Concrete pools require special care
Pool construction services often offer multiple methods when choosing a pool. Inground and aboveground pools can be built with concrete, fiberglass or vinyl foundations, and each material comes with its pros and cons. Larger facilities are most often concrete structures because vinyl and fiberglass facilities can’t surpass certain sizes.
If your pool is made from concrete or you’re considering building such a facility, maintaining a concrete pool requires special attention and care that other materials don’t. Though pool maintenance should be conducted every day, there are a few threats to your facility’s overall integrity that pool management should be on the lookout for.
Why choose concrete?
Pools with concrete foundations may have some issues, but River Pools and Spas explained that the pros more than outweigh the cons. Concrete pools have no size restrictions and construction services can build them as large as the plot of land allows. Because concrete facilities can be built as large as you prefer, you can also create unique and eye-catching designs depending on how the material is poured.
Take care of concrete pools
Despite the advantages of using a concrete foundation when constructing your facility, this building method opens these pools up to risks that vinyl and fiberglass foundations are immune to.
First, the nature of concrete means that it contains microscopic pores that can trap bacteria. Over time, these contaminants can pose a significant threat to the chemical balance of your pool. This means that concrete pools require more chemicals and heavier filtration to keep the pH levels of your pool in check. Alternatively, you can scrub the surface of the concrete to remove large collections of bacteria and other contaminants.
Though you may be tempted to shock your pool with enough chemicals to sterilize the entire foundation, this could actually cause more of a headache than you bargained for. Excessive chemical use can erode the concrete to the point where extensive repairs are necessary to keep the whole structure intact. Concrete pools normally need to be resurfaced every 10 years or so, but bombarding your facility with chemicals and salt might force you to spend more money than you planned.
Even if you’re careful about the chemicals you add to your concrete pool, general maintenance and use will wear down the surface of the foundation over time. Rather than producing systemic flaws, this may result in a rough and painful surface. Swimmers can injure themselves if the problem grows unchecked, which can create unsafe conditions in the water.
Finally, neglect concrete pools enough and you’ll be facing a pool manager’s worst nightmare: cracks. Whether these imperfections are caused by erosion or soil movements that change or remove support your pool has rested on, cracks are difficult and expensive to repair. In the best case scenario, swimmers may injure themselves on cracks. In the worst case scenario, the entire foundation of your pool may be compromised.
Are vinyl and fiberglass right for you?
Concrete pools have their fair share of problems, but don’t abandon all your construction plans because of a few challenges. Taking care of a pool is hard work, which is why many managers choose to contract with pool maintenance services. Whatever you decide, know that vinyl and fiberglass come with their own problems.
While vinyl liner pools are inexpensive to build, they can be easily damaged by aggressive swimmers, overzealous animals or natural disasters. Vinyl liners are only about 20 to 30 millimeters thick, and it doesn’t take much force to break through. If you expect your pool to draw families or large crowds, vinyl may not be for you.
Fiberglass constructions are more durable, but this comes with higher initial costs. Also, these pools are premade and shipped to the installation site, which limits the maximum size of your facility – usually no wider than 16 feet. Also, some fiberglass pool manufacturers use finishes with proprietary paints. In the event of damages, you may need to go back to the original maker to get that color and preserve the aesthetic of your facility.
