Pool ownership comes with a variety of perks – it’s supposed to be your private oasis of tranquility and pleasure. It’s a place to relax, exercise, and have fun with your family and friends.
However, as wonderful as it is, pool ownership comes with its responsibilities. As you probably already know, pool maintenance isn’t just expensive, it also takes a lot of time and effort to be done efficiently.
If you don’t have a lot of experience with pool maintenance, you should choose something that’s easy to repair and clean over the years.
Here we’ll analyze different types of pools and their maintenance requirements to help you make the best choice for your home.
Concrete
If you’re looking for ways to save money on maintenance, concrete pools are probably not the best option. Yes, they look beautiful, and yes they will last for years to come, but they’re incredibly expensive to take care of.
So, what makes their maintenance so expensive? First of all, its rough texture makes it incredibly prone to algae. You’ll spend a lot of your time scrubbing the walls to get rid of the buildup. Depending on the weather, you might even have to do this on a day-to-day basis!
Secondly, concrete pools have to be washed with acid every couple of years in order to keep them safe to swim in. This process is incredibly time-consuming and pretty expensive, even if you decide to do it yourself.
Besides that, all concrete pools require complete resurfacing every 10 years. It may not seem like a big deal at first (10 years is a long period of time), but once you realize the entire process costs around $10 000, you might want to reconsider!
Lastly, keeping the water clean and swimmable takes a lot of chemicals and filtering – way more than you’d have to use if you had a vinyl or fiberglass pool. Again, pools are a big investment to make, all of the costs we’ve mentioned will certainly add up over the years. So, if your main goal is to save money on maintenance, you should avoid concrete pools at all costs.
Vinyl
Vinyl pools require a moderate amount of maintenance. They’re not as expensive to take care of as their concrete counterparts, but they’re far from being the cheapest option out there.
If you own a vinyl pool, you’ll need to check the water chemistry on a weekly basis. Algae is unlikely to grow, but it can still occur in certain corners of the surface. You’ll still have to check for it regularly, which can be quite a hassle if you own a large pool.
Besides that, you’ll also need to replace the liner every 3-5 years, which can be incredibly expensive. That especially goes if you’re hiring professionals such as those at Compass Pools to do the job for you, as these services are quite costly. We don’t recommend DIY-ing it if you don’t have any prior experience with these kinds of repairs – it’s a tricky process!
Lastly, unlike concrete surfaces, vinyl needs to be completely replaced every five years. As you’d probably guess, this is everything but cheap – especially when you consider the long-term perspective.
Now, we’re not saying vinyl or concrete pools aren’t worth your attention – they have their unique benefits that should certainly be considered. However, when it comes to maintenance costs, they’re simply not the most optimal solution out there.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass pools are probably the most low-maintenance option you can find. They’re easy to clean, completely algae-proof, and they only require one filter circulation per day. Compared to all other finishing options, fiberglass certainly requires the least maintenance. In fact, they’re the only type of pool you can clean and maintain yourself – although it does take some practice.
If you’re looking to save as much money as possible when it comes to cleaning and repairs, fiberglass is the way to go. They will cost you a bit extra when it comes to installation and materials, but it will all be worth it in the end. You’ll be able to save tons of your money and time by opting for a fiberglass solution.
Of course, as with any other pool type, proper installation and professional checkups are crucial for the „health“ of your new favorite leisure spot. No matter what you decide to do, make sure you seek some professional assistance when you’re installing a pool for the first time.
Now, of course, as we’ve already mentioned before, just because it’s the cheapest solution out there, it doesn’t mean fiberglass is the only type of pool you should be considering. Both concrete and vinyl have their own advantages that might make them worth the price for you.
Other factors to consider
Besides the type of pool, your maintenance costs will depend on many other factors – the size, location, and whether you’ll be hiring professional cleaning services to do the maintenance for you. A small concrete pool might cost you less than a large fiberglass one!
Of course, it also depends on the availability of the materials in your local area. If you can’t find any fiberglass pool builders near your location, you’re likely to spend tons of money on installation and repairs later on.
With that being said, we advise you to do as much research as possible before deciding to invest in a specific type of pool.
The summary
All in all, if you’re looking to cut down on your maintenance cost as much as possible, fiberglass is the best solution for you. While concrete and vinyl have their own advantages, they’re harder to take care of, which means you’ll be spending a lot of your money keeping them in a good condition.
Of course, as we’ve mentioned a couple of times throughout this article, your choice completely depends on your specific needs and your budget. Do your own research: the market is not the same everywhere. We’re certain you’ll quickly find something that suits your home perfectly!
