. Since a swimming pool is a great investment, understanding the type of pool that you will invest in is important. Concrete pools are the most common and many people prefer it. This article will discuss the concrete pool, its advantages, and disadvantages.
A concrete pool is a pool constructed with cement as its main component. The shell of a concrete pool is built by spraying shotcrete or gunite mix. The gunite mix is a dry mix that is mixed with water inside the sprayer while the shotcrete mix is already wet. Both these mixes produce the same result when forming the concrete shell with no significant differences. This statement is true if the mixture is of high quality and is done in the correct way. Once the concrete has been sprayed, it requires some time to solidify and harden by curing so as to reach its full potential. This process usually takes around twenty-eight days. The strength of the concrete is determined by the amount of cement used and the gravel used due to its high compressive strength. It is very difficult to break a concrete pool.
On the other hand, concrete has a low tensile strength. Tensile strength is the force that prevents pulling it apart, the flexing or bending of the surface of concrete will cause it to crack. When it comes to concrete pools, the lack of tensile strength can cause the pool to crack. Most contractors try to mitigate this weakness by reinforcing concrete with a web of steel. The mixture of steel and concrete makes a very solid structure that can easily bend or flex when it comes to forming different designs for the pool. This solid strength ensures that the concrete pool can withstand forces from gravity, water, and the earth. Using concrete is not only popular but it is one of the most expensive. Concrete is durable and the strongest material for a pool. Designing and customizing it to any size and any shape, ledges, and benches depending on the customer’s needs is very simple. Concrete pools look completely gorgeous when they are completely done in the right way.
The average costs of a swimming pool range from fifty thousand dollars to one hundred thousand dollars. This price may vary depending on the area that a client resides and the need for accessories and landscaping. Also, the cost of maintaining the pool can rise up to more than ten thousand dollars more than the initial cost of constructing the pool. Even though concrete pools are popular, it is important to note that their price of installing ranges. The lowest price means the pool may be of lower quality. Using concrete in a pool is all about craftsmanship, so the builder of the pool has to be someone trustworthy and he has to come highly recommended.
Concrete pools are very durable and simple things like sharp objects cannot destroy or damage them. However, the plaster which is used when building it can crack and leak making algae and other stains adhere to it.
Inside the concrete pool, the surfaces are rather tough even though they are durable and they can hurt someone’s skin or scrape them when they are swimming. Even though the pool will be plastered and re-plastered once the plaster starts chipping, that rough texture of concrete cannot be erased. So ensure swimmers especially children are well supervised when they are swimming.
The process of starting up the construction of a concrete pool is long and sometimes it can be drawn-out. The curing process can take almost a whole month. The installation and construction of a concrete pool can take more than two months for it to be completed.
The cost of maintenance and any follow up is quite high for concrete pools compared to the other types of swimming pools. In addition, the time investment in terms of maintaining this pool can be tiresome without professional help. Since concrete pools are porous in nature, it means that it can easily harbor different forms of algae. If algae embed on the surface of a concrete pool, they are very difficult to be removed. It is for this reason that swimming builders’ advice customers to scrape their concrete pools with steel brushes to prevent the formation of any algae.
Algae is the main reason why the maintenance of a concrete pool is important. If algae embed into a concrete pool, chemicals will have to be used to combat and destroy these algae. This means the water chemistry will be affected. Concrete is alkaline-based and it constantly increases the pH level of the pool water. In order to maintain the right balance in the water chemistry, constant care of the pool has to be a priority. Without this maintenance, going on a swim may end up causing unhealthy effects on a person’s skin.
Concrete is incompatible with salt, therefore, the dissolved salt in the water used in the pool will shorten the expected life expectancy of the pool. It is for this reason that you will need to re-plaster your concrete pool every decade or so and this will require professional help. Many people are not aware of this drawback of owning a concrete pool. When constructing a concrete pool ensure the contract you have with the contractor specifies this in their warranty. Contractors will give you a ‘lifetime structure warranty’ but you have to ensure re-plastering is in the warranty.
