How Long Will a Concrete Pool Last? A concrete pool should last decades (we're talking 50 years or more) if it is properly maintained. While the shell of the pool can become damaged if the building was not done correctly, a well-constructed concrete swimming pool should last a lifetime.
A well-maintained concrete pool should last around 50 years or more. And a well constructed in-ground concrete swimming pool should last a lifetime. But, a pool's liner or finish won't last long. And thus, an in-ground concrete pool will need to be resurfaced every 10 to 15 years.
Without question, concrete pools require the most maintenance of any type of inground pool. For example, with vinyl and fiberglass pools you don't have to worry so much about your calcium levels in the water. However, this is a must with a concrete pool.
Although rare, and affecting less than 1% of all pools, concrete pools can crack. If it happens at all, it usually happens within the first year, as a result of shrinkage, settlement and/or subsidence.
Because everything moves with the changing of the seasons, it's important that the ground it's installed on has unified movement.
In-ground concrete swimming pools are usually durable installations that last for decades. However, gunite, shotcrete, or concrete walls may develop cracks over time. Small shrinkage cracks aren't a problem, but if the cracks grow large enough to insert a dime, the shell might be compromised.
Yes, it is safe to put salt in a concrete pool, there is just more to watch with concrete pools than with other pool types. If you don't have anything in between your water and your concrete, your concrete can erode faster, but it does not affect the quality of the water or your health.
The first consideration to think of here is the material your pool is made from. Concrete pools generally need more effective pool heating systems, as concrete is a naturally cold material which is not particularly efficient at retaining heat.
However, when chlorine is present in a water-based solution, it can permeate through concrete and reach the steel bars giving the concrete structural support. The chlorides corrode the metal framework, endangering the skeleton of your concrete floor.
Pros and cons of concrete pools
Concrete pools are extremely durable and allow for a highly customized size and shape. The disadvantages include more effort to maintain, more chemical usage, highest cost of ownership, a rough interior surface, and a slow installation time.
The main advantage of a concrete pool is its design flexibility. Concrete is practically limitless as a pool construction material – you can easily design a custom concrete pool in any shape and style, totally unique to your backyard.
Affordable: Fibreglass pools cost around 20% less to install than a concrete pool. Ongoing costs are also lower due to less maintenance, chemicals and energy consumption.
Gunite pools are among the longest-lasting pools on the market. When gunite pools are properly installed they could potentially last 100+ years. They are extremely durable and totally customizable.
It generally takes between three and 12 weeks to install a concrete pool. That's longer than other types, but concrete is considered the strongest, most durable type of pool. And unlike other in-ground pools, existing concrete pools can be rebuilt, refinished, enlarged, or updated.
It's often made using concrete, but it can be formed using brick, pavers, stone, and other options. Next, you'll want to finish the pool deck or patio using your material of choice.
A fiberglass pool is not prone to growing algae, which is one of the main reasons why this pool is easier to maintain. Anyone who is looking for a pool that doesn't require a lot of maintenance may want to consider going with a fiberglass pool.
If you want to get as much time as possible out of your pool, however, a heater is a good investment. With a pool heater, you can easily be swimming May through mid-October, giving you a good five months of use out of your pool. That's literally double the amount of time you'd get without one.
You could refer to gunite as concrete's cousin because they are both in the same family, but have their differences. Gunite is the dry mixed form of sprayed concrete. Gunite typically only contains fine particles in its mix while concrete contains both large and small particles.
The use of gunite or shotcrete is typically your pool builder's choice.
Highly excessive salinity levels (over 6,000 ppm) will cause corrosion damage to metallic equipment, such as ladders and handrails. This is true because salt doesn't wear out, break down or evaporate; Turn the pump on and run until you reach the desired water level.
Concrete Pools
Once water is removed (and subsequently, the interior hydrostatic pressure), if there's an influx of groundwater, it will push the pool up and out of place. As a general rule, you shouldn't keep any pool empty for longer than it needs to be.
Never completely drain a fiberglass or in-ground vinyl liner pool; doing so can damage the integrity of the pool surface or liner in the form of bowing or cracking. The best practice is to partially drain these types of pools. Always complete partial drains by 1/3 of the water at a time.
If you want to resurface a concrete pool, your most economical choice is plaster. Certain products, such as Sider-Proof, actually make resurfacing in plaster easy enough for a do-it-yourselfer to tackle. An experienced professional will either chip or sandblast the old plaster out, leaving the original concrete shell.