Concrete Pool Benefits, Drawbacks, And Construction

You must agree that a pool is a pool. Not really, really. When making such a significant investment, it is important to grasp the distinctions between the three main pool types: concrete, vinyl liners, and fiberglass. Although River Pools solely builds and sells fiberglass pools, we are aware that you need to be fully informed about all pool kinds in order to choose the one that best suits your needs. Concrete is the preferred material for certain individuals. Here are some fundamentals on the concrete pool, whether you’re checking them up for the first time or just need a refresher:

Components

• Cost
• Cons and benefits
• process of construction

Let’s begin by going into more depth about what a concrete pool is.

What is a concrete pool?

Despite the fact that we frequently confuse the two things, cement is really a component of concrete, not the same thing. Water, cement, sand, and a coarse aggregate are all ingredients in concrete (stone or gravel).

Gunite or shotcrete are sprayed to form a betonpool shell. Shotcrete is already wet, whereas gunite is a dry mix with water in the sprayer. If carried out correctly, these two approaches yield the same outcome and have little to no difference in quality.

The concrete requires time to cure completely after being sprayed on. It doesn’t actually dry. In a protracted process known as curing, it hardens and becomes stronger. This process takes roughly 28 days for a pool shell.

The amount of pounds per square inch required to crush concrete is known as its psi, or compressive strength. Concrete has a strong range of 3500–4000 psi. The amount of cement added to the mixture determines how strong it will be; the more cement, the stronger the concrete. Concrete cannot be crushed easily because the aggregate (the rocks or gravel incorporated in) has a very high compressive strength.

When you try to bend or flex concrete, however, the force pulling on the surface causes it to fracture since concrete has a very low tensile strength (against a force that pushes it apart). This may result in surface or structural fractures in concrete swimming pools. Not optimal. In order to make up for this, pool builders frame the concrete with a steel web. Together, the steel and concrete form a sturdy framework that can flex and bend to endure pressures from the ground, water, and gravity.

How much does a concrete pool cost?

Depending on the location, a concrete pool cost $50,000 to $100,000, but it’s not unusual for them to cost more, particularly with added landscaping and accessories. On top of this initial expense, maintenance often adds another $20,000 or more over the course of the pool’s lifetime. The initial and total cost of ownership for a concrete pool cost is determined by these factors.

What benefits and drawbacks come with owning a concrete pool?

The bottom line of the benefits and negatives is that concrete provides a lot of visual advantages. But it costs a lot of time, money, and human effort to keep that appearance.

Advantages of Concrete Pools

• Customizable
• Durable
• Pretty

Customizable

Concrete has a lot of customization options, which is its main benefit. Concrete pools enable you to tailor their size, form, and any additional features you may want. If you wish, you could have it shaped like a car; it would be very costly but perhaps feasible. But I wouldn’t suggest it.

Durable

Like fiberglass, concrete pools are incredibly durable. The structure of the pool won’t be harmed by sharp items, which is a drawback of vinyl liners. Your dogs’ claws won’t damage the concrete if you let them swim in the pool. In addition, the plaster of the pool, which serves as the interior finish, is not as long-lasting as the concrete structure itself and must be redone, adding to the overall cost of ownership.

Pretty

Concrete is also attractive. Although “beautiful” may not be the first word that springs to mind when picturing a pool, concrete offers a timeless aesthetic. You won’t have to be concerned about a liner bubbling or separating, and if you maintain your concrete pool, you can keep algae and stains to a minimum.

Concrete Pool Drawbacks

• extended startup time
• rough terrain
• high level of upkeep
• much effort and expense
• periodic refinishing

A betonpool kosten takes a very long time to get going. Keep in mind that the construction process involves much more than simply the curing period, which takes about a month in total. Concrete pools take between three and six months to install, as opposed to fiberglass and vinyl liners, which may be finished in a few weeks.

Rough terrain

A concrete pool’s inside is tough, but it may also scratch your flesh, especially if you have children around. Even with frequent plaster refinishing, you can’t really change the texture.

High level of upkeep

 Algae is quite difficult to get rid of once it has been ingrained in a concrete pool’s surface. In fact, to get rid of any algae on the surface, concrete pool builders advise scrubbing the entire pool with a steel brush at least once each week.

You will put your own effort into this maintenance because most of it doesn’t require expert assistance. However, using a professional pool cleaning service will only save you time and not money.

Much effort and expense

Another problem with concrete pools is the chemistry of the water. You need to use more chemicals to reach and remove the algae since it embeds into the surface. Additionally, because concrete has an alkaline composition, the pH of the pool water is continually rising. To maintain the water balanced, you must test it frequently and add acid to it. The pool’s upkeep will take more effort and resources as a result.

Periodic refinishing

The dissolved salt in the pool water will reduce the lifespan of the interior finish of a concrete pool since concrete is incompatible with salt. As a result, you will want expert assistance to refinish the plaster every 10 to 15 years. A Concrete pool is far more expensive to own over the long run than fiberglass or vinyl-lined pools. The original cost is increased by ongoing maintenance and costs like professional acid cleaning every three to five years, more money spent on chemicals, more money used for energy, and refinishing/remodeling.