Having a pool or a spa in your backyard can offer a level of luxury for relaxing or simply enjoying yourself and having fun. Even though these water features are tempting for any household, they are rather expensive and they require routine upkeep and maintenance.in order to ensure that the systems in the swimming pool are running efficiently and hygienically, a maintenance routine has to be established. Cleanup tasks have to be performed to remove any debris or any dirt that might be in the pool. The cleanup process depends on whether the pool is usually covered or uncovered when it is not functioning. This is important due to the change in seasons.
Due to the factors above, there may be a need to clean the pool on a daily basis. Although these tasks can be handled by a pool owner, it takes quite some time and a lot of effort. The best and easiest way to cut down on the time and effort needed for this chore is to get a hands-free equipment that will automatically clean the pool for you making your pool a hands-free swimming pool. You don’t need to understand how a pool is meant to be cleaned. There is an equipment that will practically make your swimming pool clean itself.
If you have ever had an aquarium or a large fish tank, you may have noticed the big suckerfish that was attached to the side of the glass at the bottom of the fish tank. These types of fish are known as algae feeders they move along the edges of the aquarium or fish tank so as to eat the undesirable debris which forms on the lower surface of the tank. A hands-free equipment like a swimming pool vacuum works in the same way. The difference is that the fish is a living thing but a vacuum is an automated tool. This vacuum moves along the sides and the bottom of the pool with the purpose of removing debris like bugs, twigs, sand, and dirt. Depending on the size or type of your swimming pool, these tools can clean it in a few hours or in a couple of minutes without you as the owner doing anything. Such tools can be used to clean pools with deeper parts and they also clean water level tiles and walls without the owner lifting a finger.
Pool BuilderMost tools used in a hands-free pool follow a pre-programmed instruction in terms of following certain routes. This ensures that they avoid an area with high traffic and the random pattern that has been set can be beneficial by cleaning parts of the pool that may have otherwise been neglected or been ignored. Most of these tools work with the filtration system of the pool or they use battery power in order to work independently. There are some tools that can have two functions at the same time. Some not only clean the pool but they maintain the pool’s pH balance by dispensing chemicals. This ensures your pool is well maintained and the maintenance time is cut significantly. However, these tools do not any intelligence. Most of the time they end up stuck in specific angles that they are unable to maneuver or they might be unable to move around obstacles. Before buying any of this equipment for your pool, ensure you understand how they work to avoid the occasional problems.
Pool Guide All about pool cleaning and hands free swimming poolsThe market is flooded with equipment that claims to help your pool clean itself. So it’s not surprising that the price of these tools has a wide varying range. Be careful about the product you choose to buy because it may be a cheap imitation. Research on the best products in the market and invest them even though they may be expensive. These tools are a value for your money and they will serve you for a long time.
One of the best examples of a hands-free tool is the in-floor circulation and cleaning system. This is not an equipment/tool, it is a system that uses a set of nozzles that are built into the floor of the swimming pool. On top of cleaning the pool from debris, the in-floor cleaning system also circulates water in the pool efficiently. A circulation system ensures the water in the pool does not remain the way you left it one you finished swimming. The circulation system ensures water is taken through a filter and then the sanitizer. Once this process is complete, water is taken back to the pool at the opposite end. This process is done using two return lines. A circulation system ensures chemicals in the water do not float and concentrate at the top of the pool due to heat and other factors. It mixes the water in the pool efficiently and ensures the entire pool, from top to bottom is chemically treated. Investing in an equipment that offers a good circulation system for your swimming pool is a fundamental aspect that needs to be taken seriously. You do not want chemicals in your pool to float. This will evaporate the chemicals instead of letting them do their work. If you are investing in a hands-free tool that is meant to clean your pool without you being present, invest in a quality cleaning tool.
