A swimming pool is a wonderful addition to the home.  It provides the family with a fantastic place to cool off, as well as a place to get great exercise.  Deciding on the type of swimming pool that is right for you, however, can be a difficult task.  With such a large investment, you want to be sure the swimming pool fits your lifestyle and needs, as well as fits in your budget.

Concrete Swimming Pool

As the name implies, a concrete swimming pool is an in-ground pool made of concrete.  Once the concrete is poured and finished to form the walls and the floor, it must be allowed to dry.  After it dries, it can be painted any color you desire.  You will have to periodically touch up the paint with Chlorinated Rubber or Epoxy in order to maintain its appearance.  If the concrete finish gets too rough or if the paint is chipped too badly, it will be necessary to have a professional sandblast its surface and repaint it.

Gunite Swimming Pool

Gunite is a special material made of cement and sand.  Instead of being poured like the cement swimming pool, the gunite swimming pool is sprayed through a high-pressure hose to form the walls and floor.  The cement and sand mixture is combined with water at the site of the swimming pool location.  You can choose from a variety of different colors and speckles for your gunite swimming pool.  Therefore, your pool will not need to be periodically painted in order to maintain its appearance.  It can, however, crack or decompose over time.  If this happens, you will need to have a professional repair the damage.

Shotcrete Swimming Pool

Shotcrete is also sprayed through a pressurized hose, but the water is mixed with the cement and sand mixture prior to arriving to the job site.  It is also available in different colors and will require the assistance of a professional if it decomposes or cracks in any way.

Fiberglass Swimming Pool

A fiberglass swimming pool is an in-ground pool made from a one-piece fiberglass shell.  It generally takes less time to install a fiberglass pool than other types of pools.  There are, however, fewer choices in size, shape, and depth when purchasing a fiberglass swimming pool because they are sold “as is.”  Blistering and cracking can occur with a fiberglass swimming pool, which will require the assistance of a pool specialist capable of making repairs to fiberglass.

Above Ground Swimming Pool

You may also choose to purchase an above ground swimming pool, which does not require digging into the ground.  Generally, an above ground swimming pool is made with a steel wall and a vinyl-liner is used on the inside.  Generally, an above ground pool is less costly to install and comes in limited shapes and sizes.  The most common shape for an above ground pool is round or oval.