As we enter the winter season, there are some special considerations for Utah pool owners. Utah’s climate fluctuates heavily from summer to winter, going from 100-degree heat to freezing temperatures and significant snow, and not only are there care areas to consider for your pool this winter, many of these themes actually trace back to which pool material you decide on during installation.
At Packman’s Pools, we’re happy to offer custom swimming pool construction services that are ideal for Utah clients who deal with the changing local climate. We offer several pool materials, including fiberglass options that are often considered ideal for cold weather and the stresses placed on a pool during this time of year. This two-part blog will go into why those in cold climates need to be thinking carefully about their swimming pool material during pool design, plus go over some of the common pool materials and which are best for these situations.
Shorter Season
The primary needs for quality pool material in a cold climate come during the actual winter periods. That is, you need a material that won’t have major issues during cool parts of the year, such as cracking or related issues that damage the pool.
However, there’s also another major consideration here: A shorter swimming season. Those with outdoor pools in Utah unfortunately get several fewer months of hot weather than those in, say, Florida. For this reason, it’s vital to make sure you’re getting proper value on your pool and that the material you choose won’t come with more hassle and maintenance than it’s worth. We’ll discuss both these themes moving forward.
Fiberglass Material
Likely the single best pool material for cold climates, fiberglass pools are rising in popularity for several reasons. Because they’re made with extremely flexible materials, they do very well in colder temperatures – freezing and thawing don’t risk cracking or expansion and contraction concerns, which might be issues for concrete or other materials.
Generally, concrete will be poured around the fiberglass pool shell to lock it in place. While you will need to seal and properly care for these concrete areas to prevent cracks, such risks are not present for the pool itself, which contains no concrete elements for its actual structure. For this reason, fiberglass is the best choice if you want to prevent any cold-weather risks like cracking or leaking.
Concrete Pools
Concrete pools are the most common pool type across the country, but this trend is changing somewhat. Some of this is because they’re expensive and require significant maintenance, including for cold weather climates – you must seal and care for concrete to prevent freezing and thawing cycles from damaging the pool, and this can be a very involved process. Structural and plaster problems may take place otherwise.
For more on which pool materials to consider for a cold-climate swimming pool, or to learn about any of our swimming pool design or construction services, speak to the staff at Packman’s Pools today.