This system will ensure that the pool is not only healthy, it also has to have a temperature that is even throughout the swimming pool. Not many pool companies are offering this kind of system with their swimming pools. If you find a pool builder who installs the in-floor cleaning system that reduces the electricity usage by the pool even though water is being turned over during circulation and electricity is still being conserved and the chemical consumption is reduced, then do not hesitate to invest in it. Energy efficient pumps and effective circulation systems are key components in a hands-free pool cleaning tool.
These fibreglass materials is approximately around three-eighths inches in thickness that means layers upon layers of fibreglass are attached to each other to form a strong fibreglass pool. A fibreglass pool has to be constructed from a mold in the factory. It is for this reason that fibreglass pools are not as easily customizable in terms of shape and size as concrete pools.
Once the fibreglass has been manufactured, there is a gel coat that is applied inside the finished product. This coat is what can be seen when one is swimming in a fibreglass pool. This coat starts off as a gel and then it hardens by polymerization which is a chemical bonding that strengthens it. This gel coat makes a fibreglass pool very smooth, algae resistant and quite durable and low in its maintenance needs. As a client, it is important to know whether the manufacturer you want to make your fibreglass pool has a warranty for the gel coat. This is because of osmotic blisters, which are issues related to water like leaking, may form on the gel coat causing structural problems.
Getting a fibreglass pool is a two-stage process; after the manufacturing process, the installing process follows. Once the fibreglass pool is manufactured, the shell has to be transported to the pool site for it to be installed. This installation usually takes just a few weeks and the pool is ready for use. Before the pool is installed, the contractor does a quality check on the fibreglass. Any consistency or any cracks on the fibreglass are checked and fixed before the installation of the pool.
Most fibreglass pools cost between 45 and 75 thousand dollars. This estimated cost is the initial purchase. If there are any extra features or any upgrades, the cost tends to increase. The best part of this pool is that once it is installed, there is no need to purchase cleaning equipment and chemicals for the algae. The cost of maintaining this pool over a period of ten years is not as substantial as other pools. The low maintenance cost of this pool is what attracts most swimming pool buyers.
An installation of a fibreglass pool typically takes from three to six weeks. This is one of the fastest installation time for a swimming pool in the market at the moment. Thanks to this speed, customers have less time invested in worrying about how their yards look. Installing this pool ensures that a customer does not need to manage construction workers at his backyard for months on end, thus lowering instances of stress.
This pool is strong enough because of its thickness. Therefore, instances of puncturing or scratching this pool due to everyday use is not an issue. The interior finish of the pool is user-friendly and it does not need to be refinished. This is true if the fibreglass swimming pool is correctly made.
The gel coat used on the finishing of the fibreglass pool is non-porous. This means the surface of the pool does not require any form of weekly brushing like the concrete pool. Due to the non-porosity of the pool, algae will not form, meaning chemicals will not be needed. Also, the water chemistry will not be affected and the pH balance will remain constant.
The general cost of running or maintaining a fibreglass pool is quite minimal compared to other types of pool. These pools need fewer chemicals and electricity to run them, thus cutting down the cost of maintaining the pool.
Previously, when the fibreglass pools were introduced to the market, they looked rather simple and not as physically pleasing. With technology, fibreglass pools now have a variety of colored finishes, tanning ledges, water features, beautiful lighting, and versatile tiles. Fibreglass pools are no longer an eyesore but they have become architectural marvels in people’s backyards.
Fibreglass pools have a limit in terms of size. The reason for this is because fibreglass is created from molds that have been pre-designed in the factories. This also means that in terms of designs and shapes the options are very limited.
As much as this pool is not as expensive as a concrete pool, it is not the cheapest pool in the market. The initial cost of a fibreglass pool is usually less than one seventy five thousand dollars. This estimated cost is the initial purchase. If there are any extra features or any upgrades, the cost tends to increase. However, the vinyl liner pools are way cheaper.
As observed above, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages of this type of swimming pool. Even though this swimming pool has design limitations, the available designs are nothing to look down upon. Fibreglass pools have been used for a long time. The durability, low maintenance, affordability and strength of this pool is a testament to its reliability. A Fiberglas swimming pool can be used in both spas and family homes.
