Let’s tell the facts, the whole facts, and nothing but the facts

Certified Building Professional

Compare Fiberglass, vinyl, and concrete (gunite) pools

Advantages and disadvantages of swimming pools, for shoppers and buyers of swimming pools in US and in The Woodlands, Conroe, and Spring, Texas

There are some biased and misleading details about the comparison shown below.  I took the details from River Pools and Spas (link below).

Do not be misled.  Ask Janine for a fact-check.

Advantages and disadvantages of swimming pools, for shoppers and buyers of swimming pools in US and in The Woodlands, Conroe, and Spring, Texas

There are some biased and misleading details about the comparison shown below.  I took the details from River Pools and Spas (link below).

Do not be misled.  Ask Janine for a fact-check.

Fact-Check 1

A blue colored pebble interior the interior will look excellent for at least 22 years and beyond.

I had the pleasure to see a 22 year old pool in Beaumont, Texas.  The pebble interior was in gorgeous condition.  It looked like new, as good as it did the first day.  Most of the interiors will last beyond 30 years.  But avoid white, because it is like white carpet, staining easily.

For low maintenance interior, choose pebble interior.  There are several brands, such as Pebbletec, Pebblesheen, WetEdge, StoneScapes, etc.   It all depends on the applicator.  So choose your builder wisely for the best.

Fact-Check 2

So, these days, many reputable pool builders build low-maintenance concrete pools.  What makes a pool low-maintenance?

  • Saltwater (eliminates adding chlorine)
  • Infloor cleaning systems (built in technology to self-clean)
  • Energy-efficient pumps, running 24/7 at costs of $20 monthly
  • Ozone systems for sanitation
  • Ultra-violet systems for algae control
  • Double-skimmers to catch debris off the surface

So with many of these options, gunite pools take possibly 10 minutes a week to check and maintain.

Note: cleaning a filter will take longer for any pool.

Fact-Check 3

Will it really cost $400 a year for a pool pump on a gunite pool?

(This claim is so unfounded it is hard to answer.  There are no facts to back up the assertion.)

A gunite pool with an energy efficient pump (Pentair) will cost approximately $12 monthly.  It depends on the schedule and the rpms.  Typically, we run pumps for 24/7 on low rpms of 1,000 watts, like a lightbulb.

  • It costs around $120 yearly on low rpms

It costs around $180 on some high and some low rpms.