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Swimming Pools

Swimming Pools, what are your options?

For those that can, swimming is pure pleasure. Owning a swimming pool, if you can, is just another level of bliss. No more having to share with the whole neighbourhood, bad habits and all!

South Africa is the land of sun, fun and swimming pools, at least in some areas and for those if you are thinking of spoiling yourself you need to understand your options. Putting in a swimming pool is not a cheap exercise. Besides which, once installed it becomes a permanent fixture so you need to get it right first time.

There are only really two basic types of in-ground swimming pools, Gunite (or concrete) or fibreglass. Gunite or fibreglass as the most prolific in South Africa though, but I will tell you a little about vinyl pools anyway.

Vinyl pools offer nothing more than a high-density liner, seamed together at the sides of the pool. Polymer or steel walls are first attached to the concrete surface and the vinyl lining is then spread over it and connected at the top by a vinyl rib at its outer edge.

Initial outlay for these types of pool are fairly inexpensive compared to either Gunite or fibreglass. They take less time to install but over time the liner can be scratched, ripped or cut by sharp objects such as pool cleaners. Repairing a vinyl liner entails replacing it in its entirety. It really is nothing more than a type of shower curtain, but one that is exposed to heat and chemicals on a daily basis, encouraging the growth of algae and bacteria in the seams, especially. This takes high dosages of chlorine treatments to keep it at bay which is an added monthly expense. On top of that if you intend install a pool heater, you will find your running costs higher if your ribbing is made out of steel.

So, if vinyl is out of the question the only other options are either Gunite or fibreglass.

Gunite: The Advantages and Disadvantages

Gunite is really just a type of reinforced concrete and the nice thing about it is that is a material that lends itself to in-ground swimming pool construction. It is advertised as being efficient and as being on the market longer than any other swimming pool material.

Gunite is sprayed over a framework of rods and wire mesh once the hole for the swimming pool has been dug. Gunite is easy to use and can be applied to any shape or design pool. It is also purported to be the less expensive option on the market.

However, Gunite is quite porous which allows for algae and bacteria growth. It can crack or chip with temperature fluctuations and require loads of maintenance. Its surface is fairly rough on the skin too but this can be overcome with tiling. A Gunite pool has to be drained at least twice a year for cleaning and repairs to surface cracks or the replacement of tiles.

Acid washing is required every 3 years in order to keep algae at bay, but acid also removes a layer of the Gunite and so it is often necessary to replaster after the second acid wash.

This leaves fibreglass swimming pools

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Fibreglass

Let us get the disadvantages out of the way first.

Fibreglass swimming pools are not as customisable as Gunite pools are. They generally carry a higher upfront cost and pool owners have spoken about the problems the encounter when they try to empty their pools completely.

Fibreglass pools are manufactured offsite and delivered to your home, ready to installation. Depending on who you order your pool from will dictate the shape according to the particular moulds they manufacture from. Square, round and rectangles are most common, as is the “kidney” shape. If you are after something out of the norm in a fibreglass pool, you may be out of luck.

Fibreglass is smooth and non-porous so you won’t encounter the same level of problems with regard to algae and bacteria growth. This helps with Ph, alkaline and calcium levels too. Fibreglass pools are kind on the skin too.

It is a misconception to believe that a fibreglass pool won’t last as long as a Gunite pool. Fibreglass will in fact last for anything up to 50 years when installed in-ground, without having to undergo any major repairs such as re-surfacing or patching up cracks.

Fibreglass also has a very high tensile strength which helps when installed in soils that move. They are built to flex and adapt without any structural issues such as cracking. Fibreglass is also very resilient to changes in temperatures.

Fibreglass pools now come in a range of colours and today even allow for tiles designs and other special features such as water features for example. In fact, it is hard today to tell the difference between fibreglass and a concrete pool.

Fibreglass is easy to install, has a very smooth finish, low maintenance and high levels of durability.

Other swimming pool deciding factors

Besides your preference in material construction there are other factors one needs to take into account when installing an in-ground swimming pool. Firstly, location. Where do you want your pool? What shape are you after and do you want something formal or something natural? What paving do you want? What size do you want? Are you going to landscape your garden around the pool and if so, how much room do you need to allow for this?