Hello all,
I live in northern CT, on a hill with ground thats mostly clay. In the spring, the ground is very mushy (due to the clay) and dries around april-ish, so i'm expecting some drainage issues with a new inground pool and freeze/thaw issues that might arise. I'm looking at a 18x36 size. Ive had different pool companies come out, and they all tell me their product will be best in my environment and not to get any of the others. I've gotten quotes for Gunite, Galvanized Steel walls with vinyl liner, and something called "Radiant Pools" with a vinyl liner which looks like some kind of fiberglass/polymer. I'm trying to sort the sales tactics from the facts. All my neighbors have steel wall/liner.
First decision is Gunite vs liner in general. Second decision, if i were to go with liner, is the difference between the radiant pool product and the steel wall.
The Steel wall installers have told me the steel they use is galvanized and wont rust for decades, but im concerned about the ground moisture and shortening the lifespan. we've had probably 3 different installers that put in basically the same product.
The radiant pools installer told me hes been installing these pools since the technology came out 50 years ago, and he still has customers with one in the ground from 50 years ago in perfect condition (or so he says). The radiant pools website has a lot of marketing info about their pools being insulated, etc. This partcular installer had the most experience himself (man in his 70s at least) and was very "no frills" about the different pool technologies. Had never heard of a sun shelf and had never heard of pool chlorinators or UV filters.
Three of the installers pointed to a magazine called "PSN" where they are top 50 in the country. not sure what that means.
Can someone help me with my decisions? i.e. Gunite vs Liner, then Steel vs Radiant?
Personally, i'm leaning towards the Radiant because of the concerns about rusting, but its also a relatively rare technology as this guy has the only license in the state to put these pools in. Ive reached out to the installer from the next state over to give a quote and see what they say.
I live in northern CT, on a hill with ground thats mostly clay. In the spring, the ground is very mushy (due to the clay) and dries around april-ish, so i'm expecting some drainage issues with a new inground pool and freeze/thaw issues that might arise. I'm looking at a 18x36 size. Ive had different pool companies come out, and they all tell me their product will be best in my environment and not to get any of the others. I've gotten quotes for Gunite, Galvanized Steel walls with vinyl liner, and something called "Radiant Pools" with a vinyl liner which looks like some kind of fiberglass/polymer. I'm trying to sort the sales tactics from the facts. All my neighbors have steel wall/liner.
First decision is Gunite vs liner in general. Second decision, if i were to go with liner, is the difference between the radiant pool product and the steel wall.
The Steel wall installers have told me the steel they use is galvanized and wont rust for decades, but im concerned about the ground moisture and shortening the lifespan. we've had probably 3 different installers that put in basically the same product.
The radiant pools installer told me hes been installing these pools since the technology came out 50 years ago, and he still has customers with one in the ground from 50 years ago in perfect condition (or so he says). The radiant pools website has a lot of marketing info about their pools being insulated, etc. This partcular installer had the most experience himself (man in his 70s at least) and was very "no frills" about the different pool technologies. Had never heard of a sun shelf and had never heard of pool chlorinators or UV filters.
Three of the installers pointed to a magazine called "PSN" where they are top 50 in the country. not sure what that means.
Can someone help me with my decisions? i.e. Gunite vs Liner, then Steel vs Radiant?
Personally, i'm leaning towards the Radiant because of the concerns about rusting, but its also a relatively rare technology as this guy has the only license in the state to put these pools in. Ive reached out to the installer from the next state over to give a quote and see what they say.
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