You're making a big decision. A pool is one of the largest investments you'll make in your home, and the type you choose affects everything: how it looks, how long it lasts, and how much you'll enjoy it for the next 30 years. This guide breaks down the real differences between gunite and fiberglass so you can choose with confidence.

Topics: Buyer Tips

—Superb style tactics beyond the rock waterfall 

If you are building a gunite swimming pool and prefer a woodsy or countryside-style aesthetic, a number of appealing features and elements are available to help achieve that look.

Topics: color quartz finish, Design / Features, interior finish, custom pool design, Landscaping, decking

From tanning ledges to swim-up bars, adding style and shade to your pool & spa

Swimming pools and patio umbrellas make great backyard companions.

When you see one, you often find the other. After all, when the temperature soars, having a spot for retreating from the beating sun makes outdoor living more comfortable.

Topics: custom spas, Design / Features, pool remodeling, Construction, custom pool design, Buyer Tips, tanning ledges, Backyard Entertaining, Owner/Lifestyle

—Answers for homeowners buying or remodeling a swimming pool

Financing is a popular approach that many homeowners use to pay for a new gunite pool or to remodel an aging one.

If you plan on financing a new backyard resort, it’s important to understand how home improvement loans work before you apply for or accept one.

Topics: pool payments, Pool Financing, Construction, Buyer Tips, Financing, swimming pool loans

—Going small for big benefits with compact swimming pools 

What is a plunge pool?

Is it different from a cocktail pool or a dipping pool?

And how are these three kinds of compact swimming pools different from a design known as a spool?

Topics: Design / Features, custom pool design, Buyer Tips, backyard design, cocktail pool, spool, dipping pool, plunge pool

—Aka: rain walls, water curtains, or rain descents

When would you actually want rain to come down on your swimming pool?

If the falling “rain” is from a tall, stunning water feature that enhances your pool’s beauty and outdoor ambiance.

Topics: Design / Features, LED, Construction, custom pool ideas, automation

—Achieving better looks, versatility, and functionality for backyard leisure

In addition to providing a solution to a sloping property or disparate elevation between the house and yard, a deck with two or more tiers around a swimming pool delivers excellent functionality, an attractive outdoor space, and clearer “zoning” for various backyard activities.

Topics: cascade water features, hardscape, Design / Features, LED, Construction, custom pool ideas, gunite spa, backyard design, pool deck, lighting, Backyard Entertaining, Health & Lifestyle