Cost of Inground Pools Across the U.S.

Adding a swimming pool to your home is a great way to improve your outdoor living space and increase your home value. It is a great place to cool off during hot days and entertain your family and friends. Swimming pools come in various types, sizes, shapes, and materials. All these factors influence the initial cost of your swimming pool. In this article, we discuss the prices of in-ground swimming pools across the United States based on the type of material used for building the pool and other features added to the pool. 

What is An In-ground Swimming Pool

Swimming pools usually come either as above ground or in-ground pool. An in-ground pool is a pool below ground level, which generally means the soil has to be excavated for the pool to be built. Of all pool types, the in-ground swimming pool is the most common and comes in different styles, such as indoor pool, infinity pools, lap pools, plunge pool, etc. Many factors determine the cost of an in-ground pool. They include:

Location

The location of the pool plays a major role in determining the cost. This is because there is a disparity in the price of materials across different areas. The installation cost is also not the same. The average cost of a swimming pool is, however, put at$44,575. One reason for the influence of location on price is that labor costs differ across locations.

Material Used

The materials used are the major cause of disparity in the cost of pools. There are three materials available for building swimming pools. They are vinyl, concrete, and fiberglass. All these materials can be used to create a fantastic swimming pool with different variations in size, shape, and depth. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. Usually, the one with the most disadvantage is also the cheapest in terms of cost. Below is a breakdown of their costs:

Vinyl Pool: An in-ground vinyl pool is the cheapest of the three and costs an average of $37,000 to build. It is very easy to build and can be installed within a short period. However, for you to enjoy the pool and ensure its durability, it must be regularly maintained. For instance, the liner must be replaced once in about every seven years. When this pool’s durability is considered alongside the high maintenance costs, one will discover the pool does not offer as much return on investment, if any, at all.

Fiberglass pool: This pool would have been the perfect pool if not for one thing – it’s limited in size and shape. The in-ground fiberglass pool costs $50,000 on average. It is a durable pool that lasts for an average of 25 years. It requires little to no maintenance and is very comfortable for both children and adults.

Concrete pool: This is the most durable pool of the three and also the most expensive. It costs an average of $60,000 to build one concrete pool. This cost is worth it when one considers the flexibility that the material offers. The pool can come in any shape, size, depth, appearance, etc. It takes an average of 12 weeks to construct a concrete pool, and the pool requires some level of maintenance for you to enjoy it fully.

Conclusion

Apart from location and materials, other factors can influence the cost of an in-ground swimming pool. This includes the size of the pool and all its additional features. For any more information specifically on concrete pools visit www.concretemidlandtexas.com

How to Maintain Your Concrete?

The idea of maintaining concrete may seem absurd at first. After all, this is the most durable building material that is capable of lasting for decades with no maintenance. However, as concrete experts have always pointed out, concrete is not indestructible. This is why maintenance is essential. To ensure that this durable material can last a much longer time, and the owner can actually enjoy it. Without maintenance, concrete can soon become a burden and an eyesore. But with proper care, it will always be pleasant to the eyes, and the structural integrity will never be compromised. Thus, maintaining your concrete structure means protecting your investment in concrete. And lucky for you, the cost of maintaining concrete is very low both in terms of time and resources. In this article, we discuss the various ways in which you can properly maintain and preserve your concrete for a long time.

Ensure It Is Clean:

Dirty concrete is only a few steps away from getting damaged. Keeping your concrete clean is not just about making it look pleasant and attractive. It also prevents degradation and damage. Debris like stones can lead to scratches and cracks on the floor if they are not removed on time. You can get rid of this dirt with pressure washers, and other debris such as moisture, stains, etc. should also be rid of as they can affect the concrete. 

Treat Your Concrete:

If you are going to clean your concrete. Then you need to first make sure it is properly finished and sealed. Unsealed concrete is a problem for everybody. No amount of cleaning can rectify that. Concrete is naturally porous, and the only way to deal with the porosity is by sealing it. Without this, the pores become vessels for dust, moisture, grease, stains, etc. It becomes challenging to clean your concrete in such a condition, and before you know it, algae are growing from the surface. There are different types of sealers available. Some of them are even decorative in nature and will not only protect your concrete but give it a kind of sheen that makes it look polished.

Repair The Cracks:

You also need to fix any crack problem that you find your concrete. This is quite easy these days as all you have to do to find the right adhesive, and before you know it, any crack in your concrete is properly fixed up.  Technology has dramatically improved repair and adhesive materials, and you only need to find the one that works best for your concrete surface.

Don’t Use De-Icing Chemicals:

You may want to get rid of the snow on your concrete as fast as possible in the winter but trust us. Using deicers is not the best choice. It will usually cause your concrete to spall and scale. You should avoid products that contain ammonium sulfates and ammonium nitrates as they will affect the concrete. If you really have to get rid of the snow chemically, you should settle calcium chloride or rock salt. However, these ones too will damage concrete, albeit a little, and can corrode metal as well. Thus, it is better to avoid de-icers altogether. If you can’t, ensure that you don’t use it in the first year of construction. 

Conclusion

Always watch out to ensure that your concrete is in good shape all the time and fix any problem once you notice it.

What Are The Steps of Hiring a Contractor for Commercial Work?

Are you looking to hire a contractor for your commercial construction project? Then you need to know how best to go about it. Construction projects are dicey when it comes to contractors, but when they are commercial in nature, the risks are bigger. A commercial contractor is simply a general contractor that specializes in commercial buildings and constructions. The commercial contractor usually oversees every stage of the construction, which includes design, permits, buying building materials, zoning regulations, etc. Given the significant functions of the contractor, it is essential that you get the best. Here, we highlight what you need to do to get the best contractor for your commercial work. 

Define Your Construction Project:

If you don’t know what you are looking for, you will not get what you want. When it comes to construction, you need to know what you plan to do. This means adequate planning of your remodeling or construction project. Once you have a detailed plan, you can easily streamline your pool of eligible contractors. It also helps the eligible contractors to easily check the plan, determine if they are capable of handling the project, and submit accurate estimates for bids.

Get Multiple Estimate:

Don’t make the mistake that most people make of going for the first contractor they approach. You need to have multiple bids as this will guide you in making the best choice, and you can easily compare the different estimates that the contractors submit to you. At least three estimates for the job will guide you in picking the best one. However, you must note that the best contractor is not the same thing as the cheapest; neither is it the same thing as the most expensive. As a commercial project owner, beware of bids on the extreme side, either too low or too high. The essence of having multiple offers in writing is that it will give you a good idea of your commercial project and how much it will cost. You will also be familiar with building materials, techniques, etc.

License:

You should also check the contractor’s license to make sure they are authorized to perform the job they are bidding for. In fact, confirmation of licensing should come before the estimate. When you are confident that the contractor has an active license, you should consider asking for their estimate. When it comes to the license, make sure they have a license for that particular commercial project, and any subcontractor they would be bringing also has a license.

Insurance:

The contractor must also be insured, and you should specifically confirm this before you enter any business with the contractor. Most states and municipalities usually require this before registering a contractor, but that shouldn’t dissuade you from asking.

The Contractor Must Be Bonded:

Insured, licensed, and bonded are three conditions that go hand in hand for any contractor. You must pay attention to all the three, and any contractor you will employ must have them. While it is easy to understand license and insurance, a bond might be a little complex. It means that the contractor has a surety bond, which is a type of insurance that protects you as the owner of the construction project. 

Conclusion

Once you follow all these steps, you can rest assured of getting the right commercial contractor. The only thing we can add at this stage is that you shouldn’t hesitate to check reviews and ask the contractor for references.