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River Pools & Spas Blog
The most educational swimming pool blog in the country, providing fiberglass pool articles and videos, as well as information on inground concrete and liner pools.
Options and Accessories | Swimming Pool Design
Ever notice how some people insist on using a $5 word when a 10¢ word would suffice? (I know I just used the word “suffice,” but hear me out.) The first time I heard the phrase “exposed aggregate” for a pool finish, I thought it was a pretentious way to say “Pebble Tec.” But it’s actually the correct term. Not all exposed aggregate pool finishes are products of the Pebble Tec company. Exposed aggregate finishes are sometimes called Pebble Tec in the same way that we often call tissues Kleenex—one brand has become representative of the product. So we’re going to talk about exposed aggregate finishes as a whole.
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You know that feeling when you have so much to do that you end up just binge-watching Netflix instead of doing anything at all? Pool research can feel that way. What should I search first? What should I search for? If it’s your first time looking into all this stuff, it can be overwhelming. There’s a lot of information, and somehow you’re supposed to figure out how to navigate it all. How are you supposed to know what you don’t know? Well, fear not. I’m going to give you a super quick rundown of the most common questions—and links to learn the answers. Boom. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
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Don't blindly wonder if a fiberglass, concrete, or vinyl liner pool is right for you. Our educational ebook does a deep-dive comparison of the 3 types, all while noting the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Pool Closing/Winterization | Pool Maintenance
The joys of summer: pools and convertibles. My best friend has a red Mustang convertible named Sally (i.e., Mustang Sally). In the summer we love to drive with the top down to get Slurpees. However, with a heavy heart, she has to cover Sally up for the winter. Likewise, you should bundle up your pool during the chilly months. We know it’s a sad day. We won’t judge if you cry a little.
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Fiberglass Pool Information | Pool Maintenance
No one wants to be labeled “high-maintenance”—and we don’t particularly want to live with someone or something high-maintenance either. Well, you’re in luck! Your fiberglass pool is as low-maintenance as they come.
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Options and Accessories | Swimming Pool Design | Vinyl Liner Pool Information
Ever watched “What Not to Wear”? I wish Stacy London would hand me $5,000 for new clothes. The catch: those clothes didn’t come off the hanger magically the right shape. All those outfits were tailored to the shopper. They looked amazing afterward, yes, but that tailoring also used up a big chunk of their shopping money. Now prepare yourself...that’s basically what you have to do to a vinyl liner pool.
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Fiberglass Pool Information | Fiberglass Pool Manufacturers | Swimming Pool Design
Are you in the market for a freeform fiberglass pool and looking for the perfect model for your family? We’re here for you! As manufacturers and installers of inground fiberglass swimming pools, we at River Pools have a unique determination to help homeowners (like you!) to find your perfect pool—whether that means choosing us or not.
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Concrete Pool Information | Fiberglass Pool Information | Finding A Pool Contractor | Vinyl Liner Pool Information
Fine print: we all hate it. How many of us really read the Terms and Conditions? Buckle down...you really do need to read your pool warranty. Actually read it. Then ask about anything you don’t understand or agree with.
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Concrete Pool Information | Cost and Pricing | Pool Maintenance
When I’m not taking the pool industry by storm, I like to write novels. I plan ahead obsessively: think 10-page character sheets, hand-drawn world maps, and color-coded plot diagrams. “Congratulations on overthinking everything,” you say, “but I’m not writing a book. I’m buying a pool.” Don’t give me that look! For pool purchases and maintenance, you, too, need to plan ahead. Maps and diagrams included, probably.
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Fiberglass vs Concrete vs Vinyl Liner | Pool Maintenance
Don’t you hate when you’re trying to smooth frosting on a cupcake and it keeps showing the dents from the spoon or knife? If you know how to do it right, tell me your secrets. Bakers must have sold their soul to figure out the magic trick for that. Sure, the cupcakes taste the same either way, but it just looks so much better when they’re smoothly swirled. Welcome to the world of trowel marks on a pool.
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Concrete Pool Information | Installation & Construction | Options and Accessories
Concrete pools are often called “gunite” pools... but you may have heard of "shotcrete" pools, too. Researching your options when you want to buy an inground pool can feel overwhelming if you're unfamiliar with all the terms, technologies, methods, and processes professional pool builders toss around on a daily basis. But it's not as complicated as it can seem from the outside. This guide will help you understand the differences and similarities between plain old concrete, gunite, and shotcrete -- particularly when you want to use this material to build a sleek inground pool in your backyard. When you can speak a pool builder's language, you'll be on firm footing to negotiate your pool project's dimensions, costs, timelines, and options. Let's get started... Concrete fundamentals Concrete is a mix of water, cement, sand, and a coarse aggregate, which is a material made up of small particles, usually small crushed stones or gravel. The difference between sand and aggregate mainly comes down to the size of the particles and (sometimes) what they're made of. The sand you'll find at the beach or in the desert is usually made of quartz or limestone, but sand particles are always smaller than gravel, even if sand and gravel are made up of the same basic chemicals. Dry concrete is considered an "initial mixture" of cement, sand, and aggregate. The process of mixing water into an initial mixture of concrete gives the end product its name.
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