Pool Types Guide

Pool Types and Structures

• Above ground pool: An above ground pool is the least expensive, and least durable, swimming pool types on the market. Easy to assemble from prefabricated wood, metal or plastic walls and a vinyl liner, most above ground pools do not require professional assembly. Generally, after preparing a smooth outdoor area and setting up the pool walls, an installer will evenly spread sand across the entire pool area and lay out all of the plumbing components. A vinyl pool liner can then be fastened inside the swimming pool, filled with water and secured in place.
• In-ground vinyl-lined pool: An in-ground vinyl-lined pool is more expensive, and more durable, than any of the above ground pool types, but it is considered the least expensive, and least durable, of any type of in-ground pool. Similar to the structure of an above ground pool, in-ground vinyl-lined pools rely on wood, metal or plastic walls and heavy duty liners to hold pool water and retain the shape and integrity of the structure. Installers create an in-ground vinyl-lined pool by digging a hole in the ground and setting up the walls underground before fastening the liner and filling the pool with water. Generally, most vinyl liners need to be replaced every ten years.
• In-ground fiberglass pool: A fiberglass pool is generally a pre-formed basin structure made from molded plastic and fiberglass. To install an in-ground fiberglass pool, installers will generally dig a hole to match the size and shape of the pre-formed pool and set up the plumbing before dropping the pool inside. Fiberglass pools generally require the least weekly maintenance of any structure type, and there is significantly less risk of future repair costs.
• In-ground concrete pool: An in-ground concrete pool is one of the most difficult pool type structures to install and poured concrete installation, a method where concrete is filled into a constructed wooden pool frame, is heavily declining. Masonry block pools, where installers dig a hole for the pool and fill in the walls with concrete blocks, are still being constructed but are generally not popular with most consumers. Additionally, most concrete pools need to be re-plastered every ten to twelve years.
• In-ground gunite pool: In-ground gunite pools are replacing concrete pools as the most popular pool structure in America because they can easily be built in any shape and size, and they are extremely durable. To construct a gunite pool, installers dig a hole in the desired shape and size, set up the plumbing, and lay out a network of rebar rods and wiring. The rebar framing is then sprayed with a wet gunite solution of sand, cement and water to create the bottom and walls of the pool. The in-ground gunite pool must be allowed to dry for several weeks before it is filled with water, but the results will last for a lifetime once the structure is completed.

Types of Pool Sanitizing Systems

• Chlorine: Chlorine is the most common type of pool sanitizer in America, and this system relies on a strict maintenance schedule of testing the pool for appropriate chlorine levels, adding chlorine to increase chemical levels as needed and administering routine shocking treatments to kill algae and other bacteria. Chlorine can be added to pool water in liquid, tablet or granulated form. And, because chlorine can be considered a hazardous chemical, it is important to carefully test chlorine water levels with high quality test strips or test kits.
• Saltwater: A saltwater pool utilizes a chlorine generator to create natural chlorine from salt that is periodically added to the pool water. A chlorine generator can be added to a traditional chlorine pool’s plumbing system if the pool owner wants to switch to a saltwater system, and some pools are constructed with saltwater systems already in place. A saltwater plumbing system utilizes a natural electrolysis process, where the added salt molecules are separated into one sodium atom and one chlorine atom, to purify the pool water without added chemicals. Many people consider saltwater to be a safer alternative to traditional chlorine.

Types of Pool Filtration Systems

• Sand filters: A sand filter utilizes a large fiberglass, metal or concrete tank, filled with professional grade sand, to filter dirt and debris from a swimming pool’s water supply. A sand filtration system relies on gravity to draw water into the filter tank, and the thick layer of gritty sand inside the tank traps debris and small pieces of dirt while the pool water passes through.
• Cartridge and DE filters: A cartridge filter is constructed from corrugated paper or polyester, and dirt and debris often become lodged inside the cartridge as the pool water is filtered through. When enough debris is collected, the cartridge filter can be washed clean. Generally, cartridge filters only need to be replaced every 8 years. A DE filter is constructed from diatomaceous earth, a dust created from the fossilized remains of tiny sea organisms called diatomes. Like a cartridge filter, a DE filter cleans the pool environment by trapping dirt and debris while allowing water to pass through.