The Pros and cons on diffferent types of pool surfaces.

The Pros and cons on diffferent types of pool surfaces.
There are 4 main different types of pool surfaces available - all displaying positives and negatives.

Fibreglass surface

Pros:
-Most common choice
-Less expensive pool surface
-Ph neutral, easier to maintain a stable Ph and Alkaline balance
-Non porous surface which can help to deter algae growth
-Smooth surface. Easy to brush walls and floors
- water in pool is warmer due to fibreglass insulation properties

Cons:
-Chlorine pools from water line down will start to show signs of fading on the fibreglass from around 7 to 10 years onwards. Yet above the water line the colour remains. This however will not occur in a pool sanitised with the SwimFresh chlorine free system.
- Old fibreglass pools can tend to get black spot and osmosis of shell. This can cause bubbling appearance on the surface as it progresses.
- fibreglass surface can be cracked if heavy object dropped into pool
- Limited choices of shapes and sizes unless it is a custom made concrete pool that has been coated with fibreglass.

Concrete plaster surfaces

Pros:
- any size and shape can be designed
- tougher surface very difficult to crack surface

Cons:
- more expensive.
- pool water is colder.
- surface is porous and can absorb stains
- plaster surfaces leech alkaline material into the water requiring PH adjustment regularly (in the first 12 months it can need adjusting every 3/4 days) plaster pools are expected to cure in one to two years, but some can continue to leech alkaline much longer than this.
- new salt chlorine concrete pools cannot use salt for the first 6 months, this will require manual chlorination till then.

Vinyl liner pools :
(These liners can be custom made for a inground concrete or brick pool or for above ground pools)

Pros:
- can be less expensive depending on shell construction
- any size or shape can be designed
- ph neutral, easier to maintain a stable Ph and Alkaline balance
- non porous surface which can deter algae growth
- smooth surface, easy to brush walls and floors
- water is generally warmer
- expected liner life span for chlorinated pools is approx 12 -14years however with a SwimFresh chlorine free system the liner has a expected life span of 20+ years

Cons:
- more expensive
- possible for liner surface to be punctured (more so on the cheaper above ground liner pools)

Fully tiled pool

Pros:
- any design and shape can be designed
- ph neutral, easier to maintain a stable Ph and Alkaline balance
- non porous surface which can deter algae growth
- smooth surface, easy to brush walls and floors
- can create artistic designs

Cons:
- most expensive surface
- Possible for tiles to fall off or crack if heavy object drops onto surface

In summary all pool surfaces will last considerably longer with the SwimFresh chlorine free system in comparison to chlorine producing systems