The materials that make up the outer perimeter and basin of your pool are going to go a long way in determining how you can use your pool. Before you decide on any aspects of your inground pool you should take a moment and think about how you’re planning to use your pool.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before you decide on any aspect of your pool:

• Are you going to be using the pool for leisure time?
• Are you going to be playing a lot of sports in your pool? Will you throw pool parties?
• Are you planning to use the pool strictly for exercise?
• Will children be using the pool often?
• What kind of inground swimming pool designs are you looking for?
• What inground pool designs will best fit your home?
• What type of pool is easiest for keeping your pool cleaner?
• Do you want a small inground pool or a big one?

The answers to those questions are going to determine what materials might be best to use for your particular inground pool. There are three popular inground pool materials to consider: vinyl, concrete, and fiber glass. Each material has a few pros and cons that you should know about before you make any commitments.

Vinyl

Get a group of people to help you with your inground pool installation. 

Inground swimming pools aren’t cheap by any means but when you choose to build it out of vinyl you might be saving yourself a little bit of money. Inground pool prices can get pretty steep but vinyl is one of the cheaper materials out there so it allows you to pinch a few pennies.

Vinyl inground pool liners are generally smooth and cushiony. If you’re planning to have children in the pool pretty often the vinyl inground pool liner is a smart choice because it is usually considered a bit safer than the concrete or fiberglass. My only problem with vinyl as a pool lining is the texture of it. I’m not a big fan of the grimy feel that vinyl tends to have on my feet.

Concrete

Concrete inground pools are definitely the most traditional.

Concrete, because it can be used for any size pool and can be shaped to any form, is quickly becoming the most popular choice for inground pool material. Concrete inground pools offer a durable structure that will outlast the vinyl inground pools and withstand just about any weather condition.

You’ll see everything from Olympic sized pools to small inground pools made out of concrete.  Concrete inground pool kits would be great for swimming laps, playing sports, or just enjoying the day but it isn’t as safe as some of the other pool types because concrete is incredibly rough. Be prepared to get a few scrapes here and there on your feet and knees if you install a concrete inground pool.

Fiberglass

Inground fiberglass pools are easier to install than concrete pools. 

Fiberglass inground pools are kind of the cross between vinyl and concrete. They are the more expensive pool type but they come in all kinds of forms and sizes. You can install fiberglass inground pools just about anywhere as long as you have the space for them.  These are also the standard material for lap pools, and those can be installed either inground or above ground as well.

Fiberglass is great because it is easy to install, looks and feels fantastic, does not need to be resurfaced, and requires little to no maintenance (or pool service). You’ll find that most people who have owned an inground pool before and are thinking of buying a new one or having one installed in a new house will go with fiberglass because even though it is a little bit pricy it is a lot less of a headache.