A swimming pool can be an attractive feature that enhances your lifestyle and increases your property’s investment potential. As with any project this can become an asset or a liability depending on the amount of research you do prior to selecting the type of pool suitable for both the location and your budget.
Pools come in an enormous variety of forms, shapes, materials, colors and finishes but fall into 2 categories: above ground and in-ground.
- Above ground pools, which are generally prefabricated kits, are the most economical and simple method of installing a pool on your property although as with any pool, professional installation is recommended. These pools generally have a perimeter outer wall of either steel or wood framing that requires some solid footing to rest on. As they are generally smaller, shallow and of flexible structure these pools do not suffer from the many problems associated with the construction and maintenance of the more traditional in ground pool. If required these pools can be dismantled and relocated and most importantly they are not affected by the ground on which they lie.
- In-ground pools come in a variety of forms, methods of construction and costs. It is important prior to selecting the pool you want to have your property surveyed by a professional like the swimming pool builders in Sydney to determine your options. As all in ground swimming pools can be greatly affected by the amount of groundwater, the type of soil, the inclination of the land, the absence of bedrock, etc it is extremely important to know what lies beneath the surface prior to selecting the type of pool you want. For example the high design Infinity Pool which allows one side of the pool to cascade water will only work on a very stable site where the pool can be anchored to bedrock…it only requires a millimeter or so of ground shift and this type of pool will no longer function…and it is virtually impossible to correct after the fact.
- Vinyl-lined in-ground pools are basically the above ground pool that has been sunk into the ground consisting of a steel panel system on a concrete footing into which a vinyl liner is placed. The are generally considered to be the most economical of all in-ground pool types. Structurally somewhat fragile these pools need to be placed on a secure concrete footing and therefore require substantial installation costs. Normally these pools come in a variety of kits that allow various alterations to a basic form. The vinyl liner usually has a lifetime of 10 years before it needs to be replaced.
- Preformed fiberglass reinforced plastic pools come in a variety of forms, depths, colors and are quick to install. However these pools require a reinforced bedding and must be very carefully installed to prevent damage to the relatively fragile structure. As the pool structure is flexible it is important that the surrounding ground is stable and well drained to prevent pressure on the pool sides from lateral ground movement. However these pools have enough flexibility that they can withstand some ground movement without damage.
- Gunite and Shotcrete pools are gaining popularity for the ease of construction and their extreme durability. This is basically a system of concrete sprayed onto a reinforced metal grid. Therefore there is an endless potential for various forms, depths, etc. This reinforced concrete pool and can have an interior finish of either cement plaster, ceramic tile or fiberglass finish
- Poured-concrete and masonry block pools have been the standard of high end pool construction and are generally the most expensive methods of constructing a concrete pool today. The two types both consist of having a rigid reinforced concrete foundation onto which either masonry block walls or cast in place concrete walls are constructed. As with the gunite pools these concrete pools can have a wide variety of internal finishes. Both of these pools are extremely durable but at the same time are not suitable to all installations. Due to the extreme weight of these pools they must be placed with footings onto bedrock to avoid shifting and cracking.
While all of these pools have specifically associated pros and cons the most important thing to do is to make sure that the type of pool that you want is suitable to the location in which you wish to construct . A well designed pool can be an asset to your property for many years, a badly designed pool will only be a liability with continual maintenance problems.
About the Author
Alessandro Fernandez – Please visit Luxury Vacation Property Merida for more ideas about overseas property investment and renovation projects.
