How Many Types of Swimming Pools Are There? A Covington Guide

Written by Big Easy Pool Designs

How Many Types of Swimming Pools Are There?

Quick Answer: It depends on how you count. By construction, residential pools split into above-ground and inground, and inground pools come in three build types: gunite, fiberglass and vinyl liner. By style, we design 8 pool types for Covington and the rest of the metro, and each one can be adjusted to the yard it goes in.

That’s why two websites can give you two different numbers and both be right. One is counting materials, the other is counting shapes and uses. When we sit down with a family in Covington, we look at both, because the build type decides how a pool holds up in Northshore ground and the style decides how it gets used every weekend.

What Are the Three Types of Pools?

When people ask about “the three types,” they almost always mean the three ways to build an inground pool. We install all three.

• Gunite (concrete). Sprayed concrete over a steel frame. It can be shaped into nearly any design, from a freeform lagoon to sharp architectural lines, and it’s the most durable option we build. It also takes the longest.
• Fiberglass. A pre-formed shell set into the excavation. It installs faster than gunite and has a smooth surface, but the shape options come from the manufacturer’s molds.
• Vinyl liner. A custom-cut liner over a frame. It’s generally the lowest upfront cost of the three, and the liner can be replaced when it wears out.

Each one has trade-offs in cost, upkeep and how it handles a high water table. Our side-by-side guide to gunite, fiberglass and vinyl liner pools in Louisiana goes deeper on those differences, so we won’t repeat it all here.

What Are the Different Types of Pools by Style?

Style is about how a pool looks and what it’s for. Here’s the lineup we design and build, with a one-line sense of who each one suits:

• Above-ground: the fastest, most budget-friendly way into the water, and a good fit where deep digging would fight the site.
• Architectural: clean lines and statement geometry for homes with a strong modern or classic look.
• Infinity: a vanishing edge that frames a view.
• Lap: long and narrow, built for a daily swim.
• Indoor: a pool inside an enclosure, for swimming in any season.
• Recreational: a family pool built for weekends, guests and play.
• Spool: a small pool and spa in one, made for tight yards and courtyards.
• Kiddie: shallow water designed with young swimmers in mind.

You can browse every style on our pool types page. These aren’t rigid boxes, either. A lap lane can end in a tanning ledge, and a recreational pool can carry architectural finishes. Custom design is the point.

Is an Above-Ground or Inground Pool Better?

Neither wins everywhere. An above-ground pool skips major excavation, goes in on a short timeline and costs less. It’s also a smart way to find out how much your family will actually swim before committing to a bigger build. With decking, skirting and planting, it can look like part of the yard instead of an object sitting in it.

An inground pool is a permanent part of the property. It gives you full control over shape, depth, steps, ledges and features, and it’s the pool most people picture when they think about a backyard redesign. It also asks more of the site, which matters on the Northshore.

What Type of Swimming Pool Is Best?

The best pool is the one that matches how you’ll use it and what your lot allows. We walk through four questions at every consultation:

1. Who’s swimming, and how? Daily laps point toward a lap pool. Kids and weekend guests point toward a recreational design. A couple who mostly wants to sit in cool water might be happiest with a spool.
2. What does the yard allow? Size, slope, trees, drainage and the view from the house all narrow the field.
3. How long will you own the house? If you’re staying for decades, durability counts for more than a lower upfront price.
4. What’s the budget? We match the build type to the budget too, and we’ll say so plainly when a style doesn’t fit the number.

In our experience, the families who end up happiest are the ones who answered the first question honestly. A big, deep pool looks great on paper, but if everyone mostly lounges on a ledge, that ledge deserves the design budget.

Which Pool Types Suit a Covington Yard?

Covington sits on the Northshore in St. Tammany Parish, and a few local conditions shape which pool types make sense here.

Water in the ground. Much of South Louisiana has a high water table, and saturated soil pushes on anything buried in it. That affects how an inground shell is engineered and how a pool should be drained later. Our post on building a pool on a high water table explains what that means for each build type.

Rain. Frequent summer afternoon storms mean the deck has to slope away from the water and the yard needs a planned route for runoff, whatever style you pick.

Trees and space. Many Covington lots are generous and green. That opens the door to freeform and recreational designs, but roots, leaf drop and shade all need planning, and they can push a pool toward a different spot than you first pictured.

A long swim season. The Northshore falls in USDA zone 9a, with mild winters and a swim season that runs long. That’s part of why a heater, a cover or a spa often shows up in the plan here.

Permits depend on the address. Inside Covington city limits the city handles it, and outside them St. Tammany Parish does. We handle permitting as part of the build either way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is gunite the same as concrete?

Gunite is a sprayed concrete method. When people talk about a “concrete pool,” they usually mean a gunite or similar sprayed-concrete shell.

Can I combine two pool styles?

Yes. Styles are starting points. A lap pool can include a shallow lounging area, and a family pool can borrow architectural lines.

How do I know which type fits my lot?

That’s what the free consultation is for. We walk the yard, look at drainage and access, and give you a straight recommendation.

Find the Right Pool for Your Covington Yard

If you’re weighing pool types, the fastest way to narrow it down is to look at the yard together.

See custom pool design in Covington and our Covington service area, then request your free consultation or call (504) 688-4066.