Gunite and vinyl liner pools

Gunite: any shape you can draw

A steel cage is tied in the hole, plumbing is run, and concrete is sprayed over it to form the shell. It takes any layout: curves, a sun shelf, a raised spa, a beach entry. Because the shell is steel and concrete, it copes well with shifting sand, and builders often add extra steel or gunite where the soil is loose (Blue Haven). Plan on re-plastering every 10–15 years (estimate).

Vinyl liner: the lower first cost

Steel or polymer panels form the walls, the floor is shaped in sand or grout, and a vinyl liner is fitted over it. It is the cheapest way to get an inground pool, and rectangles of nearly any size are easy. The trade-off is a new liner every several years and a surface that sharp toys or pet claws can tear. Mr. Pool, which works around Opp and Dothan, builds vinyl liner pools and does liner replacements.

How a gunite build usually runs

1. Design, contract, survey and permits
2. Dig, then shore or backfill any sandy walls
3. Steel, plumbing and the sprayed shell
4. Tile, coping, deck, fence and equipment
5. Plaster or pebble finish, then fill and balance the water

Upkeep over ten years

This Old House puts ten-year upkeep at about $11,000–17,000 for vinyl and $27,000–40,000 for concrete, compared with $5,000–15,000 for fiberglass (TOH). The concrete figure includes more chemicals, brushing and the eventual re-plaster.