Pool options made simpler

Believe it or not, people have been diving into man-made swimming pools for more than 4,500 years.

Though the simple premise of the pool has changed little since it first showed up in Ancient Egypt, today’s choices of pool types and designs can have anyone’s head swimming with possibilities.

Once it was thought to be the extreme in luxury, but today anybody can own a pool, regardless of the size of their wallets. The most basic above-ground, aluminum or inflatable pools can be had for just a few hundred dollars at department stores such as Wal-Mart. But high-end, in-ground pools can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, with some breaking the million-dollar mark.

The most commonly used materials for in-ground pools are vinyl, fiberglass, or a sprayed cement product known as gunite. Fiberglass pools do not need a liner and never need to be resurfaced. Cleaning and maintaining fiberglass pools is quick and easy, which makes them a popular, inexpensive choice among middle-income families.

However, fiberglass pool dealers are hard to find locally, and the choice of shapes and sizes is limited. Here on the East End, fiberglass pools are typically used as aesthetic ponds rather than for swimming.

As for determining whether a gunite or vinyl pool is best, that depends on who is doing the recommending.

Cliff McKennett, president of Quogue Swimming Pool Service, is a vinyl pool advocate for the mid-range buyer. He said vinyl pools offer a cheaper alternative to gunite. A basic 20-foot-by-40-foot gunite pool can start off at $60,000, whereas a vinyl pool runs one-half to one-third the cost for the same size, he said.

Mr. McKennett noted that most vinyl-lined pools today swim circles around those of yesteryear. Just 20 years ago, the walls of in-ground vinyl pools had typically been made of plywood, which tended to collapse after 10 to 15 years. Mr. McKennett said the majority of vinyl-lined pools these days are made with cement walls. He noted that these pools usually have steel support beams as well.

“If anything, these walls are probably stronger than your basement walls,” he said, “and they put houses on basement walls.”

However, John Tortorella, owner of J. Tortorella Swimming Pools in Southampton, said he uses only gunite. He agrees with Mr. McKennett that gunite pools are typically heftier than vinyl, in both strength and price.

Gunite pools are commonly installed on commercial property, such as hotels and condominiums. They are also a popular choice for the well-to-do.

Gunite pools are thought to have the aesthetic edge on vinyl because they are made out of cement and plaster and can be formed into any shape and size. These types of pools often complement existing landscape and can create a personal oasis, complete with waterfalls and other alluring amenities.

Mr. Tortorella said that new high-tech pool heating systems can even be run remotely. “The computer centers today have gotten so advanced that if the client forgets the heater is on when they leave, we can shut if off for them from our office,” he said. “But all these things, of course, add to the price, so when all is said and done, a 20-by-40-foot pool, without a patio, you’re looking at $80,000 and up.”

Both Mr. Tortorella and Mr. McKennett note that the differences between vinyl and gunite are considerable when it comes to upkeep. Vinyl liners react better to chemical cleaners than gunite, but excessive amounts of chlorine and harsh chemicals will eventually fade a vinyl liner. Gunite does not fade, but has to be refinished.

While vinyl liners can be as thick as 27 millimeters they can still rip or leak. Gunite, meanwhile, can crack and split.

Additionally, vinyl has to be changed roughly every 10 to 15 years (if properly installed and maintained), while gunite needs to be resurfaced every five years or so.

Mr. McKennett said that vinyl is less costly and easier to repair or replace than gunite. He noted that a vinyl lining can be replaced for roughly $3,500, whereas resurfacing a gunite pool can be around $7,000.

However, gunite pool walls are typically covered with marble dust, which provides added protection and an attractive shimmering surface that vinyl cannot offer. Marble dust comes in a variety of colors and shades. White marble dust is the most popular finish for gunite pools, as it allows the pool water to reflect the sky, giving the water a sparkling, blue appearance on sunny days.

The three basic rules of thumb in determining whether to use vinyl or gunite comes down to the brick-and-mortar retail adage of “location, location, location,” according to Mr. McKennett. Certain soils, especially those near water, may be dangerous to a vinyl pool’s structure, he said.

“Normally, when I’m talking to someone who doesn’t know what kind of pool they want, I won’t push the gunite,” he said. “Because why spend the extra money if you don’t have to?”

Mr. McKennett added that he does not advise putting in a vinyl pool in areas with more than one foot of groundwater. “But when you have a heavy groundwater condition, sometimes the currents of the water can cause the pool to lose its shape because of the water moving underneath,” he said, adding, “It’s not impossible to put a vinyl pool in these areas ... But there is the potential for problems down the road.”

Potential pool buyers who are not certain about which type of pool material to install can go to an internet search engine, such as Google or Yahoo, and simply punch in “gunite versus vinyl,” and a slew of testimonials of pool customers can be had both for and against each type of product.

Buyers should keep in mind that with either gunite or vinyl they are going to be paying more out of pocket than they would have a few years ago for their pool installation due to new safety regulations. New pools and older commercial and semi-commercial pools are now required to have drains and side wall suction outlets covers and grates that are compliant with a 2007 federal act, which came as a result of the accidental drowning of Virginia Greame Baker. In 2002, the 7-year-old granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker drowned when she was pinned under water by hundreds of pounds of suction force at the drain of a family friend’s hot tub.

Southampton residents also have to dive deeper into their wallets for pool construction because town officials recently passed an energy conservation law, which includes a solar heating mandate for new swimming pools and for existing pools upon replacement of pool heating equipment. The combination of these two mandates can bump up the average pool installation cost by roughly $2,000, depending on the size of the pool.

Potential pool buyers who like to do their research before buying might also want to visit the website of the Northeast Spa and Pool Association, nespapool.org, which serves as a source of product and safety information for the pool and spa consumer. There is a NESPA office in Westhampton as well. The non-profit organization can also help customers find reputable East End pool dealers.