Advantages of Concrete Swimming Pools - Five Features You Might Want For Your Pool

So you have decided to have a swimming pool in your landscape. There are a lot of decisions to be made.

One of you main decisions will be deciding if you want a concrete swimming pool or vinyl liner pool.
Concrete swimming pools have some advantages over vinyl pools. It's not that vinyl pools aren't a better choice in some situations. However, gunite pools do offer a few exclusive features.

Here are the Pros of why you might choose a gunite (concrete) pool:

1. Pool shapes can be easily customized. This means that you do not have to limit your choices to the standard shapes offered by pool companies. If you are working with a professional swimming pool designer, he/she has free reign to be as creative as possible.
2. Steps are commonly placed on the interior of the pool. Visually, this allows the shape of the pool to flow, and not be broken by the steps on the exterior, intruding into the pool paving. Which also means that you gain pool decking space.
3. If you would like a waterfall incorporated into the pool and it is being placed at a higher elevation behind the pool, the back end of the pool can be built higher. This back wall, or bond beam wall, actually becomes a retaining wall on top of which the waterfall can be built. This creates a very integrated and beautiful look to your swimming pool design, especially with plantings included.
4. Actual tile is used along the inside of the pool walls near the top, right under the pool coping. I can't begin to tell you how many are available. Be sure to coordinate it with the color you choose for the pool interior and also with the pool paving material.
5. With concrete swimming pools, you can have a vanishing edge. Of course, your property must lend itself to this...but it is possible! Perched at a higher place with the land dropping off behind creates great drama.

The one main Con of a concrete pool is that it is more expensive.

Some other things to think about:

* Where do you place the pool?
* Do you want it close to the house or further away? Placing it closer is convenient for access, while a pool further away creates another place to go to on your property. It is also less visible in the winter when the pool cover is on the pool.
* What shape should you go with? Do you want a more formal or naturalistic look?
* What pool paving material should you use? There are so many to select from, but try to choose one that is cool on your feet.
* What size would be appropriate? Pools can be very small or they can be huge. Most people choose one in between.
* Should I hire a landscape designer? A landscape designer will take your entire property and design into consideration.

I hope these points on concrete swimming pools have been helpful. You can read more about both types of pools, including more detail on their Pros and Cons, and general swimming pool information at my website page below.

Susan Schlger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Visit her website to learn more about Swimming Pool Types.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Schlger



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Custom Swimming Pools for Southern California

Cost of a Swimming Pool

You can have a safe, attractive and fun home swimming pool cheap from anywhere from $100 to $100,000 or more for a luxurious swimming pool design. There are both hard sided and soft sided swimming pools available at your local discount or home store that you can set up in a few minutes to a few hours. Higher end swimming pools will be ordered through a professional swimming pool designer that will workout all the details to situate everything in your yard.
In ground swimming pools are more expensive and the premium quality swimming pool is the inground custom built style.

Swimming pool pumps, filters and covers will sometimes be included in the price of a swimming pool or be purchased separately. These swimming pools will provide enough water-based fun for any number of kids or a few adults, even though they are over two to four feet deep. Remember, even these inexpensive swimming pools require some ground preparation - from raking away sharp objects or laying a tarp to protect both the pool bottom and little feet - and should be drained or tightly covered if not in use.

Also, remember that even a small swimming pool can be a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria, so remember to change the water frequently, purchase a filter and follow manufacturer's instructions concerning water purifying chemicals.

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