Tag Archives: installation techniques

The finishing touches: What determines longevity?

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Surface preparation is particularly important when it comes to interior finishes. Surfaces for concrete pools must be clean, structurally sound, dry, and free of form releases and chemicals that will alter the adhesion of surface materials. Photo courtesy Poolscape Inc.

By Barry Justus

The longevity of a swimming pools’ interior finish depends on a number of factors, such as:
• Water chemistry, long-term;
• 28-day water start-up;
• Ultraviolet (UV) light and weather exposure;
• Structural integrity of the shell;
• Water penetration;
• Site conditions;
• Preparation of the surface;
• Application methods; and
• Maintenance.

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The finishing touches: When it comes to pool interiors, consumers are spoiled for choice

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Swimming pool interiors can be finished using any one (or more) of a variety of materials. Some of the more popular include: clay, vinyl liners, metal, concrete, plaster, quartz, stone, and tile. Photo courtesy Poolscape Inc.

By Barry Justus

The first pools were built 5,000 years ago in modern-day Pakistan. Waterproofing the pool interior was accomplished by using a combination of bricks, mortar, plaster, and a coating of tar. In 2500 BC, the Romans refined the process with massive public bathing pools that were built to impress. Columns, terracotta, and mosaics were featured in the finish materials for these pools. Modern swimming pools first appeared in Britain in the mid-1800s and often featured an all-tile interior, a material that is in resurgence today in high-end pool projects.
Arguments about the various types of pool construction and interior finishes are endless. Selecting the right one depends on a number of factors as many interior finishes have increased in cost and complexity in the last decade. Regional variances, product/applicator availability, and budget are the usual constraints when it comes to choice.

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Building Options For Above-Ground Pools: Price Point

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Hybrid pools are great for homeowners who want to add a pool off of their existing deck as they can be installed at any depth in the ground, allowing them to be easily matched up with the height of the deck. Photo courtesy Fabcote

By Eric Gohn

There are some consumers who want the least expensive pool available. In these cases, traditional above-ground pools are ideal; however, for those consumers who do not want to pay the price of an inground pool installation, but are willing to spend more than the cost of a traditional above-ground, a hybrid pool is perfect for them.
Granted, the price point for a hybrid pool is not for everyone. An average hybrid pool installation will cost approximately $3,000 to $5,000 more than a traditional above-ground pool. In fact, these pools should really be compared to inground pools. For instance, the cost of a typical 5.2- x 0.7-m (17- x 32-ft) oval inground pool is approximately $30,000, while the same size hybrid pool will typically cost less than $20,000. The only limitation to the hybrid pool is its shape—oval or round.

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Building Options For Above-Ground Pools: Water Depth

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Most hybrid pools provide the option of replacing one of the wall panels with a standard plastic step. Photo courtesy Fabcote

By Eric Gohn

The ability to offer additional water depth is another big selling point for these pools. Similar to an inground pool, for example, larger 5- x 9.7-m (17- x 32-ft) oval hybrid models can be installed with a custom pool floor that has a flat shallow end, slope, and deeper hopper area. These pools still have to conform to industry specifications and will never be diving pools; however, they provide more flexibility in the overall design. The vinyl liners for these pools are made of 20-mil virgin vinyl, which is thicker than traditional embossed vinyl, and can be custom made to fit any pool floor configuration. In fact, approximately 40 per cent of the hybrid pools sold today are designed with customized pool floors.

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Building Options For Above-Ground Pools: Backyard Esthetics

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Most hybrid pools provide the option of replacing one of the wall panels with a standard plastic step. Photo courtesy Fabcote.

By Eric Gohn

One of the biggest objections some consumers have with traditional above-ground pools has been the wall. Typically, they do not want to see the wall as it tends to stand out in their backyard landscape and is not attractive. This is one reason why consumers spend considerable sums to build surrounding decks to avoid looking at the pool’s walls. However, the ability to bury the wall—partially or fully—helps to eliminate this objection. Some manufacturers even provide vertical siding kits that snap onto the outside of the wall panels to replicate the siding found on homes.
By matching the pool’s siding to what is being used on the home helps co-ordinate everything, while also giving the impression the pool was built at the same time as the house.

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