It may be awhile before swimming season, but it's smart to start planning now for the best season of the year. Most people enjoy swimming all summer long, whether it's in a river, the ocean, the neighborhood swim club, or the neighbor's backyard pool. Now is the right time to plan, if you would like your own swimming pool built in your backyard. Keeping this in mind, consider the 2 materials that are most popular to use for pool construction, fiberglass and gunite.

Although more traditional in style, the technology involved in constructing fiberglass pools has advanced over the years, allowing them to help lead the way in the industry. A fiberglass pool is constructed of a resin that is shaped into the bowl of a pool. This pre-shaped tub is then hoisted above the ground, and placed into a pre-dug hole, where the plumbing is already installed. Upon placing the pool properly, it is then back filled with a combination of dirt and sand, and sometimes a concrete deck will be poured around the pool area to complete it.

One of the things that count for a fiberglass pool is the cost of constructing. A producer’s capability to design and build the pool in a warehouse permits them to make their processes more efficient and work in more well-organized surroundings. If you are looking for a standard pool to add fun and class to your backyard, this is a great advantage. Durability and ease of maintenance are also advantages of a fiberglass pool. A fiberglass pool has some drawbacks as well as advantages. When planning the design of a fiberglass pool, the depth and shape of it limit your choices--most are restricted to have a regular rectangle shape. If however, you prefer a customized pool that meets your needs, fits your budget, and your space, you might be better off with a gunite pool.

In the United States the most popular pools are made of gunite. For the construction of a gunite pool, the initial steps taken by the company would be to hollow out a hole, put in plumbing, and then build a grid of rebar along the sides and bottom for strengthening. Next the gunite, a mixture of sand and concrete, is poured about the rebar and then shaped, similar to the way concrete is poured into a form. The next thing the installer will do is, put a layer of plaster around the whole gunite pool to give it a clean, smooth finish. Lastly, a concrete or wooden deck may be constructed around the pool.

Due to the flexibility of the gunite pool, a homeowner can design a pool of any shape they desire. In luxury homes, gunite is the best choice of material for homeowners looking for a custom look or an endless pool. Gunite is what is utilized in the construction of the custom designed pools, with the appearance of a natural swimming hole, that are shown in luxury homes magazines. However, the cost of such amazing looking pools is a disadvantage. In most cases a gunite pool has a long life span, but every 10-15 years, the plaster layer will need to be replaced.

When all is said and done, it's best to speak with a professional pool designer before you make a commitment to your pool. Consider the space the pool will fill, and the best style to complement that space. Custom pools can be costly, so be sure to have a good idea of what kind of price you can stomach. Lastly, enjoy the process, because in the end, you will have a perfect place for your entire family to enjoy all year long.