Installing a pool in your backyard is serious business, one that involves plenty of planning, a degree of mess and a significant cost. This is hardly a decision to rush into. It takes careful planning to find a pool that works best for your lifestyle and budget. We have a few considerations to keep in mind as you are planning your backyard oasis.

The debate continues...Which is best: shotcrete or gunite?

Keywords: Shotcrete, gunite, concrete sprayed concrete, cement

The question of whether gunite is better than shotcrete depends on a number of factors. Each process has its pros and cons; I hope this article will help to explain things so you can decide which is better for your pool construction.

Would you like to have a swimming pool right in your own backyard? Are you afraid of how much it would cost to see your dreams become a reality? There are affordable options for backyard swimming pools and one of the easiest is the above ground variety. While many homeowners shy away from an above ground pool due to the aesthetic quality and size, there are many good reasons to consider one of these models as well. We will give you some advantages to an above ground pool that you may or may not have thought about.

Cost

The sun is shining and the red bulb in the thermometer keeps going up and up. Know what would feel great on this toasty summer afternoon? A refreshing dip in your backyard pool. You don a suit, grab a towel and head out your backdoor. As you immerse yourself in the crystal blue water, you realize that life just doesn't get any better than this.

When we decided to put a pool in the backyard, we had no idea where to begin! There were way more choices than we realized. That's when we decided that knowledge was power and we needed plenty of it if we were going to make a good choice on a swimming pool. We started reading everything we could get our hands on that talked about the different types of pools available.

Pool owners have been using chlorine to clean and sanitize their pool water for decades. However, there is another method of cleaning that was introduced in the United States about five years ago and is quickly picking up speed. The new type of pool sanitizer is something most of us have on our dinner tables every night. Are you ready to know what this "wonder" additive might be? Salt. Plain salt that becomes a lean, mean pool sanitizing machine when it is transformed into very usable chlorine gas with the help of a salt water chlorinator.

Swimming pools past relied on chlorine to keep the water sparkling blue and safe for swimming. Chlorine is a good choice for this purpose. After all, it keeps germs, bacteria and algae out of your pool so your backyard oasis can be enjoyed to the fullest. However, chlorine can also burn the eyes and the throat, and leave skin feeling dry. Is there a better solution?

A backyard pool is a great addition during the hottest months of the summer, but what if you want to extend your swimming season? To do that, you will need to find a way to heat your pool water, but an electric heating pump can be expensive to install and run. For those living in sunny states, another option for heating the water is a system that runs on the sun's energy. Solar heated pools have become a popular way to maintain a comfortable temperature in the pool and extend the swimming season by many months.

There is nothing better than enjoying private swims right in your own backyard. However, the installation of a pool is a pricey venture for most homeowners. One of the most economical solutions is to install an in-ground vinyl pool as opposed to a concrete or fiberglass design. The price may be right on a vinyl pool, but how do they stack up to other backyard swimming pools? This article will provide the pros and cons of installing and maintaining a vinyl swimming pool so you can determine whether this is the best choice for your backyard.